Handgun range distance

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Leavenworth

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Lowermainland B.C.
Hi Fellas
I had planned to take a handgun course before getting into shooting them but a relative is coming to visit and I’m pretty sure he is going to want to go shooting . This is my first time shooting handguns .

I will list the calibres I would most likely take .
What distance should I shoot as all 3 are my new purchased hand guns

CZ Shadow 2 9mm

Sig Sauer P320 F 9mm

Ruger Mark IV Target 22 LR

Thank You
Leavenworth
 
Given it's your "first time", start close at 5m and gradually move to 10-20m to avoid frustration at not hitting where you aim.
 
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Use large paper targets. card board, take a black marker and make a x in the center , 10-15 yrs, M is fine, depending on back stop, if you are shooting steel, which I don't that often, I dn't like to be too close.
I hope that you have a little training before you take friends.
At the club we have to shoot 3 times with a range master to make sure we are safe and know how to handle the guns.
Even thou when I moved, I have been shooting handguns for 50 yrs, I still had to shoot under supervisor, which is a good thing.
I watched a young guy load his mags and than drop one in the pistol ,in the waiting room one time, Not cool, and he will not do that again.
A gun is always hot, even when it is not, id the first rule.

I would start with the 22, thou a 9 mm is not that much different,
Good grip, trigger control, sight picture is more important than distance. And shoot slow, squeeze, don't jerk the trigger.
First few times out , don't worry about the target.
I see people spending good money on fancy targets, I just use reg paper and run thru the printer with a couple different bulls eyes that I have in the file.
Good luck, be safe, have fun.
I find the new people like shooting my short barrel 38 special revolvers a lot and usally do way better than a semi.
 
5-10m is a good start, or where ever you feel comfortable.

And dont think just because you see someone setup further, that you have to. I shoot at 25 as I shoot PPC and 25 m is majority of the points. I often see people try and match my distance and get fustrated.
 
splatterburst targets are also useful as they are much easier to clearly tell when your shots are landing without retrieving your target
 
Leavenworth said:
Thank You for the above detailed replies ! Really appreciate the information !
Leavenworth
Click to expand...

Bring a new piece of cardboard to put a fresh target on. Then you know where you are shooting. Nothing worse than grabbing a target stand that barely has a backing left, that is plastered together with old targets.

For pistols I just use a blank 8x11 sheet of paper, as you can pretty much center it.
 
OkayShooter said:
Bring a new piece of cardboard to put a fresh target on. Then you know where you are shooting. Nothing worse than grabbing a target stand that barely has a backing left, that is plastered together with old targets.

For pistols I just use a blank 8x11 sheet of paper, as you can pretty much center it.
Click to expand...

+1 to bringing a piece of cardboard.

Large 1" squared paper is indispensable for zeroing optics and general practice: https://www.staples.ca/products/973...aper-inc-easel-pad-22-x-34-1-square-96-sheets
 
I shoot 45 Colt SAA at 17 yards because thats the distance of the targets and we can't move them so the .22 LR pistol is the same. There is also a 25 yard but rarely use it, a tad far for me. As for the question 7 yards is a good start.
 
If you have access to cheap printing, like an efficient laser printer/copier. Check out targetz. com. lots of options to print your own targets. And as others have said, start at about 5-10 yards and then go out from there.
 
I can't shoot 1" group at 5 yards. So that's where I practice most.

Once in a while I do 7, 10, and 15 yards. It's fun.
 
When I started I found it really helpful, and money saving, to always warm up with 100 or so .22’s. Also helps cure the dreaded flinch. Start at 5 yds with the .22 Build confidence there. Then the 9mm at 5 yds. Work out slowly from there over time and practice to 7, 10, 15 etc.

If you start flinching with the 9 I found a great drill that really helped me. Load a mag, insert, rack, and remove mag. Shoot 1 live round, slide cycles as no mag, shoot 1 dry fire. Load mag and repeat until the dry fire doesn’t move the front sight. I now do this with one full mag at the start of every session.

I only shoot 9mm now and the drill saves ammo warming up.
 
Come to Semiahmoo Fish and Game Club, this Wed night, 7pm, as my guest. $15 guest fee. It’s an indoor range in South Surrey. I’ll get you started on the right track.
 
As a fellow noob to the handgun world a big +1 on the big piece of cardboard and starting close. First time i went to the range started at the 20 m line set up a standard 8.5x11 target and went and shot. Went up to the target and not a single hole in it. Did not know if I was shooting high/low/right or left.

Every gun and every shooter will have a tendency to shoot one way or another and starting close with a big target is the way to find out what is happening with you. After that it will be the three cardinal rules of shooting well and straight. practice practice practice.

I started with .22 only because that is all i had. Since I got my 9mm I think being forced to start with the .22 was a good thing. The 9mm definitely has more recoil and noise. Using the .22 lets you get used to handgun shooting as it is a lot different than rifle requiring greater muzzle control and more overall control in aiming gripping and maintaining safe zones. the .22 is also a lot cheaper to get multiple rounds down range and start getting that comfort level with safely using a handgun.
 
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Honestly you do not need to start off with 22. My father never owned a 22LR in his life. A 22LR was my 3rd gun. First was a 308 M1A, then a 45 acp 1911 and then a 22 Marlin.
 
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