What is "good" pistol shooting?

[Japle]

What we usually see at the range is 6-8" groups at 7-10 yds. The shooters seem to think that's good. Actually, their guns would put all the bullets through one 1" hole and a good shot could shoot 2" groups at 10 yds (two-hand offhand, slow fire) all day.




If you've had proper instruction and understand sight alignment, trigger control and follow-through you can shoot good groups on demand.
With enough practice and a reasonable amount of talent, that is.

 

[Ankeny]

Here's the problem: Most people shoot handguns poorly. At best, they are mediocre. Yet all those gun owners THINK they can shoot not only well, but very well. (just as everyone thinks they are "fast"...)

That pretty much echos my feelings on the subject. I seldom meet pistoleros who consider themselves "average".

As far as performance on the range, I think what really counts is the reliable day to day performance under various conditions "cold and on demand".

PS Japle posted while I was typing. Nice to see another from the "on demand" school of thought.

 

[bluetopper]

I shot a 99 on Saturday. 10 shot, 25yd group. One hand hold.

Of course it was my best group of the day.

1911, 45acp STI Master frame & slide with an assortment of different internals.

 

[MrBorland]

Here's the problem: Most people shoot handguns poorly. At best, they are mediocre. Yet all those gun owners THINK they can shoot not only well, but very well. (just as everyone thinks they are "fast"...)

That pretty much echos my feelings on the subject. I seldom meet pistoleros who consider themselves "average".

Another recommendation to the OP - don't concern yourself too much about other peoples' shooting ability or lack thereof. It's self-limiting and a waste of time. The time you spend concerned about it is time you're not concerned about your own shooting. That includes setting a personal goal of being better than 90% of shooters. First, it's an arbitrary standard, but more importantly, why let the ability of others shooters dictate how good you'll ever be? You give them (most of whom you'll not even know) much too much power over you by doing so.

 

[warnerwh]

Practice holding the gun the same exact way. I mean hold it exactly the same with the same pressure from both hands. You should be twisting one hand to the other a little as it will make the sights easier to control. I also push forward and back at the same time. This is very important due to the fact the way the gun recoils varies if you vary your grip which will send the bullet in different directions.
Get control of the squeezing the trigger only as the sights are lined up on the target. Sqeeze and hold as the sights move. Usually the gun should go off when you're not expecting it to. If you pull hard or fast on that trigger there goes your accuracy.
My daughter listened to me and as a guy earlier in this thread said you would not believe me if I told you how well she could shoot starting from the first day. I will say it's better than 90 percent of hand gunners. All it took was paying attention. We only shoot from 25 to 100 yards. Only women and kids will actually listen and do better than men. This has been consistent for me.

 

[kingmt]

Here's the problem: Most people shoot handguns poorly. At best, they are mediocre. Yet all those gunowners THINK they can shoot not only well, but very well. (just as everyone thinks they are "fast"...)

I don't think I can shoot well. Actully I am very bad with most pistols. I can shoot far with a .22 which I used to shoot pebbles at about 20 yards but I carry a .38 stuby revolver that I am good enough to hit a body cavity sized target at 20.

Now put a rifle in my hands & I can get to the fare class.

 

[NMGonzo]

good for me is hitting this thing

up to 50 paces

if i can spin it up and hit it down on the upswing, that is a good shot.

 

[model of 1905]

Good pistol shooting is when the BG stops the attack, great pistol shooting is when the BG does not survive to attack again.

 

[mm6mm6]

When you can put all ten shots in the black on a standard 25 yard Bullseye target during slow, timed, and rapid fire and score a perfect 300...well...then you're a Match shooter (above Master). If you are capable of this type of shooting and you are knowledgable in two handed, modified Weaver combat shooting, you will be a good shot at any distance.

Bullseye shooting makes a better combat shooter. But it doesn't work the other way around.

Sight picture, breath control, and trigger squeeze. When they're mastered in one handed Bullseye shooting at 25 yards, it will translate into excellent combat shooting.

I score Expert in combined Bullseye target shooting. I'm not at Master yet, let alone Match. I do okay shooting combat as well. Guys (and gals) who shoot Master or Match in Bullseye pretty much do the same in Combat.

This is to say that they fire a 460 out of 480 (48 rounds worth 10 points each) while shooting at 7, 15, and 25 yards. The 25 yard shooting is done kneeling, weak hand barricade, strong hand barricade, and regular standing.

If you can keep all your shots in the 10 ring at 7 yards, all your shots in the 8 ring at 15 yards, and all your shots in the 7 ring at 25 yards from an unsupported combat stance on a standard combat target, you're doing great in my book.