All I have to add when I started. We took a coffee can placed it on side and If i could hit that end that's how far I shot. Old pumpkin balls. Average was 40-50 yards, with a bead for a sight and free hand. It was a few years and I was using a rifle. Few more and bought a scope. My girls went straight to a rifle there size and a scope, although a average scope; the better ones are set aside for when they get older.