How do you shoot?

[5ontarget]

I've been on other boards where many guys are claiming they shoot 1-2" groups with 3"bbl guns at 25yds offhand, all day. I thought I was a decent shot, not great by any means, but decent, until I started getting online talking with other shooters. Then I realized how much I suck, and that I should just sell my guns, and save money by thowing rocks at targets.
Then, after frequenting a fairly busy pistol range, I realized that I am a decent shot, compared to the other shooters around here. Maybe the shooters around here suck too.

[Callahan]

Sometimes I like to take my P239 with a 3.6 inch barrel and, using a mirror, face away from the target while shooting behind me, over my left shoulder. I usually do 1-2 inch groups like this, all day . . . NOT!

I think many of these forums must be populated by descendants of Crockett and Boone. It would be a good day for me if I hit 2-3 inch groups at 25 yards with any of my pistols, even using two hands -- a very good day, an exceptional day! ;D

Now, if I can use a deer rifle...

["DoubleAction"]

I have been going to the same indoor range for over 16 years, which also happenes to be the only range in the South Metro Atlanta area. We have people coming from all over a tri county area to shoot; This includes Law Enforcement who also conduct department qualifications. In all this time I have never seen anyone shoot 1" or 2" groupings with consistancy at 25 yds, using off hand.
If these crack shots exist at our range, I have not been fortunate enough to witness the wonder. Rifles are a different story, as is rimfires, and bench rest, but centerfire off hand shooting with a handgun commands alot of disipline for 25 yds. Best I ever shot has been while shooting outdoors; indoor ranges do not have enough light for the depth of focus required for older shooters, with failing eyesight, on the 25 yd., using iron sights.
How well a person shoots can sometimes be judged by how well he shoots against others, but the best way to judge yourself is how well you shoot against yourself, shot by shot, one shot at a time, one session at a time.
I've seen days where I could chase the ten ring all day long on a 25 yd range, and probably never come closer than the 8 ring. I've seen other days where I would come up to the bench and place a bullet in the center of the X on the first shot ( The second time was like trying to hit two home runs in a row).
Everyone experiences a certain level of confidence with shooting, not by how well their groups are but rather by the fact that being discouraged does not fit well into the pleasure and fun of it all.
The business end of applying a handgun for defensive purposes is another role.

[TBT]

I think some of the claims might come from those who are using outdoor ranges and have a bad concept of how far they are standing back. For the longest time I thought I was shooting from about 25 yards (my range doesn’t have good markings). Later I found out I was shooting at about 10 yards lol.

To be honest, I don’t know what I shoot at 25 yards because for me, it’s impractical. I shoot for combat accuracy (self defense). When I shoot I do it on the move a lot of times, side to side, moving toward the target, moving away from the target, from one knee, etc. I know I probably look like an idiot out there but hey, for me it makes sense.

I usually shoot from about 10 to 15 yards out. I can pretty consistently get groups around 3”-4” from this distance (standing still with a two hand hold, slow fire of course). Maybe a little more. To be honest, I’ve never actually measured a group. At 25 yards though? I can barely see the target from that far back!

My accuracy is enough for me. I have little interest in being better than that right now. If I have a focus its on getting faster and maintaining that previously achieved level of accuracy. Maybe once I become some kind of “super-ninja” with a gun I will turn my attention to the bullseye aspect. Not that there is anything at all wrong with bullseye shooting, its just not an interest of mine right now.

My range (sportsman’s club) is very “deserted”. A lot of the time I’m the only one there actually. So I get to do what I want basically. I’m sure for a lot of people moving around a lot is not an option etc. For me, its great.

[ron]

I had an instructor boast that, due to his Marine training, he could make just one large hole shooting 5 or six rounds from his Glock at 10 yards. Someone called him on it. After extensive and intensive pressure from the group, he was forced to demonstrate.

One hole my foot! His shots weren't bad, but they weren't even all in the 2" bullseye. Maybe he buckled under the pressure of the crowd watching him.

Testosterone makes us men do some strange things.

Ron

[5ontarget]

ron said:

I had an instructor boast that, due to his Marine training, he could make just one large hole shooting 5 or six rounds from his Glock at 10 yards.

I didn't think the Marines trained with Glocks. Maybe that was the problem.

[TMan]

I was shooting the H&K Elite yesterday with Shoot-N-C targets at 7 yards. I was running out of ammo so I made the last 10 shots count. Nine of the 10 went into a ragged hole, but of course there was that one that was about an inch to the left.

This was good for me, and I couldn't do any better with the P210. How well I do depends a lot on the gun. If it had been my Glock the target would have looked a lot like it had been hit with a shotgun.

Shooting the H&K at an outdoor range has been great. My early experiences with it hitting me with brass and making me flinch are over. In case you didn't read my earlier posts. The brass would sometimes come back and hit me. It would also bounce brass off the walls, which made me flinch every time I pulled the trigger unless I really concentrated on what I was doing.

Talking about it to my dealer's wife yesterday afternoon, she didn't realize the H&K was a 9mm. The recoil is only slightly more than a 22LR.

Now that I've dug it out of the safe, no small feat, I expect I'll be shooting it quite a bit this spring.