Maximum effective pistol range for SD

[Hawk]

I'm more of a rifle guy than a pistol guy. But this winter I decided to work on my pistol craft indoors since it's warmer. We have a 25 yard indoor range and most guys practice their craft at 7 -10 yards (I know most self-defense encounters typically occur at 21 ft. or less).

My question to the forum is what do you feel the maximum distance you should train for CC? Is it practical or even a good idea to engage an assailant at longer ranges of say 25 yards or more?

[Dogpupkus]

At 25 yards, could one have some leeway to get themselves out of a bad situation that doesn't require lethal force?

[Hodgie]

I believe its all in 3's for most SD shootings. A distance of 3' with the average of 3 shots fired within 3 seconds. That all being said any training is good training, I typically run a few different basic drills starting at 15 yards working my way down to 3-5 yards. I'm not shooting for Bulls eyes just center mass chest and belly on the standard Q targets LE use to qualify on.

[mongo]

Stand your ground, shoot back, and take your chances. Or,,,, turn and run and get shot in the back......

[Hodgie]

Stand your ground, shoot back, and take your chances. Or,,,, turn and run and get shot in the back......

Depends on where you are open corn field I guess shoot out, inside a store where in can round the corner within a step or 2 then round that corner.

[millsan1]

My SD practice is centered around 7 yds or less.

I practice out to 25 for competition shooting, but just out to 7 for SD.

[sprrdhawk44]

From a kneeling position, I train to make effective hits on a silhouette target out to fifty yards. These aren't fast shots, controlled pairs, or anything fancy. Just putting holes in the black as quickly as I can consistently do so. Odds are you'll never need to do that, but if you did, you'll be glad you practiced for it.


Remember Mr.Murphy; He's a bastard.

[Palerider]

My question to the forum is what do you feel the maximum distance you should train for CC? Is it practical or even a good idea to engage an assailant at longer ranges of say 25 yards or more?

I'll shoot at steel plates and silhouettes out to ~50 yards. Does that help with my stance, sight alignment and trigger control, yep, so I consider an important part of training.

I think the potential for a shot like that is very limited in a CC application though one could envision a few circumstances where that could come into play, one of which could be an active shooter in a public space. Depending on my location and what's behind the shooter a longer distance handgun shot would be appropriate.

[philadelphia patriot]

I train mostly at 10 yards and then step it up to 15 yards. If I'm shooting with a friend, we'll set up a target at 25 yards and shoot 5 rounds. Whoever has the tightest group basically has bragging rights until we shoot again.

I train with small bull's eye targets and silhouettes instead of full sized silhouettes. I like small targets because even on my worst day, it may not look as good as my other days, but it's still a hand sized group.

[Bang]

I know most self-defense encounters typically occur at 21 ft. or less

You may be thinking of the discovery (and now an exercise) of BG with a knife, 21 feet away, you have a holstered handgun...you are in dire danger. He will get to you and get you first.

Most encounters are far closer than that, a large percentage at arm's length. But practicing to get really good at farther distances makes closer distances more assured. Theoretically.