Sighting a Handgun

[VQLY]

Taking a couple new handguns to the desert. planning to sight them in at 20-25 yards. what type of targets should I use? are there specific handgun sighting targets for this distance?

[static2126]

Not to be offensive but how well can you shoot

I sight all optic guns offhand (not benched) at 25 yards. 5 rounds in the black of a b8 is zero confirmed
Even one round out of the black is a fail on zero at 25 yards.

I then confirm with 10 rounds and the score must be 90 or better at 25.

If zeroing at 10 yards, all 5 rounds should.be touching.

[VLQT]

Been shooting 40+ years. Will use a bench and sandbags. What are the proper paper targets I should use

[static2126]

Been shooting 40+ years. Will use a bench and sandbags. What are the proper paper targets I should use

Been shooting 40 years doesn't mean anything. Plenty of bad shooters with a lifetime.of.shooting.

Paper target will depend on how good of a shot you are. For 25 a B8 works great.

If you cannot keep it all.in the black benched would suggest 10 yards. If the rounds are touching at 10 it should be approx 1 inch high at 25, so will still pass b8 standards

Also if zeroing a red dot benched zero will lead to discrepancies at distance (why unsupported zero is preferred)

[smoothy8500]

Been shooting 40 years doesn't mean anything.

Oh dear, somebody just pointed out that the Emporer has no clothes....

Yeah, NRA 25 yard slow fire or timed fire target is good. Even a small paper plate to match the NRA bull (5 to 6 inches) is fine at 25 yards.

[Zenderfall]

The 25 yard NRA slow fire target is the B-16. B-8 is the timed/rapid fire target. The sizes are slightly different, the slow fire targets? rings are smaller. The bullseye (10 ring) of the B-16 measures 1 3/4 (one and three quarter) inches across.

At Angeles Shooting Ranges, the two free targets that are posted on the rented target frames are B-16.

I know very few people (doesn?t include Youtube videos) who can score in the 90?s with 10 shots at 25 yards on a B-16, offhand. As a person who claims to have been shooting 40+ years, maybe you can.

You can get the B-16 in packs of 100 for $16.00. The B-8, being almost twice as large, cost $35.00 for paper or $51.00 for the heavyweight paper version. Save money on shipping and pickup from their warehouse located in Duarte, CA.

https://Www.alcotarget.com

[sitruc]

For someone who has shot for 40 years, you are asking an odd question...
NRA B8 or something else basic. Just don't use steel. Just get a sharpie and draw a two inch circle on a piece of cardboard. If you are shooting at 25 yards, I would get a shoot-n-c type reactive paper target.

Statistics indicate you are most likely shooting 9MM Supersonic out of a semi-auto. Your ammo is going to be more important than the target you use or the distance.

I personally do 10 yards offhand/standing then confirm at 25 yards with bags or some type of rest. 25 yards offhand is not good for getting a significant grouping, at least for me. After that, I do 50 round dot torture.

[divingin]

IMO, it depends on what you're trying to do: Hit consistently with the gun in a practical manner; or set the gun up so that the POI matches the sight system, and go from there.

If you're doing the latter, you need to get the gun stable on the bench (bagging in front of the grip and/or the butt of the gun) and work on breaking the shot without any sight misalignment. Smaller targets will work for this, as you'll be taking your time and ensuring a good overall sight picture. 50 foot targets (NRA B-2 or B3) would be my choice; a B-40 air pistol target if you're a glutton for punishment.)

If you're getting the gun sighted to you (offhand, usually) you should initially use a target that is large enough to not draw you off of iron sights (if that's what you're using) and not get you trying to snap the trigger if using opticals. The NRA targets for that range (B8, B16, or B-19) are good if you shoot fairly well; might want to go with a larger bull if you don't (B-19 is the 50 Meter International slow fire target reduced for 25 yds. Bull is slightly larger than the B8, but spans the 7 ring instead of the 9 ring on the B8.)

In truth, any target that you're comfortable with will work.

[Tere_Hanges]

A paper plate with a dot in the middle of it works for me.

[Dennis]

A paper plate with a dot in the middle of it works for me.

I like to add these to my targets. It helps me focus onto a smaller area.

https://www.amazon.com/Yeachlaing-Stickers-Permanent-Adhesive-Perforation/dp/B0C55NXM72/ref=sr_1_23?keywords=red%2Bprice%2Bstickers&qid=1706203548&sr=8-23&th=1

[naz]

Been shooting 40+ years. Will use a bench and sandbags. What are the proper paper targets I should use

Hi OP, I pick a spot on a target that is 25yd away and make a 1inch square with a sharpie and then shoot it seated with a block or backpack supporting my wrists, and regulate the sights until I am grouping around the 1inch square

Then I stand up and shoot freestyle unsupported at the same spot to confirm the zero is good to go.

['ol shooter]

I like the Shoot 'n See targets from Birchwood Casey.

[mrboma]

Post Its



Quick, cheap and easy.
Regards,
Mike

[tacticalcity]

Might have been asked and answered, sorry on a tiny phone. Are you using irons? A red dot? Are these competition guns? Self defense nightstand or carry guns? I ask because it seems like you may be overthinking it. Rifles I want sighted in at a distance. But a gunfight with a pistol happens at conversation distances. 25-50 yards distance in a pistol fight and you are either committing mirder or the bad guys have you a ton of warning you don’t usually get. I confirm my irons are not off at 7 yards and reconfirm at 10-15 max. Then I zero the red dot at 10 yards. I practice mostly at those distances as well. Suiting a course they will go further out just to prove distance is your friend when you know what you are doing but most the shooting is done closer in.

[Tere_Hanges]

I like to add these to my targets. It helps me focus onto a smaller area.
https://www.amazon.com/Yeachlaing-St...8&sr=8-23&th=1

good tip. I also use these:

https://www.amazon.com/Shooting-Splatter-Stickers-Adhesive-Reactive/dp/B0C8CJC3VS/ref=sims_dp_d_dex_ai_speed_loc_mtl_v3_d_sccl_3_6/143-5570805-8817747?pd_rd_w=s6s2P&content-id=amzn1.sym.5d18c2db-56dd-467d-889d-e1e033556364&pf_rd_p=5d18c2db-56dd-467d-889d-e1e033556364&pf_rd_r=S84SRV0Y48PCKS2MT3SJ&pd_rd_wg=jOXf4&pd_rd_r=61cf3efc-5e44-4d4b-94ef-7e42c8ac3fc7&pd_rd_i=B0C8CJC3VS&psc=1