Targets - How Many Yards

just-shoot

I feel silly not knowing this stuff, but never want to ask anyone in fear of looking silly for not knowing. Is there a standard set of yards that a target should be shot at from a handgun shooter? I'm a desert shooter so I set that target wherever I want, never been to a range except to get my CCW. Many times I read articals that show how well a handgun performed, but fail to mention how far out the target was. Someday I would like to try competition shooting and would like to know what the norm is for yardage? When someone shoots a 3" group, is that 3" from the center of the target to the furthest shot or 3" from the 2 furthest shots accross all the other shots? when measuring groups, is there a standard set of rounds shot? So much too learn. Thanks for target lesson 101.

spclark

No need to feel silly; nobody here can see you or knows you. Questions are what this list is for. Just be sure & shoot safely, especially since you live where you are trusted to carry a concealed weapon.Now: target distance is going to be specific for what you're planning to shoot at with your pistol(s). If you're practicing for personal defense, I'd say 3 to 10 yards. If you're hunting, extend that to 25 yards, unless you're going after something big and fast where you want to shoot accurately at 50 or 100 yards.I don't shoot anything but paper; I regularly shoot in informal club competition where the targets are 25 yards away; I'm sure there's information on the N.R.A's website (certainly in their rule book) covering their match conditions.Groups are (by my understanding) measured between the centers of the two most widely separated hits. Other folks reading this, please correct me if this is incorrect by your experience.

He Dog

spclark is correct on the center to center measurements of the outter holes in a group, though sometimes you have a flier, one way out of the group, and then usually the measurement is given for the rest of the group, with the flier noted. In most cases groups are 5 shots, sometimes three, and group size is also noted.I generally practice self defence shooting at 10 yards as that is the shortest distance at the local range. I figger if I can hit at 10, less won't be much of a problem accuracy wise.You might want to consider looking at some of the many books available on shooting, and take a look at the NRA website and their publications. It is handy to have the books around for future refreshers and reference.

spclark

Sometimes?Heck, I ALWAYS have a flier or two.I ignore 'em (the scorer's don't though, dang).On a good day I can put 5 in a bunch (@25 yards) about the size of a silver dollar (remember those?) with my .44 Super Redhawk.Before my first cup of coffee. [This message has been edited by spclark (edited 01-08-2002).]

Shootist3006

Just Shoot; good questions. The info above is all correct. One thing I would add is that if you are shooting a revolver, group all 6 (or 7 or 8) chambers in the cylinder.There is a possibility that 1 or more will not shoot true with the rest. Mark or number each chamber and determine how good each is.

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Quod principi placuit legis habet vigorem.Semper Fidelis

pikeal1

the range i visit frequently has handgun targets set up at 7, 15, 25, 50, 75, and 100 yards.some of the guys have those newfangled pistols with the scopes and stuff, and some guys go out and practice competition shooting, I'm still at 7 yards thats about the total extent of my knowledge on the subject.

jdc606

I've shot over 6,000 rounds of 9mm,in equal amounts, through my Ruger P89 and Taurus 99 semi-autos.I tried many different powders and bullets and finally found the best combination for the guns I shoot.If I can get two full clips from either pistol to hit a 9 1/2" paper plate at 75 feet,I'm happy.I've used a micrometer to sort bullets to the same length,weigh my powder to less than 1/10th of a grain,shot from a rest and off-hand.I can get a 2" group for eight rounds but two of the ten will miss the plate completely.That's the nature of handguns.I've shot a 2" group at 150 ft. with factory ammo using a Ruger .357 single six.My 9mm semi-autos dropped about 18" and the groups were about two feet wide at that range.Our local gun club has competition handgun shoots using bowling pins for targets and I think they do it at ten feet...not yards.I wouldn't expect to hit anything consistently past 25 yards with a semi-auto or past 50 yards with a long barreled revolver.

Shootist3006

The groups you are talking about aren't "the nature of handguns", more likely it is the nature of the 9MM, a naturally inaccurate round.

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Quod principi placuit legis habet vigorem.Semper Fidelis

dakotashooter2

"The only stupid question is the one not asked""it is better to ask and be thought stupid than to not ask and have it proven"I rarely shoot at given ranges except for load development and sighting in. You will learn a lot more about your gun and improve your shooting skills by shooting at various undetermined ranges. I live in an area where one can wander and shoot at targets of opportunity (stumps,small rocks ,dirt clumps etc).

gregrph

reply for shootist 3006. what do you consider some of the more naturally accurate rounds and why?

just-shoot

SO, after your second or third shot, do you continue to aim at your original point of aim, or do you begin to aim at where your first few shots hit the target? Or is this just one of those... what ever works for you type of things.

JIM STARK

jdc606.. If you want a real eye opener....Find out where the nearest IHMSA (International handgun mettalic sillhouette association) match is. They...read that... we (before I went into bifocals) shoot centerfire handgun, scoped and iron sight at 50,100,150,& 200 meters and rimfire at 25,50,75,&100 yards...At these tiny little steel knock-em-down to get a score targets. It's a real trip...Try it out and you'll get hooked....It's a bang clang good time... As nice a bunch of folks on a pistol range as you'll ever meet....I said that!!