Most accurate pistols
- Thread starter Benny
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Just off the top of my head, for $1000 and under, these pistols should be pretty darn accurate:
--Semi-custom 1911 (like an STI, or you could have a Barsto barrel and bushing fitted to a Springer/Kimber/Colt, plus trigger job).
--P7M8 (I've seen a few recently listed at $1100, these suckers are tackdrivers)
--Sigs (I've yet to shoot a Sig that wasn't accurate, but the ST's like the 220ST and 226ST are particularly nice)
--Glock 34/35 (heck, even my 17 and 19 are accurate, gotta love polygonal rifling)
--CZ 75b (don't let the price fool you, they're amazing guns, may need trigger work and better sights, tho')
There's lots of options, and you're gonna get lots of suggestions unless you narrow the field down a bit by giving a bit more info (What caliber do you want? Is it primarily a range gun? What guns have you shot? What guns feel comfortable in your hand? etc.)
Good luck.
--Semi-custom 1911 (like an STI, or you could have a Barsto barrel and bushing fitted to a Springer/Kimber/Colt, plus trigger job).
--P7M8 (I've seen a few recently listed at $1100, these suckers are tackdrivers)
--Sigs (I've yet to shoot a Sig that wasn't accurate, but the ST's like the 220ST and 226ST are particularly nice)
--Glock 34/35 (heck, even my 17 and 19 are accurate, gotta love polygonal rifling)
--CZ 75b (don't let the price fool you, they're amazing guns, may need trigger work and better sights, tho')
There's lots of options, and you're gonna get lots of suggestions unless you narrow the field down a bit by giving a bit more info (What caliber do you want? Is it primarily a range gun? What guns have you shot? What guns feel comfortable in your hand? etc.)
Good luck.
Well, 9mm would be nice, because of the price of ammo. I just recently bought my first handgun(Taurus pt24/7 pro) and its a .40 S&W, and the ammo is already burning a hole in my pocket. But to answer your question, yes is is mainly just a range gun, but i still want it to look good and of course feel good in my hand.
No one can give you a list of the "most accurate" pistols -- it doesn't exist. People can tell you their opinions on what pistols are well made or what has worked well for them, but the gun is part of a firing "system" -- and you are the most important (and unpredictable) component of that system.
People will tell you that Sigs are the most accurate. Well, I had a Sig P228 and my lowly Ruger P89 out-shot it every time....in my hands. There is no magic formula. Look for guns with a good reputation for quality and reliability -- then go out and test fire them. Spending $1000 on an HK is not going to guarantee that it's an accurate gun in your hands.
Just my $0.02 worth...
Jim
People will tell you that Sigs are the most accurate. Well, I had a Sig P228 and my lowly Ruger P89 out-shot it every time....in my hands. There is no magic formula. Look for guns with a good reputation for quality and reliability -- then go out and test fire them. Spending $1000 on an HK is not going to guarantee that it's an accurate gun in your hands.
Just my $0.02 worth...
Jim
browningguy
Member
Well I've only had this to the range once since I bought it, but man is it accurate. EAA Witness Match, mines in .40 but they have 9mm, 38 super,45 ACP and 10mm. A very good single action trigger and good adjustable sights. They were selling these at the Houston gun show 2 weeks ago for $399.
Mad Magyar
Member
NavyGuy, well said...We don't carry a Ransom Rest with us.....Pistols shoot better than the guy holding it....I'm utterly convinced that most pistoleros just want a gun that goes "Kaboom" each time & use the large mag capacity to make up for their shortcomings...I.O.W's, reliability is far more important...
Bobo
Member
Benny said he wanted it more as a range gun. For that purpose I would think that accuracy would trump reliability. OTOH, for self-defense the opposite would be true.
Great question, yet, very subjective
Disclaimer: My response is nearly all subjective, yet is based on extensive experience.
The following is my "test of accuracy". I take my pistols to the family farm, along with a skateboard. I place the old skateboard upside-down on the hay wagon, and spin the skateboard's wheels by shooting (nicking) the rolling surface of the wheel from 20 paces. Any pistol that can consistently do that is accurate! Remember, "Aim small; miss small."
For me, my most persistently accurate pistols are the the following order:
1. Colt reproduction series 70 in stainless. It feeds any ammunition reliably, and in fact, at present, with well over 5,000 rounds I have never experienced any failures of any form. It just plain shoots, and shoots consistently accurate.
2. Colt reproduction WWI is very nearly its equal. The sole difference I believe it due to the lack of checkering. That makes holding it tightly difficult. The sights are not very desirable either.
3. Browning P35 that will keep pace with these two, but I have put few rounds through it, and so it has yet to prove itself over several months, and several thousands of rounds. I am confident that it will. The sights are excellent, but can be difficult to see.
4. Glock 17 is a close 3rd to possibly 4th. The angle of the grips sometimes take re-accustoming after my 1911 or BHP, but make no mistake, it is a very accurate pistol! The sights are pretty darned good, but the trigger seems to be the cause of difficulties for me. Since it is also a primary CCW piece, no trigger upgrades!
5. Kimber Warrior? Well, frankly, it is a crap shoot to buy a Kimber. While I have owned about 14 or 15 Kimbers, it's always a crap shoot as to the "quality". I have pics of my "custom Shop" Kimbers that would make your hair stand on end that the company shipped them. If you get a good Kimber, oh yeah, they shoot--but when they're bad, they're really bad! My present Warrior is a nice pistol, but I'll never trust it the way I trust those listed above it. The trigger is extraordinary--the best I have ever pulled in my 46 years. But the sights are not precise. It's not a target piece, it's a defensive piece.
Doc2005
Disclaimer: My response is nearly all subjective, yet is based on extensive experience.
The following is my "test of accuracy". I take my pistols to the family farm, along with a skateboard. I place the old skateboard upside-down on the hay wagon, and spin the skateboard's wheels by shooting (nicking) the rolling surface of the wheel from 20 paces. Any pistol that can consistently do that is accurate! Remember, "Aim small; miss small."
For me, my most persistently accurate pistols are the the following order:
1. Colt reproduction series 70 in stainless. It feeds any ammunition reliably, and in fact, at present, with well over 5,000 rounds I have never experienced any failures of any form. It just plain shoots, and shoots consistently accurate.
2. Colt reproduction WWI is very nearly its equal. The sole difference I believe it due to the lack of checkering. That makes holding it tightly difficult. The sights are not very desirable either.
3. Browning P35 that will keep pace with these two, but I have put few rounds through it, and so it has yet to prove itself over several months, and several thousands of rounds. I am confident that it will. The sights are excellent, but can be difficult to see.
4. Glock 17 is a close 3rd to possibly 4th. The angle of the grips sometimes take re-accustoming after my 1911 or BHP, but make no mistake, it is a very accurate pistol! The sights are pretty darned good, but the trigger seems to be the cause of difficulties for me. Since it is also a primary CCW piece, no trigger upgrades!
5. Kimber Warrior? Well, frankly, it is a crap shoot to buy a Kimber. While I have owned about 14 or 15 Kimbers, it's always a crap shoot as to the "quality". I have pics of my "custom Shop" Kimbers that would make your hair stand on end that the company shipped them. If you get a good Kimber, oh yeah, they shoot--but when they're bad, they're really bad! My present Warrior is a nice pistol, but I'll never trust it the way I trust those listed above it. The trigger is extraordinary--the best I have ever pulled in my 46 years. But the sights are not precise. It's not a target piece, it's a defensive piece.
Doc2005
Wow, thanks everybody for your detailed replys...they are appreciated greatly. To the people who did reply i have a couple of questions....
Bam Bam 31. Is the CZ 75 as accurate as the CZ 75b? Because im leaning toward a 9mm.
Browningguy. This is probably a dumb question, but is that 1911 in the picture a browning?
Doc2005. Are the two colts you mentioned 1911's? I was unable to find pictures of them.
After all of the great responses i received, ive definately been able to narrow it down a bit...I'm definately leaning toward a 1911(not sure of brand), and i do like the CZ 75. But like almost everyone said, thats just to help me look, because looking for a gun can sometimes be pretty overwhelming and i needed somewhere to start, so thanks again to everybody.
Bam Bam 31. Is the CZ 75 as accurate as the CZ 75b? Because im leaning toward a 9mm.
Browningguy. This is probably a dumb question, but is that 1911 in the picture a browning?
Doc2005. Are the two colts you mentioned 1911's? I was unable to find pictures of them.
After all of the great responses i received, ive definately been able to narrow it down a bit...I'm definately leaning toward a 1911(not sure of brand), and i do like the CZ 75. But like almost everyone said, thats just to help me look, because looking for a gun can sometimes be pretty overwhelming and i needed somewhere to start, so thanks again to everybody.
Never shot a 75, as I only own the 75b Tactical, P-01, and SP-01. The main difference between the b and pre-b on the CZ's is a firing pin safety, I believe, and that affects trigger pull more than the gun's inherent accuracy. IOW, they should both be similar in terms of accuracy.
For $800, you could buy a CZ 75b in 9mm ($400), a Kadet .22 conversion kit for the same gun ($200), plus have money left over for a trigger job and/or competition sights. It'll be tough to beat that set-up as a range/training gun combo. Shoot the .22 conversion mainly (very high quality, very accurate), and you'll be surprised at how accurate the 9mm suddenly becomes in your hands.
Check www.czforum.com and www.ghostholster.com for CZ stuff.
For $800, you could buy a CZ 75b in 9mm ($400), a Kadet .22 conversion kit for the same gun ($200), plus have money left over for a trigger job and/or competition sights. It'll be tough to beat that set-up as a range/training gun combo. Shoot the .22 conversion mainly (very high quality, very accurate), and you'll be surprised at how accurate the 9mm suddenly becomes in your hands.
Check www.czforum.com and www.ghostholster.com for CZ stuff.
NAVY87GUY said:
NAVY87GUY said it best, it is not JUST the gun. I had a Ruger P944 in .40, that shot great from a rest, problem was I couldn't hit paper with it at 15 and all my groups were to the right at 7, it just didn't fit my hand. My Kimber TLE/II fits me like a glove, I love it, but I've ran accross guys that couldn't shoot it, but for me I've held a 5" group at 50 yards unsupported standing, maybe it is just luck. I have 2 other 1911 .45's that I can shoot some what well. My Mil-Spec Gov't holds groups to the right for me, from a rest it will punch 5 rounds in a hole smaller than a quarter at 7yrds and 3 rounds the size of a quarter at 15 yrds all center. The problem with it shooting to the right is, it has an Arched MainSpring Housing, so it feels funny in my hand. I have a Mil-Spec Champion that I'm still working on, it shoots strait now with a flat MainSpring Housing, but with 185gr it is 5" low and with 230gr it is 10" low @ 15yrds, still working on it, maybe it's the gun, maybe it's me, but I like the gun so much I won't stop till it's perfect for me.
The only gun I have ever had that I would say was not accurate was a shot out SA 1911, it held a 5" group at 7rds from a rest, with a little tuneing and a few parts it went back down to 2" at 15yrds before I sold it.
The gun is more accurate than you in most cases. Beretta 92's are a loose combat design and they don't hold much more than 4" at 25yrds so that's not a gun for you. The 1911 design is easy to learn to work on and proven by age, the sky is the limit on modifications.
I suggest finding a used 1911 in 9mm, but I'm also infected with the 1911 bug.
Benny, links Re: Colts
Yes. Here are some links:
Colt 1911 WWI Reproduction:
http://coltsmfg.com/cmci/1911WWI.asp
Colt 1911, series 70 Reproduction:
http://coltsmfg.com/cmci/Series70.asp
They are awesome pistols. I used the WWI reproduction a few months back to take a Russian boar. It's posted here with pics.
Doc2005
Yes. Here are some links:
Colt 1911 WWI Reproduction:
http://coltsmfg.com/cmci/1911WWI.asp
Colt 1911, series 70 Reproduction:
http://coltsmfg.com/cmci/Series70.asp
They are awesome pistols. I used the WWI reproduction a few months back to take a Russian boar. It's posted here with pics.
Doc2005
Black Majik
Member
From my experience, the guns I've shot that I've been wow'ed by its accuracy in my hands have been: Les Baer 1911s, SIG X5, SIG P220 Sport.
The most accurate gun on paper would be Bambam-31's Les Baer Supertac 1.5" @ 50 yrds. Too bad I only got to shoot it at steel, but its damn accurate.
The most accurate gun on paper would be Bambam-31's Les Baer Supertac 1.5" @ 50 yrds. Too bad I only got to shoot it at steel, but its damn accurate.
browningguy
Member
It's not a 1911 by the way, EAA Witness Elite Match made by Tanfoglio in Italy, imported by EAA. Basically they are copies of the CZ 75's, back in the day we couldn't do business with the Commies, so Tanfoglio had the idea of building clones. The Elite models are all single action and designed for action pistol games (IDPA,IPSC,etc.), 10 rounds of .45 ACP, 15 rounds of .40 S&W, or 18 rounds of 9mm. They have polygonal barrels, good adjustable sights, also two models are factory drilled for scope mounts.
http://www.eaacorp.com
And the customer service appears to be much better than in years gone by. I ordered three mags last week and the lady on the phone was very pleasant and helpfull, and the order got here in about 5 days.
http://www.eaacorp.com
And the customer service appears to be much better than in years gone by. I ordered three mags last week and the lady on the phone was very pleasant and helpfull, and the order got here in about 5 days.
rustymaggot
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my old eaa witness was very accurate, but as ive heard the older witnesses were hit or miss on quality. i had the older all steel one, and i had the chance to shoot a polymer one once and it was impressive(not in my hands, but the girl who owend it was incredible with it).
ill also vote for ruger mark 1 or 2 as very accurate pistols. with good ammo my mark1 can beat some of my friends who are using scoped 22 rifles at 70 yards busting clays on a burm. boy does that get their goat when i whoop em.
ill also vote for ruger mark 1 or 2 as very accurate pistols. with good ammo my mark1 can beat some of my friends who are using scoped 22 rifles at 70 yards busting clays on a burm. boy does that get their goat when i whoop em.
browningguy
Member
I've also got a 1998 vintage Witness PS in 9mm that I bought new, while it's not as accurate as the Match, it's still pretty good. It will certainly hold it's own with my High Powers.
The only drawback to the Match model is the large grip, if you have smallish hands it might be tough to keep under control. It makes my full size Brownings seem absolutely petite.
The only drawback to the Match model is the large grip, if you have smallish hands it might be tough to keep under control. It makes my full size Brownings seem absolutely petite.
Others have already touched on this concept, but there is mechanical accuracy, and there is practical accuracy. I'd invest more time into discovering what maximizes the latter for yourself (varies from shooter to shooter), rather than more money into maximizing the former (the same for everyone).
Like Navy87Guy, I had a P89 that astounded me. Seated, slow fire, and sunk down in a sandbag at 25 yards, it would shoot INCREDIBLE groups. Much tighter than my G34. But only under those very controlled circumstances (from a rest). Standing up, shooting off hand or a little quicker, it is the opposite. Because of the particular configuration of my G34, despite being less mechanically accurate, it is practically more accurate in more real world (and even "real range", or game) shooting circumstances.
By configuration, I mean ergonomics like the shape of one handgun might fit your hand so much better than another, possibly even more accurate gun, that you shoot the "less accurate" one better. Longer sight radius almost always enables more accurate shooting. A snubbie revolver is probably more inherently accurate than most autos under a grand, but you can shoot a service length pistol more accurately (especially at longer distances), because of the extra sight radius. Trigger is huge too, but that can be adapted to more so than hand fit or SR. Likewise, sights themselves also make a huge difference, but obviously th0se can be upgraded.
Like Navy87Guy, I had a P89 that astounded me. Seated, slow fire, and sunk down in a sandbag at 25 yards, it would shoot INCREDIBLE groups. Much tighter than my G34. But only under those very controlled circumstances (from a rest). Standing up, shooting off hand or a little quicker, it is the opposite. Because of the particular configuration of my G34, despite being less mechanically accurate, it is practically more accurate in more real world (and even "real range", or game) shooting circumstances.
By configuration, I mean ergonomics like the shape of one handgun might fit your hand so much better than another, possibly even more accurate gun, that you shoot the "less accurate" one better. Longer sight radius almost always enables more accurate shooting. A snubbie revolver is probably more inherently accurate than most autos under a grand, but you can shoot a service length pistol more accurately (especially at longer distances), because of the extra sight radius. Trigger is huge too, but that can be adapted to more so than hand fit or SR. Likewise, sights themselves also make a huge difference, but obviously th0se can be upgraded.
MSgtEgress
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IMHO the most accurate 9mm I have ever shot/owned is a Browning High Power. With only a trigger job I've shot 1" groups (off a sandbag) at 25yd with mine
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