Recommended training distance for a micro pistol

[gunz4me]

I was just wondering what the consensus was on training distance for a micro carry pistol like the M&P Shield or the Kel-Tec P3AT. In the past I used 3 to 7 yards for my Kel-Tec because I didn't trust it with any degree of accuracy past 7 yards. In fact, I highly doubt I would use the Kel-Tec past 3 yards, UNLESS I absolutely had to. I figured I would stick to the same routine when training with my M&P Shield. I may modify the routine to shoot out to 15 yards since that is the minimum handgun distance at Sherburne.

 

[honestlou]

In my opinion, you need to be able to quickly make center of mass hits at 7 yards, at a minimum, with any gun that you want to carry. Practice should consist of a combination of working on speed, and working on accuracy. The closer the target, the faster you should be able to make hits.

Drawing and firing within 2 seconds with hits at 7 yards is a pretty good benchmark, and should be achievable even with the pocket guns.

 

[DS727]

Honestlou is honest.

MOST confrontations involving a handgun occur within 20 feet.

7 yards = 21 feet, close enough for our purposes.

 

[lsu fan]

I agree with the above, but I wouldn't limit myself to that.

 

[aroundlsu]

I would say contact distance (0 feet) to 3 yards is about the best you can do with a Keltec. I have that gun and gave one to my dad to carry but I don't think I would pull the trigger on it unless I was at bad breath distance. My dad tried to shoot a rattlesnake with it at 3 yards and never hit it. The snake just rattled at him while he unloaded the mag at it. He's a good shooter and has been shooting for 65 years.

You might try some command drills at 7 yards or further (yelling stop or no or something like that) then transition to an extreme close quarters drill.

 

[Barney88PDC]

As close as you would allow someone who was trying to kill you get. For me that's further than 3-7 yards if at all possible.

 

[mnop308]

I dumped my P3AT because it shot WAY too high using the sights out at 5 yards. Not much you can do about it on those guns. I can clean the plate rack at 10 yards with my Kahr P380 because the sights are dead on. I agree with what others above have said. You never know how long of a shot you may have to make. The M&P should be pretty easy to hit with. Find out what the longest range you can make effective hits is, and then work on extending it trough practice. I really like long range pistol shooting, but I am just wierd that way.

 

[JBP55]

I have not handled a M&P Shield but I do not consider it a Micro Pistol. Other than width it is comparable in size to a G26 and I see people shoot them well at 25 yards.
Start training at contact distance and increase the distance slowly until you can not hit COM shooting reasonably fast while moving. Continue to train and shoot while moving at reasonably close distances.

 

[Guate_shooter]

The shield is not a micro pocket rocket, I have engaged steel torso BCC size targets at 100yards with it.

Now a Keltec with their crappy sights and trigger 15 yards tops

 

[SGT_Kramer]

The shield is a awesome size pistol and I would not want anything smaller. I carried a PA-63 FEG in 9x18 mak and the thought of ever having to use it to save my life or family bothered me too much. If I can't hit a man size target easy at 7 yards in a stress free senario then I don't want the gun on me. The PA-63 also cut the web of my hand sometimes.

 

[Vanilla Gorilla]

Honestlou is honest.

MOST confrontations involving a handgun occur within 20 feet.

7 yards = 21 feet, close enough for our purposes.

Most people driving in a given day will not be in a crash, that being said i still wear a seat belt.

 

[alpinehyperlite]

When we qualify with our back up weapons, regardless of size, we have to shoot the full post course, which includes several rounds fired from the 25 yard line. Not too fun with my LCP, but ive never not qualified with it.

 

[Sin-ster]

When we qualify with our back up weapons, regardless of size, we have to shoot the full post course, which includes several rounds fired from the 25 yard line. Not too fun with my LCP, but ive never not qualified with it.

And that's one of the things about the POST training/quals that I agree with, for sure.

You should not limit yourself to a maximum training distance, regardless of the pistol you carry. Although you're clearly at a disadvantage with a micro pistol (the Shield BTW is FAR from it; shoots more like a FS), that's something you've been (hopefully) forced to accept due to wardrobe restrictions, the need for deep concealment, etc. That does NOT mean you should accept those shortcomings as impossibilities-- in fact, you should train to negate as much of that disadvantage as humanly possible.

0-50 yards, like any pistol, is my answer-- though the bulk of your training should reflect more common defensive handgun distances, with the majority being 0-10 or 15, IMO.

One of the major fallacies of training/practice is that when left to our own devices, we only tend to work on what we're already pretty good at. Instead, we should be improving the areas in which we suck.

 

[goteron]

And that's one of the things about the POST training/quals that I agree with, for sure.

You should not limit yourself to a maximum training distance, regardless of the pistol you carry. Although you're clearly at a disadvantage with a micro pistol (the Shield BTW is FAR from it; shoots more like a FS), that's something you've been (hopefully) forced to accept due to wardrobe restrictions, the need for deep concealment, etc. That does NOT mean you should accept those shortcomings as impossibilities-- in fact, you should train to negate as much of that disadvantage as humanly possible.

0-50 yards, like any pistol, is my answer-- though the bulk of your training should reflect more common defensive handgun distances, with the majority being 0-10 or 15, IMO.

One of the major fallacies of training/practice is that when left to our own devices, we only tend to work on what we're already pretty good at. Instead, we should be improving the areas in which we suck.

Excellent Post

 

[dawg23]

I was just wondering what the consensus was on training distance for a micro carry pistol like the M&P Shield or the Kel-Tec P3AT. In the past I used 3 to 7 yards for my Kel-Tec because I didn't trust it with any degree of accuracy past 7 yards. In fact, I highly doubt I would use the Kel-Tec past 3 yards, UNLESS I absolutely had to.

There are plenty of reasons, other than its inaccuracy at distances beyond 5 yards, that warrant getting rid of a Kel-Tec.

The Shield, on the other hand, is a decent weapon.

 

[MOTOR51]

There was a range master at LPSO that could hit a man sized target with a NAA .22 derringer at 25 yards consistently. He could t take a head shot but could still hit the target. The shield is an accurate weapon and will shoot a post course all day long. I wouldn't hesitate to shoot post with my cheap PF9 either. Bottom line is you don't pick the distance that you will engage a target if it comes to that.


Motor51

 

[JBP55]

There was a range master at LPSO that could hit a man sized target with a NAA .22 derringer at 25 yards consistently. He could t take a head shot but could still hit the target. The shield is an accurate weapon and will shoot a post course all day long. I wouldn't hesitate to shoot post with my cheap PF9 either. Bottom line is you don't pick the distance that you will engage a target if it comes to that.
Motor51

A friend who is a POST Firearms Instructor easily qualified on the POST course with a new Walther P22. His duty pistol is a G34 but he qualifies on the POST course with his G26 as well.