Handgun target distance.

M

mhmiller62

Inactive
Hello All,

I was wondering at what distance do you usually practice with your handguns at the range? For myself it depends on the type of pistol. With my
P3AT I've never fired it beyond 20 feet and that is with those big silouette targets. On the other hand with my Ruger 22/45 MkIII I'll practice at different distances anywhere between 20 feet and 25 yards and only use small slow fire targets or small paper plates. All my other handguns I rarely practice beyond 50 feet. One thing I've noticed is that practicing with smaller targets seems to improve marksmanship.
 
Anywhere from 5 yards to 23 yards, currently, since that is the distance to the back wall at the LGS range.

However, once we close on the house (and acreage), it wil be from 5 to 50 yards.

I normally shoot my 442 at 5-10 yards, but once in a while will run it to the back wall.

My bigger carry guns see most use at 10 yards, but sometimes 7, and sometimes the back wall.

I typically use B-27 or IDPA silhouettes. I will often affix Shoot-N-C circular targets of varying size to the silhouettes, to aim at sharper, smaller targets when I want to check my grouping.
 
From the muzzle to about 200 yards. I'm not saying 200 yards is within self defence range but I don't just just for defence practice, I shoot for fun more then anything else.
 
kraigwy, what are you shooting at 200 yards? Silhouette, with a magnum revolver? Contenders? What kinds of targets and handguns?

And, for that matter, what kinds of sights?

(Edit: I'm curious, not incredulous.)
 
Much the same as the OP. 10 Yds with my CCW firearms, and Walther P22 with some practice @ 25. Twenty Five yards for most of my other pistols. 50 yds with my Super Blackhawk 44 magnum, but I have shot reasonably accurately out to 100. Then there is my T/C Contender, but where I shoot mostly is now limited to 100 yds.
 
I had some fun using my S&W Model 10 snubby for Bullseye the other day. Scored an 84 in Rapid Fire (25 yards) using DA. Most guns are capable of far more than the shooter.
 
I can barely see the target at 50 feet. My distance glasses make 50' targets visible but then the front sight is a blur...

If I am putting 5 rounds into a sub 1" group at 25 feet I am doing OK as far as shooting fundamentals, holding the sight picture, trigger squeeze, follow-through.

Most of the ranges by me are 50 foot ranges anyway...

Maybe I should get some shooting glasses :o
 
I can barely see the target at 50 feet. My distance glasses make 50' targets visible but then the front sight is a blur...
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It's much more important to see the sights clearly than it is the target. If anything, get glasses that allow you to see clearly at 2 feet (but no closer), then the target will be as much in focus as possible. A red dot sight is another possibility, but I still use irons only.
 
I practice at about the longest distance that I would encounter in my home, 35 feet and targets are colorful 3" Post Its taped to a 8 1/2'' sq sheet of scrap computer paper. I'm too cheap to buy targets.

Kyle
 
We qualify from 3 to 25 yards. When shooting for fun I will shoot from near contact to whatever the range will allow. Often times ranges stop at 100 yards,sometimes I get to plink at greater ranges.
 
Thanks for all the quick replies.

I'd love to try shooting my 22/45 at 100 yards but the out door ranges that I know of won't allow it and my regular range is indoors with max distance of 45yards in the rifle bay.

Kyle, I hear ya. I usually just use cheap paper plates from the dollar store.
 
mostly at 7 and 11 yards. But sometimes 45-50ft. If i had easier access to a longer range, I'd go out further, but alas I haven't gotten the gumption to drive 2+ hours to get to an outdoor spot.
 
Indoors at 50 feet. Outdoors 25 and 50 yards. All one handed!

It's a handgun, not a handsgun. :p

Okay, when I'm shooting a SD pistol, I use two hands. But target pistols one handed.
 
Self defense practice with either a snub nosed 38spl or the my 9m Stoeger Cougar: 3 yards-10 yards, the longest distance I would have to shoot in my house is not more than 20 feet so that is what I concentrate on. I try to place my shots into about an 8"x10" area, center mass.
For fun with my 9.5" bbl Ruger Single Six, S&W 22a, as well as the above self defense guns start at 7 yards but I go out to 25-30 yards or so. Much beyond that is beyond the effective range of most handguns. Not to say we don't shoot a bit out to 100 yards, we just don't hit much!
 
Between 10 and 25 yards. With 9mm, .40, .357 mag and, .45 ACP. I don't shoot my .44 mag much any more.

I have a great fondness for lobbing .45 ACPs at the 12" gong that sits at the 100 yard mark behind my friend's house. I need to take one of my magnums out and try a few long shots.
 
kraigwy, what are you shooting at 200 yards? Silhouette, with a magnum revolver? Contenders? What kinds of targets and handguns?
Click to expand...

All of the above with iron sights. Not saying I hit every time but I have a heck of a lot of fun.

I even shoot my 642 at 100. Again I don't hit all the time but I'm convinced I could discourage bad behavior if I had to.

You'd be surprised what shooting long distance does to your short range handgun shooting.
 
25yards is default. Occasionally I back up to 15yds and occasionally I go out to 50 or 100yds.

If I'm trying a gun for the first time it's 10yds.
 
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