Practice Distances for Concealed Carry Pistol

Status
Not open for further replies.
When I was a resident of Pennsylvania, I was a member of three sportsmen's clubs Millvale, Northside and Beaver Valley. All three had facilities for shooting handguns. Two of the three had 50Yd lines In 20 plus years I never witnessed, that I can recall members of the previously mention organizations shooting from the 50Yd line. All three facilities had 25Yd lines. One of those facilities I talked the the range committee person into putting in place a 7Yd line which quickly became the most used. Then I talked that person into allowing humanoid shaped targets as opposed to bullseye targets.

Here in NC I'm a land share owner in a shooting facility. Bullseye match's are occasionally shot but the majority off shooting takes places on ranges with steel targets. From what I've witnessed people shoot from as close to targets as they can with in safety limitations. I just do not see 25-50Yd distances being shot that much.
 
Remember, most true"self defense" situations are very close in. Mabey 6 feet or less. I agree w marksmanship training @ distance as well, but by the time you identify the threat he might well have tackled you. Is important to not ignore your close in zone. Have a plan to protect your gun from being taken from you. Is good to be able to draw w either hand, less he has a hold of you. Focus on your holster & draw methods.
 
0-15 feet.
Lots of point and hip shooting—right and left one handed and two handed shooting.
Lots of muzzle strikes.
Lots of combatives along with weapon retention.
15feet to 15 yards-lots of movement towards cover.
Lots of making a challenge and shooting from behind cover
 
Last edited:
bearcreek said:
Was this a response to my question?
Click to expand...
Some studies on gunfight statistics.
Nearly all gunfights occur up close—0-21 feet.
That is by police which includes sniper incidents.
We all train mainly for what we are most likely to face.
For me that is up close.
 
25 yards is 1/4 of a football field, 2 and 1/2 first downs. That seems pretty far for a self protection situation when you are carrying. Probably good for practicing though.
 
I'm not so much concerned with the likelyhood of use as I am with the notion that shooting further than 10 to 15 yards is going to be a problem if the situation warrants it.
 
Hangingrock said:
Tom Givens author: Concealed Carry Class The ABCs Of Self-Defense tools And Tactics -Chapter Twelve: Training Priorities, a very informative read concerning shooting distances among the information provided.
Click to expand...
Based on a THR thread recommending Givens' book I bought it a few weeks ago. Hangingrock is right: Givens has solid statistics from FBI, DEA, and his own students (64 SD incidents) to base his real world distance figures on, and balance his practice distance recommendations. Buy the book and read Chapter 12, Training Priorities for the details. Using that detailed analysis, Givens devotes most of his CCW training to close quarters distances of 3 to 5 yards, or one car length (p. 94). He does support some training in longer distances, as well as extreme close quarters, but suggests distances beyond 25 yards are beyond the scope for most typical CCW carriers.

Craig
 
Craig_VA said:
Givens has solid statistics from FBI, DEA, and his own students (64 SD incidents) to base his real world distance figures on, and balance his practice distance recommendations. .... Using that detailed analysis, Givens devotes most of his CCW training to close quarters distances of 3 to 5 yards, or one car length (p. 94). He does support some training in longer distances, as well as extreme close quarters, but suggests distances beyond 25 yards are beyond the scope for most typical CCW carriers.
Click to expand...
Also, consider what kinds of incidents one is likely to encounter.

A classic Tueller encounter? A defender would be lucky to draw in time to shoot at 3 yards,

Consider the distance at which an attacker at a gas pump or at one's parking space or at an alley opening is likely to engage.

It will not be 25 yards.
 
I've been to the range a few times lately, getting familiar with my sub-compact 9mm and quickly discovered that I couldn't shoot worth a s*** with it. Here I was thinking I'm 'Johnny 2 guns' but, lo and behold, I was quickly dissuaded of that. Not that I was unfamiliar with hand guns, 20 or so years ago I owned a couple of S&W revolvers and I had the Model 10 pretty much spot on at 20 yards. So I figured, ok, what's gonna be the big difference with a 9mm? After watching me fumble my buddy said, "well the safest spot for me to be is in front of you." So I practiced and not just the shooting, but the stance, posture, the getting comfortable with the grip and recoil and gradually taking the yardage out from 5 to 7 and am now at 15 yards. I'll stay at that distance until I feel at ease. Thankfully I have a range very close by and being retired I've plenty of time to hone my skill set.
 
You guys act like 25 yards is far...
Next time you are at the range, and guys go down to the 25yd line, look at them...could a guy at that distance hit you with a pistol? Could you hit him?
I did a lot of backpacking in remote areas. The ability to hit at long range seemed like it could come in useful. Thus, I’ve always done some long range shooting. For me, hitting a five gallon bucket at 100yds with a 9mm is no big deal. My rifle club has 10” round steel plates at various ranges from 25yds to 80yds, and hitting them with a pistol is a fun afternoon for me.
Sure, practice at close range. But don’t neglect pushing the limit, either. Last time I was at the club, I was hitting the 80yd plate with my Beretta 84F 380. Do I foresee needing to defend myself with a 380 at 80yds? Nah. But the pistol can do it.
 
amd6547 said:
You guys act like 25 yards is far...
Click to expand...
No its not far, but it is of no value to me anymore. I've shoot enough bullseye at 25&50 yards to fill several 55 Gal Drums with the 45ACP empty cases. Self-defense incidents are close to contact distances. Thus that's what I concentrate on. In my younger days I've shot handguns out to as an example 200Yds at various targets but that was just a game and or stunt.
 
Bullseye shooting at Bullseye distances is very useful for learning the basics of marksmanship.
You learn a lot at 25 and 50 yards.
If you can hit c-o-m at 25 yards rapid fire, c-o-m at 7 yards is no big deal
However at combat distances of 7 yards more or less, speed is what is important. Most shootings are over before witnesses are even aware they are happening, so I practice at close range.
Besides my range only goes to about 30'
 
John Joseph said:
Bullseye shooting at Bullseye distances is very useful for learning the basics of marksmanship.
You learn a lot at 25 and 50 yards.
Click to expand...

At the mid point of my seventh decade I'm way past learning the basics. Been there done that in my USMC days which are long in the past. Tom Givens book Concealed Carry Class has a more realistic approach to the question of relevant shooting engagement distances. I've shot Bullseye. Is it relevant to defensive shooting not in my opinion (Others May Disagree) What is relevant is the simple avoidance of stupid people, places and things. Example I do not go to convenience stores after the sun goes down. I also suffer no illusions, should I engage in a shooting incident it may turn out not be my day.
 
At this point I’ve done close to 20 classes on response to active shooters. While not anywhere near the typical self defense situation (they are rare enough that they are national news for days), they tend to happen in places like malls or schools or work complexes. When I pick my kids up from school and look down the hallways, there are some very long shots available.

At work we respond to these situations with a rifle, but like everyone else I don’t always have a rifle with me. I’ve pretty much mastered draws and quick shots on target inside 10 yards. I spend a lot of time now at the 50 yard line and now know I can make handgun hits out past 100 yards. Long distance handgun shooting is just another tool in the toolbox.
 
Last edited:
Every LEO course I ever took or taught had a 25 yard stage. Even the yearly LEOSA qualifications have it. What can it hurt? If you get good hit's a 25 yards you'll certainly be good at ten and fifteen. I wouldn't carry a gun that I couldn't hit a target at 25 yards with. I just shot both my Hellcat and a Tauris G3 at 25 yards. They both were fine at that distance. And no I'm not shooting good groups with them at that distance but I'm getting solid kill zone hits.
 
Just because you only have a handgun is no guarantee your attacker only has a handgun; confronted with someone using a carbine to attack you from across the street, distances could easily exceed 25 yards, and the notion that returning fire couldn't be done safely or legally is without any basis in fact or law.

Larry
 
DT Guy said:
Just because you only have a handgun is no guarantee your attacker only has a handgun; confronted with someone using a carbine to attack you from across the street, distances could easily exceed 25 yards, and the notion that returning fire couldn't be done safely or legally is without any basis in fact or law.

Larry
Click to expand...
That "notion" manifests itself in the legal requirement that a deadly attacker be imminent.

It comes into play when the attacker has not actually displayed a firearm. It is based on the distance within which an attacker with a contact weapon can pose an imminent danger.
 
Kleanbore said:
That "notion" manifests itself in the legal requirement that a deadly attacker be imminent.

It comes into play when the attacker has not actually displayed a firearm. It is based on the distance within which an attacker with a contact weapon can pose an imminent danger.
Click to expand...

So the original posit was someone armed with a contact weapon? (Checks OP....) Nope.

And I even mentioned someone armed with a rifle; that would seem fairly clear I was discussing someone armed with a firearm.

An attacker firing at you from across a parking lot (easily more than 25 yards, or 50, in fact) would pose an 'imminent' threat in the use-of-force instructor classes I've taken; can you show some source claiming they wouldn't?

Larry
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

K
  • Locked
Your Practice Strategy at the Range....
Replies
13
Views
2K
King
K
Deadeyejedi
  • Locked
practice shooting for conceal carry course
Replies
9
Views
807
bearcreek
B
D
  • Locked
Practicing for long range shots at an indoor range
Replies
15
Views
715
JohnKSa
JohnKSa
WrongHanded
  • Locked
Concealed Carry: Accuracy, Consistency, Range
2 3
Replies
56
Views
3K
Mark 40
Mark 40
G
  • Locked
What is your practice regimen (or recommendations)?
2 3
Replies
56
Views
2K
JShirley
JShirley
Back
Top