What kind of group shouldI be "shooting for"? - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

WyoBob · 03-13-2005, 01:35 PM

What kind of group size should I be "shooting for" at 7 yards, 50 feet and 25 yards with my XD40 SC? I've done most of my shooting at 7 yards using a target with a 2 inch bullseye with my best 3 groups being .92", .97" and 1.22".

My best groups at 50 feet 1.8" (really lucky on this one, I think), 3", 3.4" and 3.65".

Best groups at 25 yards, 2.5" from a rest and 3.5" offhand. I haven't shot much at 25 yards but my other groups haven't been very good and the groupings are 6-7 inches high whereas at 7 yards the sights are dead on.

I've used the same, 2" bullseye targets for all ranges. I'm thinking maybe a 6 inch bullseye might be better for 50 feet and 25 yards. At 25 yards a 2" dot is pretty small and I don't think gives the best sight picture.

With a 6 o'clock hold, my groups are about an inch high at 7 yards, 4 inches high at 50 feet (using a 2 inch bull) and six inches high at 25 yards (using a 2 inch bull). If I went to a 6 inch bull, using the 6 o'clock hold, my groups at 50 feet and 25 yards would drop more towards the center of the bull. I'm still having trouble wrapping my brain around why it shoots almost dead on at 7 yards and is 7 inches high at 25 yards when the manual states that the gun is sighted in at 25 yards.

WyoBob

Captain Ray · 03-13-2005, 02:10 PM

This should make you feel good! LOL

At 7-8 yards if I really concentrate my groups are about 3". At 25 yards I get eight out of 10 inside the 5 ring... So you are shooting pretty well in my book!

Raymond

ichy_trigger · 03-13-2005, 02:18 PM

what groups should you be getting? Depends on what you want to practice for. I used to shoot for very small groups myself and thought I was doing really well. Then I got into competition and found out that speed an accuracy placed in a stressful situation (competing) is what matters. It used to be I would take my time shooting very small goups, now I practice shooting small groups at different ranges using a minimal amount of target exposure to my sight picture. In other words, practice pulling your gun up and aquiring a GOOD sight picture as fast as possible and doing double taps on the target. Try to make both first and second shots aimed shots.

You have the best basics, good sight picture and deciplined trigger control, now put it together with another aspect.

WyoBob · 03-13-2005, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain Ray

This should make you feel good! LOL
At 7-8 yards if I really concentrate my groups are about 3". At 25 yards I get eight out of 10 inside the 5 ring... So you are shooting pretty well in my book!
Raymond

Thanks, Raymond. It's been a long time since I shot a handgun. In my mind, I used to be able to shoot tighter groups with my 44 Ruger flat top. I found a couple of targets from 1974. One target was shot with some cast bullets at 25 yards off a rest and a four shot group was 1.54" . The first shot is marked "from clean and cold barrell" and it increased the group size to 3.5". My 240 gr Hornady hunting loads with 20 gr of 2400 grouped 4 shots at 1.8" with one flyer taking the groups size out to 2.94". This was fired from a rest, as well.

After a long time away from shooting, I bought the XD and started shooting again. I just remembered being a better shot. But, the Ruger is a single action with a very nice trigger and a 6 1/2 inch barrell. I'm now shooting a gun with a much heavier and rougher trigger and half the sight radius. I guess the bottom line is that I'm expecting too much out of the XD.

WyoBob

WyoBob · 03-13-2005, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ichy_trigger

what groups should you be getting? Depends on what you want to practice for. I used to shoot for very small groups myself and thought I was doing really well. Then I got into competition and found out that speed an accuracy placed in a stressful situation (competing) is what matters. It used to be I would take my time shooting very small goups, now I practice shooting small groups at different ranges using a minimal amount of target exposure to my sight picture. In other words, practice pulling your gun up and aquiring a GOOD sight picture as fast as possible and doing double taps on the target. Try to make both first and second shots aimed shots.

You have the best basics, good sight picture and deciplined trigger control, now put it together with another aspect.

That's my next step, ichy. I've started working on it already. A couple of days ago, I cut out some 6 inch dia. white targets and taped 5 of them horizontally to stimulate the metal disc shooting I tried last week. Then I shot for speed. That's a lot of fun but it will take me a lot of practice to get good and, that's a good thing.

Thanks, WyoBob

stealthsniper · 03-13-2005, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WyoBob

What kind of group size should I be "shooting for" at 7 yards, 50 feet and 25 yards with my XD40 SC? I've done most of my shooting at 7 yards using a target with a 2 inch bullseye with my best 3 groups being .92", .97" and 1.22".

How many shots were in each group? I shoot 0.00" 1-shot groups all the time, but my 20-shot groups tend to be a bit larger.

This morning's range session yielded just under a 2.50" group of 35 shots at distances from 7-10 yards (kept patching the target). I was rather displeased, but it's only my second time out with the Ameriglo Speed Rings. Practice helped, as later 5-shot, 10-yard groups were hovering around 0.75".

WyoBob · 03-13-2005, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stealthsniper

How many shots were in each group? I shoot 0.00" 1-shot groups all the time, but my 20-shot groups tend to be a bit larger.
This morning's range session yielded just under a 2.50" group of 35 shots at distances from 7-10 yards (kept patching the target). I was rather displeased, but it's only my second time out with the Ameriglo Speed Rings. Practice helped, as later 5-shot, 10-yard groups were hovering around 0.75".

I usually shoot 5 or 6 shots for groups. Heck, the more shots I fire, the greater the the risk that the group size will increase

Are the Ameriglo Speed rings the rear peep style? If so, my interest in those just increased quite a bit. I'd sure be plumb tickled with 10 yard groups of .75". Wow. Plus, I bet those sights would be great for steel plate shooting.

WyoBob

DanaT · 03-13-2005, 04:47 PM

Bob,

If you are shoooting for bulleyes you aren't doing too bad.

Have you participated in any IDPA or IPSC matches? They will teach you what "practical" accuracy is. I think its better to have 3 inch groups and doing it quick, than 1/2 inch groups and take a minute to get a shot off.

Alos, for bullseye shooting, you can choose a better weapon than a semi-auto pistol.

-Dana

TheMaineMan · 03-13-2005, 05:07 PM

Those are better groups then I get...are you shooting bench rested?

paper tiger · 03-13-2005, 05:56 PM

I think Dana about hit it. It's a combat weapon. When someone is running at you from 20 feet, 12" groups are golden.

You must have the magic finger though...I could hardly hit a paper plate at 15 yards.

03-13-2005, 01:35 PM	#1
WyoBob XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Buffalo, WY Posts: 261	What kind of group shouldI be "shooting for"? What kind of group size should I be "shooting for" at 7 yards, 50 feet and 25 yards with my XD40 SC? I've done most of my shooting at 7 yards using a target with a 2 inch bullseye with my best 3 groups being .92", .97" and 1.22". My best groups at 50 feet 1.8" (really lucky on this one, I think), 3", 3.4" and 3.65". Best groups at 25 yards, 2.5" from a rest and 3.5" offhand. I haven't shot much at 25 yards but my other groups haven't been very good and the groupings are 6-7 inches high whereas at 7 yards the sights are dead on. I've used the same, 2" bullseye targets for all ranges. I'm thinking maybe a 6 inch bullseye might be better for 50 feet and 25 yards. At 25 yards a 2" dot is pretty small and I don't think gives the best sight picture. With a 6 o'clock hold, my groups are about an inch high at 7 yards, 4 inches high at 50 feet (using a 2 inch bull) and six inches high at 25 yards (using a 2 inch bull). If I went to a 6 inch bull, using the 6 o'clock hold, my groups at 50 feet and 25 yards would drop more towards the center of the bull. I'm still having trouble wrapping my brain around why it shoots almost dead on at 7 yards and is 7 inches high at 25 yards when the manual states that the gun is sighted in at 25 yards. WyoBob __________________ XD-40 SC, SA 1911 SS Loaded (45), SA LW Champion

03-13-2005, 02:10 PM	#2
Captain Ray XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,693	This should make you feel good! LOL At 7-8 yards if I really concentrate my groups are about 3". At 25 yards I get eight out of 10 inside the 5 ring... So you are shooting pretty well in my book! Raymond __________________ \"I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom and that of all about me seemed insufficient for that day.\" ~Abraham Lincoln~

03-13-2005, 02:18 PM	#3
ichy_trigger XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Dayton, Ohio Posts: 7,525	what groups should you be getting? Depends on what you want to practice for. I used to shoot for very small groups myself and thought I was doing really well. Then I got into competition and found out that speed an accuracy placed in a stressful situation (competing) is what matters. It used to be I would take my time shooting very small goups, now I practice shooting small groups at different ranges using a minimal amount of target exposure to my sight picture. In other words, practice pulling your gun up and aquiring a GOOD sight picture as fast as possible and doing double taps on the target. Try to make both first and second shots aimed shots. You have the best basics, good sight picture and deciplined trigger control, now put it together with another aspect. __________________ "The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself." http://militarysignatures.com/signatures/member2645.png

03-13-2005, 04:47 PM	#8
DanaT XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Colorado Posts: 471	Bob, If you are shoooting for bulleyes you aren't doing too bad. Have you participated in any IDPA or IPSC matches? They will teach you what "practical" accuracy is. I think its better to have 3 inch groups and doing it quick, than 1/2 inch groups and take a minute to get a shot off. Alos, for bullseye shooting, you can choose a better weapon than a semi-auto pistol. -Dana __________________ -Let\'s bomb all the factories that make all the wannabes. -If you can\'t destroy it, may as well enjoy it. -Hayabusa. If you can\'t spell it, I doubt you can catch it.

03-13-2005, 05:07 PM	#9
TheMaineMan XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 116	Those are better groups then I get...are you shooting bench rested? __________________ XD-9 - \"Lil Thunda\" Mossy 590 - \"Black Betty\" SideArmor IWB

03-13-2005, 05:56 PM	#10
paper tiger XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Northern VA Posts: 109	I think Dana about hit it. It's a combat weapon. When someone is running at you from 20 feet, 12" groups are golden. You must have the magic finger though...I could hardly hit a paper plate at 15 yards.

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