Shooting standards

[Machine Shop Dude]

What was the accuracy standard Jeff Cooper recommended for defensive shooting at various distances? I have a 1911 and I want to know i I am anywhere close to proficient as my handgun shooting sucks.

 

[Frank Ettin]

What was the accuracy standard Jeff Cooper recommended for defensive shooting at various distances?....

Well for many years, going back to Jeff Cooper's day, part of the "final exam" for the handgun classes at Gunsite was what they call the "school drill" shot for score.

For each string the student starts standing with a holstered gun and is expected to --

• at 3 yards fire a single shot to the brain stem in 1.5 seconds
  
  
• at 7 yard fire two rounds to center of mass in 1.5 seconds
  
  
• at 10 yards fire two rounds to center of mass in 2 seconds
  
  
• at 25 yards fire two rounds to center of mass in 3.5 seconds from a kneeling position
  
  
• at 35 yards fire two rounds to center of mass in 7 seconds with movement from a rollover prone position

The start signal for each string is the target turning to face the student, and the target faces the student only for the allotted time. IIRC the 35 yard sting is only done for the Intermediate class (350). Also, in 350 when shooting each string the student is required to take a step to the right or left at the start signal. The step is not required in the 250 (entry level) class.

 

[BigBore44]

I have a 1911 and I want to know i I am anywhere close to proficient as my handgun shooting sucks.

So my guess would be “probably not”. Good news though, you can change that.

 

[earlthegoat2]

So my guess would be “probably not”. Good news though, you can change that.

Yeah. Me too. I’m sure we will all be in good company.

 

[lemaymiami]

Another standard to meet is the same one officers in every state have to meet to qualify at the range (part of each state’s officer certification standards). I’m long out of police work but I’m pretty sure those standards are public info... Gunsite and similar outfits probably set a bit higher standard but officer certification standards are nationwide if a bit basic...

 

[FL-NC]

3 things to invest in: professional training, a pro-timer, and a 22 that closely resembles your primary handgun.

 

[mcb]

Go shoot a few USPSA or IDPA matches. It will give you a very good sense at how well you can shoot and handle your chosen handgun. It's also a great venue to improve you gun handling skills.

 

[Captcurt]

Back in the 90's I was working nights and had a chance to shoot IDPA for a couple of years. It was a blast. (No pun intended). One of my friends that I shot with was 4th in the state at 3-gun IPSC. Any time that he was there you were shooting for 2nd place. That kind of competition will push you to be better. I never came close to beating him at IDPA.

 

[Zerodefect]

https://www.tdiohio.com/

Fun and worth every penny.

 

[AZAndy]

I don't know how the late Colonel measured things, but the NRA pistol instructor class requires shooting within a 3" circle at ten yards. I forget how many rounds they ask for. That seems like a decent measure of basic competence. There are certainly guns I wouldn't bet I could do that with, like .38 snubnoses, but it wouldn't be difficult with a 1911 for me.

 

[Jim Watson]

These guys have hundreds of drills, many with par scores.
https://pistol-forum.com/forumdisplay.php?47-Drills-of-the-Week

There have been three IDPA Classifiers, the original 90 shot, the revised 72 shot, and the short form 25 shot that is about all anybody does anymore.

There is a recent FBI qualifier.
https://www.activeresponsetraining.net/the-new-fbi-qualification-course

My club once set up the original sky marshal qualifier. It requires blazing speed.

Competition like USPSA, IDPA, GSSF, or any of a number of local variants will show you how you compare to others, but you have to do it enough to learn the rules and make it a skill test, not Simon Says.

 

[Chuck R.]

These guys have hundreds of drills, many with par scores.
https://pistol-forum.com/forumdisplay.php?47-Drills-of-the-Week

There have been three IDPA Classifiers, the original 90 shot, the revised 72 shot, and the short form 25 shot that is about all anybody does anymore.

There is a recent FBI qualifier.
https://www.activeresponsetraining.net/the-new-fbi-qualification-course

My club once set up the original sky marshal qualifier. It requires blazing speed.

Competition like USPSA, IDPA, GSSF, or any of a number of local variants will show you how you compare to others, but you have to do it enough to learn the rules and make it a skill test, not Simon Says.

I actually prefer the 72 shot, think it's a pretty good assessment due to all that's involved. While the 25rd is quick and doesn't make for an all day affair, there's really not all that much to it.

 

[Hangingrock]

What was the accuracy standard Jeff Cooper recommended for defensive shooting at various distances? I have a 1911 and I want to know i I am anywhere close to proficient as my handgun shooting sucks.

Since you mentioned Jeff Cooper you may or may not want to obtain a copy of " The Modern Technique Of The Pistol by G B Morrison, Jeff Cooper Editorial Advisor Copyright 1991.