Good shooting is when you...

[Ru4real]

What are your standards?

First and foremost, in my opinion, good shooting is when you hit your target where you intended. To be reasonably certain that will happen every time I pull the trigger, here are my simple standards that I practice to.

For aiming shots, standing off hand with a pistol at 25 yards, my 5 shot group size should be twice or less the size of my resting group.

For aiming shots, standing off hand with a rifle at 100 yards, my 3 shot group size should be twice or less the size of my resting group for non-match rifles.

For aiming match rifles, all resting shots should be in a 1 inch group at 100 yards. The number of shots is caliber dependent. Example, 7 mm mag is 3 rounds, 223 is 10 rounds, for me.

For non-aiming shots, like IDPA or Trap, I want to finish in the top 10 percent of shooters on any given night. Courses, wind, shooters, etc change for any given session.

I'd like to hear what you consider when deciding if you've made a good shot.

 

[BigBore44]

If I hear the recognizable “Ting” when shooting steel or if I see the animal kick and or fall when hunting. I shoot for the smallest groups I can get. I only have one rifle that isn’t an MOA or better shooter.

As for handguns, I expect 3” or better groups at 30 yards to be “good shooting”.

 

[Archie]

Good shooting is getting good information for velocity and accuracy (relative size). Most of my shooting is done with older rifles, seeing what they can do.

Good shooting is not abusing a rifle with experimental or research loads. Not so far, but some were a bit hot. (I learned, happily.)

With a carry (belt holster type) suitable accuracy is 'head shots' at fifty yards. Head shots at twenty-five yards for hideout guns. (That's the gun, not necessarily my old eyes and shaking hands.)

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Good shooting is when you and your buddies make it back inside the wire and the other guy doesn't.

 

[Demi-human]

In December it is any shooting. In April to November it is two inches at thirty yards for pistols, one inch at one hundred, ten at six hundred for rifles. But that is only my standard, with my eyes and equipment.

 

[JONWILL]

For me it is a small pie plate at 25 yards with my carry gun. Honestly I can't see well past that and am not able to hold much better anyway. Pretty much a head shot.

 

[ontarget]

Good shooting is seeing an improvement over time and having fun at the same time. Also building and maintaining your confidence in your EDC piece if you carry.

 

[jhansman]

For me it's a range session in which I knew when I was supposed to pull the trigger, and knowing when I shouldn't have. As long as both of these occur, I feel am part and parcel of the shooting experience. More than once I have left the range hardly feeling like I was there at all.

 

[Mr. Hill]

Good shooting is going out to the mountains and shooting at targets and making a campfire and cooking some food. Range and hits don’t matter. Having fun matters. JMHO.

 

[RE-15]

When you shoot better than you know you are actually capable of.

 

[If1HitU]

Good shooting takes practice,practice.and more practice.That's my opinion!

 

[Walkalong]

When I hit the 16" steel plate at 108 yards five out of nine with my 9MM 1911. Or four out of six with my 586. Seven of nine with my .38 Super 1911. Seven of eight with my 9MM Shield on the 10" plate at 17 yards.

Three shots into 1 1/2" at 100 yards with my .35 Remington from a rest. Five shots under an inch at 100 yards with my 77/22 .22 Hornet from a rest. A ragged five shot hole with my FN SPR .308 at 100 yards, and under 1 MOA or better at 300.

Under 1/4 MOA with my Benchrest gun.

 

[Ru4real]

When I hit the 16" steel plate at 108 yards five out of nine with my 9MM 1911.

That's fun, isn't it? I shoot at clay pigeons on the 100 yard sand berm with my 1911 45's. I only hit maybe 1 in 10 shots, but hitting the sand tells me instantly how and where I missed.

 

[1911 guy]

Good shooting is accomplishing the intended goal of the shot.
That might be a tight group at a few hundred yards, or it might be a fast center mass shot with a handgun from concealment. Maybe downing a close flushing grouse that's crossing to your right with a shotgun.
Just as a good motorcycle for motocross is different than a good motorcycle for the highway, good shooting is defined by the specific application.

 

[JR24]

That's fun, isn't it? I shoot at clay pigeons on the 100 yard sand berm with my 1911 45's. I only hit maybe 1 in 10 shots, but hitting the sand tells me instantly how and where I missed.

I can't even see a clay 100.

I set a goal for the particular trip. Mostly, lately, I've been doing defensive drills so I'll shoot for X% (usually 90%) hits in the A zone under certain time constraints.

Slow fire I always want 1-2 inches below 15 yards.

 

[murf]

... pull the trigger!

murf

 

[U.S.SFC_RET]

"For aiming shots, standing off hand with a rifle at 100 yards, my 3 shot group size should be twice or less the size of my resting group for non-match rifles."
This my friend is a very difficult thing to do. If you can shoot a 2'' group bench resting and your standard is 4'' standing unsupported then you are one hell of a good shot.
A 7 1/2 inch pie plate is a good standard to meet shooting in the standing unsupported position.

 

[Ru4real]

This my friend is a very difficult thing to do. If you can shoot a 2'' group bench resting and your standard is 4'' standing unsupported then you are one hell of a good shot.
A 7 1/2 inch pie plate is a good standard to meet shooting in the standing unsupported position.

We all agree practice is the key. Ten years ago I could still shoot a 4" group, off hand, with a peep sighted 30-30 Winchester. Not anymore, sadly. Scoped, yes.

I have to practice a lot more with a handgun than a rifle. For me, it is really hard to meet my goal with handgun, be it a revolver or semi-auto. That said, I simply enjoy shooting a handgun!

 

[Armored farmer]

I love to compete.
For me good shooting is placing in the top 10%, or better in an organized competition.
You know you're shooting good at your particular discipline if you can hang with or beat the guys that are geared up and practicing the same sport that you are.

 

[Rshooter]

Going to the range and sighting in a 1903 and 1917 with my son is good shooting. These old eyes cannot shoot as well as they used to but I still enjoy shooting.

 

[Walkalong]

That's fun, isn't it? I shoot at clay pigeons on the 100 yard sand berm with my 1911 45's. I only hit maybe 1 in 10 shots, but hitting the sand tells me instantly how and where I missed.

Yes, lots of fun. I also like to shoot at clay pigeons on the 100 yard berm. I do it with various pistols, including my 2 1/2" 686 using light target loads.
And yes, misses are more than hits. One of my favorites for this in my SA .38 Super 1911.

 

[Ru4real]

Walk along - that is a great looking 686.

Six days ago I bought a Model 37, J frame air weight, nickel plated, made in 1974. It will be a Christmas present for someone close to me. I couldn't believe it when I ran the serial number because 1974 is significant to the giftee (birth). Just a lucky find.

 

[CCWdownrangeP2]

Shooting 85-90% success rate at 6" steel at 15yds with any handgun. I'm working hard on making that 90-95%.

 

[golfer_ray]

Well we certainly have some great shooters here, or it could be like a golf forum I belong to where all claim to hit 300 yard drives.
I live in the city, so my shooting is at a local shooting range. With my VP9, I can get 4" groups at 10 yards. With my XD-S, more like 9" groups.

 

[Demi-human]

Meh. You're name is not ShooterRay.

Not always am I up to par shooting.

I don't take a handicap either!