To take shots at extended ranges, the backstop has to be factored in. If there was a valid target at 50 or 100 yards and a clean backstop, it could very well be advisable to take shots. Why not?
On the other hand, there is no one for whom it is advisable to take a handgun shot on a live "hostage target" at 75 yards. If there are bystanders or unseen/unknown objects in the backstop, then there are almost certainly better options than shooting.
For reference, I have seen a handgun class of a dozen different people shoot at 50, 75, 100, and 200 yards. The class consisted of shooters that were serious, not beginners, but not necessarily remarkably skilled. They were shooting Glocks, 19 and 17. From supported positions, they had no trouble hitting 10" steel at 50 yards. They could consistently hit 14" steel at 75 yards from prone. On a steel IDPA silhouette at 100 yards they could hit 8 or 9 out of 10 times. On 6-foot steel target at 200 yards they missed slightly more often than they hit -- maybe 4 hits out of 10. Again, that's shooting prone.
Someone with decent marksmanship should be able to make a small group at 10 yards. Inch and a half? That's 15 MOA. At 100 yards, that group might only be 15 inches. Those could be hits. Not "hostage target" hits, but hits.
My conclusion is, use support and be sure of your target and what is beyond it.
Again, in some live target scenario, you have to think beyond whether you can hit. At those long ranges, it's not practical to place shots precisely. It's also not practical to make multiple hits in rapid succession. Does it matter? Are hits to the legs and arms better than no hits? Will you simply be drawing fire on your position? Do you have cover? There are too many unknowns to say whether a shot should be taken or not.
It's worth practicing at long range with support. Don't burn up ammo without sense. Start where you can make hits, and move it out from there. If you can't make hits at extended range, it's probably trigger control.
On the other hand, there is no one for whom it is advisable to take a handgun shot on a live "hostage target" at 75 yards. If there are bystanders or unseen/unknown objects in the backstop, then there are almost certainly better options than shooting.
For reference, I have seen a handgun class of a dozen different people shoot at 50, 75, 100, and 200 yards. The class consisted of shooters that were serious, not beginners, but not necessarily remarkably skilled. They were shooting Glocks, 19 and 17. From supported positions, they had no trouble hitting 10" steel at 50 yards. They could consistently hit 14" steel at 75 yards from prone. On a steel IDPA silhouette at 100 yards they could hit 8 or 9 out of 10 times. On 6-foot steel target at 200 yards they missed slightly more often than they hit -- maybe 4 hits out of 10. Again, that's shooting prone.
Someone with decent marksmanship should be able to make a small group at 10 yards. Inch and a half? That's 15 MOA. At 100 yards, that group might only be 15 inches. Those could be hits. Not "hostage target" hits, but hits.
My conclusion is, use support and be sure of your target and what is beyond it.
Again, in some live target scenario, you have to think beyond whether you can hit. At those long ranges, it's not practical to place shots precisely. It's also not practical to make multiple hits in rapid succession. Does it matter? Are hits to the legs and arms better than no hits? Will you simply be drawing fire on your position? Do you have cover? There are too many unknowns to say whether a shot should be taken or not.
It's worth practicing at long range with support. Don't burn up ammo without sense. Start where you can make hits, and move it out from there. If you can't make hits at extended range, it's probably trigger control.
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