Shooting distance at range - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

vukdog7 · 04-27-2008, 10:29 AM

We probably have all shot at different distances at the range or wherever, but is there such a thing as a correct distance that I should be practicing at to improve my accuracy with a handgun?

xdfan80 · 04-27-2008, 10:32 AM

I started out really close, about ten feet. After I could shoot really well I moved back and kept doing that.The farthest I ever shoot from on a regular basis with my .45 though is about 35 to 40 feet. I think its good to start close and as you get better move back.

Harris · 04-27-2008, 10:46 AM

When I started in law enforcement we used the 50 yard PPC course. In the 60 rounds fired, the CLOSEST we got to the target was 7 yards, and 18 of the 60 rounds were fired at 50 yards (6 strong hand supported, 6 kneeling, and 6 prone). This course built excellent marksmanship, but did little to introduce tactical considerations.

Now (a certain number of years later

), the qualification course of fire changes every quarter, and we frequently shoot from close enough to touch the target, and typically get no further away than 15 yards. The average course has the majority of rounds fired at 5 yards or less.

There is a place for both types of course. The marksmanship learned at fifty yards is a nice skill to have. Not because you'd use a handgun from that distance, but the basics (breath control, sight alignment, trigger squeeze, and grip) show up at those distances in ways they won't on closer courses. However, it is also critical to practice shooting in ways that simulate what you're likely to encounter. This means close range, rapid draw and fire shooting.

So the "correct" distance to practice at is "all of them". Can you draw from the holster and put two shots on center mass in 2 seconds from the hip? Can you put six in the ten ring in 12 seconds at 5 yards? Can you put 6 in the ten ring in 60 seconds at 25 yards? There is a place for skills required for each of these, and each requires practice.

Harris

TOJAZ · 04-27-2008, 10:52 AM

For defense type practice they usually call 7 yards (21 feet) the standard and is marked off on most indoor ranges. After that just back off like the others have said. I regularly shoot at 7 yards but have shot handguns out to 50 with
success and the right gun (.357 mostly).

TOJAZ

mudfoot · 04-27-2008, 11:38 AM

For defensive training, determine the longest hallway in your house, or longest shot in your sleeping area, front room, or yard. Practice there until you are tired of shooting. This is the training for the unfortunate part of shooting.

Then move it back to 15, 25, and 50 yards and learn the ballistics of your particular caliber. This is the fun, educational part of shooting.

YMMV, but this is how I shoot. That and malfunction drills.

fredj338 · 04-27-2008, 02:12 PM

There are diff. schools of thought but I like old school. Accuracy is first & foremost w/ a def. pistol. It matters little how many rounds you can squeeze off in 2 seec. if you hit nothing or hit very little (most shooters).
When training a new shooter, I start them @ 7yds, 10ft is waaay too close. Once you can put all your shots inside 2"-3", then move back to 15yds & start over. Once you can put them all into 2"-3" @ 15yds, move back to 25yds. Your goal @ 25yds should be 3"-4", most service pistols can do this. If you can't get beyond 15yds, then stay there until you can, but good accuracy comes from mastering the basics of grip, sights & trigger. Your shooting errors are maginifed w/ distance & you'll nevver get really good doing all your shooting @ 7yds IMO.
Shooting @ 50yds is good for hunting & you should have an idea of your ability at that distance, but youu don;t need to spend alot of time there. BTW, all you practice at first should be slow fire, concentrating on the 3 basics. Only after you are proficient should you introduce speed drills (dbl. taps, 2+1, reflex shooting from a draw, etc.)

Mercmar · 04-29-2008, 09:33 AM

Practicing at hallway distances is fine, as long as you let all the bad guys know that they're not to attack you outside your home.

I usually start a session @ about 10 yds, when shooting at an outdoor range...7 yds. indoors. At our local WMA range, I shoot out to thirty-forty yards and make a few shots out to 100 yds.

**Dave Starr** · 04-29-2008, 09:59 AM

The range here is set up at 7, 12, & 25 yards. I'm shooting at 7 until I get my grip sorted out - nice groups, off center. Once that's sorted out, I'll try longer ranges, but I'll primarily shoot at 7, home defense range. In a way, it's like golf; learn the close game first, that's where the "scoring" is.

04-27-2008, 10:29 AM	#1
vukdog7 XDTalk Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Northern Mn Posts: 58	Shooting distance at range We probably have all shot at different distances at the range or wherever, but is there such a thing as a correct distance that I should be practicing at to improve my accuracy with a handgun?

04-27-2008, 10:32 AM	#2
xdfan80 XDTalk 2K Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,771	I started out really close, about ten feet. After I could shoot really well I moved back and kept doing that.The farthest I ever shoot from on a regular basis with my .45 though is about 35 to 40 feet. I think its good to start close and as you get better move back. __________________ Ruger Sp-101 .357 magnum SA XD Tactical .45 acp Mossberg 500 12 gauge pump Marlin 25N bolt action .22 rifle

04-27-2008, 11:38 AM	#5
mudfoot XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Central Florida Posts: 314	For defensive training, determine the longest hallway in your house, or longest shot in your sleeping area, front room, or yard. Practice there until you are tired of shooting. This is the training for the unfortunate part of shooting. Then move it back to 15, 25, and 50 yards and learn the ballistics of your particular caliber. This is the fun, educational part of shooting. YMMV, but this is how I shoot. That and malfunction drills. __________________ If you are citizen who is legally authorized to carry a weapon and you step outside without that weapon, then you become a sheep, pretending that the bad man will not come today. No one can be "on" 24/7, for a lifetime. Everyone needs down time. But if you are authorized to carry a weapon, and you walk outside without it, just take a deep breath, and say this to yourself..."Baa."

04-27-2008, 02:12 PM	#6
fredj338 XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 1,075	There are diff. schools of thought but I like old school. Accuracy is first & foremost w/ a def. pistol. It matters little how many rounds you can squeeze off in 2 seec. if you hit nothing or hit very little (most shooters). When training a new shooter, I start them @ 7yds, 10ft is waaay too close. Once you can put all your shots inside 2"-3", then move back to 15yds & start over. Once you can put them all into 2"-3" @ 15yds, move back to 25yds. Your goal @ 25yds should be 3"-4", most service pistols can do this. If you can't get beyond 15yds, then stay there until you can, but good accuracy comes from mastering the basics of grip, sights & trigger. Your shooting errors are maginifed w/ distance & you'll nevver get really good doing all your shooting @ 7yds IMO. Shooting @ 50yds is good for hunting & you should have an idea of your ability at that distance, but youu don;t need to spend alot of time there. BTW, all you practice at first should be slow fire, concentrating on the 3 basics. Only after you are proficient should you introduce speed drills (dbl. taps, 2+1, reflex shooting from a draw, etc.) __________________ EVERY GOOD SHOOTER SHOULD BE A HANDLOADER! Last edited by fredj338 : 04-27-2008 at 02:15 PM.

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04-27-2008, 10:46 AM	#3
Harris XDTalk Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Denver Posts: 60	When I started in law enforcement we used the 50 yard PPC course. In the 60 rounds fired, the CLOSEST we got to the target was 7 yards, and 18 of the 60 rounds were fired at 50 yards (6 strong hand supported, 6 kneeling, and 6 prone). This course built excellent marksmanship, but did little to introduce tactical considerations. Now (a certain number of years later ), the qualification course of fire changes every quarter, and we frequently shoot from close enough to touch the target, and typically get no further away than 15 yards. The average course has the majority of rounds fired at 5 yards or less. There is a place for both types of course. The marksmanship learned at fifty yards is a nice skill to have. Not because you'd use a handgun from that distance, but the basics (breath control, sight alignment, trigger squeeze, and grip) show up at those distances in ways they won't on closer courses. However, it is also critical to practice shooting in ways that simulate what you're likely to encounter. This means close range, rapid draw and fire shooting. So the "correct" distance to practice at is "all of them". Can you draw from the holster and put two shots on center mass in 2 seconds from the hip? Can you put six in the ten ring in 12 seconds at 5 yards? Can you put 6 in the ten ring in 60 seconds at 25 yards? There is a place for skills required for each of these, and each requires practice. Harris

04-27-2008, 10:52 AM	#4
TOJAZ XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 113	For defense type practice they usually call 7 yards (21 feet) the standard and is marked off on most indoor ranges. After that just back off like the others have said. I regularly shoot at 7 yards but have shot handguns out to 50 with success and the right gun (.357 mostly). TOJAZ

04-29-2008, 09:33 AM	#7
Mercmar XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 1,559	Practicing at hallway distances is fine, as long as you let all the bad guys know that they're not to attack you outside your home. I usually start a session @ about 10 yds, when shooting at an outdoor range...7 yds. indoors. At our local WMA range, I shoot out to thirty-forty yards and make a few shots out to 100 yds.

04-29-2008, 09:59 AM	#8
Dave Starr XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Flint, Michigan Posts: 419	The range here is set up at 7, 12, & 25 yards. I'm shooting at 7 until I get my grip sorted out - nice groups, off center. Once that's sorted out, I'll try longer ranges, but I'll primarily shoot at 7, home defense range. In a way, it's like golf; learn the close game first, that's where the "scoring" is.