Do you need extreme pistol skills?

[USSA-1]

Do you need extreme pistol skills?

Training article
http://www.usshootingacademy.com/content.aspx?id=26

USSA-1

[m25operator]

Erik, I do agree with your article, when I was match director for our local tactical pistol matches, there would always be one distance stage, 1-3 shots at 50 plus yards, usually steel but not always. I caught a lot of flak for it, and it even made a thread here. Not only does it hone your skill, but should also show your limitations, you should know where your ability ends. Now that my eyes are older, those shots are hard to make with confidence with irons.

Your scenario is one good example. The one I use, is your at the lake in your boat, waiting at  the ramp for your wife to back the truck and trailer up, you watch as your wife gets to the truck, and 2 men approach her, how far is that, could be a hundred yards.
What choice do you have if their intentions are malicious?  Hopefully her pistol is ready!

[2HOW]

Your article is dead on, even tho people are drilled that most encounters are 21 ft or less you have to be proficient with a pistol out to and beyond 50 yds. That means you have to first have a caliber that will make the trip, and second find a place to train for the shot. I'm fortunate that when I do train I can shoot what I want at distance. I would say 100yd shots are not out of the question. I shoot bowling pins at 100 yds with my 1911 ( or I shoot "at" them). I am confident at covering a 6 " square at that distance with iron sights. The 2 hardest shots to make IMO are the very close and of course the very far. I think everyone should practice at what ever distance has the reward of the hit with a good shot. Anyone can plug paper at 25 ft. The long shot also has a reminder of how limited the handgun is and gives the shooter a feel for bullet drop, I also believe it makes you use the flash sight picture and takes you closer to point shooting than the modern technique will allow since at times you really can only cover the target with the front sight and hope.

[TSB]

Do you need extreme pistol skills?

What is your recommended routine for the backyard shooter to better develop these skills?  It helps me to get immediate feedback in the form of plate targets but their not always available at the ranges.  I use color changing targets when I shoot paper and it's obvious even at longer ranges where your hitting the target.  They do get kind of pricey but far cheaper than the ammo I'm shooting.

Any help would be apprieciated.

[USSA-1]

Timothy,

It really depends what you have available to use.  When you say you are a backyard shooter, is that a literal statement?  Do you have your own range on private property or do you use an outdoor, public range?

I've got some ideas, but I need a little more info about what you have available to you.

As 2HOW stated, bowling pins are great targets.  You can usually get old ones free of charge from any bowling alley.  They can absorb an incredible amount of damage and are very durable.  They are tough to knock over and require a good center mass hit to accomplish this and they are easy to setup/cleanup.

Let me know what you've got to work with and I'll see what I can come up with.

USSA-1 

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[alfsauve]

I learned more about handgun shooting with IHMSA big bore than anything else I did.  I'm not by any means close to even a high amateur level in defensive pistol shooting, but what I learned from shooting rams at 200yds had made me a much better shooter at the closer ranges.   A 3" bull at 25yds is huge after rams at 200s.     

While you still need the rapid fire, close quarters practice of the competitions, the long distance amplifies any problems with grip, stance, sight picture, and trigger control.

[TSB]

Timothy,

It really depends what you have available to use.  When you say you are a backyard shooter, is that a literal statement?  Do you have your own range on private property or do you use an outdoor, public range?

USSA-1 

I have access to several options.  I shoot out to 25 yds at the Smith & Wesson range in Springfield and my club has a 50 yard outdoor pistol range.  I also have access to private property on occasion where I can shoot out to about 150 yards.

Thanks....

[DesertMarine]

Excellent article.     

[tombogan03884]

Excellent article.    

Best of all, like Ayoobs writings it begins with a situation that has actually occurred and could happen to ANY of us.

[DesertMarine]

In my previous life we used PPC for pistol qualification.  We carried S&W Model 19 with 2 1/2 barrels.  That makes you pay attention to fundamentals when shooting at 50 yds.  That was with Winchester 38 match ammo.  With .357 ammo we had a course in an arroyo where bad guy targets were in several locations at different ranges up to 40 yds, that got interesting.  I used to practice with .357 at man size rock at approx 100 yds, if I did my part the M19 worked great.  For extreme rifle range, we had M16A1's with military ammo.  We practiced on a man size target at 800 yds. Again you did your part the M16 did it's part, consistent hits.  We used both iron and 2X scopes.  Competetion PPC was a great teacher.