Did some long range handgunning this weekend

[Random 8]

Up at the cabin this weekend, I got bored of the usual handgun drills, and decided to do some long shooting. I have an 8" square plate at 90 yards that is usually reserved for offhand rifle practice. Extreme dry dusty conditions made for easy spotting on the clay pile behind the plate.

The lineup was a new-to-me Tangfolio Witness Polymer and my usual carry/service pistol, an FNS, both in 9mm. I also had a CZ52 in 7,62 Tokarev with quality Romanian surplus ammo, and a .357 Magnum 6" Taurus M66 with .38+P hardcast.

I do generally shoot my handguns to 50 yards, due to rural settings I play and work in. Coyotes are the usual vermin needing killing, but my annual qualification for infrastructure security includes engaging targets to 50 yards, so it comes into play there, but the targets are much bigger than my 8" plate.

It was not surprising I was able to get onto the plate with the .38 hardcast. I shoot this load in IHMSA field pistol to 100 yards. I figured the other 3 handguns would be a waste of ammunition. I was mostly wrong on that.

With both the 9mms, after finding the range, I was able to hit the plate with remarkable consistency considering the sights and distance. I was getting 40-50% hits after I dialed it in! The real surprise was with the CZ52. The very fine sights, generally a liability for any sort of "tactical" shooting, were a great aid in engaging this small, distant target. I think the flat trajectory of the round was an aid also, and the trigger pull is quite good on my 52. I was getting near 70% hits with the gun and surplus ammo, rivaling the long barreled .357. I may give this one a whirl on the field pistol course and shoot an unofficial score just for fun.

Don't be afraid to shoot long with your handguns. It can be an eye opening experience.

 

[DR505]

Our revolver qualification course starts at 50 yards, though revolvers have been out of service for some time. I still ran that course often with semi-auto service weapons. When training on the silhouette at 50 yards moving to 25 yards makes the target look absolutely giant sized. So firing at longer ranges is a good thing. It can also pay some practical benefits....this coyote was bothering my dogs. I whistled for the dogs to come to me and shot this guy off-hand at 53 yards, one round through both shoulders. Dropped right where he stood. I was using a Wilson Combat CQB in .45 ACP with 230 grain JHPs.

 

[WestKentucky]

Our revolver qualification course starts at 50 yards, though revolvers have been out of service for some time. I still ran that course often with semi-auto service weapons. When training on the silhouette at 50 yards moving to 25 yards makes the target look absolutely giant sized. So firing at longer ranges is a good thing. It can also pay some practical benefits....this coyote was bothering my dogs. I whistled for the dogs to come to me and shot this guy off-hand at 53 yards, one round through both shoulders. Dropped right where he stood. I was using a Wilson Combat CQB in .45 ACP with 230 grain JHPs.

View attachment 1020096

That’s a really nice poke with a well respected poker. The pokee seems adequately perforated.

 

[Trey Veston]

I'm on the Idaho border and have heard stories of wolves stalking folks that don't have a long gun, thinking they aren't a threat. As soon as a long gun is displayed, they vacate the area. Sounds like the yotes are doing the same thing.

 

[Riomouse911]

Up at the cabin this weekend, I got bored of the usual handgun drills, and decided to do some long shooting. I have an 8" square plate at 90 yards that is usually reserved for offhand rifle practice. Extreme dry dusty conditions made for easy spotting on the clay pile behind the plate.

The lineup was a new-to-me Tangfolio Witness Polymer and my usual carry/service pistol, an FNS, both in 9mm. I also had a CZ52 in 7,62 Tokarev with quality Romanian surplus ammo, and a .357 Magnum 6" Taurus M66 with .38+P hardcast.

I do generally shoot my handguns to 50 yards, due to rural settings I play and work in. Coyotes are the usual vermin needing killing, but my annual qualification for infrastructure security includes engaging targets to 50 yards, so it comes into play there, but the targets are much bigger than my 8" plate.

It was not surprising I was able to get onto the plate with the .38 hardcast. I shoot this load in IHMSA field pistol to 100 yards. I figured the other 3 handguns would be a waste of ammunition. I was mostly wrong on that.

With both the 9mms, after finding the range, I was able to hit the plate with remarkable consistency considering the sights and distance. I was getting 40-50% hits after I dialed it in! The real surprise was with the CZ52. The very fine sights, generally a liability for any sort of "tactical" shooting, were a great aid in engaging this small, distant target. I think the flat trajectory of the round was an aid also, and the trigger pull is quite good on my 52. I was getting near 70% hits with the gun and surplus ammo, rivaling the long barreled .357. I may give this one a whirl on the field pistol course and shoot an unofficial score just for fun.

Don't be afraid to shoot long with your handguns. It can be an eye opening experience.

Nice shooting! It’s fun to try different challenges and see what gun best fits a scenario like that.

The Tok is one screamer if a handgun round. I bet it was laser flat out to your target (which probably did make hits easier) .

I’ve never shot a genuine Tokarev-chambered pistol, only two shots of .30 Mauser through Broomhandle way back in my college years. (Similar cartridge dimensions, pretty much the same round.) I don’t recall much about the performance since the distance I shot was short and the gun was so funky to me.

Stay safe.