I Figured It Out - The Most Accurate 9mm Autoloader Is...

[Adventurer_96]

...at the end of my post.

OK, so it's not really a huge scientific survey, with a Ransom rest and 69 pistols to choose from. But, I went to the range today with the intent of seeing which of 4 9mm weapons I could shoot the best. Each is a contender for IDPA as well as an upcoming Front Sight trip. All were shot with the same el-cheapo ammo at the range, so while I'm not answering the question of whether or not the guns perform differently with different loads, I am comparing them on relatively equal footing in terms of shooting the same ammo on the same day (less human error). Here they are:

Stock Springfield XD 9
Custom Caspian 9mm 1911, by Tripp Research
Stock CZ 75 pre-B
Stock Glock 19C

The one gun that I left at home that I should have brought was the CZ 75B that I have.

I loaded each gun w/10 rounds (9 for the 1911) and I shot at about 10 yards.

The most accurate pistol for me of the group? The XD 9.

 

[Adventurer_96]

The XD really tore a large hole in the center of the target. After the XD, the 1911 was the next closest in terms of overall accuracy, and it was very close. Where it had the XD beat was in recoil (or lack thereof) as it's an all steel weapon, so recoil is almost nonexistent.

I was surprised by the CZ's performance as I expected the CZ to really do a lot better but even shooting SA it wasn't a naildriver as was the XD. This leads me to believe that the CZ might be a bit more finicky when it comes to ammo as they have a reputation for being an accurate weapon in general. The Glock was the least accurate of the lot, disappointing but I'm not to the point of getting rid of it. Yet...

Let me say that I like all of these pistols, and each one has its purpose in my mind. But, for today's trip, I wanted to see which was the most accurate, and the XD really surprised me with how well it shot.

Of course, later on in the day, it was the only 9mm that had a malfunction, a FTE that required the mag to be removed. Maybe I need to think a little more about this gun as an IPDA/Front Sight gun...

 

[10-Ring]

AS far as an IDPA gun is concerned, it really comes down to what you feel comfortable with. I've competed using my USP 9, USPc 9, P7M8, 92fs, and my Glock 19. For me, it's not really about winning, it's about having fun, minimizing mistakes and seeing how well I can shoot under even just the little stress of competition. Any of the guns you were testing would be fine in IDPA, have fun & good luck

 

[possum]

[QUOTStock Springfield XD 9
Custom Caspian 9mm 1911, by Tripp Research
Stock CZ 75 pre-B
Stock Glock 19C
E][/QUOTE]

Those are probally the results I would get as well i am really good with my xd .40 but i am horrible with a Glock, so the middle might be different but i am sure that the best and worse would be the same.

 

[wardog]

From what I've read, the XD falls into the "Enhanced Service Pistol" division in IDPA due to the gun being single action. Glock falls into the "Standard Service Pistol" division due to the striker being only partially cocked.

Not sure if that's a big deal or not, but I would think being grouped into the "Enhanced" division would be at least a small handicapp for a new IDPA shooter.

Someone else may understand this better than I.

 

[Jim Watson]

Well, you ain't gonna shoot a G19C in IDPA anyhow. They don't allow superfluous holes in the barrel. If it really performed for you, you could buy a normal barrel for it and the slots in the slide would just be for decoration.

The XD enters in ESP versus things like smallbore 1911s and heavily tweaked Glocks. So what? If you prefer it, shoot it. It can be tuned, too, with things like sights and a 2 lb trigger.

But for your next test, move back to 20 yards as for Classifier Stage III. You might (or might not) get different results. Ten yards is not testing the gun or the ammunition, it is testing the shooter, and not at a very high level.

There are other things important to the IDPA shooter like how the guns come on target on the draw, and how well they transition from one target to another. You might should wait to test those on different guns until after your class so you are using standardized techniques and not learning bad habits.

 

[Adventurer_96]

For me, it's not really about winning, it's about having fun, minimizing mistakes and seeing how well I can shoot under even just the little stress of competition.

I'm generally the same way, although who can say they don't like winning? I've tried to view IDPA matches as more of a training opportunity with competition involved.

Not sure if that's a big deal or not, but I would think being grouped into the "Enhanced" division would be at least a small handicapp for a new IDPA shooter.

Since they break down each category into skill levels, you're really competing against folks who shot about as well as you did on the classifier, i.e. master versus master, marksman versus marksman, etc. In the little that I've seen of the high-end shooters at the CA state match, there seems to be a lot of cometition in the ESP category at that level, though, compared to some other divisions. Hey, if you wanted to win just for showing up, shoot a revolver at most matches I guess.

Well, you ain't gonna shoot a G19C in IDPA anyhow. They don't allow superfluous holes in the barrel. If it really performed for you, you could buy a normal barrel for it and the slots in the slide would just be for decoration.

Exactly what I was thinking. Until yesterday that is...

Ten yards is not testing the gun or the ammunition, it is testing the shooter, and not at a very high level.

Yup, per my first post, I realized this wasn't going to be a gun magazine-style test of weapons. Instead, it was a general idea of what worked best for me, and certainly not for the ammunition I was shooting. Plus, the ancient indoor range where I was shooting only has enough lighting to see the target at about 10 yards.

You might should wait to test those on different guns until after your class so you are using standardized techniques and not learning bad habits.

Part of the reason for this "test" was to see what should go to the class with me in the first place.

 

[combatpreacher]

Dont know much about IDPA...but in training and at some local matches I have shot over a dozen Sig 226's and have never had one that would be considered "inaccurate".
Had a couple that were awsome right out of the case!
Food for thought...

 

[albanian]

I have an 4" XD-9 bi-tone and I am surprised at the accuracy. It is one of the good ones. I have had a few troubling jams with CCI Blazer ammo though so it remains a range gun only. I keep my "inaccurate" Berettas for serious work.

 

[Adventurer_96]

combatpreacher, thanks. I can't do the DA/SA or DAO/DAK unfortunately.

albanian, FTEs with the case stuck in the chamber?

 

[varoadking]

You overlooked the frontrunner...

 

[combatpreacher]

yeh, I mostly shoot local law enforcment shoots...what we call service match and PPC...some times the out of the box, stock Sigs and HK's stay right up there with the 1911 crowd.

They do get mad though when i keep dropping my empty mags at some of the action shoots at the local club...cant overcome some of the training (old dog and new tricks)

Thanks for the info...

 

[RUBZERK]

I can remember a time when many people on here were bad mouthing XD's when i first got mine over a year ago.

Now they seem to have seen to cross over to the dark side.


XD all the way

 

[KMKeller]

I have managed to be the North Carolina Police Combat Pistol League Civilian State Champion for 2004 and 2005 using an unmodified Sig P226. Accuracy is the name of the game and it handles it nicely.

 

[mrapathy2000]

try a steyr M9

 

[Adventurer_96]

I'll have to wait on the Steyr until out of CA, I do like their sight system though.

varoadking, actually I've had a longstanding interest in the P7M8 which predates me getting stationed out here last year, I just can't justify buying one right now since they run over $1200 if you can find them out here, in my limited experience.

Basically, I'll have to pick from the collection for this trip as it's going to be in the next month or two, and my "firearms acquisition program" has come to a halt due to an upcoming move.

I didn't even mention how incredible the S&W 1911 shot, I didn't expect that kind of accuracy out of the box and now I'm even considering punishing myself by shooting .45 for the 4-day course instead of one of the nines.

 

[kbheiner7]

I've heard from some guys that XDs are accurate, but I can't hit jack with them.

Maybe I'm just spoiled shooting 1911s?

The only 9mm I've owned as a Beretta and it shot pretty well.

 

[Adventurer_96]

Maybe I'm just spoiled shooting 1911s?

That could very well be. I shot my Sig 229DAK at an IDPA classifier a few weeks ago, and even though it can be a very accurate weapon I shot it poorly. I know that the gun is capable of decent accuracy from having taken it to the range for a test fire after I got it several months ago, but my shooting technique ( or lack thereof that day? ) led me to shoot it so poorly that I'm selling it. Why? Great weapon, ergonomic, like new, capable of good accuracy, probably extremely reliable, the list could go on. But, I realized after shooting it that there was no way I would be willing to un-learn my habits and transfer to that platform.