9 mm accuracy what to expect?

[918v]

I have found that too fast of a powder under a heavy bullet results is inconsistent accuracy. Secondly, I found that polygonal rifling is detrimental to accuracy in the 9. In fact, the German military requested HK supply the USP with standard rifling for that application because the accuracy was substandard. Don't expect much better than 3" from the Glock factory barrel. You have two variables working against you: loose barrel to slide to frame fit and polygonal rifling.

Sigs have super tight barrel to slide fit and conventional rifling. They are far more accurate off a rest out of the box. You can easily get teeny little groups with the right handloads.

Try some Power Pistol under a 147 in your Glock. It is just right in terms of burning rate. It was designed for 9mm NATO and sold to ammo companies under the Bullseye 84 label. I like 4.5 grains and 1.125" under a JHP and 1.169" under a RN.

 

[littlebob3]

I had a Ruger that was better that this SIG 226, so I'm going to order a new Bar-Sto Semi-Drop-In Barrel for the P226 9mm with a 1 in 16 twist today... to see if it is the barrel. I will let you know if it is the old barrel.

Also i see that Unique is a faster power that Power Pistol:

6. Bullseye (Alliant)
35. Unique (Alliant)
39. Power Pistol (Alliant)

Has any one used a Bar-Sto Semi-Drop-In Barrel and does Ported Barrel help with ?

LittleBob3

 

[918v]

It is. In my P226, 5.7grs of Unique under a 125 JSP worked well. But is wasnt consistent enough. It would tease me with teeny groups one week, but would throw fliers the next. So I said F-it and went with 147's.

Then I sold the P226s I had and got a P210 only to discover the same thing. It won't shoot 115's or 124's as well as 147's. So I got a 1-20" twist barrel for it and tried some 115 FMJs with 4.9grs of N330. That load shows alot of promise. It put them all through one hole, about the size of a 45 caliber bullet at 15 yards. Do you know how hard it is to aim this damm thing with these teeny military sights?

That's how I know it is the twist rate.

I dunno if a drop in barrel will be of any value, unless it fits just as tight as the factory barrel.

 

[Nick93]

I have found that too fast of a powder under a heavy bullet results is inconsistent accuracy. Secondly, I found that polygonal rifling is detrimental to accuracy in the 9. In fact, the German military requested HK supply the USP with standard rifling for that application because the accuracy was substandard. Don't expect much better than 3" from the Glock factory barrel. You have two variables working against you: loose barrel to slide to frame fit and polygonal rifling.

Sigs have super tight barrel to slide fit and conventional rifling. They are far more accurate off a rest out of the box. You can easily get teeny little groups with the right handloads.

I can get from 1" to 2" accuracy range with my glock 34 at 25 yards ,maybe because its a competition gun i dont know.The reason why the german military decided to use and conventional rifling its becuase of the cost ... The USP is as accurate if not more than most service pistols shooting around 2-3" groups at 25 yards, i think thats well above the military needs ....

The "problem" with polygonal rifling its that you MUST use jacketed bullets to get the most accuracy out of the gun but then with conventional rifling you don´t. You can shoot plated bullets in polygonal rifling without problems but the accuracy its not the same unless you use some king of heavy and strong plating like the golddots or some TMJ from speer maybe that ThickPlate bullet from berry(i didn´t test that one)...

littlebob3 if you reload with the same type of bullets that you are firing from the cheapest factory target ammo than you can get you can expect at least the same accuracy if not more

hope this helps !

 

[littlebob3]

WOW just looked at the P210 I have to say that is a GREAT looking pistol... I like it... how is it 30 yards?

Can you give me a little more info on it... it looks like it has a safty... and looks like a 1911.

So you think with a new Bar-Sto Barrel and 147 gn bullit the 226 would have more accuracy.

LittleBob3

 

[littlebob3]

NICK93, Thank you it does help!

 

[918v]

I can get from 1" to 2" accuracy range with my glock 34 at 25 yards ,maybe because its a competition gun i dont know.The reason why the german military decided to use and conventional rifling its becuase of the cost ... The USP is as accurate if not more than most service pistols shooting around 2-3" groups at 25 yards, i think thats well above the military needs ....

It does not cost more to hammer forge a poly barrel. It actually costs more to deviate from standard production and make a standard barrel. From my reading I recall it was an accuracy issue, not cost.

Your G34 is accurate but no where near as accurate as a Sig X5. Funny thing, G34s are said to be more accurate than G17Ls even though the L has a longer barrel still. I think this is due to barrel harmonics. The 34 has a unique barrel length. I wonder if Glock did this on purpose.

Anyway. The OP has a 4.4" 9mm and has to work within that restriction.

I think that a properly fitted 1-16" barrel will be more accurate than a 1-10", just as 1-14" 38 barrels shoot 148gr HBWC more accurately than 1-18.5" barrels do.

 

[pcf]

How did the box that your bullets came in looked when it arrived at your door? One knuckle head dropping a heavy box of bullets can leave you with a bunch of out of round bullets that look fine but will never shoot well.

I've never had great results with Berry's plated bullets or any other plated bullets in any of my Sigs. My WAG is that the .356 diameter is a hair too small. My Sigs do fine with jacketed bullets at .355, but they prefer cast at .357 or even .358.

With my P226 off of a bench I can consistently get 4" groups at 25yds with a cast 115gr RN sized to .358 over 4.2gr of HP-38. I can do the same with a Montana Gold 115gr over 4.9 of HP-38 as well. YMMV use at your own risk.

 

[918v]

Can you give me a little more info on it... it looks like it has a safty... and looks like a 1911.

Go to P210.com

It is not anywhere close to a 1911. More like a single-stack CZ75, except lightyears better in terms of fit, finish, and accuracy.

 

[littlebob3]

Go to P210.com

P210.com is not a website

I did find some infomation at Sig P210 Very cool... I am going to save and buy one.

LittleBob3

 

[918v]

It was a website.

Try this:

http://larvatus.livejournal.com/33732.html

 

[littlebob3]

918v

Many thanks.

LittleBob3

 

[mizer67]

It's true that 1 in 10 barrels overstabilize 9mm projectiles, and you can lose accuracy from this. How much is anyones guess, and it's likely gun dependent.

If you read NRA Action Pistol or Bullseye musings where guys are making precision 50 yard shots, they're using slower twists, particularly for the KKM NMII barrel, but are relegated to using shorter projos. like the 115 Gr XTP JHP, or other 115 grainers to retain accuracy.

A 1 in 16 should adequately stabilize any projo you want to shoot in 9mm, up to and including 147 grainers.

 

[jolly roger]

My best groups with 9mm have been with Sierra 115 HPS and Hodgdon HS6 powder about .5 grain under max listed in most manuals. We are talking ONE inch groups at 25 yards from a 226 and about 1.5 inches from a 92FS...off a rest of course. That's not too shabby for a 9.

 

[littlebob3]

I placed an order for the Bar-Sto Semi-Drop-In Barrel Sig Sauer P226 9mm Luger 1 in 16" Twist... along with Hornady Bullets 9mm (355 Diameter) 147 Grain Full Metal Jacket Round Nose & Speer Bullets 9mm (355 Diameter) 147 Grain Total Metal Jacket.

I have to say that P210 is looking good.

Again thanks to all of you for your input... I will let you know how it goes.

LittleBob3

 

[littlebob3]

I had to send back the Bar-Sto Semi-Drop-In Barrel to MidwayUSA, it was going to take more work than I can do... so it is not a true drop-in... not MidwayUSA problem.

I did buy Hornady Bullets 147gr RN and Speer Bullets 147gr FN… I can tell you that it did make a different in my accuracy. Also I found the Hornady Bullets better… but it could have been me.

Again thanks to all for the help!

LittleBob3