I've never subscribed to the "belly gun" philosophy.
I think that a gun should be accurate, in your hands, or you shouldn't use it.
It's not just your safety, but innocent bystanders that you have consider.
I'll admit before God and everybody, that I'm not a "good" pistol shot.
I've been working over the years, and I have improved.
I actually shoot better from a combat stance, than I do from a bench.
Last night, I shot my PM9 from approx. 25yds, at a B27r (reduced)silhouette target.
I stood in the modified Weaver stance.
I didn't empty the mag as fast as I could, but as soon as I could get a good, steady sight picture, I fired.
Using Winchester "white box" ammo, my "group" was <10", all in COM.
I suspect that one of you gentlemen, or ladies, that has shot from a bench for years, could take my PM9 and turn in a 2-3" group.
I generally shoot from 10-12 feet for two reasons:
1. The majority of all self-defense shootings fall within that range.
2. You get instant, usually positive feed back from that distance, which in my opinion, makes you a better shooter.
As a kid growing up, me and my brother would normally shoot from farther back.
We were out in the woods, but the range was around 20 yards usually.
Neither of us ever did very well when we shot pistols, so as I grew up, I never had much faith in a pistol.
When I went throuh my CCW class, the (Police) instructor advised us to start out up close to the target. He suggested 3 ft.
He said, when you start getting really good groups at that range, back up another 3ft, and shoot there until you get really groups again, etc.
That way, your skills improve, and you don't get discouraged.
When my brother got his P32, he laughed at me when I started walking up the target. But, from 10ft, he couldn't hit a paper plate, while I was getting fist-sized groups.
He thought his gun was junk.
We walked closer, and he started hitting the target.
By the time we finished, he was getting the small groups from 12ft.
I don't know about most of you, but when I zero a scope, I zero at 25yds, before I try shooting at 100yds.
YMMV.