Defensive caliber, and shooting distance

[Arizonagunrunner]

What weapon do you use for a defensive weapon in CCW (REVOLVER ONLY) And what distance do you practice for if you have to draw down on someone?
I carry a Ruger Speed Six in 357, or a Taurus 431 in 44 Special. I practice at 3 / 5 / 10 yards.

 

[roadliner]

Rossi 720 and Charter Arms 44 Bulldog. I practice at 7-10 yds.

 

[22-rimfire]

I generally shoot at 7 or 10 yards. I find shooting any closer is sort of stupid. If I can't hit a human being at 3 yards with no practice, I need to just give it up.

 

[Cop Bob]

2-7 and 11, no real reason except that is the beginning yardage on our qualification range... the 2 yard is not used for aimed point shooting, it is shot from the hip ready position..

 

[BullfrogKen]

I generally shoot at 7 or 10 yards. I find shooting any closer is sort of stupid. If I can't hit a human being at 3 yards with no practice, I need to just give it up.

Guess it might surprise you to find out misses at those distances in fights are not uncommon, even at 3 yards.


Practice at 3 - 15 yards is pretty much standard for defensive shooting drills. Those closer the distance, the quicker the shots should come.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

I practice from 2 yards to as far out as 25 yards. Yes it is true that many if not most gunfights occure at under 10 feet, but nothing wrong with being able to hit a knucklehead at 75 feet either.

LD

 

[content]

Hello friends and neighbors // .38 special, S&W 442, 1 7/8" barrel.

Range:
Arms length, sometimes with weak hand on/resisting target, as fast as possible, out to 25yards using something for a rest/bench slow and smooth.

I neither want to shoot my own hand/arm in a close contact situation or miss the shot at 25 yards that allows me to utilize cover.

Reguardless of the distance you are responsible for every round, a hit might save me, a miss might end an innocents life.
I practice both, how else will I have the confidence needed to make the shots.

75% of the time I practice at 15-25 feet, if possible on the move.

 

[06]

357 but it is my hunting/hiking side arm. One should be able to do a head shot with an aimed shot but point shoot at closer distances with either hand and while moving.

 

[Nushif]

When I use a revolver for carry I use my Taurus 905. I practice with it to as long as it will shoot. 8) Basically that means as long as my snubby sights allow me to differentiate targets.
Obviously with mixed results.

 

[MCgunner]

.38 snub. I shoot from 7.5 to 100 yards. I know i'll never have to engage anyone at 100 yards, but hey, I can, so I do! I have confidence with that weapon in a SD scenario, quite accurate and the DA trigger is marvelous.

I also occasionally do some draw and fire point shooting from 3 yards, handshake range. That's where you're most likely to need the gun and need it in a hurry.

 

[BlackSky]

S&W 624, 3" barrel, .44 Special. Usually practice at 7 yards.

 

[NMGonzo]

I shoot 10 yards consistently with very hurried aim and shot.

They land COM and head without much trouble.

 

[SimplyChad]

.357 and .380 from point blank to 25 yards with swing targets and pop ups.

 

[TYFOOON]

We should all do our due dillegence and practice practice practice...so we don't end up like this guy. Probably a repost but worth seeing if you missed it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whb1nk9nzz8&feature=related

 

[gamestalker]

S&W 66-5, 66-2, Taurus 608 and I practice at 15-20 yds. My Son's and I practice shooting under stress and looking at the target rather than the sights, and it improved our groups dramaticaly. Prior to trying more realistic drills we were all having problems keeping the groups at less than 6". Now we are shooting the center out of the targets at 15 yds. quite consistently. W e were actually concerned about ever having to shoot at more than 5 yds. until method from another Son in LE.

 

[oldfool]

38/357 revolvers, 2" snubbies to 6" guns (S&Ws, Ruger, Taurus, Rossi, etc.) - not CCW per se, but SD/HD - I mostly prefer a slimmer Colt 380 acp SA pistola for IWB CCW - but I do 10/15 yard stuff with both/any/all centerfires

some 10 yards slow fire SA, to see how bad my hands are 'today'
then 15 yards rapid fire DA, some sixes, some 3xDTs - if I can group decent at 15, I figure I can group decent at 7. If I let 'em close the distance to under 7 yards and coming fast (before getting some shots off), I am probably a dead man anyway, whether they also are or not; handgun rounds ain't RPGs, leastways not mine.
Avoid bad places late at night and be mindful of your surroundings; some guys get paid to go places like that, but I don't.

NOT for beating John Wesley Hardin on the draw
I also like to do some at anywhere from 25 yards to 75 yards (though not with snubbies, only with a 4"-6" barrels), offhand, mostly SA, some DA, just because I enjoy doing it, shooting stuff that moves when hit, plastic soda bottles, baseball size hard foam/rubber balls, etc.
My hit ratio falls off big time after bouncing 'em from 25 out to 50, but trigger time spent on trigger control is all good.

If anyone was kind enough to leave a 12-16 oz soda can/bottle on the 110 yard backstop berm, revolver butt parked on a sandbag, SA, just gotta' make it move

 

[Ala Dan]

Usually some sort'a Smith J-frame [.38 Special] from the 7-15 yard line~!

 

[Red Cent]

Arizonagunner, go watch an IDPA competition. Most of the action is streetable. Great learning aid.

Check local clubs to see if any are affiliated with Pocket Carry Competition Association. Great venue using 3" revolvers and 3.65" semi-autos.