What size target can you reliably hit at 30 yards?

[PeteRR]

20 oz plastic soda bottle with my custom Para Ordnance at 50 yards.

 

[Lupinus]

I dunno I'm still not a great pistol shot

I'll stick with the long side of a barn

 

[mek42]

At 25 yards I can keep everything on a 16" square target with a 4" 1911 in 45 ACP. My groups are smaller than the 16", but I don't remember the exact measurements.

This is off hand, one hand on the pistol, iron sights, with not much difference if I am shooting right or left handed.

 

[herohog]

In 1994 I was able to put 9 of 10 (or better) in the 8 ring of a B-27 sillhouette at 25 yards with a 9mm Norinco Tokarev, No problem.

These days, I'm happy if I can keep it in the 5 @ 20 yards!

 

[M2 Carbine]

I can't find any 30 yard targets.

This is about what I do offhand at 50 yards with the compact guns. The target is 8.5 inches wide, so I'd say at 30 yards I'd mostly stay inside 6 inches.

 

[SoCalShooter]

As for some of the claims made here, I'll just say "I'd sure like to see it!". Wooo-doggy, gotta love the internet.

I'll get you a picture of a target the next time I have a chance.

 

[xring44]

There are many finer pistol shots than I, being well past the half century mark I've found a diopter is my best friend with iron sights. I can actually see the sights and the target.

I shoot hunter silhouettes with a dot sighted S&W 686 fairly well, but since we are only shooting iron sights, with my favorite 1911 in .45 ACP, with aforementioned diopter, I believe I can keep them all in the black of a 25 yard target at the prescribed distance of 30 yards, standing, two hand hold.

This is not to say I can do it everyday, but on most days I believe I can.
I normally shoot at 15 yards and keep them in the X and 10 ring.

 

[Huddog]

Kimber .45 size of paper plate 6 to 8 out of 8.

 

[M2 Carbine]

I found a couple targets of a .380 and 9x18 Makarov at 35 yards.
So I would say I need about 6 inches for most compact guns.

 

[doc2rn]

I can shoot 3" suckers out of a 2x4 at that range with my 6" Ruger MKII.
I also like those neon colorred golf balls to practice on.

 

[f4t9r]

I can hit a 4 ft circle all day long at 30 yards.
I would say a pepsi can is no problem at 30.

 

[CNYCacher]

I believe there are other "What was your best shot?" threads.

To answer the question posed by the OP "What sized target can you consistently hit at 30 yards?":

I can consistently hit a 10" target at 25 yards with my Ruger P89 using two hands standing unsupported.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

I'll get you a picture of a target the next time I have a chance.

You'd better make a video, because a target doesn't prove distance to target, or shooting method/stance. I'll be very impressed if you can do that though. I'll note that you did not say WHICH gun you shoot 8 out of 10 with. You only followed that up with "and this is what I can do with a rimfire...".

Consistently I can put 8 out of 10 shots inside a 2 inch diameter. With my MKIII 22.LR with my Colt I can do about a 4 inch diameter. With my les baer I will let you know.

Japle will also need a video camera...

Currently, I have a few centerfire pistols that’ll shoot groups under 2” at 30 yds.
My Ruger .22/45 will do better than that, probably under an inch. My best 10 shot 25 yd groups with that gun run 1 1/16” to 1 3/8”.
My BHP and Witness .38 Super will both group 5 rounds under 1 ½” at 25 yds.

I never shoot these pistols off sandbags. The groups above were all fired two-handed, standing.

Not saying that it wasn't done; ain't saying that. Just that some video would be very helpful.

 

[RoadkingLarry]

I can put all 7 in the mag through one tight hole just to the left and a bit low of the center of the target with my Kimber Custom II. And yes, all those other holes in the target backer were already there, I promise.

 

[Noxx]

At our club range our standard drill is shooting at clay pigeons on the berm 50 yards away.

One of our favorites here as well.

With the P226, I'd say I can ding a clay at that range 8 out of 10 on the first shot. Now with the 686 I can probably hit a bug in the eye at 30 yards, but then I spend significantly more time lining up when I fire the revolver.

Not so long ago I was a very mediocre shot at best. I made a decision to achieve a certain level of proficiency, and by hitting the range 3-4 days a week I was able to get there pretty quickly. Now I go every other week or so to maintain that level and I feel confident in my abilities should the need arise to exercise them, anything beyond that is just bragging rights.

 

[davepool]

"can you actually SEE the target"

yea sure it's a big fuzzy black dot about 8" in diameter

 

[Ankeny]

Cold, on demand, day in and day out, reliably...not any where near as good as many of these guys. Then again, I am only Master (High Master, Grand Master) or better in a dozen shooting sports. I need to practice.

 

[searcher451]

The real test begins when someone is 30 yards away and shooting back.

 

[Sgt.Dusk]

I can hit the first 5 silhouettes at the range quite reliably. thats ~30yrds.

 

[cpttango30]

I can hit a ground squirrel in the head with either my Beretta Neos or my Kimber Custom II.

Beretta is using Eley Pistol Match ammo and my Kimber using 200gr Rainer Flat point with 5.5gr Titegroup.

 

[GeezerwithGuns]

Oh, something about the size of a dump truck.

 

[XD Fan]

All this braggadocio really ticks me off.

Okay, what's really bothering me is that I don't shoot anywhere close to as well as a lot of you guys. Me? I guess, 10" circle at 30 yards will confine all shots from one magazine, not counting the occasional flier.


I would like to spend an afternoon shooting and learning with some of you guys.

 

[Kind of Blued]

Also, I made a one-time head shot on a humingbird that decided to
rest on my target stand a mere 80 yards away; with a Smith & Wesson
4" barrel model 18-3 .22LR.

HAHA! That is great. I personally HATE hummingbirds. I've had two of them fly directly into my torso in northern Saskatchewan. As small as they are, the sound of them coming in, and the small surface area really makes for a terrifying PUNCH in your chest.

The next time it happens, I think I know the sound well enough to notice in time, and give it a good slap.

Man I hate those things...

 

[Black Majik]

100' x 100'.

I can reliably hit it at 30 yards.

 

[Dysfunctional Individual]

Some gunrag authors boast about hitting 2.5" to 3" offhand at 25 yards (in the guise of "testing" the "accuracy" of a new pistol for their article).