Originally Posted By: DriveHard
The only gun in my collection I don't look forward to shooting is a Ruger LCP 380. I got it for my wife for CC, as it was so small and easy to hide. The trouble is it kicks so dang hard, and is just tiny in your hands. Totally inaccurate...hard to hit a 12" paper target at 30 yards, maybe get 1 shot on paper per clip. Same distance, and I can get a good 6" group with my XDS 9.
A carry pistol at 30 yards? My indoor range only goes to 25 yards...
When I practice with a carry pistol, I shoot at 5-10 yards. Most often 7 yards. I'm looking for "minute of bad guy" accuracy. I generally warm up with some accuracy shooting at 10 yards. Then shoot timed fire at 7 with the target facing for 3 seconds, the goal being 2 body, 1 headshot in those three seconds, or perhaps just 3 body in 3 seconds.
21 feet is the range at which a guy with a knife can close in 2 seconds. I'm not shooting someone at 30 yards, because the threat assessment (intent) will be difficult at best, and if they're shooting at me at that range, I'm looking for cover, or a rifle, anyway...
Here is an example, took my new (to me, 1971 vintage) .38 special to the range, yesterday, just to try it out. Put a box of 50 through it. At ten yards. A few flyers, all me, not the pistol. At ten yards, I can see my errors. At 30, they're off the paper, and I have no feedback. I wouldn't ever be shooting at someone 30 yards away with this gun, so why practice to unrealistic accuracy/range scenarios?