Compact autos and accuracy.

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Mike L.

Mike L.

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What sort of accuracy, sandbag-rested, do you expect from a circa 3" barreled auto pistol?
What is average, or what is the best to be expected?
Asking because I am not impressed with my results so far, using two different compact autos.
It could be just my olde eyes and poor trigger control?
 
From sandbags rested a Glock 26 or 27 should shoot right with the big 22 or 17. Some LE guys ive known even shoot the smaller one better but i think it's mental. Ive read the same in professional gu reviews though. I have little experience with most others.

Offhand they are more difficult to shoot and split times suffer
 
I've never shot handguns worth 2 cents off a rest, so I can't really answer that part. I do know that I shoot my compact .45 as well as I do the full size one. If the compact was noticeably less accurate, I wouldn't carry it.
 
Mike L. said:
What sort of accuracy, sandbag-rested, do you expect from a circa 3" barreled auto pistol?
What is average, or what is the best to be expected?
Asking because I am not impressed with my results so far, using two different compact autos.
It could be just my olde eyes and poor trigger control?
Click to expand...

What are your results? What ammo have you tested?

Service pistols (Glock, S&W) shoot about a 5"-6" group at 25 yards, depending on the ammo.
https://www.shootingillustrated.com...mo-accuracy-15-loads-in-three-different-guns/

Shorter guns are more difficult to test because of their short sight radius.
 
This is an extremely educational video.

It shows how, more important than the pistol, more important than the trigger, is the interaction between the pistol and the ammunition. This video demonstrates how a compact pistol, probably not the most inherently accurate pistol on the market, can go from mediocre groups to excellent groups, simply by finding the right ammunition for it.
I am therefore sure that pistols with greater constructive care, such as the Glock 26 or the Heckler & Koch P2000SK, just to give two examples, are capable of even more consistent performance.

Personally, I haven't tried many compact 9mm pistols in my life but I distinctly remember being particularly impressed with the good accuracy and the soft, easy shooting of the Glock 26.

What compact pistols have you shot that let you down?
 
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Hold your shot targets up against your chest in the mirror. Would it put down an assailant? If you're not happy with your target, go back to the range.
 
I never shot it from a rest but I used to have a Kel-Tec P-11 that was suprisingly accurate once I got used to the trigger. I have a Kahr CM9 that I don't shoot that well. I believe it has more to do with me than the mechanical accuracy of the pistol. I just feel like I don't have enough to hang on to on the CM9.
 
My dad has a Taurus compact that has, without a doubt, the worse trigger I've ever used and I've used hundreds. I don't know which model. I dont mind Taurus BTW

Every Glock ive ever used (and ive used many) has all had a consistently mediocre trigger. Perfect for duty IMO. Ive used many 27 and 26 and all of them performed about the same.
 
It's not so much the weapon is deficient as it is the shooter's ability. There are individuals that obtain a handgun and can't shoot accurately enough to save their soul.
 
More likely than not what you are dealing with is a shorter sight radius. The shorter the gun the easier to pull off target. Most modern compacts are capable of shooting as well their full-size counterparts. I would recommend a laser target set up and practice more trigger work. I have had that issue with shorter guns like snubs. Perhaps look for an auto with a better trigger pull. More grip and strength training for your fingers and hands.
 
Creston, I have both, but prefer the original 365 to the XL, particularly after adding a 12-round mag. It is effectively a 365X in that format. Very nice guns regardless which model you select.

BOARHUNTER
 
I’ve never been great with typical pistols apart from my 1911s that I shoot very well. My real exception is a Kahr K9 thats kept sub 2” groups at 15 yards offhand, often times with groups closer to 1 1/4”. Most of my other compacts wring out at 4”-6” at the same distance.
 
I owned a Glock 26 and a Taurus G2c at the same time and shot them back-to-back together.

They're the same size and shape. You can use the same holsters for them. Their practical accuracy was the same - in my hands, anyway. I liked the Glock trigger a little better, so eventually I let the Taurus go.

Anyway, if you don't shoot either of them well, it might be because they're practically the same pistol, and it's not a good size/shape for you.

Maybe try another small 9mm with a different shape, grip angle, operating mechanism, etc?
 
My SIG p365 shoots as well or better for me than most any of my larger handguns.
Click to expand...

That is my observation too.

I almost bought one today. I debated between the xl and the regular.
Click to expand...

I chose the standard version with a safety along with some spare 12 round magazines. I'm pretty sure they make a 15 round magazine for this version. With the included 10 round magazines I like the smaller size for IWB carry. With the extended 12 round magazine I carry OWB and shoot it as well as my much larger Glock 19 and Sig 320. To me, being able to use either magazine makes the gun more versatile. And the slightly shorter barrel of the standard gun hasn't been a handicap to me.

In fact, I ended up with 2 so my wife and I are carrying identical pistols. I shoot a variety of guns and don't have much problem with different designs. But my wife isn't really into guns, and I thought it would be simpler. She will carry and practice the minimum to stay proficient. I thought it would be a good idea for us to have the same carry gun in case she had to use mine for some reason.
 
I'm accurate enough at what you might call "conversational" distance, with either little 9. More accurate with my 1911's.
I am getting 4 or 5 inch groups with the little 9's at 15 yards with my handloads Looks like I need to dip into my thin wallet and buy some diff. factory stuff.
I'm aware, as I'm sure that most of you are, that gilt-edged accuracy is not the forte of 3" barreled autos.
But trying some different factory loads w/ various bullet weights should be...educational.
 
I never placed much thought into a short barreled .45 ACP till one day. We have all had a friend who needed money and we ended up with a gun.

A friend needed money and while I reallydid not "need" another gun I ended up with one.
Kimber%201.png

This little gun actually surprised me. Shooting both 230 grain FMJ like Winchester white box and hand loads Hornady XTP the little .45 ACP has always functioned flawlessly. Overall I get 2" to 3" groups at 10 yards and considering, as mentioned, sight radius I have become real fond of it. Never thought I would be comfortable with anything less than a 1911 Commander length barrel and not a gun I would have bought for myself but along it came. The only Kimber gun I own and I have quite a few 1911 guns.

Ron
 
I can shoot my P365 as accurately as other compacts and that's why I love it so much. Can't quite shoot the Hellcat or other small autos as well, but a 3" barrel can be plenty accurate.
 
Boarhunter said:
My SIG p365 shoots as well or better for me than most any of my larger handguns.
BOARHUNTER
Click to expand...

Agreed, and I'm no Sig fanboy. The 365 is just a little nail driver. Have a G3c I won in a raffle a while ago and it took a little time to get used to the trigger pull, but if I do my part it's plenty accurate.
 
I have compact 9mm. autos that have barrel lengths from 3.5" (Ruger SR9c and Colt Officer's Model ACP .45), to 3.8" (CZ P01 and P07). No problem with accuracy with any of them, which I might attribute to their overall design ergonomics. All four of them feel perfectly natural in my hand as well being very easy to handle and control when using them.
 
Agree with some others sights are the biggest issue, then often long triggers for the in-case-of-pocket-carry cases. Mechanically: as accurate as anything. Back in the metal era, one of the shooting magazines put a bunch of 9mms in a Ransom Rest and the S&W 39/69 was MORE accurate than the 59. A tidge, it was random, but across the board brand and ammo mattered more than barrel length.

I got rid of the sight issue, got RDS on all my serious guns. Can shoot my Kahr P9 (2.53") with it's DAO trigger into an IDPA target every time at 50 yds. At 25, the head every time. If I do my part of course. Also similar with a few I've fired just a few mags through to try out for friends. G43x, P365, Hellcat and... probably others.

Double those for my full size M&P. 50 and 100 yds. But not bad at all. None of this conventional wisdom that subcompacts are only good to 7 yards or anything.
 
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