50 yard shot, your 'go-to' handgun?

Self defense with a handgun is not inconcievable at ranges of 50 to 100 yards, and could easily be justified.
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Inconceivable no, exceedingly darn rare yes. I can see the meth heads chasing you, they are some of the most screwed up people I've ever had the displeasure of dealing with. Prone to extreme, uncontrolled, irrational violence. I believe that in national parks and forests, away from the beaten path, you should not be allowed to just carry a CCW, but an open carry or a rifle or shotgun. You should be able to say you are carrying those things for protection and not have to be hunting. In the public anti gunners say "Call 911" Now how are you going to do that from the middle of a forest and what is that response time?

Some years ago I was hiking in Wayne National Forest with my first wife. We came upon two guys walking in the opposite direction. Scummy looking guys. One got close to the other and said something I couldn't hear while leering at my wife. I knew something was up. They continued looking at her as they approached, until they noticed the 357 strapped to my hip. Their attitudes and body language instantly changed.
 
To simply hit the kill zone on a man-sized target at 50 yds., I could use any handgun that I own. To shoot the buttons off his coat, I would choose my Colt Woodsman.;) jd
 
I do believe the poster specifically said he was referring to target shooting/hunting and not a SD situation. Why is everyone acting like guns are only useful in killing other people?
 
I do believe the poster specifically said he was referring to target shooting/hunting and not a SD situation. Why is everyone acting like guns are only useful in killing other people?
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Because unfortunately some of the people who enjoy our sport think it is all just practice for when they may have to kill other people?
 
"Unfortunately" might be an unfortunate choice of words.
While I vastly enjoy a fun day at the range plinking with everything from 22lr to 7.62x39 or 30.06, I also believe in self defense, and every shot fired adds to the skill set.
As far as long range shooting with handguns, I meet many people who believe a service pistol is a 25 yard weapon at best. Nothing could be further from the truth. I learned early on from the writings of Elmer Keith that the handgun can be used to shoot at long range with the proper technique. History shows that the cavalryman of the old west was quite dangerous at extended range with their piecemaker.
The main thing is you will never know until you try, and the time to try it the first time is not when those meth heads are scouring the brush for you.
A criminal in the open 100 yards away, blasting away with an AK at the last place he saw you, is in serious trouble if you know how shoot a 9mm at that range.
 
I wonder why you always see a lot better shots on Internet Gun Boards than at the Range. No offense meant, but has anyone else noticed this?
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Oh yeah, I think its kindda amusing. Anytime I hear something along the lines of "100 yards all day with a handgun" I really start to wonder. I wouldnt post statements like that with out video, but thats just me...
 
garryc, Wayne Nat`l Forest has more than just a few of these stories. As far as 50yd. target shooting goes I`d probably grab my S&W 41mag. I`m more consistant with it than 357,44`s or 475/480 linebaugh. P.S. My hands and wrist can`t handle large bore shooting at any range all day long.
 
You mean large bores or magnums? Cause if you download for that .44, you can have fun with it till you use it all up. No pain at all.
 
For me, my 50 yd. handgun is my Ruger Redhawk. I can shoot six-shot < 2.5" groups at 25 yds. offhand with it, so that should translate to 5" at 50 yds.

Here's one such instance:

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I don't think I could routinely hit a paper plate at 50 yds. with any of my other handguns.

For most of us, 50 yds. = scoped handguns, rifles, or big targets. :D
 
I guess if you mean defensive carry pistols, one of my 1911s, or my 4 inch 29-2. If it has to be a smaller carry pistol, I would say my PM9. There is a bare spot about 3'x3' on the 100 yard berm at the range I shoot at. Whenever it is dry I fire one or two shots at it with my PM9, I haven't missed yet and the dirt always flies up close to the center of that bare spot.

If I knew I was going to have to shoot 50 yards and had to use a pistol with open sights, I would use my Ruger SBH, or 6.5 inch S&W .44 Mag.
 
Ruger Blackhawk 7.5" in .45LC. I have shot it at 50yds a few times. Not sure I could pull off a surgical strike, but I can shoot good enough groups to hit vitals on a humanoid or drop a deer. Doesn't hurt that the bullets are the size of ashtrays.

I'd probably opt for a rifle if I had time though.
 
Only handgun I have shot with precision at 50 yds is my Colt Mark IV pin gun.

Other than my T/C Contender, of course, which I usually shoot at 100.
 
I will confess it has been a while and I have over 50 yr old eyes,so,no,I can't do it now.
When I shot 25 yd bullseye leagues,my averages were in the 270's.Not great,but reasonably competent. Check the 10 ring on a 25 yd pistol target,double the size,and I got 9 of 10 consistently over slow,timed,and rapid,one handed.

When Colorado had a marksmanship requirement to handgun hunt(a while back) we made a 10 in steel dinger and practiced.No brag,just fact,Super Blackhawk,standing 2 handed was 6 out of 6 at maybe timed fire speed.It is just not that hard.We went through wheel weights by the 100 lbs

Leaning against something,sitting,handgun between the knees,maybe 50% hits on a Pennzoil can was typical at 100 yds.
I did kill an elk at about 75 yds with it.
BTW,the SBH is hacked to 5" and it carries well.



Mostly,I would grab my SBH for 50 yds.My Hi-Standard Victor would do it well,on paper. I have a nice 1911 .38 super with a Clark ramped bbl ,sweet trigger and S=W N frame sight that will do it,too.

I have an MOA maximum falling block single shot 14 in bbl handgun in .260 Rem with a 4x leupold.

If I sit down,Lean back on an elbow,and rest it over my knee,a claybird at 200 yds is usually dust.

No,I don't think I am special,an average IMSA shooter would out shoot me easily.

I think,with practice,and concentration on the fundamentals,Hitting a paper plate at 50 yds with a handgun most of the time is good for a "B" grade in handgun marksmanship.You can do it.
 
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I spend alot of time in the outdoors backpacking and hiking. Suppose you encountered some meth cookers who then started chasing you as you withdrew.
The ability to place some accurate rounds at long range could mean the difference between escape and dying like a dog.
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Sorry but at 50-100 yards a bunch of loaded meth cookers aren't going to have much of a chance at hitting you. Chances are that you can still make an effective escape with ever needing to fire at that distance. Even with longguns, it would be difficult for them to hit you if you are quickly retreating / using cover, which would probably be your best defense in that instance. Additionally, what are the chances that someone would even attempt to engage you from that range?

Its important to know your limits and certainly take distance shots from time to time to know where those limits are. But don't spend too much time worrying about a 50 yard attack. Under the affects of BAR (body alarm reaction) during a high stress encounter, I highly doubt that even the most experienced of marksmen can reliably make that 50 yard shot with a handgun. I'd rather be proficient at 6' than 50 yards.

Target shooting and hunting is a different story however.
 
Used to shoot silhouette . . . 50 yards is not so far. There's an area outdoors where I get to shoot handguns to 300 yards. After gauging the range, most defensive caliber handguns are effective to 100 yards or more. Leaning against a tree as a rest, paper plates are not that difficult at 75 yards, trash can lids or my favorite, old satellite dishes are fun at 150.

Like anything about shooting, practice and repetition go a long way. Shoot any handgun 8 to 10 sessions at longer ranges and you'll get an idea of holdover needed for certain guns at perceived ranges.
 
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