Curious as to what distance everyone shoots from at the range? - Page 3

Cirdan · April 11, 2018, 11:45 PM

Mostly 21 feet, since that's supposedly the "magic" number for an attacker. I also figure it's highly unlikely to have a self-defense shooting at a greater distance. Probably need to increase that distance - it's getting too easy.

For the LCP, I reduce that down to 10 feet.

Reminds me of a joke I once heard about snubbies - if it's to far to hit them over the head with it, you're too far away to shoot them.

SauerGrapes · April 13, 2018, 05:55 PM

We only have 3 distances available, 4,15 and 25yards. I shoot the most at 15yds and 25yds.

Neal_G. · April 13, 2018, 09:00 PM

Aside from the usual shooting from 5-15yds with two hands, I always in get some practice rapid shooting one handed with my carry gun, with both my strong and weak hand.

If you watch gunfight videos on Youtube, you'll be amazed at how often people are forced to shoot with one hand while they're diving behind something, moving or grabbing someone, etc.

gnystrom · April 15, 2018, 01:58 PM

50-75 feet.

Calisnaps · April 15, 2018, 04:01 PM

I got my first handgun in January, the first class I had started us at 3yds and then 5. I practiced at 5 until I was consistently in the center, then moved it out to 7, then 10. Still working on 7 and 10yds, though I've tried it out to the stops and it wasn't pretty LOL.

mete · April 15, 2018, 04:16 PM

There is no "magic number " ! That was a number for training. Only an approximate distance .The closer the perp the more danger to you !!

You will give yourself advantage if you practice at twice the range , then the short range become easy !
In any case don't lock yourself into one distance vary things foe the real world !

**OldMarksman** · April 15, 2018, 04:27 PM

Quote:

You will give yourself advantage if you practice at twice the range , then the short range become easy !

It may seem counterintuitive, but that's probably not really true, unless one prepares to shoot only at inanimate, stationary targets.

In defensive shooting, where is more to the ratio of the angle subtended to distance in predicting and achieving effective hitting.

The balance of speed and precision involves, by definition, both speed and precision.

One who practices hitting an area the size of the upper chest at 25 yards will find certain aspects of that practice useless and even counterproductive when the target is twelve feet way and coming fast.

**OldMarksman** · April 15, 2018, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Mostly 21 feet, since that's supposedly the "magic" number for an attacker.

That's the 'magic number' when it comes to lawful justification of drawing a firearm.

Because of that, the distance at which shots will be fired will be a whole lot farther, if an attack really does take place.

223 shooter · April 15, 2018, 09:58 PM

Today I fired at 7 and 15 yards with a Walther PPK/S 22 and SIG P239 9mm and 25 and 50 yards with a 1911 and 2.5" 686.

Doc Holliday 1950 · April 15, 2018, 10:36 PM

I practice at 15 feet then 25 feet. Then at the back of my indoor range at 50 feet. All shots are grouped at different places & the last 4 shots at each distance are head shots & crouch shots. I realize that the first 4 should be head & crouch shots and not the last 4. One should never forget that the BG ,in high probability, will wear some sort of armoured chest protector, which I strongly feel that it should be banned except for LEOs & Military use. Just because my car can go 140 mph doesn't mean that I can or should go that fast. This is just my opinion.

dgludwig · April 17, 2018, 03:32 PM

Quote:

One should never forget that the BG ,in high probability, will wear some sort of armoured chest protector, which I strongly feel that it should be banned except for LEOs & Military use

So I shouldn't have one because the BG might get one? I guess you could make the same argument about having access to a gun. "Bullet Proof" vests are generally used and were conceived as being defensive implements. I am retired LEO but would hate to see the day that only cops or soldiers could lawfully avail themselves of an armored chest protector, leaving only the law-abiding citizen without an option to protect himself of same, should he ever want one.

Like guns (and knives in London), banning the ownership of same to law-abiding citizens will only mean that law-breakers will have them-and that axiom, sadly, applies to chest protectors.

raimius · April 17, 2018, 06:23 PM

Doc, where are you that your local BGs are so well equipped?

I generally practice at 7-8yds for pistol. I'll move it back to 15 or 25 for a couple mags though. Longer distance is good for showing your mistakes.

As for recommendations for practical shooting: Practice so you can get "fist" sized groups at 7-10yds, then work on speed.

darkgael · April 18, 2018, 09:35 PM

Quote:

One who practices hitting an area the size of the upper chest at 25 yards will find certain aspects of that practice unless and even counterproductive when the target is twelve feet way and coming

That needs more explanation. When you have a moment.
Pete

Sharkbite · April 18, 2018, 09:52 PM

I think what he means is that the ability to shoot small groups at distance does not equate to the ability to make combat effective hits at speed up close.

Two TOTALLY different skill sets.

sigarms228 · April 19, 2018, 12:58 PM

Usually at 7 yards because of my 66 year old eyes but I went to a new indoor range with my son a few weeks ago that had much better lighting and I also had fun and excellent results shooting at 15 and 25 yards though at 25 yards my shots were about 4 inches low which I believe was because I tried wearing my bifocals and had to tilt my head to get best vision at 25 yard while at 15 yards I had no such issue without wearing my bifocals.

I also could not believe the difference in noise levels at the new range versus my old range. The new range must have had some pretty advanced sound deadening technology as the difference to me was astonishing.

Tacticool1976 · April 20, 2018, 12:37 AM

the indoor range i go to has programs you can run, or it can be a stationary target.. i do 1 mag at 5 yards with each gun i bring, as a warm up.. after that, i will run a couple programs which the target distance can range from point blank to 25 yards.. when i am shooting at my dad's place, we have about 75 yards for a range.. we usually shoot pistols at about 10 yards, and our AR's at 50 to 75 yards..

Cirdan · April 20, 2018, 12:59 AM

"One should never forget that the BG ,in high probability, will wear some sort of armoured chest protector"

Never heard of one do that.

darkgael · April 20, 2018, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Sharkbite
Senior Member

Join Date: November 4, 2013
Location: Western slope of Colorado
Posts: 2,647
I think what he means is that the ability to shoot small groups at distance does not equate to the ability to make combat effective hits at speed up close.

Two TOTALLY different skill sets

I have heard that before. I don’t agree. Both require a qun. Both require aiming either by using the sights or point shooting. Sure, the situations are different but i just do not see that the gun handling is radically different. I am prepared to learn if I oversimplify.

Roaddog · April 21, 2018, 07:39 AM

My backstop is 32 yards from my porch so that is what most of my shooting is from.I do go 10 to 15 yards with my S&W m36 snubies.My lungs are shot so it real hard to walk very far.My wife is nice and puts my targets out fore me.But I'm still shootn.

**OldMarksman** · April 21, 2018, 08:19 AM

Quote:

I think what he means is that the ability to shoot small groups at distance does not equate to the ability to make combat effective hits at speed up close.

Two TOTALLY different skill sets

Right. Autocorrect conspired to annoy me.

Quote:

I have heard that before. I don’t agree. Both require a qun. Both require aiming either by using the sights or point shooting. Sure, the situations are different but i just do not see that the gun handling is radically different.

What is entirely different is the balance of speed and precision, and the ways in which the shooter will achieve the necessary balance without taking time to think about it.

darkgael · April 22, 2018, 05:22 AM

Quote:

What is entirely different is the balance of speed and precision, and the ways in which the shooter will achieve the necessary balance without taking time to think about it.

More instinctive than thoughtful? Is that the idea?

458winshooter · May 12, 2018, 08:53 AM

10 yards mostly and also at 25 some as well to cover the bases.Truth is we don't know at what range or what condition or situation we may be called upon to take this step in protection of ourselves or loved ones so I feel that it would be best to do it at different ranges.

GarandTd · May 14, 2018, 01:50 PM

I've been dabbling at 50 yards my last few range trips. The results have suprised me. I have 2 shorter barrel semi-auto pistols with adjustable sights and a longer barrel revolver with fixed sights. Sighted for 15 yards, the semi-autos both shot about a foot high at 50 yards. With the sights at their lowest setting, they hit about 3" high. The revolver was hitting just a couple inches low of POA. Making my own elevation adjustments, I'm hitting COM easy and with concentration, hitting clay pigeons and a similarly sized Birchwood Casey 44mag spinner target.
3.5" barrel 22auto, 3.8" 9mm auto, and a 6.5" 22 saa revolver. I do get better groups with the revolver. There is much room for improvement, but I'm still pretty impressed with what I can accomplish.

P5 Guy · May 16, 2018, 10:15 AM

Most of the time the 4 shortest range target hangers on the line are taken by the same old guys sitting, shooting scoped 22s and making shotgun patterns on their targets. That is the 7 yard line.
So, if I'm shooting my short barreled handguns, S&W model 10-5, S&W model 60 or Glock 26, the 15 yard line is all that's open that I'd want to shoot. For long barreled handguns, S&W 681, 696, 60-4 17 or Glock 34, the 25 or 50 yard lines get me shooting. The 50 I have to shoot sitting. Mostly that is with my S&W model 17 and Green Tag.

briandg · May 17, 2018, 06:28 PM

I fire probably only 5% of my ammo any closer than the fifty foot bench at my range. almost everyone I ever see there is shooting at 25 or so so I have to pick out of the three available ranges. one is fifty feet, another is just an open place about a fifty yard berm, another has about a 25 yard berm.

I don't think that shooting at 25 feet provides any sort of training for actual accuracy or shooting, you can't even see what you may be doing wrong if you don't stretch the limits of your capabilities. It's kind of depressing. Things have just changed. precision shooting with a handgun isn't interesting anymore, shooting with speed and athleticism is what works. They're both hard. they both take skill, they are both impressive. I consider control and accuracy to be important.

April 13, 2018, 05:55 PM	#52
SauerGrapes Senior Member Join Date: March 22, 2009 Location: S.E.PA. Posts: 920	We only have 3 distances available, 4,15 and 25yards. I shoot the most at 15yds and 25yds. __________________ NRA member, DCF&S member, PAFOA member, USPSA member, NSCA member R.I.P.____Murphy

April 15, 2018, 04:16 PM	#56
mete Senior Member Join Date: June 14, 2004 Location: NY State Posts: 6,575	There is no "magic number " ! That was a number for training. Only an approximate distance .The closer the perp the more danger to you !! You will give yourself advantage if you practice at twice the range , then the short range become easy ! In any case don't lock yourself into one distance vary things foe the real world ! __________________ And Watson , bring your revolver !

April 15, 2018, 10:36 PM	#60
Doc Holliday 1950 Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2014 Location: Bout as south as it gets Posts: 1,238	I practice at 15 feet then 25 feet. Then at the back of my indoor range at 50 feet. All shots are grouped at different places & the last 4 shots at each distance are head shots & crouch shots. I realize that the first 4 should be head & crouch shots and not the last 4. One should never forget that the BG ,in high probability, will wear some sort of armoured chest protector, which I strongly feel that it should be banned except for LEOs & Military use. Just because my car can go 140 mph doesn't mean that I can or should go that fast. This is just my opinion. __________________ Shoot well and be Accurate, Doc

April 19, 2018, 12:58 PM	#65
sigarms228 Senior Member Join Date: October 29, 2011 Posts: 1,767	Usually at 7 yards because of my 66 year old eyes but I went to a new indoor range with my son a few weeks ago that had much better lighting and I also had fun and excellent results shooting at 15 and 25 yards though at 25 yards my shots were about 4 inches low which I believe was because I tried wearing my bifocals and had to tilt my head to get best vision at 25 yard while at 15 yards I had no such issue without wearing my bifocals. I also could not believe the difference in noise levels at the new range versus my old range. The new range must have had some pretty advanced sound deadening technology as the difference to me was astonishing. __________________ “When the people find that they can vote themselves money that will herald the end of the republic.” ― Benjamin Franklin

May 12, 2018, 08:53 AM	#72
458winshooter Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2008 Location: Transplanted to Ridgeland,SC Posts: 606	Shooting distance 10 yards mostly and also at 25 some as well to cover the bases.Truth is we don't know at what range or what condition or situation we may be called upon to take this step in protection of ourselves or loved ones so I feel that it would be best to do it at different ranges.

April 11, 2018, 11:45 PM	#51
Cirdan Senior Member Join Date: December 2, 2013 Location: Tahoe Posts: 363	Mostly 21 feet, since that's supposedly the "magic" number for an attacker. I also figure it's highly unlikely to have a self-defense shooting at a greater distance. Probably need to increase that distance - it's getting too easy. For the LCP, I reduce that down to 10 feet. Reminds me of a joke I once heard about snubbies - if it's to far to hit them over the head with it, you're too far away to shoot them.

April 13, 2018, 09:00 PM	#53
Neal_G. Senior Member Join Date: October 1, 2010 Posts: 226	Aside from the usual shooting from 5-15yds with two hands, I always in get some practice rapid shooting one handed with my carry gun, with both my strong and weak hand. If you watch gunfight videos on Youtube, you'll be amazed at how often people are forced to shoot with one hand while they're diving behind something, moving or grabbing someone, etc.

April 15, 2018, 01:58 PM	#54
gnystrom Senior Member Join Date: July 30, 2006 Posts: 308	50-75 feet.

April 15, 2018, 04:01 PM	#55
Calisnaps Junior Member Join Date: January 1, 2018 Posts: 7	I got my first handgun in January, the first class I had started us at 3yds and then 5. I practiced at 5 until I was consistently in the center, then moved it out to 7, then 10. Still working on 7 and 10yds, though I've tried it out to the stops and it wasn't pretty LOL.

April 15, 2018, 09:58 PM	#59
223 shooter Senior Member Join Date: October 26, 2008 Posts: 557	Today I fired at 7 and 15 yards with a Walther PPK/S 22 and SIG P239 9mm and 25 and 50 yards with a 1911 and 2.5" 686.

April 17, 2018, 06:23 PM	#62
raimius Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2008 Posts: 2,199	Doc, where are you that your local BGs are so well equipped? I generally practice at 7-8yds for pistol. I'll move it back to 15 or 25 for a couple mags though. Longer distance is good for showing your mistakes. As for recommendations for practical shooting: Practice so you can get "fist" sized groups at 7-10yds, then work on speed.

April 18, 2018, 09:52 PM	#64
Sharkbite Senior Member Join Date: November 4, 2013 Location: Western slope of Colorado Posts: 3,679	I think what he means is that the ability to shoot small groups at distance does not equate to the ability to make combat effective hits at speed up close. Two TOTALLY different skill sets.

April 20, 2018, 12:37 AM	#66
Tacticool1976 Member Join Date: November 28, 2016 Posts: 28	the indoor range i go to has programs you can run, or it can be a stationary target.. i do 1 mag at 5 yards with each gun i bring, as a warm up.. after that, i will run a couple programs which the target distance can range from point blank to 25 yards.. when i am shooting at my dad's place, we have about 75 yards for a range.. we usually shoot pistols at about 10 yards, and our AR's at 50 to 75 yards..

April 20, 2018, 12:59 AM	#67
Cirdan Senior Member Join Date: December 2, 2013 Location: Tahoe Posts: 363	"One should never forget that the BG ,in high probability, will wear some sort of armoured chest protector" Never heard of one do that.

April 21, 2018, 07:39 AM	#69
Roaddog Senior Member Join Date: July 16, 2010 Location: East central Minnesota Posts: 202	My backstop is 32 yards from my porch so that is what most of my shooting is from.I do go 10 to 15 yards with my S&W m36 snubies.My lungs are shot so it real hard to walk very far.My wife is nice and puts my targets out fore me.But I'm still shootn.

May 14, 2018, 01:50 PM	#73
GarandTd Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2016 Location: Rural PA Posts: 1,639	I've been dabbling at 50 yards my last few range trips. The results have suprised me. I have 2 shorter barrel semi-auto pistols with adjustable sights and a longer barrel revolver with fixed sights. Sighted for 15 yards, the semi-autos both shot about a foot high at 50 yards. With the sights at their lowest setting, they hit about 3" high. The revolver was hitting just a couple inches low of POA. Making my own elevation adjustments, I'm hitting COM easy and with concentration, hitting clay pigeons and a similarly sized Birchwood Casey 44mag spinner target. 3.5" barrel 22auto, 3.8" 9mm auto, and a 6.5" 22 saa revolver. I do get better groups with the revolver. There is much room for improvement, but I'm still pretty impressed with what I can accomplish. __________________ 22lr, 20 gauge, 8mm Mauser, 35 Remington, 30-06, 5.56x45/223, 9mm, 380acp

May 16, 2018, 10:15 AM	#74
P5 Guy Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2005 Location: Tampa Bay Posts: 1,804	Range range? Most of the time the 4 shortest range target hangers on the line are taken by the same old guys sitting, shooting scoped 22s and making shotgun patterns on their targets. That is the 7 yard line. So, if I'm shooting my short barreled handguns, S&W model 10-5, S&W model 60 or Glock 26, the 15 yard line is all that's open that I'd want to shoot. For long barreled handguns, S&W 681, 696, 60-4 17 or Glock 34, the 25 or 50 yard lines get me shooting. The 50 I have to shoot sitting. Mostly that is with my S&W model 17 and Green Tag.

May 17, 2018, 06:28 PM	#75
briandg Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2010 Posts: 5,468	I fire probably only 5% of my ammo any closer than the fifty foot bench at my range. almost everyone I ever see there is shooting at 25 or so so I have to pick out of the three available ranges. one is fifty feet, another is just an open place about a fifty yard berm, another has about a 25 yard berm. I don't think that shooting at 25 feet provides any sort of training for actual accuracy or shooting, you can't even see what you may be doing wrong if you don't stretch the limits of your capabilities. It's kind of depressing. Things have just changed. precision shooting with a handgun isn't interesting anymore, shooting with speed and athleticism is what works. They're both hard. they both take skill, they are both impressive. I consider control and accuracy to be important. __________________ None.