How far do you usually shoot your handguns?

Status
Not open for further replies.
When I buy a new self defense pistol or even a .22, I use a 3/4 Silhouette target at 25 yards and aim center mass from a rest. This let's me know what I'm working with as to sights and how the trigger is functioning. Thereafter I shoot the LEOSA course with the SD's which is 3 to 25 yards. I do this a couple of times a week to keep in practice and because I like the drills. I do it daily a couple of weeks before qualification. For regular range fun it's usually 7 to 15 yards. I have been known to pop rounds at a 100 yard Silhouette with full size CZ's in 9 MM and .45 just for the heck of it. Having my own range is great but I burn up a lot of ammunition.
 
The big question is what handgun is it? If it’s a pocket rocket then you practice at whatever distance you can see the pisspoor sights at until you get a little better and then you double that range and your about done. Heavier and larger guns of a more powerful chambering or better sights go out as far as you can hit. Why practice with a 6” .357 or 44 at 15 yards when you can make pie plate shots or better at 150. Full size autos are the same, though chamberings are typically the same or only slightly bigger as the pistol size increases, you get hits as far as you can as often as you can and you try to do better each time out. My beretta holds 15 and at 50 yards I used to be able to put 12 of them on a metal plate consistently, so I stretched out to 75. The grendel/keltec pocket rocket was hard to hit with at 5 yards so I blasted the snot out of soda cans at 7 and then 10 yards.

I think the contender counts as a hand rifle, but I start at 100 with it and work it out to 300
 
I've noticed that it is common for people to shoot various size targets in lieu of using targets at a variety of ranges. Outside of scored "bullseye" shooting, practical handgun disciplines involve a trade-off of speed versus precision. If the target is at 3 yards, there is more practical value in shooting the target quickly from the draw than there is in taking a long time to place the bullet in the center of the X. As the range increases, most people will need to slow down to make hits as the angular diameter of a target of the same size decreases with distance. Because of this, it is common to use smaller diameter targets instead of placing them at greater ranges. I dislike this for a number of reasons, but particularly because of the effects of gun-sight offset and parallax. Therefore, I prefer to always use targets of about 6" diameter or 6x11" (A-zone) and put them at ranges from 3 yards to 25 yards. I shoot at 7 yards more often than 3 yards. In theory, 3 yards should allow me to shoot more quickly from the draw but in practice I just don't find much precision that can be traded for speed versus 7 yards. Even if I'm point shooting or practicing a retention position, I'm more likely to shoot at 4, 5 or 7 yards. I tend to practice the most at 10 to 15 yards -- perhaps only because it makes me slow down just enough that I feel less like I'm burning through ammo too fast. I regularly shoot at 20 and 25 yards every session, but this is not where most of my practice is. I often shoot at 40 and 50 yards, but typically only one cylinder of cartridges. I rarely shoot at 100 and 200 yards, perhaps just a few times a year. My target is always the same size (the ~6" I mentioned) at all ranges. Shooting a giant gong at 80 yards might be fun, but I don't see any practical purpose to it. I will use a larger target backer to diagnose misses.
 
I usually shoot anywhere from 7 to 25 yards. I have only recently started working with my wife again. She seems more interested this time. I have been having her shoot at 5 yards. Next time out I may back her up to 7. Keep her where she can build her confidence & improve.

Edited to change 15 to 25. I'm a lousy typist.
 
Last edited:
Ive been doing quite a bit of reading and watching youtube etc, as handguns in general are my weakest firearm type.

I really only started investing time in them about two (maybe 3) years ago ... what ranges do you guys usually shoot at?
I believe range practice should be deliberate instead of just blasting at single stationary target that becomes more of a waste of ammunition.

I got into shooting as an extension of my martial arts weapons training from teenage years to my twenties after my stint in the Army which led to USPSA match shooting. My martial arts masters told us that use of weapons is an extension of our hands/arms to project power at greater distances and both of my 4th and 8th degree master/grandmaster encouraged the students to consider incorporating firearms training as "Best of martial arts masters cannot move faster than bullet fired by a proficient shooter ... And when you get old, your reaction time and strength of punches/kicks will decline but you can still pull the trigger just as fast."

This is why I also learned to point shoot as I believe in having options in life and practicing to be able to shoot without the use of gun sights or eye sights under defensive gun fight or low/no light conditions is good to have under my belt - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/trigger-control.834737/page-2#post-11244660


Point shooting practice at 5-7 yards
:

When I teach/share point shooting with others, I have them imagine holding a very long barreled pistol with 5 to 7 yard long barrel that extends out to target to where they could literally "poke" the point of aim (POA) with the muzzle. Once this "sight alignment" is established and synchronized with "natural point of aim", pulling/pressing the trigger without moving the front sight/pistol as discussed in detail in this "Trigger Control" thread, bullet hole/point of impact (POI) WILL appear at POA consistently - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/trigger-control.834737/page-2#post-11245649

So I teach my students to start their range session practice by initially establishing/verifying natural point of aim (eyes closed) at 5 yards and point shoot (eyes open) at multiple targets placed at 5-7 yards using Jerry Miculek's fast draw to bang technique - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/trigger-control.834737/page-2#post-11245640

Among different range practice drills, I believe this fast and multiple target point shooting drill is perhaps the most significant shooting you can do at the range as it may just save your life by being able to draw and fire then place follow up shots on target before your threat gets off the first shot. And why point shoot at multiple targets? Well, life is not fair and you may have to engage multiple threats, fast. ;)


Sighted point shooting practice at 10-15 yards
:

Once they have mastered point shooting at 7 yards (Placing all fast shots in 4" groups around POA), I have them move copy paper targets further by 1 yard until they can place all shots at 10-15 yards. For greater precision shooting, I have them look past the front sight (POA clear and front sight fuzzy). Once proficient, I have them cut the copy paper target in half then quarter (Practicing with smaller targets help you shoot better and 1/4 copy paper targets are smaller than head shots ;)).


Target shooting for groups at 25 yards:

Since retirement, I no longer shoot matches and now primarily practice sighted/unsighted point shooting out to 15 yards. But for load development and accuracy testing, I will test most accurate loads determined at 15 yards out to 25 yards resting hands on sandbag/box or using pistol rest. (Increasingly aided by optics, especially 50-100 yard PCC accuracy testing)

With glaucoma and touch of cataract wearing progressive glasses, I am surprised (actually shocked) to still produce around 2" groups at 25 yards like this recent group ... Thank goodness arthritis hasn't set in too bad ... Yet. :D

index.php
 
Last edited:
Mostly "contact" range to 15, but I'll shoot steel IPSCs at 25 for a few rounds. "Contact" distance drills are done on paper with my M&P 22, so that the target won't get blown apart, and so I don't get fragged.
 
I usually max out about 30 yards. I have shot handguns out to 150 yards but I'm just poking at it and not expecting hits. Depends on the gun though. My 10" freedom arms can be shot beyond 50 yards accurately due to sight radius and having an excellent trigger combined with its long dingus end I can usually hit a beer can fairly regularly at 75+ yards. My glock 42 MOB (minute of beer can) is about 15 yards or less.

I'm most comfortable at 7-10 yards if shooting off hand , I look like a pro when I shoot at 3 yards! I have developed a bit of a flinch that I'm working hard to overcome, not sure the source :rofl: . some days are worse than others. If I can settle down and relax I can break the flinch but when I start shooting big guns fast it resurfaces .
 
Regular handguns, not handrifles lol.

Ive been doing quite a bit of reading and watching youtube etc, as handguns in general are my weakest firearm type. I really only started investing time in them about two (maybe 3) years ago. What I noticed is that a great deal of what Im seeing, and reading, about is 10-25yds being average to long for many/most handgun shooters.

Am I wrong in that observation? what ranges do you guys usually shoot at?
my range likes us to keep the practice at 7 yards. so what i do is extend that by 1 yard every second visit. now i am up to 10 yards for this upcoming week.

my range is indoors.

i think the 7 yards distance is for self defense, as any further away, you have a chance to find shelter to avoid confrontation?

which is very strange, in my state, the qualification to obtain a CCW is at 25 yards.

clearly, if you are shooting at anyone that far away, you had a chance to beat feet.
 
I shoot at an indoor range, for my 38, 357 snubbies and my .380 I shoot at 15ft, for my 9mm derringer 10ft, for my 357 5.5" SA 25ft and for my 44 mag 30ft., max range is 50ft.
 
I have fired the Series 70 at 50 yards, prone.
However, usually out to 25 yards.
 
Here are a few example. A big, HUGE Plus for the Beeman R7. Top shelf, last a life time and will be handed down to future generations. Shoot in back yard, shoot more frequently and have plenty of ammo all the time.And make no mistake. It is a adult air rifle as well.


Replied to the wrong thread perhaps? And I agree lol..... actually that brings up something else along the same train if thought. I've been practicing with an airpistol at 25-30yds (cause that's where my air rifle target is) and that feels long to me for the cp99 airgun I'm shooting. It's a BB gun so no plinking plates any closer, but might set up in the garage at 5-7yds.


And thanks for the replies guy, I was curious. I've never actually checked to see how far we shoot most of the time.
 
We average 15-50 sometimes shorter for giggles, when we start mounting optics we'll push harder to 75-150. As it is, my lil sp101 is a wicked riot at 50 yds, but can't wait for optics for the single 7, blackhawk, and 1911/10mm+whatever more revolvers we get for hunting lol.
 
I usually shoot my handguns at 10 yds, but occasionally I'll shoot 7 or 5 yds and once in a while 25 yds. The shorter ranges make me think I know what I'm doing then the 25 yd ones show me that I don't.

It's just recreation to me. Although I carry every day I don't do actual defensive drills as I think the chance I'd ever need them is tiny. But if I did, the familiarity I gain from shooting 2 or 3 times a week should be of some help. The majority of my shooting is done with my carry gun when I'm shooting pistols. That's the one I want to know real well.
 
Carry guns, 7, 10, 15, 20, 25 yards with the last two only done sporadically. Big bores, my woods and hunting guns, 25, 50. My Super Black Hawk, 29-2, 50 and once in a while, 100. Contender and Tracker 17, 100 regularly.
From a good rest on a calm day five inches is normal with the 44s and two with the last two.
 
7-10 yards for most defensive drills.
10-25 yards for most casual handgunning.
50-100 yards for fun, and when testing loads for my hunting revolvers.

Overall average, I'm probably 10-15 yards most of the time.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top