Me again with yet another question. What distance do you guys test a new load at? I have been doing it at 7 yards off hand since I figure if I'm lucky, should the need ever arise, that would be a fair distance to the target. Since I only shoot at center mass of the silhouette targets is 1-2 inches reasonable for 10 shots or do I need to try to tweak the load more? Thanks.
Average shooting range to determine accuracy
- Thread starter layusn1
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xring44
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To determine accuracy, remove as many pieces of human error as possible, shoot from a bench on a bag, depending on what your shooting, 15/17 yards works well for me. You will know more about what your pistol/load is doing and can make adjustments if necessary. Develop confidence in your pistol/load combination. Then shoot it anyway you like, you know if you do your part, your equipment will do the rest!
The range I shoot at is a long rectangle outside with rope lines at 3, 7, and 20 (I think) yards. There is a table and bench at 25 yards for all your gear but no way to set up a rest anywhere. Would one of those monopod shooting sticks work for that?
xring44
Member
The range I shoot at is a long rectangle outside with rope lines at 3, 7, and 20 (I think) yards. There is a table and bench at 25 yards for all your gear but no way to set up a rest anywhere. Would one of those monopod shooting sticks work for that?
It would be better than nothing. I'm not accustomed to not being able to shoot from a bench while sighting in. Our range has seperate areas for rifle/handgun, but handguns are welcome at the rifle range for sighting in purposes. Of course, I live in a rural area, its quite alright to sit up almost anywhere there is a safe back stop to sight in.(speaking of out in the country) Two straight backed chairs faceing one another with something for padding on the back of the one in front of you would work in a pinch.
It would be better than nothing. I'm not accustomed to not being able to shoot from a bench while sighting in. Our range has seperate areas for rifle/handgun, but handguns are welcome at the rifle range for sighting in purposes. Of course, I live in a rural area, its quite alright to sit up almost anywhere there is a safe back stop to sight in.(speaking of out in the country) Two straight backed chairs faceing one another with something for padding on the back of the one in front of you would work in a pinch.
Chris Rhines
Member
I do all my handgun accuracy testing at 25 yards, with some practice out to 50.
If you have no place to set up a rest, get a scrap of carpet and shoot prone.
- Chris
If you have no place to set up a rest, get a scrap of carpet and shoot prone.
- Chris
CZ57
member
It's subjective and depends very much on the type of handgun you're shooting. Some people don't get much choice because of their particular range. Here's my subjective guideline. Service pistols and revolvers: 50' rested and offhand. Defensive drills 7 - 15 yards. Match type autopistols with adjustable sights and a good trigger, 25 yards. Target Revolvers 25 yards and beyond.
glockman19
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Handguns 7-25 yards
Rifles First zeroed in @ 100 yards then 200 yards.
Rifles First zeroed in @ 100 yards then 200 yards.
I'm loading for my CZ75 and my wife's Sig 229, which seems to be a whole different animal. I figure I should test off hand because lets face it...if you ever have to use it your not pulling a bench rest outta your butt and asking Mr. badguy for a time-out while you set up. I know you all know that and I'm not trying to be sarcastic, just looking for "real world accuracy". Wouldn't it suck to be like that one dude that shot at the lawyer from like 3 feet away and dumped all the ammo he had and only hit him once or twice in non vital areas? Honestly, sadly enough, the clips on both sides of our bed, her Sig and my CZ, are loaded with Federal Hydroshock. The daughters bedroom is nowhere near the line of fire so I'm not worried about that. Sadly though...I have never pulled the trigger with a Hydroshock so I don't even know how they perform in my gun...thats really bad but they are really expensive, guess thats why people don't practice with and carry really expensive "self defense" rounds.
wolfe28
Member
It depends on the gun.
I test all handgun ammunition at 25 yards and all rifle at 100. I usually use the 8.5x11" 50 yard targets for everything, because I can scan them into the computer and save them digitally, instead of having stacks of paper around (okay, so I'm a bit of a science geek; I'm okay with that). For autoloading handguns, I use a large 100 yard target at 25 yards, just so I have lots of room to find the group, and then switch to the smaller ones if possible.
D
I test all handgun ammunition at 25 yards and all rifle at 100. I usually use the 8.5x11" 50 yard targets for everything, because I can scan them into the computer and save them digitally, instead of having stacks of paper around (okay, so I'm a bit of a science geek; I'm okay with that). For autoloading handguns, I use a large 100 yard target at 25 yards, just so I have lots of room to find the group, and then switch to the smaller ones if possible.
D
The Bushmaster
Member
Hand gun 25 yards
Rifle 100 and 200 yards...
Rifle 100 and 200 yards...
7 yard or less is i think avg distance of shootings
but 25 the distance for accuracy, which people often do with sand bags, i look at it this way , unless you mount the gun in a hard mount your not testing the guns accuracy, your testing your own abilities, only the most messed up gun will not repeat itself. if you can shoot off hand in a 2 inch group at 7 yards you should be able to hit off hand 4-6 inch groups at 25 yards which is far more then most police are able to do, i would say for 99% of the time your accuracy for self defense is ok, now how fast and what caliber might be issues. 1 357 125gr hot load has a 96% one hit stop performance if you can do two in the CBM fast, you still might have recieved a fatal wound doing it, as the guy was probably shooting back. but unless vested , he is coming with you. i know thats not what you want to hear, garunteed success in a gun fight is hard commodity to find even swat teams occasionally lose a person and they have every advantage known to man basically. something you got to accept?
but 25 the distance for accuracy, which people often do with sand bags, i look at it this way , unless you mount the gun in a hard mount your not testing the guns accuracy, your testing your own abilities, only the most messed up gun will not repeat itself. if you can shoot off hand in a 2 inch group at 7 yards you should be able to hit off hand 4-6 inch groups at 25 yards which is far more then most police are able to do, i would say for 99% of the time your accuracy for self defense is ok, now how fast and what caliber might be issues. 1 357 125gr hot load has a 96% one hit stop performance if you can do two in the CBM fast, you still might have recieved a fatal wound doing it, as the guy was probably shooting back. but unless vested , he is coming with you. i know thats not what you want to hear, garunteed success in a gun fight is hard commodity to find
even swat teams occasionally lose a person and they have every advantage known to man basically. something you got to accept?
Archie
Member
You said 'testing'. For handguns, I expect some degree of accuracy at 25 or 50 yards. Seven yards is too short a distance to determine 'accuracy'. One may never need a shot at 50 yards, but an accurate load at 50 yards will certainly be more than adequate at 7 yards.
Now, if this is a self-defense load and you anticipate no distances further than seven yards, why bother with accuracy testing at all? Most any load will impact close to sights at seven yards, so I would simply develop the most powerful load that will:
1. Operate reliably in the firearm in question,
2. Allow safe and positive control of firearm in question, and
3. Meet any legal conditions or restrictions you may face.
Other than that, for what other purpose do you load? If you're developing a load for bullseye pistol shooting, obviously it has to group well at 50 yards. If it's a hunting load, it has to deliver at whatever ranges you anticipate shooting your game.
Now, if this is a self-defense load and you anticipate no distances further than seven yards, why bother with accuracy testing at all? Most any load will impact close to sights at seven yards, so I would simply develop the most powerful load that will:
1. Operate reliably in the firearm in question,
2. Allow safe and positive control of firearm in question, and
3. Meet any legal conditions or restrictions you may face.
Other than that, for what other purpose do you load? If you're developing a load for bullseye pistol shooting, obviously it has to group well at 50 yards. If it's a hunting load, it has to deliver at whatever ranges you anticipate shooting your game.
glockman19
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When at the indoor range I usually practice for SD situations at 7-12 yards. I rarely slow shoot for accuracy. When shooting I generaly bring the firearm up from a rest, to either Isosoles or Weaver with a Rob Latham thumbs forward grip and as soon as I sight the target fire once or twice, (double tap). I can always shoot groups of 1-2" slow firing one round at a time with rest and breathing technique almost al rounds in teh 10 ring. I'll rarely be able to do that in a SD situation. So for me it's important to raise the gun and shoot. I have been consistently hitting a palm size groups, 3-4" with fast/rapid fire at 7-12 yards. Put your hand over your chest and tell me you wouldn't be happy with those results. I'm seriously/fatally wounding anything I aim at.
At the outdoor range I test the accuracy of every handgun on a sandbag rest for the first time @ 25 yards. I then would rather shoot steel targets @ 25, 35, 50 & 75 yards. Here I take more time to sight and breathe in between shots. The targets are different shapes and sizes and it's fun to shoot them all right down the line and at different distances.
Shooting for accuracy and Self Defense are two different animals. I like to Practice both.
At the outdoor range I test the accuracy of every handgun on a sandbag rest for the first time @ 25 yards. I then would rather shoot steel targets @ 25, 35, 50 & 75 yards. Here I take more time to sight and breathe in between shots. The targets are different shapes and sizes and it's fun to shoot them all right down the line and at different distances.
Shooting for accuracy and Self Defense are two different animals. I like to Practice both.
KINGMAX
Member
For pistol work = 15, 18 21 25 30 35 feet away, sometimes for a hunting caliber, (357/.44 mag), I will work targets out to 75 - 100 feet.
For long guns = start at 25 feet, work out to 50, 75, 100, 125 and 150 feet for indoor sighting.
Outdoors = start out the same, but progress out to 100 - 300 yards, (300 - 900 feet) away.
For long guns = start at 25 feet, work out to 50, 75, 100, 125 and 150 feet for indoor sighting.
Outdoors = start out the same, but progress out to 100 - 300 yards, (300 - 900 feet) away.
cheygriz
member
For pistols, 7, 10 and 15 yards for social shooting weapons, 50 for target guns.
For rifles, 5 shot groups at 100 for hunting rifles, 10 shot groups at 300 for target, varmint, and social shooting.
For rimfire rifles, 10 shot groups at 100.
those work for me. YMMV!
For rifles, 5 shot groups at 100 for hunting rifles, 10 shot groups at 300 for target, varmint, and social shooting.
For rimfire rifles, 10 shot groups at 100.
those work for me. YMMV!
I shoot most of my ammunition at 25 yards, offhand, but 50 yards is a real challenge. For me, shooting offhand and keeping my rounds on my 12 inch gong at 50 yards is a real test of the round, pistol, and sight setting. But I can really tell if the combination is going to work by the dispersion at 25 yards.
I do not trust shot range testing. I have shot groups at 7 yards (with a snubby) that you could put a inside a half dollar. When I got out to 25 yards it was all I could do to hit the 12" gong.
I do not trust shot range testing. I have shot groups at 7 yards (with a snubby) that you could put a inside a half dollar. When I got out to 25 yards it was all I could do to hit the 12" gong.
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