Dumb question about accuracy....

tjhands · April 7, 2005, 06:27 PM

When people say, "I usually get 3 inch groups at 25 yards," are they talking about shooting from a rest or shooting freehand from a standing position, or what? Thanks.

fwcofficer · April 7, 2005, 07:45 PM

At that distance with a handgun, I would hope they were shooting freehand, and standing.

Avid Concealer · April 7, 2005, 09:51 PM

Well it could be either one, but 25 yards isn't that far, I usually shoot my pistol at at least 50 yards unless I'm trying to site it in. Generally speaking the individual would be standing.

tjhands · April 8, 2005, 08:04 AM

Thanks. I didn't know if there was a "standard" or what.

MX5 · April 8, 2005, 03:08 PM

When guys talk about 3 inches at 25 yards standing without support, they are generally talking about the groups they don't screw up, lol. That kind of accuracy day in and day out, cold and on demand, is not typical outside of the upper levels of competition.

Trapp · April 10, 2005, 08:33 AM

I have wondered that question myself. I go to the range and only shoot freehand standing or with a shoulder against a post. I shoot between 15 and 40 yds with my pistols. Some days I do excellent and other days I am mediocre. Then I look at other people. Most (70%) shoot solely at 15 yds. Their shots range from a ragged hole (mine most of the time, this one guy with a BHP every single time, and a few random others) to sometimes missing the target completely. Most people from what i have seen are just down right horrible at the range. (at my range we have 24" by 24" targets). Oh, and I generally don't shoot for "groups" in the conventional sense. I go for practice, to throw lead and to check reloads. For me the only shot that really matters is the first one.

nonquixote · April 15, 2005, 11:39 AM

I'm often sceptical of people's claims of accuracy. The best I've ever done freehand is a little bigger than 4" at 25 yards, and at the range I shoot I've seldom seen anyone do much better than that. I have a few pistols that I can shoot in the 4-6" range fairly regularly. For the rest of my pistols 8-10" at 25 yds is pretty decent for me and I consider that acceptable for a service pistol.

Nonq

Jim Watson · April 15, 2005, 02:21 PM

The ten ring on an NRA bullseye target is 3.39" diameter. It is shot at in slow fire at 50 yards, rapid fire (5 shots in 10 seconds) and timed fire (5 shots in 20 seconds) at 25 yards. With one hand, standing on your hind legs like a man. It is tough.

a10t2 · May 2, 2005, 12:12 PM

Just for reference, at the range the other day I shot 64/100 into an NRA bullseye, 25 yards, timed fire, Weaver stance. 75/100 inside the 8-ring, 91/100 in the 7-ring, and I got all 100 inside the 5-ring this time ;-). Based on other people I've shot with, I would consider this to be average or maybe a little below average. More importantly, it means that I can be 75% sure of making a torso shot at 25 yards should it come down to that.

spacemanspiff · May 2, 2005, 12:44 PM

pshhhawww!

if i cant keep my groups at 25 yards under 1/2 inch after running 10 laps up and down the shooting lanes (during a ceasefire, i'm crazy but not stupid....or is it the other way around?) and using a stance where i have my back to the firing line and arch down so i can shoot between my legs and upside down, and having 2 other shooters intentionally showering me with brass from their shooting on one side, and another shooter touching off a couple rounds of 300 Win Mag with muzzle brake on the other side (you know, to simulate real world defensive shooting scenarios), i aint having a good day.

April 7, 2005, 06:27 PM	#1
tjhands Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2005 Posts: 1,718	Dumb question about accuracy.... When people say, "I usually get 3 inch groups at 25 yards," are they talking about shooting from a rest or shooting freehand from a standing position, or what? Thanks.

April 7, 2005, 07:45 PM	#2
fwcofficer Senior Member Join Date: February 14, 2005 Location: Miami, Fl (Northern Cuba) Posts: 197	At that distance with a handgun, I would hope they were shooting freehand, and standing. __________________ #20 Tony Stewart

April 7, 2005, 09:51 PM	#3
Avid Concealer Senior Member Join Date: April 6, 2005 Posts: 166	Well it could be either one, but 25 yards isn't that far, I usually shoot my pistol at at least 50 yards unless I'm trying to site it in. Generally speaking the individual would be standing. __________________ "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." ~Thomas Jefferson~

April 10, 2005, 08:33 AM	#6
Trapp Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2004 Location: KTN Posts: 1,221	I have wondered that question myself. I go to the range and only shoot freehand standing or with a shoulder against a post. I shoot between 15 and 40 yds with my pistols. Some days I do excellent and other days I am mediocre. Then I look at other people. Most (70%) shoot solely at 15 yds. Their shots range from a ragged hole (mine most of the time, this one guy with a BHP every single time, and a few random others) to sometimes missing the target completely. Most people from what i have seen are just down right horrible at the range. (at my range we have 24" by 24" targets). Oh, and I generally don't shoot for "groups" in the conventional sense. I go for practice, to throw lead and to check reloads. For me the only shot that really matters is the first one. __________________ HDR Ban!? It's a shame all of my guns sank with my boat last week... Time to catch up.....like mayonnaise

May 2, 2005, 12:44 PM	#10
spacemanspiff Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2002 Location: alaska Posts: 3,498	pshhhawww! if i cant keep my groups at 25 yards under 1/2 inch after running 10 laps up and down the shooting lanes (during a ceasefire, i'm crazy but not stupid....or is it the other way around?) and using a stance where i have my back to the firing line and arch down so i can shoot between my legs and upside down, and having 2 other shooters intentionally showering me with brass from their shooting on one side, and another shooter touching off a couple rounds of 300 Win Mag with muzzle brake on the other side (you know, to simulate real world defensive shooting scenarios), i aint having a good day. __________________ "Every man alone is sincere; at the entrance of a second person hypocrisy begins." - Ralph Waldo Emerson "People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use." - Soren Kierkegaard

April 8, 2005, 08:04 AM	#4
tjhands Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2005 Posts: 1,718	Thanks. I didn't know if there was a "standard" or what.

April 8, 2005, 03:08 PM	#5
MX5 Member Join Date: May 18, 2004 Posts: 70	When guys talk about 3 inches at 25 yards standing without support, they are generally talking about the groups they don't screw up, lol. That kind of accuracy day in and day out, cold and on demand, is not typical outside of the upper levels of competition.

April 15, 2005, 11:39 AM	#7
nonquixote Member Join Date: October 10, 2004 Posts: 35	I'm often sceptical of people's claims of accuracy. The best I've ever done freehand is a little bigger than 4" at 25 yards, and at the range I shoot I've seldom seen anyone do much better than that. I have a few pistols that I can shoot in the 4-6" range fairly regularly. For the rest of my pistols 8-10" at 25 yds is pretty decent for me and I consider that acceptable for a service pistol. Nonq

April 15, 2005, 02:21 PM	#8
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,541	The ten ring on an NRA bullseye target is 3.39" diameter. It is shot at in slow fire at 50 yards, rapid fire (5 shots in 10 seconds) and timed fire (5 shots in 20 seconds) at 25 yards. With one hand, standing on your hind legs like a man. It is tough.

May 2, 2005, 12:12 PM	#9
a10t2 Member Join Date: April 5, 2005 Location: CO Posts: 82	Just for reference, at the range the other day I shot 64/100 into an NRA bullseye, 25 yards, timed fire, Weaver stance. 75/100 inside the 8-ring, 91/100 in the 7-ring, and I got all 100 inside the 5-ring this time ;-). Based on other people I've shot with, I would consider this to be average or maybe a little below average. More importantly, it means that I can be 75% sure of making a torso shot at 25 yards should it come down to that.