Long range handgun use is a topic that isn’t discussed nearly enough, and far too many gun owners are comfortable keeping their trigger time with handguns under 10 yards.
The occasional tall tales in the gun world involve stunningly accurate long-range shots with small-caliber handguns, but there are true stories as well. And while those true accounts of precise long-range use might occur with less frequency than those that took place at much closer ranges, they do exist. So, why do long-range handgun training and use matter? Read on to find out.
What is long range with handguns, really?
It’s reasonable to state that different shooters have varying ideas of what is and is not considered long range. To some, that distance might be 25 yards; to others, it could be 100 yards (or more). Generally speaking, 50 to 100 yards is considered long range shooting, but that’s not a hard and fast rule. For example, a 40-yard shot is pretty far, as Eli Dicken could tell you.
You might think you don’t need the skill or familiarity with your handgun to shoot it beyond, say, 25 yards, but you’d be wrong. You can’t really say if or when you might need to take a longer shot with your handgun. It’s the bad guys who decide when to attack, and they choose the location and distance, too.
How do you practice long range with handguns?
Just as with any shooting, your foundation skills have to come first. Without them, your misses will be dramatic. This is because a shot that’s slightly off target at ten yards can miss entirely at 50 or 100 yards. It might be frustrating, but it’s a must to take the time to hone your foundation skills before worrying about something like long range with handguns.
Respected firearms instructor Massad Ayoob suggests students run through a five-step checklist prior to taking a shot:
- Strong stance
- High hand grasp
- Crush your grip
- Front sight
- Smooth roll of the trigger
Basically, working on long range shots requires solid foundation skills and good follow-through. Much like long range with rifles, it doesn’t help your accuracy if you pop your head up to check the target the instant you press the trigger. Follow-through matters.
Do you need optics for long range handgun shooting?
Whether or not you mount optics to your handgun for long-range shooting depends on what you’re practicing to do. If you plan to take longer shots while handgun hunting, you’re going to want that scope on your gun (and your gun’s going to be a bigger bore, too).
However, if you want to train for long range work because of potential self-defense scenarios, an optic won’t serve you well in the long run. You’re going to want to practice with your gun using the same setup you’re carrying it with, and that’s going to mean no scope.
As for red dot sights, which are, of course, a type of optic, it’s a maybe. Using a red dot can certainly make you more accurate, but depending on the size of the dot it could also obscure your target. This is just one of the reasons it’s a good idea to have a red dot with an adjustable MOA dot.
If you run your daily carry gun with a red dot then yes, you’d better find out how well it works for you while shooting longer distances. There are pros and cons to red dots and when it comes right down to it, it’s a matter of personal preference.
What handgun is best for long range?
There’s no single handgun that’s best for making longer-distance shots. As with anything, the choice of gun depends on use. If you’re hunting, you’re probably going to have a larger gun with a longer barrel. If you’re focused on self-defense, you’re likely toting a standard or compact pistol. There’s not a gun that will make you an amazing long range shot. You have to put the work in.
That said, there are a few things to keep in mind when you shift your focus to long range shooting with handguns:
- Caliber affects accuracy and energy retention.
- Barrel length impacts accuracy (shorter barrels are more challenging).
- The frame size of the gun matters (smaller guns tend to be more difficult).
- Optics matter, for better or for worse.
- Ammunition used plays a significant role in success.
Technically, any gun could be used for long range. However, not all guns are terribly good for it, and some are downright awful. The smaller you get, the harder it becomes. If you want to hone your long-range skills with your carry gun, you either have to learn to work with what you have or adjust and select a new gun for daily carry use.
Are there tricks for long range with handguns?
Aside from the foundation skills you need to make this happen consistently, there are a few other things to keep in mind. To be successful with your handgun at longer distances, you need to:
- Learn drop and drift for your specific gun and ammunition at various distances.
- Familiarize yourself with how wind impacts drift with your specific gun and ammo, and how to counter it.
- Find out what holdover it takes to make a direct hit at longer ranges.
- Practice good follow-through.
- Become accustomed to braced shooting while standing.
- Learn to shoot in various kneeling or prone positions.
- Spend time shooting off-hand with no support (this will also teach you how vital good support is).
- Practice with target rounds to get the hang of it; practice with defensive loads to fine-tune your skills (at the very least, match the grain of the bullets in your target and defensive loads for closer results).
- Be patient.
- Control your breathing.
You might be surprised by how many platforms and calibers can ring steel at 100 yards. Yes, 9mm can do it, but so can 45 ACP. Revolvers, semi-automatics, bolt-action pistols…they’re all capable. One of the great things about spending time firing at longer distances with your handguns is that it gives you a good idea of what your gun—and you—can and cannot do. Although it can be a lot of fun, it’s a useful skill to master. After all, you never know when you might need it.
