[Jeff Higgins]

Never less than 25 yards, because those are the closest targets at my home range. Groups are one cylinder full from revolvers and five shots from autos.

Accuracy depends a great deal upon the gun and the sights it is fitted with. I won't keep any handgun, regardless of caliber or configuration, that I cannot make group 3" or less from a rest at that range. I'll put a lot of effort into load development before I give up, but this is my minimum standard for things like small defensive revolvers ("snubbies") with fixed sights and service autos.

Hunting revolvers are held to a much higher standard. I keep working on them until they are in the 2" or under range, from a rest, at 25 yards. We then move on to pop cans and/or clay birds set at 100 yards, and keep at it until we are hitting the vast majority of those from field positions. When I can do that with a given revolver, then I feel I'm ready to hunt with it.

As far as off-hand shooting, that only starts after load development and ascertaining whether or not the gun is a "keeper" based on its performance from a rest at 25 yards. From there, I keep at it off hand until I can shoot it into 3"-4" at 25 yards. If I can't do that consistently, I'll do things like get the trigger worked if I think that is the problem, put different grips on it, or whatever. If I just can't shoot it, it eventually goes. Sometimes we just don't get along.

So, my expectations are twofold. I look for inherent mechanical accuracy by shooting from a rest. I look for "shootability" by shooting offhand and from field positions used while hunting. Guns can pass the first, but if they don't pass the latter, they are eventually sold.