Need advice on practice vs. self defense

[TailGator]

We both have to take Florida's tests
to obtain our new home's licenses.

No worries there. The Florida requirement is to demonstrate safety, not marksmanship. My wife did it more recently than me, and she recalls shooting one six-round magazine, with attention being paid to handling and manipulating the pistol rather than where the holes were.

 

[jackstrawIII]

At defense ranges, it makes zero difference. Just make sure the ammo you carry for defense cycles reliably in your gun.

We're not talking about rifles at 100 yards. We're talking pistols at spitting distance. It literally makes no difference.

 

[tahunua001]

weight is irrelevant. it is important to run the same ammo you intend to carry to ensure you don't end up with any ammo related failures prior to carrying. other than that, you can practice with whatever you wish, so long as you put a few rounds downrange that have similar recoil.