Shooting distance?
- Thread starter ZVP
- Start date
The farther you are from your target, the more deviations in accuracy will show. The most common mistake I see is trying to test for accuracy at distances so close that you can't tell good from poor. I like at least 75' for revolvers to start. That is usually enough to weed out bad loads, and establish a zero. Then I move out to 50 yards and rezero. Then with the big hunting rigs, I move on out to 75 and 100 yards.
Most times with a revolver, the standard 'seems' to be 25 Yards (not to far, yet not to close). I even shoot my snubnoses (Bulldog and New Vaquero Sheriff) at that distance. If it is accurate there, it will be accurate closer in. Long range shooting is different as bullet shape and velocity and environmentals come more into play. If someone says their revolver is 'accurate' at 7 yards .... I say big whoop 
. Need to get 'out there' to really see what the gun will do. IMHO that is.
When I get a new revolver, I ususally start my adjustments at 15Y to make sure it gets on target. Then move out to 25Y for final adjustment... That's how I do it.
. Need to get 'out there' to really see what the gun will do. IMHO that is.When I get a new revolver, I ususally start my adjustments at 15Y to make sure it gets on target. Then move out to 25Y for final adjustment... That's how I do it.
There is no one to set a "standard" for testing revolvers at. In any kind of official sense.
But there is a common distance for service revolvers and pretty much any revolver that isn't a J frame snubby at which most reviewers of guns do their testing. That is 25 yards in the U.S. (25 meters elsewhere or in the military) either from a sand bag rest or from a ransom rest.
25 yards because for a very long time this has been a standard range used in bullseye shooting and other competitive shooting. So when reviewers (like in the American Rifleman) set out to review or critique a new revolver or load it's usually at 25 yards.
The same is true of reloaders. Handloader magazine uses 25 yards as a mean.
But With J frames or small snubby's the common distance may be the same or less. 15 yards being common. This is in deference to their role as concealed short range defense guns.
When you say you've seen different distances used it's important to note who was doing the shooting and what the point of what they were doing was. For the most part both revolvers and pistols are tested for accuracy at 25 yards.
tipoc
Although I cannot say what the makers are doing today, I believe that in the past, even with snubnoses, the sights were regulated with one load (the most common of the day, by bullet weight) for 25 yards.
Take a 1950s era .38 snubnose, and you will most likely find that it came with sights "set" for a 158gr bullet to be on target at 25 yards.
At closer ranges it was still close enough to work fine for minute of man encounters.
Take a 1950s era .38 snubnose, and you will most likely find that it came with sights "set" for a 158gr bullet to be on target at 25 yards.
At closer ranges it was still close enough to work fine for minute of man encounters.
25 yards is the customary distance.
In gunmags you sometimes see less and that's usually because it's a hideout piece, Seecamp or such, or because the gun is a sub-compact and can't make an acceptable group at 25 yards and the author doesn't want to quite say that.
On gun forum pics or you tube vids folks often shoot at shorter ranges. This can give you an idea of what the shooter can do with that gun and sometimes an idea of what the gun can do. But it's not an actual "test" of the accuracy or precision of the gun, more sort of a general idea.
tipoc
In gunmags you sometimes see less and that's usually because it's a hideout piece, Seecamp or such, or because the gun is a sub-compact and can't make an acceptable group at 25 yards and the author doesn't want to quite say that.
On gun forum pics or you tube vids folks often shoot at shorter ranges. This can give you an idea of what the shooter can do with that gun and sometimes an idea of what the gun can do. But it's not an actual "test" of the accuracy or precision of the gun, more sort of a general idea.
tipoc
While I agree that 25 yards is probably the "standard" sometimes it's simply a matter of convience. For example I used to shoot at a range that only had 7 yards for pistol shooters. So if I reported anything, and I almost never do, it was from 7 yards.
The place was convient to me, and didn't cost anything to use. No brainer for me.
The place was convient to me, and didn't cost anything to use. No brainer for me.
From the op:
So the original question is why is there no standard set for the testing of revolvers. The answer is that there is and that it is 25 yards and the same for pistols.
But it begs the question of who's doing the testing and what they are testing for. Testing is also different from training.
The op says he's seen "4 different distances quoted at least" which implies that what he's looking at is individuals trying out a gun to see how they shoot with it or testing a particular load at a distance they know they can shoot accurately at. He hasn't come back to explain what he was looking at so I don't know exactly what he meant.
I shoot at all kinds of distances depending on the gun or where I am. Depending on what I want to know or what I'm trying to accomplish. It doesn't matter. The shooter can set the distance to see what they want to see or to train.
But the "standard" is 25 yards for competition and for testing new guns or handloads. Every gun magazine sets that as the standard at which they do their testing, usually from a ransom rest.
But an individual can do what ever they want. If a peson can't shoot well at 25 yards off hand there's no point to "testing" at that distance and 10 or 15 might be better till they improve their shooting.
tipoc
So the original question is why is there no standard set for the testing of revolvers. The answer is that there is and that it is 25 yards and the same for pistols.
But it begs the question of who's doing the testing and what they are testing for. Testing is also different from training.
The op says he's seen "4 different distances quoted at least" which implies that what he's looking at is individuals trying out a gun to see how they shoot with it or testing a particular load at a distance they know they can shoot accurately at. He hasn't come back to explain what he was looking at so I don't know exactly what he meant.
I shoot at all kinds of distances depending on the gun or where I am. Depending on what I want to know or what I'm trying to accomplish. It doesn't matter. The shooter can set the distance to see what they want to see or to train.
But the "standard" is 25 yards for competition and for testing new guns or handloads. Every gun magazine sets that as the standard at which they do their testing, usually from a ransom rest.
But an individual can do what ever they want. If a peson can't shoot well at 25 yards off hand there's no point to "testing" at that distance and 10 or 15 might be better till they improve their shooting.
tipoc
jackmoser65
New member
25yds, sometimes 50.
Colorado Redneck
New member
Accuracy @ 25 yards
At the indoor range where I go, there probably isn't one shooter out of 50 that can shoot good at 25yards. I have watched with amazement how AR shooters can't do as good as my wife does at 10 yards with her Smith 66. Different distances for different skill levels. Interesting how some of you guys START at 25 and then move on out. Heck, I can't even see my sights and the target at the same time beyond about 15 yards, and even there it is dicey. Shooting a revolver at 50 would essentially be like shooting with my eyes closed. I am impressed!
At the indoor range where I go, there probably isn't one shooter out of 50 that can shoot good at 25yards. I have watched with amazement how AR shooters can't do as good as my wife does at 10 yards with her Smith 66. Different distances for different skill levels. Interesting how some of you guys START at 25 and then move on out. Heck, I can't even see my sights and the target at the same time beyond about 15 yards, and even there it is dicey. Shooting a revolver at 50 would essentially be like shooting with my eyes closed. I am impressed!
Sorry had the friggin stomach flu with an Ulcer to kick it!
OK 7 yards, 15 yards, 25 and BOTH 30 and 50 yards!
I shoot 21 ft to set initial settings then try my hand at 25 to embarrass myself!
I think guns of the old West is the worst offender! I love reading about all the guns but they shoot all over the place with .45LC mostly.
Well I guess ya shoot em where they are and that's it!
Tho I Especially like shooting playing cards at 21 ft! Yea a neat little pattern of .36 cal holes to show off!
Our shooting club has movable target frames for 7, 15 and 25 yds so I shoot em all too.
The CAS guys appear to shoot about 7 yds except with derringers then it's 5 ft!
I was just wonderin what the answer was?
Shoot what ya want.
OK 7 yards, 15 yards, 25 and BOTH 30 and 50 yards!
I shoot 21 ft to set initial settings then try my hand at 25 to embarrass myself!
I think guns of the old West is the worst offender! I love reading about all the guns but they shoot all over the place with .45LC mostly.
Well I guess ya shoot em where they are and that's it!
Tho I Especially like shooting playing cards at 21 ft! Yea a neat little pattern of .36 cal holes to show off!
Our shooting club has movable target frames for 7, 15 and 25 yds so I shoot em all too.
The CAS guys appear to shoot about 7 yds except with derringers then it's 5 ft!
I was just wonderin what the answer was?
Shoot what ya want.
For careful accuracy testing, generally 25 yards is as good a standard as you're likely to see. A few gunwriters use different ranges. John Taffin does a lot of his shooting at an indoor range that only reaches to 21 yards, for example. Sometimes you'll see backup/snub/pocket guns tested at much closer ranges or a hunting handgun tested at longer ranges, but generally 25 yards is a good place to start for general accuracy testing.
At 25 yards, small problems in technique show up well on the target. I have to slow down significantly at 25 yards or it's pointless noise-making. I want to make sure I'm able to shoot good groups so that I know I'm not yanking the trigger or ignoring my sights.
I find 15 yards to be a good "compromise" distance. I can still shoot reasonably fast but if I'm getting sloppy it will show in the group sizes and flyers.
At very close range, I'm working on keeping the trigger moving, recoil control, maintaining a focus on my sights and also acquiring them quickly when coming up on target.
You are correct in terms of what you see at the range--at least that's pretty common at the ranges I visit as well. I see shooters who are unable to shoot 12" groups at 3 yards.
My wife and I went shooting today and there was an older man and his adult daughter shooting in the lane next to us. They never moved the target past 3 yards, weren't shooting especially fast and were regularly dropping shots out of the 12" scoring area on the target.
On the other side, there were a couple of guys--appeared to be a father and teenage son shooting. They were using a variety of guns--at least one with a laser sight. They were having variable success with the guns at distances from 3 to 7 yards but weren't able to consistently shoot 12" groups at the longer distances.
At 25 yards, I usually shoot for groups. As the range stretches to 50 and 100 yards, I'm just trying to make a steel torso silhouette ring. Last time out, I tried to hit the 50 yard silhouette every shot DA with my .22LR SP101 while maintaining a rate of fire of about 1 shot every 3/4 of a second (about 8 shots in 5 seconds). After several tries I finally managed to do it a couple of times. Don't ask me what kind of group sizes I was achieving though!
During each range trip, I try to do some shooting at 3-5 yards, some at 15 and some at 25 yards. I'm looking for different things at the different distances.
At 25 yards, small problems in technique show up well on the target. I have to slow down significantly at 25 yards or it's pointless noise-making. I want to make sure I'm able to shoot good groups so that I know I'm not yanking the trigger or ignoring my sights.
I find 15 yards to be a good "compromise" distance. I can still shoot reasonably fast but if I'm getting sloppy it will show in the group sizes and flyers.
At very close range, I'm working on keeping the trigger moving, recoil control, maintaining a focus on my sights and also acquiring them quickly when coming up on target.
You are correct in terms of what you see at the range--at least that's pretty common at the ranges I visit as well. I see shooters who are unable to shoot 12" groups at 3 yards.
My wife and I went shooting today and there was an older man and his adult daughter shooting in the lane next to us. They never moved the target past 3 yards, weren't shooting especially fast and were regularly dropping shots out of the 12" scoring area on the target.
On the other side, there were a couple of guys--appeared to be a father and teenage son shooting. They were using a variety of guns--at least one with a laser sight. They were having variable success with the guns at distances from 3 to 7 yards but weren't able to consistently shoot 12" groups at the longer distances.
Shooting at longer distances isn't really all that difficult as long as you don't get crazy with your target sizes. I don't get much chance to shoot at distances past 25 yards, but now and again, a good friend lets me use his private range which has targets past 25 yards. Out to about 100 yards, there's not a lot of difference compared to shooting at 25 yards--the groups open up as expected, but if the target is big enough you'll still make hits.
At 25 yards, I usually shoot for groups. As the range stretches to 50 and 100 yards, I'm just trying to make a steel torso silhouette ring. Last time out, I tried to hit the 50 yard silhouette every shot DA with my .22LR SP101 while maintaining a rate of fire of about 1 shot every 3/4 of a second (about 8 shots in 5 seconds). After several tries I finally managed to do it a couple of times. Don't ask me what kind of group sizes I was achieving though!
At 64, I have trouble getting the same sight picture and my25 yd bench groups pretty much suck. This is unfortunate since 25 years ago I amazed myself and anyone who I was shooting with, with my can't miss accuracy. When I sight in a new load or gun I have to do it at 15 yds to get a consistant sight pic. I usually plink at aluminum cans off hand from 10 to 40 yds for fun shooting.
Gun Rag tests are supposed to describe the guns preformance so you can decide which one to buy.
Trouble is even within the same issue GOW distances are all different
The reason for my post is I htought maaybe a old Guru might have once set comparison ranges but no.
New shooters get all confused or just ignore it all and old timers already have a favorite load, Caliber <Rsnge to evaluate by.
Sure got a lot of answers!
The Cops seem to agree gunfight disatance is around 21 ft. Maybe that's the best to qualify yourself on?
Thanks for all the info!
Trouble is even within the same issue GOW distances are all different
The reason for my post is I htought maaybe a old Guru might have once set comparison ranges but no.
New shooters get all confused or just ignore it all and old timers already have a favorite load, Caliber <Rsnge to evaluate by.
Sure got a lot of answers!
The Cops seem to agree gunfight disatance is around 21 ft. Maybe that's the best to qualify yourself on?
Thanks for all the info!
I find something different. I see that in American Rifleman for example that whenever they test a handgun they print the results in a small box. In the December 2014 issue they test the new S&W 69. The box appears on page 45 and shows the results for shooting at 25 yards, load, velocity, group size etc. This is common for the American Rfilfeman and most other gun magazines. If they don't do this they usually explain why.
The same is true of Handloader magazines. The results are printed in a box accompanying the article.
This is standard practice. If they do something different they generally explain why.
So I'm not sure what you're looking at maybe you can cite an example from a current issue of some magazine that I can see on a shelf.
Qualify for what?
The first thing a newer shooter has to do is learn to shoot. This usually does not begin at 25 yards but at 7 or so. Once you gain some skill and confidence you move out.
But two or more different things are being confused here it seems. The "standard" distance handguns are tested for accuracy at is 25 yards from the hands of a skilled shooter or a ransom rest. But if you are training, learning to shoot, or can't see to 25 yards you're gonna do something else and that something else will be right if you train in a thought out manner.
Also what's GOW?
tipoc