Long range distance for self defense
- Thread starter TraumaRN
- Start date
The issue with that is... adrenaline. If you really think you can shoot a pistol during an active shooter event at any extended range... you are kidding yourself, and not something I would want to try with the shooter 50' away and wading through a crowd of people, or people running willy-nilly everywhere. That is not to say you shouldn't practice basic shooting skills at longer distances.
OneFreeTexan
New member
Beyond 7 yards, in most jurisdictions, it isn’t considered ‘self-defense’.
Maybe not, but that consideration might be waived following the successful takedown of a mass shooter. Note the keyword "successful".
D
70+ yards with an M9 service pistol AFTER pedaling a bike a quarter mile (and I don't think he was loafing along..) I think there might have been some adrenaline involved there, too...
Clearly it is NOT impossible.
likely? no. Advisable for a civilian? I wouldn't think so, but always remember this, if you are in range of the bad guy, he's in range of you. Whether or not you succeed, is up to you.
I'm going with urban legend. Certainly not in most jurisdictions, possibly some rare cases. Never heard of any real world issues with this. And a one sentence defense would convince any jury that it is BS. "If I'm able to hit someone, they are close enough to hit me. If it is a good shoot, it is a good shoot and range has no factor in it. I practice out to 50 yards. I'm not great at that range, a head shot would be more luck than skill. But I can keep over 90% of my shots somewhere on a human silhouette target. About 75% in the kill zone.
Clearly in a situation like El Paso if I'm close enough to see what is happening I'd be returning fire. Even at 50+ yards if I can do it without danger of hitting other people. Most of these people are cowards at heart. In coming rounds, even if they don't hit, often stops the aggression and forces them to take cover effectively ending the incident.
The real danger is being mistaken for the shooter by LE when they arrive on the scene.
I'd love to know at what distances and what
weapons were used by police to put down
miscreants in all the recent shootings.
Doubt very much the distances were very
great whether the police used their handguns
or possibly a long gun.
Even for police, taking shots at long distances
(25 to 50 yards) could well be judged a no-no.
And as we know from shooting reports, police
are as likely to miss and then face liability
for injuries caused to the innocent.
weapons were used by police to put down
miscreants in all the recent shootings.
Doubt very much the distances were very
great whether the police used their handguns
or possibly a long gun.
Even for police, taking shots at long distances
(25 to 50 yards) could well be judged a no-no.
And as we know from shooting reports, police
are as likely to miss and then face liability
for injuries caused to the innocent.
Great topic. Being an armchair warrior myself I think its worthwhile to practice long range shooting with your EDC. Here is my take on this:
If your at a distance from the treat and not in danger yourself(under some form of cover) then you should have a bit more time to take your shot and any follow up shots.
If I had a DA/SA semi or revolver the hammer needs to be cocked to give me the greatest possible accuracy. Even though I shoot double action pretty decent I know I can shoot SA better.
Moving towards the treat is risky not only because you lost cover and risk being spotted by the shooter but know you also have to worry about any arriving police mistaking you for the shooter.In addition, your at a clear disadvantage if the shooter has a rifle and you a pistol.
I practice 25-50 yard shooting often. For me its fun and challenging. But since I can't legally carry in my state(ny) it dosent matter.
Anyway that's my take on it.
If your at a distance from the treat and not in danger yourself(under some form of cover) then you should have a bit more time to take your shot and any follow up shots.
If I had a DA/SA semi or revolver the hammer needs to be cocked to give me the greatest possible accuracy. Even though I shoot double action pretty decent I know I can shoot SA better.
Moving towards the treat is risky not only because you lost cover and risk being spotted by the shooter but know you also have to worry about any arriving police mistaking you for the shooter.In addition, your at a clear disadvantage if the shooter has a rifle and you a pistol.
I practice 25-50 yard shooting often. For me its fun and challenging. But since I can't legally carry in my state(ny) it dosent matter.
Anyway that's my take on it.
Becoming proficient at 25 and 50 yards makes up close shots extremely easy and is a big confidence booster .
Join a NRA Precision Handgun ( what we called NRA Bullseye) Leauge , shooting one handed , with no rest at 25 and 50 yards , will make you a crack shot in short order .
I shot NRA Precision Pistol (then Bullseye) with 22 LR , 38 Special and 45 acp for several decades , this was at an indoor range , became a good shot and had a great time doing it .
Gary
Join a NRA Precision Handgun ( what we called NRA Bullseye) Leauge , shooting one handed , with no rest at 25 and 50 yards , will make you a crack shot in short order .
I shot NRA Precision Pistol (then Bullseye) with 22 LR , 38 Special and 45 acp for several decades , this was at an indoor range , became a good shot and had a great time doing it .
Gary
Don Fischer
New member
I can shoot my DA handgun's fairly well at longer distances but never measured then, I plink a bit! I'm good to go at about 10 yds with my semi auto carry guns. Almost have to try to miss minute of chest at 10 yds! At that range I suspect not only don't you need to aim, likely you won't have time either! It was mentioned the cops coming on the scene may shoot you is a real possibility! Bear in mind at all time's, you are likely not that well trained in situation's like that. I'm not sure ex military is either. ex military are probably trained to kill the enemy with the have the bad guy in sight? Not much regard for identifying and avoiding innocent's standing around. I suspect that an off duty police officer will probably not try to take out the prep right away but rather control the situation till help arrive's. Off duty police officer that get's himself shot won't do the innocent a whole lot of good, control the situation! I suspect if he was to identify the shooter and get the shooter's attention, more innocent's would have a chance to get out. Mostly we civilians are not trained in these situation's, myself included. In a military situation the good guy's could be running toward you, how you gonna know if they are good or bad. You rush the bad guy to soon and you could set off a bunch a random firing, put's the people in danger. I do suspect unless something extraordinary happens, the off duty cop won't look to end it but to rather control the situation. If the bad guy has a hostage, I'm pretty sure he's not gonna let that hostage go to deal with you. No probably gonna hide behind the hostage! You gonna shoot through the hostage to stop the bad guy? Life and death situation's can be bad to be in and with a shooter shooting people it is a life and death situation.
This has been interesting discussion. Pretty sure there are some Rambo types on here that would get some people shot that otherwise would not be shot.
This has been interesting discussion. Pretty sure there are some Rambo types on here that would get some people shot that otherwise would not be shot.
zincwarrior
New member
Well...
In addition to Charlie_98's note, I will add that you have t have the pistol capable of making the shot. A J frame, 3in barrel .380 or 9mm is not going to generally hit at 25 yards in the best of times. You have to be realistic there as well. Most CHLers are not set up to make 25 yard shots, myself included.
Just got back from the range. I tried an experiment, bracing the pistol on the shooting table. At 25 meters I got three head shots, a throat shot, and a flyer. Then, aiming at center mass, I got three good ones, one in the lower left abdomen, and a flyer. I'm not nearly that good free-hand. I have to work on that. My groups at 5, 7, and 10 meters were not bad at all today; at 15 meters they were starting to spread out. Practice, practice, practice.
D
D
Wheel-Gunner
New member
Interesting thread, though it may belong in the general handgun forum rather than the revolver forum. That being said, I am glad it is here since this is where I hang out more often.
I have no idea what I would do in such a situation, but a long distance shot for me is most likely not in the cards. I feel like I can shoot as good or better than most, but there are just too many things that can go wrong at long distances. The perp would have to be clear of a crowd for me to even think about it, but in that situation I am most likely going to try and get my loved ones and I clear of a crowd as well. Close range, or in my path to safety, no question.
On another note; if I am going out to more populated areas, I find myself grabbing a semi more than my trusty revolvers, especially as of late given recent events. Something about the increased capacity is drawing me to my semi's. Routine events for me like going to work, running errands, etc, a revolver is almost always with me. But in a more populated area....the semi's are seeing more daylight. Not sure if the increased capacity would help anyway, but that is the recent trend for me personally.
Let us all hope we never find ourselves in such a situation.
I have no idea what I would do in such a situation, but a long distance shot for me is most likely not in the cards. I feel like I can shoot as good or better than most, but there are just too many things that can go wrong at long distances. The perp would have to be clear of a crowd for me to even think about it, but in that situation I am most likely going to try and get my loved ones and I clear of a crowd as well. Close range, or in my path to safety, no question.
On another note; if I am going out to more populated areas, I find myself grabbing a semi more than my trusty revolvers, especially as of late given recent events. Something about the increased capacity is drawing me to my semi's. Routine events for me like going to work, running errands, etc, a revolver is almost always with me. But in a more populated area....the semi's are seeing more daylight. Not sure if the increased capacity would help anyway, but that is the recent trend for me personally.
Let us all hope we never find ourselves in such a situation.
I practice shooting handguns out to 25 yards. I think taking a shot at someone in self-defense with a handgun at any greater distance would be extremely unlikely, at least for me.
Any shots taken by a civilian with a handgun are likely to be at considerably shorter ranges than that, but I do agree that if you can master sight alignment and trigger control well enough to be passably accurate at 25 yards, you will become more accurate at shorter ranges.
Any shots taken by a civilian with a handgun are likely to be at considerably shorter ranges than that, but I do agree that if you can master sight alignment and trigger control well enough to be passably accurate at 25 yards, you will become more accurate at shorter ranges.
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I was out at a friends range the other day getting bored shooting three-quarter steel silhouette targets offhand at 250 yards with my Ruger bolt ranch rifle in 7.62 x 39, scoped.
No challenge.
I then went to 100 yards with my Sig 9mm M11A1 pistol on an 8” round plate.
I got maybe 5 hits out of 50.
Opened my eyes lol!
No challenge.
I then went to 100 yards with my Sig 9mm M11A1 pistol on an 8” round plate.
I got maybe 5 hits out of 50.
Opened my eyes lol!