EDC accuracy requirement

[beatledog7]

For me, a CCW pistol has the job of putting rounds into within an inch or so of my POA at SD distance, which is arguably no greater than about 12 yards. I have yet to find a handgun that--within my ability to discern my exact POA--could not do that.

As for my POA? As others have said, that's the greater challenge.

 

[ritepath]

Accurate enough at whatever distance I want to shoot without making me mad. That could be 7 yards or 25 yards. If it's my EDC I'm pretty happy with 8" groups at 10 yards static shooting.

That leaves a bit of room to open up when shooting quick and/or moving.


If we all open carried full sized pistols would be the norm.

 

[Pointshoot]

Well most decent handguns probably have a lot more accuracy potential than people realize - its more a matter of the operator getting in plenty of practice. Heck, hitting a paper plate sized target with a modern compound bow out to 40yds in a hunting situation isn't some kind of super feat. (About the maximum distance that I'll personally shoot while hunting big game. With targets you can go out farther than that.) So, the same sized target out to 25yds seems like a very reasonable expectation for a handgun, to me.

 

[mrdeltoid]

All shots placed inside a 9-inch circle at 7 yards or less is defensive accuracy.

 

[WC145]

I have to be able to make off hand head shots with it at 25yds.

 

[ACP]

8.5"x11" piece of paper, between the nipples, at 3-9 feet.

Hit that 3-5 times quickly, as fast as possible from concealment, while moving, under stress, in low light, and you'll take care of most all of your self defense needs.

Please don't ever talk about inch groups at 25 yards for a SD gun. It's useless.

 

[Smith357]

I must be able to consistently hit a dinner plate in rapid fire at 7 yards, this is within the mechanical ability of most every pistol, I must train so that I can do it too.

 

[Bhoffman]

Minute of Man @ 21'

 

[TestPilot]

All shots placed inside a 9-inch circle at 7 yards or less is defensive accuracy.

This is wrong. Sorry. It is wrong, period.

If your opponent even has partial cover, then you're screwed that way.

 

[torqem]

Everyone would prefer consistency. The POI problem is "fixable" by adjusting the sights.. The issue is, can you deliver it, while being shot-at? Notice how not a word is said in that PDF, about it being dark, or your being choked by fear of death/maiming, or flinching because your ears are blown out by the blasts? Just lackadasial bs as if it's just another day at the range. When people are poking holes in your friends/family, and doing their best to poke some in you, it's a very different kettle of fish. Deer aint shooting at you, so hunting accuracy means nothing in this context. I bet that I can use a bullwhip, and make you miss me repeatedly, at 10 ft, for instance. Group size , that you can accomplish when you are not under stress, doesn't mean a thing.

 

[mrdeltoid]

This is wrong. Sorry. It is wrong, period.

If your opponent even has partial cover, then you're screwed that way.

Nnnnope. Sorry buddy, you're the one who is wrong. That is the definition of defensive accuracy set by the NRA and taught by certified instructors. It is the benchmark against which a shooter's ability to control his or her firearm is measured. It is a marksmanship standard for reasonable accuracy.

We're not talking about how well you'll hit a moving human torso here. Even the best shooters will miss sometimes in such a situation and you cannot measure accuracy across the myriad variations that could occur. Moving targets, OODA loop, use of cover and concealment, performance under increased heart rate and stress are all things that will affect shooting in a real situation, but again that is not what the OP asked. What was asked was "what your personal requirement for EDC accuracy is."

If your personal standard for accuracy is shooting tiny exposed portions of a target that has assumed cover or concealment, then you are practicing at a level that is too specific. You are talking about plinking accuracy, not defensive accuracy.

And if you don't like that you're wrong, then too bad. I'm sorry you feel that way.

 

[TestPilot]

Nnnnope. Sorry buddy, you're the one who is wrong. That is the definition of defensive accuracy set by the NRA and taught by certified instructors. It is the benchmark against which a shooter's ability to control his or her firearm is measured. It is a marksmanship standard for reasonable accuracy.

Half covered torso would be less than 9 inch wide.

Just a matter of physics.

Your opponent who use good cover will put holes in you while you beg him to expose himself to "definition of defensive accuracy."

As far as "certified instructors" goes, it means they somehow got a certificate, it does not necessarily mean they know what they're talking about.