Written By Drew Case / Beyond Seclusion

It does not seem like there would be controversy on what are reasonable “Self-Defense” distances or even how to train for those distances.  Most Conceal Carry courses (CCW) have you qualify at 3, 5, 7, and 10 yards (some go to 15).  There are a few out there that go as far as 25 yards but most consider that excessive and not a “Effective” range.  This is where the controversy comes in, how far is too far?  How should you train for close quarters or self-defense shooting?  Let’s take a few minutes and dive a little deeper into this subject.  What if I told you 25 and even 50 yards are or could be “effective” distances for self-defense and especially training?

I have done hundreds of pistol and ammo reviews on my YouTube channel (Beyond Seclusion) at just those distances and this is where I discovered that this apparently a controversial subject.   In pistol and ammo reviews, my goal is to show just how accurate the gun and ammo are.  In my opinion, the best way to do that is show what it can do at distance.  If I can get 10” groups at 50 yards, I think that speaks volumes about the gun and ammo.  However, that is simply testing the gun/ammo at extreme distances only for review purposes, or is it?

Many comments suggest that is silly to even practice at that distance because the gun is not effective at that distance inferring the ballistics or bullet no longer has what is needed to be effective.  Let’s start there!

#1.  Are pistol calibers still effective at distances of 25-50 yards?

This is actually really simple to address, we just need to chronograph said calibers to see how much of change we actually get from muzzle to 25 to 50 yards.  Most folks seem to be of the understanding that the ballistics drop excessively after leaving the barrel and this is incorrect. 

9mm 4” Barrel – Federal 124 gr HydraSHOK

Muzzle Speed (ft/sec) – 1120           Energy (ft/lbs) - 345

25 yards – 1070                    Energy (ft/lbs) - 315   

50 yards – 1030                    Energy (ft/lbs) - 290

380 AUTO 3.75” Barrel – Federal PUNCH 85gr

Muzzle Speed (ft/sec) – 1000           Energy (ft/lbs) - 189

25 yards – 950                               Energy (ft/lbs) - 170   

50 yards – 907                               Energy (ft/lbs) - 155

So, as you can see, the bullet is still more than effective at 25 yards and even 50 yards, we really don’t lose that much speed and energy needed to be “effective”.  The bullet is still effective at those distances, are you (the shooter) is the real question?  Before we explore that more, what are self-defense distances these days and have they changed from the past?

#2.  Are Self-Defense Distances Getting Longer?

The statistics are pretty solid on the distances based on cumulative data over the years, thus why most folks practice and train at 3, 5, 7, 10, and 15 yards.  The majority of self-defense shooting are up close without doubt, someone attacking you personally or in the home and those distances are spot on.  How many of you carry in public these days without considering a mass shooting situation?  That is very different than someone in your home or attacking you getting into your car.  The distances are very different and the situation is very different.  I took some time and went out into the pubic and measured a lot of distances.  Before even leaving the house, it was 14 yards from my front door to the dining room table, straight shot.  Here are some distances I measured out in common public spaces:

• Small town grocery store – 24 yard aisles (front of store to back of store)
• Taco Johns – my table to counter 12 yards
• Dollar Tree/Family Dollar – 28.5, 30, and 11 yards
• Casey’s Gas Station – 13 yards
• Walmart – 17, 20 (most common), 29 (food sections), 95-100 in main aisles

Many respond to this data with “if you are that far away, you should run away” and that is a fair statement.  The quality of our answers depends on the quality of our questions.  Do you carry to ONLY protect yourself?  Can you live with running away in a mass shooting situation when you are armed?  In July of 2022 at Greenwood Park Mall a young 22-year-old man was just in that situation and his answer to that question was no.  In less than one minute, he neutralized the gunman at 40 yards saving countless lives.  Is this the norm?  No, certainly not and I am not suggesting that everyone should engage at this distance or is even capable of that.  I am just sharing some information that leads into my other thoughts.

Let’s do a quick recap: 

1.      Ballistically, your pistol is effective at much greater distances than many believe.

2.      The possible distances you may encounter in public are much greater than what many train for.

#3.  How should you train for Self-Defense?

Should you focus training at 3, 5, 7, 10, and 15 yards based off the statistical data?  Absolutely, it would be silly not too based on the data collected over the years.  That also includes drawing your gun from either a concealed position or open carry, which is just as critical at those distances as your ability to shoot.  Drawing that fast at further distances is not as critical I would argue.  I would suggest that many make a critical mistake by ONLY practicing at those distances with the assumption they will not shoot beyond that distance and/or that the gun/ammo is ineffective at greater distance, which ballistically, is clearly not.  That is the point I want to make, even if your gun/ammo is effective at 25 yards, if you are not, then neither is your gun.  If you practice at greater distances, you are more prepared should the situation arise, pretty simple.

#4.  Why Train at Distance?

Besides the fact that many struggle to be accurate beyond 15 yards, regardless if they will engage at that distance, there are many reasons to practice at 25 and even 50 yards.  Let’s start with the simplest one, FUN!  How much fun is it to play chess with your 4 yr-old?  Exactly, not much of a challenge thus not a lot of fun in my opinion.  I like a challenge; it hones my skills.  I can close the distance at 3 yards faster than most can draw, point, aim, and shoot.  Sorry if I offend anyone but if you can’t easily hit the target at 3 yards, you should not be carrying a gun, PERIOD.  The farther back I go, the more challenging it becomes and the challenge is fun.

Of course FUN is not the critical reason for practicing at distance, it’s the challenge (fun) that really hones your skills.  Again, not much to shooting center mass at 3 yards, often will not show you where you are weakest.  Are you a “flincher”, easy to do, most of us do at some point.  What is the best way to find out how bad you are flinching?  That’s right, the farther you go back, the more you will notice.  Many flinch so bad that at 25 yards they are not even hitting the target.  This gives you critical information, you need to work on your trigger pull.  If you can control your shots at 25 or 50 yards, what is that going to look like at 3 yards?  ONE BIG HOLE for a group.  If your sights are slightly off, shooting one inch to the left or high at three yards, what is that going to look like at 15 yards?  You may struggle to qualify at that distance and not even realize that its your sights/gun, not you.  EVERYTHING you do wrong with your breathing, pulling the trigger, aiming, etc. is exponentially magnified as the distance increases.  Same goes for your gun and ammo.  Lots of good reasons to practice at distance with your self-defense gun.

BOTTOM LINE:  The gun and ammo are ballistically effective at greater distances than most believe.  In the public setting, it is very possible that the distance will be further than 10 yards. Even if you still feel that it is ridiculous to engage at distance, by not practicing at greater distances you are missing out on a lot of FUN, not honing your skills the way you could be, and limiting yourself in a potentially life-threating situation.

“AIM SMALL, MISS SMALL”

“Hope for best, prepare for the worst”

“You perform in a critical situation at the level of your worst practice performance”