The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > Hogan's Alley > Handguns: General Handgun Forum

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old June 6, 2013, 02:02 PM   #1
Rebel9793
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 11, 2012
Location: Florida
Posts: 134
What is the farthest shot you would feel comfortable with a handgun?

I was at the range today despite the nasty storms they got going on down here in SW Florida an a gentleman asked me how I was so comfortable shooting 50yds with a .44 magnum with a 9.5" barrel. I regularly practice out to 100 an have shot soda cans out a 125 for giggles, but the question got me wondering, at which range do you feel comfortable making a shot with a handgun? in a hunting sitiuation?
Rebel9793 is offline  
Old June 6, 2013, 02:20 PM   #2
Jay24bal
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 13, 2011
Location: Cleveland, OH
Posts: 735
not far

I am not all that accurate with a handgun in my hand, so not nearly as far as you! (good work though, 100 yards is impressive in my book).

I have screwed around at the 50 yard line with a handgun and usually have about a 75% hit rate on a 9" target. Even though I have never hunted with a handgun and have no intention of doing so, I would probably limit myself to 25-30 yards as at that distance I am comfortable hitting the vital zones reliably.

Maybe one day I will acquire a long-barreled handgun with an optic of some kind, but for now all I have is standard open sight pistols. All of my handgun practice is done at defensive distances.
__________________
I like guns.

Once Fired Brass, Top quality, Fast shipping, Best prices.
http://300AacBrass.com/ -10% Coupon use code " Jay24bal "
Jay24bal is offline  
Old June 6, 2013, 02:27 PM   #3
Bob Wright
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 10, 2012
Location: Memphis, Tennessee
Posts: 2,986
The exact rage is hard to say for deer. I've not made 85 yard shots because of the surroundings, such as too thick cover or the animal was not visible enough for a good aiming point, then taken 100 yard shots when everything was right.

Groundhog, with a wide open field, 150 yards.

With a .44 Magnum, shot placement is not so critical on varmints as on larger game.

Bob Wright
Bob Wright is offline  
Old June 6, 2013, 02:33 PM   #4
Rebel9793
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 11, 2012
Location: Florida
Posts: 134
Thanks Jay. It took lots of practice to be able to do that haha. This redhawk is a shooter that is for sure. Ive taken hogs out to about 75 yards but I feel comfortable if one stepped out in the open around 100-125 I could take him down without any trouble. I was just wanting to see how people felt about the topic.
Rebel9793 is offline  
Old June 6, 2013, 02:39 PM   #5
JimPage
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 21, 2010
Location: Rome, NY
Posts: 941
For deer, I'd shoot at 50 yards off hand. Out to 125 with a rest (tree, walking stick, handy rock, etc). That's with either .357 or .44 Magnum.
__________________
Jim Page

Cogito, ergo armatum sum
JimPage is offline  
Old June 7, 2013, 12:01 AM   #6
OkieCruffler
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 9, 2001
Location: Denison Texas on the banks of Texhoma
Posts: 1,556
With a regular handgun(at least as regular as I have, 8inch barrel and 2X scope) from a semi stable rest I'm pretty confident out to 100yards. Take away the rest and that range drops to about 50. Now give me my 15" 30/30 AI and its 6X,then 200 is quite realistic.
__________________
John A. Monroe, Never Forgive, Never Forget, Blood Pays Blood
OkieCruffler is offline  
Old June 7, 2013, 07:38 AM   #7
bird_dog
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 26, 2004
Posts: 225
First handgun buck I shot was at 50 yards, freehand. (.44 mag, 6 inch barrel, red dot scope) I subsequently shot a doe the following year at about 85, freehand. Not an easy shot, but I was very steady that day.

I would not hesitate to shoot, from a rest, in the neighborhood of 100 yards.
bird_dog is offline  
Old June 7, 2013, 08:13 AM   #8
jonnyc
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 20, 2009
Location: PA
Posts: 1,731
Completely depends on the gun, but with some of my 9mms or .45 revolvers I would take confident body shots at 50-60 yds.
__________________
2024 PA Cartridge Collector Show; Aug. 16-17, 2024!!!
Buy...Sell...Trade All Types of Ammunition & Ordnance
PM or email me for 2024 show details.
jonnyc is offline  
Old June 7, 2013, 08:23 AM   #9
Rifleman1776
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 25, 2010
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 3,309
Depends on the amount of practice the shooter has done. On the range, a practiced shooter that knows his gun can do 100 yards.
Hunting in hard to judge conditions, out of breath, moving target is a whole 'nuther animule. I was very good with my .44 mag. Redhawk but would never have tried a hunting shot over 50 yards.
Rifleman1776 is offline  
Old June 7, 2013, 08:56 AM   #10
mxsailor803
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 8, 2010
Location: SC
Posts: 1,344
Farthest game shot I would comfortably take would be between 50-75yds. My grandpa, dad, and me broke out all of our .44mag's and goofed around at a man sized steel plate at 300yds. Granted, it took us multiple shots to get on target and we used some "hot" loads. None of us bothered with trying to check grouping at that range since we would probably never do it again lol. Go figure, I'm shooting the shortest barrel, 6" .
mxsailor803 is offline  
Old June 7, 2013, 09:13 AM   #11
Microgunner
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 6, 2006
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 3,324
I'm a 25 yard max off hand kind of guy.
__________________
Proud NRA Benefactor Member
Microgunner is offline  
Old June 7, 2013, 09:16 AM   #12
mavracer
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 27, 2008
Location: midwest
Posts: 4,209
Depends on how you define handgun.
With 14" Thompson Center or similar bolt action with a 4-6X scope off a rest I'd say 300 yards given that I felt the round had enough oomph to take the animal cleanly at that range.
If you mean something that's more of a belt carried iron sighted revolver, free standing off hand I'd say 100 would be my absolute limit, but I'd need good conditions.
__________________
rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6
Quote:
originally posted my Mike Irwin
My handguns are are for one purpose only, though...
The starter gun on the "Fat man's mad dash tactical retreat."
mavracer is offline  
Old June 7, 2013, 11:39 AM   #13
black mamba
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 13, 2011
Location: SW Florida
Posts: 890
With iron sights I'm good to about 30 yds off-hand and double that off a solid rest. My near 60 yr old eyes just don't cut it beyond that. With a scoped revolver good to 125 yds, but lousy off-hand because of the extra weight.

My best compromise is a light weight red dot sight, which keeps me a cylinder full in a 5" group at 50 yds off-hand and out to a 100 yds off a solid rest. "5 in 5" is my rule of thumb for hunting accuracy.
black mamba is offline  
Old June 7, 2013, 12:56 PM   #14
Buzzcook
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 29, 2007
Location: Everett, WA
Posts: 6,126
Depends on the target.
25yds is my maximum if I want to hit 9 1/2" x 11" paper. On a good day all my shots will be on paper.
Buzzcook is offline  
Old June 7, 2013, 01:12 PM   #15
James K
Member In Memoriam
 
Join Date: March 17, 1999
Posts: 24,383
I am not sure what "comfortable" means. A certain hit? A certain kill or disable hit? A maybe hit? A close miss? At what ranges? With what gun?

I have hit silhouette targets at 100 yards regularly, shooting DA with a 3" barrel Model 36, but I could not be sure of doing that under stress. Yet, I could hit every shot with a Model 27 or Model 29. All that being said, beyond 50 yards, given the option, I would use a rifle.

Jim
James K is offline  
Old June 7, 2013, 01:38 PM   #16
L_Killkenny
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 2, 2007
Location: Iowa
Posts: 2,676
Never shot a critter beyond 50 yards with a handgun. I would it's just never come up. I wouldn't hesitate a 25-35 yards shot on small game with a .22lr. On critters like skunks, coyotes, groundhogs, etc the range is less a concern than how many shells are left in the gun. On deer I feel I'm more limited in range of my .357 than my ability to hit out to 100-150 yards. I can make those shots, probably shouldn't if they present themselves.

Things would have to be dead nuts perfect for me use it at 100 yards and I don't think things are ever dead nuts perfect in the field.
L_Killkenny is offline  
Old June 7, 2013, 01:57 PM   #17
osbornk
Senior Member
 
Join Date: August 11, 2012
Location: Mountains of Appalachia
Posts: 1,598
Change the yards mentioned above to feet. There is a reason I have 3 rifles and 2 shotguns in addition to my 3 handguns. Clint said it best "A mans got to know his limitations."
osbornk is offline  
Old June 7, 2013, 01:58 PM   #18
cetanner
Member
 
Join Date: February 19, 2012
Posts: 95
To be honest, 25 yards is my maximum for being consistent.
cetanner is offline  
Old June 7, 2013, 02:33 PM   #19
Dragline45
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 30, 2010
Posts: 3,513
Depends on the size of the target. I often set up an 8" steel plate at 50 yards and hit it about 6 or 7 out of 10 times off hand with iron sights. At 100 yards I can hit a man size target no problem.
Dragline45 is offline  
Old June 7, 2013, 03:03 PM   #20
HawkeyeNRAlifer
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 6, 2007
Location: Iowa
Posts: 316
I've handgun hunted rabbits and squirrels for decades, with both .22's and light loaded centerfires. I once had the occasion to shoot a squirrel that was running toward a distant grove of trees from 70 yards. I had declined the shot at first from 40yds, but watching it continue to run straight line away from me, I took the shot. Now this was with a 1911 loaded with 230 lead reloads, so you can imagine my surprise when I nailed him on the first shot. That's my longest handgun hit. I normally don't shoot at anything over maybe 30-35yds unless i'm scoped and the critter is standing still.
My most surprising shot would be one with a single action 44 mag(downloaded for rabbit) on a covey of quail the dogs had on point. My hunting buddy was amazed, I just acted like it was normal.
HawkeyeNRAlifer is offline  
Old June 7, 2013, 03:20 PM   #21
CDR_Glock
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 30, 2010
Posts: 704
What is the farthest shot you would feel comfortable with a handgun?

Single action 1911 or Coonan 357 Mgnum 1911, 50-75 yards.

Concealed carry guns : 25 yards. I don't know how justified shooting anything further in a defense situation can made.
CDR_Glock is offline  
Old June 7, 2013, 08:20 PM   #22
James K
Member In Memoriam
 
Join Date: March 17, 1999
Posts: 24,383
"I don't know how justified shooting anything further in a defense situation can made."

Unfortunately, in a defense situation, you might not be the one who controls the scenario. It could be a good idea to at least practice a bit and have some idea what you and your gun are capable of doing beyond what you consider "justified."

Jim
James K is offline  
Old June 7, 2013, 10:05 PM   #23
OkieCruffler
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 9, 2001
Location: Denison Texas on the banks of Texhoma
Posts: 1,556
Picture youself in that Colorado Theater at the opposite side of the freak. That's why I still practice with my carry gun at longer ranges.
__________________
John A. Monroe, Never Forgive, Never Forget, Blood Pays Blood
OkieCruffler is offline  
Old June 8, 2013, 01:15 AM   #24
myusername
Member
 
Join Date: May 11, 2013
Posts: 99
Depends on the gun. With an LCP about 5 feet. With a 1911 about 100 feet. With a scoped Blackhawk .44 probably 100 yards.
myusername is offline  
Old June 8, 2013, 02:04 AM   #25
BIG P
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 8, 2010
Location: North Georgia
Posts: 1,679
Out to around 150 with My SRH.454 OFF A rest.scoped of course.
out to 250 with t/c encore 16'' 7mm08.
BIG P is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:32 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.08794 seconds with 10 queries