Question about shooting distance.

[J996]

I have a P226 9mm that I shoot out to 50 yds fairly often. It shoots and groups well (makes you smile).
Today I decided to push past the 50 yard mark. I fired 20 rounds at 50, good group. Then I fired 20 rounds at 60 yds and the result was not all that different from 50 (slightly bigger group). I then fired 20 rounds at 70 yds and it all went to crap, two hits center and nothing else. What gives?

 

[StoneHorse]

As the distance increases slight errors in aiming are magnified. You also have to compensate for bullet drop. With such a short sight radius, its easy to miss. Mean point of impact also gets bigger as the distance increases without adding human error.

 

[emerson]

Also I find my first group tends to be better. As I tire things start to drift.

 

[whiskeywillow]

Don't know much about 9mm bullets, but generally speaking certain bullets (re: pistol bullets) will shoot great at 10, 20 or 30 yards but go all to hell beyond that. Some even still do good to 50, then shotgun. OTHER bullets have design specific shape and weight balance that aid in their shooting (from pistols) to distances 75, 100, 400... etc

It's true that shooting form and follow through play a part like already mentioned, as does fatigue, but my bet is your particular bullets are likely not of a design to carry groups at any significant distance. Afterall, the 9mil is by far more a short range up close and personal round vs a silhouette style long distance target round ... probably take a pretty special bullet in that chambering to see much success @75+

 

[4n2t0]

You don't say, it all went to crap at 70 yards, eh? lol.

 

[J996]

Thanks fellas. It was just very surprising to see things go from effective to complete junk in only 10 yards. I was expecting to see a gradual decrease in accuracy.

So this was my 60 yard target which I then taped up and shot at 70 yards. At 60 yards I hit 13/20 rounds. At 70 yards only 2/20 rounds hit (I am not counting the rounds outside of the 5 ring).

Looks like 60 yards is the practical limit of my 9mm Sig, after that its .357 and .44 mag.

 

[juliansk]

Your bullets are probably dropping below the speed of sound between 60 and 70, and this causes major instabilities. If you want to shoot 9mm that far maybe a jr carbine? Or something like that.

 

[call2arms]

Nice shooting. Some people don’t shoot rifles that good. It is interesting stretching out the range with pistols. Watched someone use a tokarev at 100 with surprisingly good results.

 

[Juster]

Try different ammo. I used to have to qualify with 9mm at 100m with an 8" barrel.

 

[DANS40X]

Aim small....miss small.

Run heavier 147gr projectiles & your hits will improve to 100yds & beyond.