05-26-2015, 10:31 AM
This was a Facebook post from Larry Vickers today. I thought it might be worthy of discussion.
Summarizing, to be comfortable/competent with your carry gun - 10 shots, 15 yards, 2.5 inches.
"I get asked on a regular basis what acceptable accuracy is in a handgun or carbine. My experience has taught me the answer to this is simple; whatever accuracy is required to engage a threat target with a headshot at your effective range. However before we go any farther always remember the Vickers Rule of Gunfight Accuracy; under conditions of stress the best a shooter can hope to achieve is 50% of the inherent accuracy of the weapon/ammo he is shooting at that time.
What this means is your weapon-ammo needs to shoot a group ( 5 shots min - 10 is better) of 2.5 inches or less at your effective range. This equates to a 5 inch group under stress ( at best) which is a head shot. What is effective range ? For the average shooter its 15 yds with a pistol and 50 yds with a carbine ( AR style). A skilled shooter is typically 25yds with a pistol and 100 yds with a carbine. I've been shooting and teaching for awhile now and this Approach has stood the test of time. Hope this helps."
Summarizing, to be comfortable/competent with your carry gun - 10 shots, 15 yards, 2.5 inches.
"I get asked on a regular basis what acceptable accuracy is in a handgun or carbine. My experience has taught me the answer to this is simple; whatever accuracy is required to engage a threat target with a headshot at your effective range. However before we go any farther always remember the Vickers Rule of Gunfight Accuracy; under conditions of stress the best a shooter can hope to achieve is 50% of the inherent accuracy of the weapon/ammo he is shooting at that time.
What this means is your weapon-ammo needs to shoot a group ( 5 shots min - 10 is better) of 2.5 inches or less at your effective range. This equates to a 5 inch group under stress ( at best) which is a head shot. What is effective range ? For the average shooter its 15 yds with a pistol and 50 yds with a carbine ( AR style). A skilled shooter is typically 25yds with a pistol and 100 yds with a carbine. I've been shooting and teaching for awhile now and this Approach has stood the test of time. Hope this helps."