[Shear_stress]

I think I've got the basics covered in my small collection--1911s, Smith wheelguns and a couple of milsurps. All of the stuff aligns with my "wood and steel" preference. However, I had the chance to fire a Glock 34 at pretty close range last weekend . . .and . . . actually . . . liked it. Not a pretty gun, not exactly graceful, but it seemed to send the bullets where I wanted them to go. To me, it had a much lighter trigger than the new Browning High Power I dry-fired in one of the local shops a couple of days back. Maybe there is something to the fact that so many folks choose to shoot tupperware.

So, what is the most accurate, reasonably priced (half a grand plus or minus a few bills), full-size 9mm range gun? There are lots of full-sized nines out there--Beretta 92/96, CZ75B/BD/SA, SIG 226, Browning High Power, Glock 17/34, etc.? They are all well-made and reliable, but, in your experience, which one groups the best at 25 yards? I've already searched a lot of threads on similar subjects and the term accuracy is usually used without a lot of qualification.

After last weekend, I resolve to keep an open mind about things like plastic frames. Also, it won't get carried, so it need not be small and light.

Thanks for your help!

[brickboy240]

within that price range...a slightly used Browning Hi-Power would fit the bill.

if you had 2-3 grand to blow, a Swiss made Sig 210 would be the ticket

[firesafety3]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, accuracy is in the hands of the shooter...

I, admittedly, have not shot every weapon you have listed. But the one that did impress me is not on your list: The HK USP9

Would have to be used to get around the $500 range but it is an accurate, durable, and reliable handgun (as are most on your list).

I'm about to start shopping 9mm so I'll watch this thread, along with other THR searches.

Good luck.

[Shear_stress]

You're right, I should have included the HK in the mix. The few people I've talked to about them swear by their quality. I wonder if anyone here can vouch for their accuracy.

A slightly used Browning High Power would be great. I love the classic design and pointability. I was really put off by the trigger of the brand new one I saw--lots of effort and not exactly smooth. I've heard that the new ones need some work, whether through shooting, dry-firing, or smithing. The trigger on my compact CZ was really gritty out of the box, but smoothed up after a few hundred dry fires. I suspect a used Browning would already be broken in.

[Jim Watson]

A GOOD Beretta 92 is very accurate, probably the best of the standard grade service pistols. Unfortunately, there are some loose ones out there. Look at them second hand and demand a testfire.

I think the most dependably accurate gun of the sort is a P226 but I know a Master Class IDPA&IPSC shooter who says his G34 is very accurate in slow fire.

I don't think a stock Browning or CZ will group with those others.

[Cosmoline]

The Sig P225 is the most accurate 9x19 handgun I've ever shot.

[Shear_stress]

Thanks for all the input.

It's interesting you mentioned the Beretta 92. I've always had good luck with those, but have never owned one. How do you tell whether it is loose?

[Zak Smith]

Hashed to death here:
THR > Tools and Technologies > Handguns: Autoloaders > Whats a good target 9mm? (http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=5268)

[Krag]

The most accurate 9mm pistol I have EVER fired is the S&W Performance Center Model 952. With the right ammo, it would consistently shot five shot groups of 1" from a rest at 25 yards. :what: If you want better performance than that, you are just plum out of luck Old Son! :neener:

[P95Carry]

Thx Zak - good link - forgot that one.

I'll vote a used BHP with good sights - tho if price not such a factor then a SIG 226 - tho that is available at CDNN's prices tho sometimes.

[Zak Smith]

Yeah, I think that link covers most of it.

My take is: If you're talking about the level of accuracy required by IDPA or IPSC, or other Practical Shooting, find a gun that fits you, has a good trigger and sights. It will be more accurate than you are, so you will be the weak link.

If you're talking about Bullseye level accuracy, get a pistol made specifically for that discipline.

-z

[Shear_stress]

Hi Zak,

Thanks for the link to that thread. I took a look at it before I started this one, and there are some useful numbers regarding the accuracy of the CZ75 and a couple of very high end guns. I am trying to get similar data for other mid-price 9mm pistols.

[Seraph]

My box-stock CZ 75B is a relentless tackdriver, a veritable laser beam, and a true dead horse killer. Really, I'm fairly astonished with it myself. Needs a trigger job, though.

[Shear_stress]

I am not sure how the topic of Bullseye shooting came up. My goal is not to find a competition-ready pistol. I am just curious if anyone has data showing how moderately-priced 9mm pistols perform at the range. That's really the piece of the puzzle missing from a lot of similar threads.

Thanks!

[Old NFO]

Maybe I'm the odd ball here, but I like the G34 for competition and target, mine out of the box, shot a 1.6 in group at 25yds off a rest (I did throw out the first round flyer- with that the size was 2.0 in). It's reliable, a fairly smooth trigger at 3.5-4.0lb and is consistant with the recoil and recovery. I shoot both IDPA and IPSC with it and note there are a "lot" of G34's in competition.

Remember, YMMV- Shoot what you like and to heck with us bench shooters... :evil:

[Shear_stress]

Thanks, Old NFO. That kind of information is great. It's really helpful to have at least some idea of the upper limit of a certain gun's performance. As you mentioned, the real life accuracy of a gun is largely determined by the shooter. Still, when shopping for a range gun (no matter the price range), I think it's important to use mechanical accuracy as a starting point in the decision process. Also, having a few rough numbers in the back of your mind can clinch a decision between two guns that otherwise seem fine in the store.

Glad to here your experience with the G34 has been good. What I saw this weekend has really made me come around to what those funky-looking pistols can do.

[Old NFO]

Glad to here your experience with the G34 has been good. What I saw this weekend has really made me come around to what those funky-looking pistols can do.

Yeah, that funky black pistol shoots better than I do :mad: I need more practice!!!! :D

Seriously, though, I'd go rent what you are interested in, or check at the range for someone shooting the guns. "Most" of the folks I know are happy to let you try their gun at the range... I let a friend shoot my G34 and he got rid of his Sig to get one :evil:

[Bronco45]

For my money a SIG 226 or 225 refurbished at the factory and available for sale. About a third less than a new one and all factory rebuild on police trade ins. 400-500 dollar range.

[MoeMentum]

I have a Beretta 92, and a CZ75. Both are better shooters than me.

[Lennyjoe]

You tell me. :D
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid102/p9ebda14b29d6ce4dadd1e0666b2bc9ea/f9b2bcbf.jpg
25yds indoor with Winchester White box 115gr FMJ.

[mete]

Hks are accurate but especially the P7 since it has a fixed barrel.

[BamBam-31]

P7's are accurate, that's for sure (as are Makarovs, for that matter). Not in the $500-700 price range, however, unless you're talking about one of the PSP's that have been recently imported. A couple mags will set you back another bill, too (IF you can find them).

My CZ 75B Tactical (which just means baby poo green) is VERY accurate. I like shooting at my 10" steel gong at 50 yds., and with the CZ, I get hits over 90% of the time (conservative estimate). Only my Springer Loaded w/ Bar-Sto barrel is more accurate. People come up to me and ask me what gun I'm shooting, and they're shocked when I tell them it's a $400 pistol that I bought partly to get a free knife.

The previously mentioned Mak's (which are 9mm's, too) are also amazingly accurate. For $500-700, you can prolly buy several. I've got a Bulgarian and a Russian (Bulgie's got a better trigger, Rooskie's got better sights), and they're both amazingly accurate. I moved the steel gong out to 75 yds., and I was able to get about 50% hits with the Maks and uber-expensive match grade Barnaul ammo.

I have a Sig 226ST in 9mm that's also very accurate, but that'll prolly cost $800+. I had a BHP that felt great, but it was not quite as accurate as my other pistols, so I sold it for baby furniture ( :( ). I prolly could have put some $$ into it and made it more accurate, but why? I've got the CZ. ;)

[Shear_stress]

That's some great shooting at twenty-five and fifty yards, guys. I've got the CZ PO1, but have been giving the full-size models a very close look. The CZ75 fits my hand perfectly.

Last night I headed over to a local indoor range where they offered a Glock 34 for rent. I asked the guy at the counter what he thought of the gun. He said that, for 9mm, he favored the G34 over anything this side of the S&W 952. He had the 34 on his hip, which I took to be some kind of endorsement.

I ran about a hundred rounds through the gun. Started at five yards and worked back to a bit over fifteen. At five yards, five shot groups were in the same ragged hole. Ten yards saw easy one inch groups. At fifteen yards, that pistol put thirty rounds in a fist-sized hole.

The G34 felt klutzy and toylike at the counter, but graceful and intuitive on the firing line. I was holding it too loosely to get that nice, short trigger reset, but the trigger was far smoother and lighter than I expected. The look and feel were a little too "Mikita cordless" for my old-fashioned, rotary-dial-telephone-using taste, but pretty is as pretty does.

Now I just need to rent a CZ75, Browning, SIG, etc for comparison's sake. Just hope I don't go broke shooting guns I don't even own . . .

[Old Dog]

Ah, can't resist chiming in since I enjoy shooting 9mm (and have to re-qual regularly with it anyway) ... I've never shot a SIG 210, but have always heard they're the best -- but the 226s I've fired have been excellent shooters, as have many of the M-9s (Beretta 92s) I've been issued and both of 'em that I own ...

My current favorite 9 now, though, is the CZ-75 -- solely because of the superior ergonomics and cool looks; mine is more than accurate enough for me, though not quite as accurate as my Berettas or even my old Taurus PT-92. My Browning is a safe queen and I've never gotten around to getting the bad trigger taken care of (hence I don't enjoy shooting it as much as my other 9s.

[albanian]

The most accurate 9mm I have ever fired is my cheapest 9mm! A surplus Star BM that has a great trigger. It is just a beat up stock BM 9mm with fixed sights and worn finish but it will outshoot ANY 9mm I have EVER shot by a WIDE margin. I have owned and shot some nice 9mms. 9mms happen to be my favorite guns so I have owned quite a few of them.

Some 9mm guns that my particular Star BM has outshot:

Beretta 92fs
Ruger P95
Ruger P89
S&W 59
S&W 5096
S&W 3913
Kahr K-9
RAP 401
Browning High Power
Star B
Star Firestar M-43

In fact, there is only one auto pistol that has ever shot as well as this Star BM. I had a Colt Chip McCormick factory Racer that cost about $1200 that would shoot just as well as this $150 Star BM. :neener: To be fair, I also have another Star Bm that I bought when I got the one I am talking about and it is accurate but not anywhere near the really accurate one. The really accurate one will put 5 rds though the same hole at 15 yards. That is the same hole not a ragged hole! Also, that is with el cheapo CCI Blazers. Jealous much? :evil:

[Shear_stress]

"To be fair, I also have another Star Bm that I bought when I got the one I am talking about and it is accurate but not anywhere near the really accurate one. The really accurate one will put 5 rds though the same hole at 15 yards. That is the same hole not a ragged hole! Also, that is with el cheapo CCI Blazers. Jealous much?"

Heh, heh, heh. Jealous that you can get a Star BM, oh yeah! Can't import those into the wonderful state of California. But, as for accuracy, my $150 (out the door) Bulgie Makarov will do the same trick offhand with Wolf ammo at 15 yards. You should have seen the look on the face of the guy with the HK USP shooting next to me! Of course, you should have seen the look on my face when I couldn't match that performance with my trusty Springfield. Joke's on me.

Twenty-five yards is a different story. That's where a longer barrel and better sights come in handy.

[Peter M. Eick]

These are:

http://pages.sbcglobal.net/eickpm/210x2.JPG

By the way, they are 210-5 and a 210-6 if you don't recognize them.

[Lobotomy Boy]

The CZ75B is a fine gun--I own one--but it's a great service gun and not really a target gun. Personally I would prefer a Glock 34 for a 9mm for target shooting. Since you shot it and liked it, it sounds like that might be a good option for you, too. Another option might be a 9mm 1911, though that would run quite a bit more money than a 34. As would most of the other good choices. For around $500, the Glock might be your best bet.

[sturmruger]

I have a Springfield Armory XD9 with sweet trigger done by rich at Canyon Creek. It has about 1.5lbs of pull and hardly any take up. If I do my part I can shoot 7 shots under 2 inches at 25 yards.

[kbheiner7]

I don't have a lot of experience with 9mms, but the 1 I owned was great. I regularly shot jack rabbits at 25-50 yards with my Beretta 92FS. Very reliable and accurate enough.

I do agree that you need to get a good one. I rented one at the range a few weeks ago, just for old times' sake (and the cost of 9mm ammo vs. .45 ACP). I couldn't keep groups inside 8" at 15 yards - it was awful.

[LeonCarr]

Ask THR member GooseGestapo about his S&W Performance Center PPC-9.

Brutally Accurate

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

[Gixerman1000]

My S&W Performance Center 952-2 is the most accurate and smoothest shooting 9mm that I have ever shot and the trigger and action are as slick as KY, it's a real dream to shoot.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/Gixerman1000/SWPC952.jpg

it leaves all my other 9mm's way behind

[Gixerman1000]

DT

[HKGuns]

The HK P7 is the most accurate 9mm I've shot. I doubt any of the floating barrel configurations could match the accuracy of a fixed barrel P7 in the right hands. You just can't duplicate the stability of the fixed barrel.

I can point shoot my P7 and chip away at the paper target at 15 yards, tearing away paper at will.

[Lobotomy Boy]

Is that Smith Performance Center 952 a single action?

[Sean Smith]

Reading comprehension not a strong point around here? ;)

So, what is the most accurate, reasonably priced (half a grand plus or minus a few bills), full-size 9mm range gun?

That pretty much rules out the P210, P7 or the S&W custom shop 9mm guns. Oops.

Correct answer is most likely a P226, but that is at the high end of your price range.

[Gixerman1000]

Is that Smith Performance Center 952 a single action?

Yes it is.

[Lobotomy Boy]

I saw a used 952 for sale at a local gunshop for $1,185, so yes, those would be well outside the $500 window. Like I said earlier, for that price your best bet would be a Glock 34. I can't think of another 9mm in that price range that is a genuine target gun--the rest are just good, solid service pistols.

[JimC]

So, what is the most accurate, reasonably priced (half a grand plus or minus a few bills), full-size 9mm range gun?

Staying with the criteria set, I would say the G34, G17L or SIG 226.

I had a G34 that was an excellent shooter with the right ammo. It was so, so with the wrong ammo.
My 17L is a better shooter with good mil spec 124 gr. Winchester NATO ammo but an excellent shooter with my "match grade" R-P 147 gr. FMJ match type bullets.

Going outside the listed criteria slightly, I would have to say my Walther FS P88 is one of, if not the most accurate standard production, service type pistols that I've ever owned. ;)

[makanut]

My stock CZ 75B Turkish mil is scary accurate :D . The smooth trigger helps.

[absolute0]

Dang Lennyjoe, thats some fine shootin'

[Pilot]

The most accurate modern 9MM's I have in order of accuracy are:

Browning Hi Power
CZ-75B
HK P7M8 or PSP (both tied with the CZ)
CZ-75D "PCR" (compact, lightweight CZ-75)
Sig P228 (tied w/ PCR)

The margin of difference in all of the above is VERY slight. The BHP and CZ-75B have an edge due to barrel length and sight radius. Both of their triggers are stock, but excellent, including the BHP with the silly mag safety still installed.

All guns listed above are stock with absolutely now mods or trigger work.

Another very accurate 9MM I own is a 1942 Mauser P-08 Luger. It will easily shoot with all the guns listed above.