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.45 ACP ballistics chart (out to 100 yards!)

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ButchA

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Discussion starter · #1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Check out this chart that I found on the internet and saved... The article mentioned 230gr "ball" and I forgot to include that. But anyway, if anyone wants a real challenge at an outdoor rifle range (where you can shoot anything), use this chart as a reference! :D
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#2 ·
It is not really that challenging to hit targets at 100 yards with a 1911 or most any other handgun if the target is visible to the eye. I have hit milk jugs full of water at 100 yards with a S&W model 27 3.5" barrel easy enough. My Colt Commander rings steel at 50 yards with a six o'clock hold, I know if I hold just above the target at 100 yards I can hit it.

A lot of pistol shooters do not shoot much farther than 25 yards if that. The habit of shooting at seven yards is a mystery to me. That would get boring very fast.
 
#3 ·
Do you hold the front sight high in the notch, with the target on top?
I could never consistently hold like that, so I'm obscuring the target and using normal sight alignment; works OK on a large target
 
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#4 ·
Colt191145 said:
It is not really that challenging to hit targets at 100 yards with a 1911 or most any other handgun if the target is visible to the eye. I have hit milk jugs full of water at 100 yards with a S&W model 27 3.5" barrel easy enough. My Colt Commander rings steel at 50 yards with a six o'clock hold, I know if I hold just above the target at 100 yards I can hit it.

A lot of pistol shooters do not shoot much farther than 25 yards if that. The habit of shooting at seven yards is a mystery to me. That would get boring very fast.
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All depends on what you’re practicing. Since most SD scenarios are less than seven yards, those of us with no interest in target competition use that as a guide. Then throw in 1h weak hand shooting, 1h strong hand, 2h standing, 2h w/support, then add timing and reloads to the mix. Easy to shoot 100-200 rounds without getting bored. Then use multiple guns, even more variety.

Personally, I’ve never seen much sense in shooting a handgun at 50y+. I’m either removing myself from the threat at that distance or using a rifle to shoot back. But those of you who like shooting your pistols at that range, more power to you! Enjoy.
 
#5 ·
When I was younger, like when I was in my 20's, I enjoyed trying to hit a target out that far with a 1911, Python, or Model 29. Now that I've had my cataracts fixed 40 years later, 25 yards is a LONG distance for me. Decades ago Elmer Keith stated that he shot a mule deer at 600 yards with a 44 magnum. Wow, how high did he have to hold his aim to allow for that drop in the bullet? But, he wrote somewhere that he hit it.
 
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#6 ·
Colt191145 said:
A lot of pistol shooters do not shoot much farther than 25 yards if that. The habit of shooting at seven yards is a mystery to me. That would get boring very fast.
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I agree. Virtually everybody around me at an indoor gun range is normally shooting at 7 yard (or less). And then on Youtube everybody is shooting at steel plates at the minimum safe range going CLANK, CLANK, CLANK with every shot. Good grief, if it's that easy then challenge yourself and put those targets out there a little. Burning through a box of ammo in two minutes doing mag dumps would seem to me to be incredibly boring after awhile.
 
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#7 · (Edited)
I can agree, plus it is pretty expensive just blasting away at a target at 7 yards. I remember lobbing rounds in out to about 400 yards before. We had a large rock way out there one time, and being a bit bored that day, we decided to see if we could hit it or not. it took a few rounds to get our aiming point above the rock set, and then we could whack the boulder no problem. The 45 ACP is still lethal out at that range, as the FMJ bullets still had a lot of momentum to them with plenty of penetration power. But it is a exercise mostly as unless you are in a war maybe, there isn't much reason to shoot that far for self defense. I doubt a prosecuting attorney would find that a valid self defense situation if you shot someone that far away.
 
#8 ·
Lab4Us said:
Personally, I’ve never seen much sense in shooting a handgun at 50y+. I’m either removing myself from the threat at that distance or using a rifle to shoot back. But those of you who like shooting your pistols at that range, more power to you! Enjoy.
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Having experienced the days when 24 of 60 rounds were fired for quarterly qualifications from 50 yards, I found out early on that a target at 50 yards was well within my range of potential fire and to do so with confidence. Granted, it is not often that such a target presents itself, but in the wide open spaces where I lived and worked, and where most every one carried a rifle of some sort on a regular basis in their vehicle, it was not beyond the realm of possibility that one might receive incoming from a distance 50, 100, or more yards away and be pinned to the only cover or even concealment in sight, my howl car.

I always took great comfort in the knowledge that I could make things hot for someone that far away and at least make them careful about exposing themselves while firing at me! Of course, I also had a rifle in that howl car that I hoped I could get to and remove to a position of cover to return even more accurate fire. But my revolver was the only way I was likely to be able to get to the rifle! There may not be much need to fire your handgun at those distances, but it's nice to know you can do pretty good work with it if that happens!
 
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#10 · (Edited)
OP that is a good chart and very informative to all 45 enthusiast the first time they look at it...For me, I mostly shoot 21 to 25Y...Less than 21 is a waste of ammo, 25y is plenty to really test fundamental's...A few times a year, I shoot at the 50y pit. Little to do with SD, but it is fun and challenging, stressing the fundamentals even more than 25y. I don't make any consideration for the 2" drop with 45. I mostly shoot freehand, and I find the variation in my hold, wobble, is the key determinate in where the round will hit on the target. When I shoot off a rest occasional, I don't see any impact of the drop and are able to get nice tight groups. Never shot pistol at 100y, where there is some practical aspect of 50y shooting for me, personally I don't have any at 100y based on (my) SD lifestyle, and not in 45 (where the drop is so substantial). In say super and 357, I may give it a go at 100 some time (just for fun). As some other mentioned, depends where you want to focus your time, ammo, energy, to best serve your needs.
 
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#11 ·
Sure I shoot 50 yards, its the distance for outdoor Bullseye slow fire. One hand. 25 yards timed and rapid fire.

I also shoot Silhouettes. Hand gun, open sights and scope. I saw my son drop 3 rams out of 5 at 100 yards with my iron sight 45.

The 45 is great for 50 yards, a revolver or single shot is better for those Rams @ 100.

David
 
#13 ·
RickB said:
Do you hold the front sight high in the notch, with the target on top?
I could never consistently hold like that, so I'm obscuring the target and using normal sight alignment; works OK on a large target
Click to expand...
Its my understanding this is why Elmar Keith had gold lines inlayed across the front sight of his 44s. 2-3 lines broke the site up and game him the ability to make fine adjustments for long range.
 
#17 ·
RickB said:
Do you hold the front sight high in the notch, with the target on top?
I could never consistently hold like that, so I'm obscuring the target and using normal sight alignment; works OK on a large target
Click to expand...
Miculek holds the pistol upside down for his long shots so he can put the sights on the holdover point and also see the target.
For normal sighting you have to establish the holdover point which at 100 yds is 17" according to the above chart. You hold the pistol normally and aim at the holdover point, adjusting your hold on it to correspond with needed corrections of the POI.
You can see a video of a guy shooting a Kel Tec SUB2000 9mm carbine at 400 yards which is nearly 1/4 mile. He didn't hit it often but when he did, the 9mm exhibited surprising penetration in the plywood and lumber target.
 
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