Train on 50 ft targets?

Does anyone think it would be advantageous to train on scaled 50 ft targets at 50 ft, and compete at 25 yards? I have read that due to the ring size, 50 ft targets are harder to do well on. Thoughts?

Shooting is shooting is shooting! Training and shooting is same for any distance. Fundamentals = fundamentals at any distance. So knock your socks off :l)
Jon

kjanracing wrote:Does anyone think it would be advantageous to train on scaled 50 ft targets at 50 ft, and compete at 25 yards? I have read that due to the ring size, 50 ft targets are harder to do well on. Thoughts?

I have shot on the 50 ft targets and yes they are tough to score well. I'm thinking of ordering some because I think it is excellent training.

Training is training.  However, I think it's best to train at 25 yards if you have the weather for it.  If you need to move indoors due to cold and wet conditions, do so as training in those conditions breaks concentration.

The primary advantage to 50 ft training, IMO, is availability and ability to use cheaper / less accurate ammo. 

If you can practice / train more because a 50 ft indoor range is closer and available all year then that is a good thing. As the shooter above says, shooting is shooting. Plus using short line ammo may save money and / or not can be cranked out quickly, rather than taking the time to obsess over everything for long line ammo.

Still, if you have access to longer ranges, I recommend practicing there when you can. At least, try to get in a few long line practice sessions before moving outdoors in the spring and/or before important matches.

The sight picture looks different at 50 yards or even 25 yards. How much depends on your hold. Shoulder movement pivots around a point close to your eye so the movement on the target scales the same at different distances, roughly equivalent to the increased scoring ring sizes. Movement of the wrist or anything that causes the gun to rotate will have bigger effect at longer distances. It's good to practice at the long line so you don't show up at a match and your hold looks terrible and your groups are 1 or 2 scoring rings bigger. That can be demoralizing and play with your head. Trust me.

My advice is to not worry about the target or distance. Train for the shot process. Let the score take care of itself.

Agree with BE Mike. Practice the process any way you can.

Will do, thanks. I can shoot 25 yd. any time between two indoor ranges.

I've sat down after a 50 foot match and thought I couldn't hit the broadside of a barn from the inside, "the target is right there". those little targets do humble. I eventually got my cranium un-inverted, if you know what I mean, and shot my regular scores.

... or buy 10m air pistol targets if you have 11 yards (33 ft). Edelmann makes the best ones but are hard to find.

An indoor handgun range I go to on occasion is only 10 yards. I found some printable targets on line, 50 foot reduced to 21 feet (seven yards) so I though what the heck, I'll give them a try. Those are some tiny targets. Makes a person feel good if you can keep all the shots in the black. http://dotclue.org/targets

Can also download scatt software for free and use it to create your own reduced targets

I shoot 50' Indoor Gallery Matches weekly as a team member in a league.

Yes, I find those B2 & B3 targets very humbling indeed. Then again, as a "newbie" to this Precision Pistol, shooting 50yd and 25yd is just as "humbling" to me.

I shoot 4 days a week at a indoor range and was shooting the 50' targets then switched to 20yds as that is the max at this range.  Told my self what is 5yds more.  Well I belong to a outdoor range with a nice BE setup but it is to far to drive everyday so I shot the LL and the SL last week.  5 yards is a lot more and fewer points.  The LL I was glad to keep 8 out of 10 in the black.  Got all 10 in the black and called it a day. No use pushing my luck.  Don

Being an infantry Marine, we cross train a lot. It's benefitial for everyone involved to cross train because you pick up new skills that make you a better war fighter.
It's the same with shooting. I always had great standing scores in high power rifle because I also shot a lot of rifle silhouette. I've seen my slowfire scores in pistol climb while shooting 10M air pistol.
Use the 50 ft targets unaltered and shoot the game the way it's supposed to, because it may benefit you somewhere else.

I only train at 50 ft. The only time I shoot at 50 and 25 yards is during matches. The only issues I've noticed is forgetting to adjust my sights for outdoors........

Just shoot centers.

My league shoots 25 yards in the matches and 50 feet with the 50 foot targets in practice due to a surplus of 50 foot targets. I like to put the 50 foot target at 25 yards and train that way. I feel it helps me train a reduction in wobble area and helps shrink my groups on paper, and gives me confidence (if you can keep them all on a 3" dot, it should be easy on a 6" dot, right?). In actuality, I find its easier to shoot small groups on a 3" dot at 25 yards vs a standard target, due to the smaller aiming area. A 6" dot takes more focus to stay inside the 10 ring versus a 3" dot. Call me crazy. I think using the 50 foot AND the 25 yard targets at 25 yards is beneficial. I don't see as much benefit to training at 50 feet when you compete at 25 yards, however.

I'll try that!

You have to be careful about shooting smaller targets. I think novices have a tendency to snatch at the shot because their hold and trigger control isn't that good. You can't see what's going on as well with smaller target or really big dot. So if you do not have good results then I recommend stopping and not reinforcing bad habits ot developing one.
Jon

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Hi KJ,  50 ft training is great and effective.  My only advice is to quit keeping score;

let your training lead you to tighter groups. After all, what are your scores when

dry firing at a blank wall?  You do more dry fire than live fire, right?  Good Luck;

Tony

On an Ultra dot what is the adjustment necessary to elevation to switch from 25 yards to 50ft?

My Matchdot II is set at Zero at 50yds and at 40 for 25yds.  That is down 8 clicks, but this all depends on the load you are shooting.  Don

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