Reccomend a very accurate handgun

[rpenmanparker]

Also it is my understanding that Ramsom rests do not play well with the flex of polymer pistols.

Gotta be better than anything else.

 

[stchman]

Im looking for a handgun that is mechanically capable of 3-4" groups at 50 yards.

1911 is an obvious choice but what else is this capable ?

I've heard the cz75 isnt on par with a tight 1911.

226? 686? Blackhawk?

I am open to 9mm, 44, 45, or 357.

ETA: budget of $800

Just don't think you're going to get that kind of accuracy out of a handgun at that price. I can do pretty good with my Ruger SRH with a scope, but I spent north of $1100 on that gun with scope.

 

[Varminterror]

Also it is my understanding that Ramsom rests do not play well with the flex of polymer pistols.

Just a matter of tuning the resistance spring. They don’t have to cycle in the ransom, let’er buck.

 

[rpenmanparker]

Just a matter of tuning the resistance spring. They don’t have to cycle in the ransom, let’er buck.

I was trying to guess what the problem could be with a polymer frame pistol in the rest. It seemed to me that the worst case would be degradation of accuracy, but that would be a valid reflection of the accuracy of the pistol. So the rest would be showing the true situation.

 

[VoodooMountain]

So is the general consensus here that the safest bet is to get any full size ruger or Smith revolver amd slick it up while getting a decent 1911 or cz75 with a proper bushing runs a bit more money but is about as accurate ?

There seems to be a lot of disagreement on this topic. I KNOW there are many handguns capable of this so I'm not sure why exactly that's a point of contention. Hunting loads in Blackhawks nationwide do it every year.

I understand $800 isn't a huge budget and I could go higher but I figured it should pretty well cover my bases since I'm not after a high end professional gun and and also when the used market is considered.

I was hoping maybe there were some platforms that had some accuracy tricks I was unaware of such as the cz75 and bushing .

 

[Saleen322]

Back several years ago I tried some CMP "Hardball" matches before the rule changes but I did not have a hardball gun and did not want to buy one. I did have a Dan Wesson PM7 so I put enough GI parts (safety, grips, etc) so that it would make the rules. I can't find any of the old 50 yard test targets (rest) but it was at or just over 3" @ 50 yards with 230 HB. The funny thing that I found is that loads that worked very well in the Springfields were no more than OK in the DW. Likewise, the match load in the DW was not great out of the Springfield and I believe this is true with most target pistols, you need to make the ammo suit the gun. Here are some 25 yard targets that I shot with the DW using the HB match load. Hope this helps.

 

[someguy2800]

The easy and safe answer is a revolver like a blackhawk. If a used gun will be considered you could probably get into something like a used colt gold cup that "might" be close to that level of accuracy, or someones custom 1911 or CZ75 with fitted barrel and bushing and whatnot.

This is my 9mm 1911 I built to shoot in action pistol. It would probably come pretty close to your goal in a ransom rest. Its a mid 1980's production springfield armory. I bought it for $500 on gunbroker. It already had the bomar sights on it. I put a new wilson sear, a modified colt gold cup hammer, a no name adjustable trigger, EGW sear spring, Taylor mainspring and recoil spring, and I fitted a new barrel with a matched bushing in it. So I probably have $750 or so into it. I shoot it about 2" at 20 yards off front and rear sandbags.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I shot these groups off a flimsy plastic rest. I figure a better rest, better shooter and possibly an optic could cut those groups way down.

 

[WestKentucky]

I don't shoot my handguns at 50 yards. I do on occasion shoot them at 25 yards though. From what I have seen at 25 yards I would say my old Dan Wesson model 15-2 is capable of it. Sadly Dan Wesson Revolvers aren't made anymore though I think CZ did a limited run a year or so ago.

Last I heard they were still in production. Far from cheap for a new gun, but used guns are very capable and are usually priced between used Rugers and used S&W guns.

 

[dvnv]

I am a revolver guy, so can only speak to that.

The list of revolvers in which some examples can shoot 3-4" at 50 yds is long. The list of revolvers in which every example meets that parameter is likely short (and expensive). Below are some revolvers that I'd figure better than 75% of examples could match or exceed 3-4" at 50 yds and that can be found within your budget (assuming used is ok).

Ruger Blackhawk in 357
Ruger Super Blackhawk in 41 or 44 (less likely in 45 without some smith work).
Ruger Super Redhawk .44, 454, or 480 (some say ugly, but I have never shot one that wasn't accurate).
BFR in any caliber
Dan Wesson 357, 44 (Supermags too, but thinking those are over budget).
S&W L or N frame 357, 44 (K frames in 38 too)

If I owned any of the above and couldn't beat 4 inches at 50 on a good day, it would go in for some work or I would sell it (one risk of the used market).

The silhouette guys shoot better than I can get my ransom rest to shoot.

The only way I can get near mechanical accuracy is with a scope and solid rest.

Below was shot with a friend's stock Super Blackhawk (scoped and off bags) at 50 yards. Only 3 shots, so could have been a fluke, but I'll bet it will consistently shoot way less than 3"s.

 

[d2wing]

By far the most accurate revolver I have shot is Ruger Securitysix .357, 4 inch barrel and target sights with Wolf springs. Most accurate Semi Auto is a HK VP9. But my experience is limited.

 

[VoodooMountain]

What if I ask for an accurate handgun that can do 2" at 25 yards?
Does this sit better with some?

 

[robhof]

Im looking for a handgun that is mechanically capable of 3-4" groups at 50 yards.

1911 is an obvious choice but what else is this capable ?

I've heard the cz75 isnt on par with a tight 1911.

226? 686? Blackhawk?

I am open to 9mm, 44, 45, or 357.

ETA: budget of $800

Don't know about auto's, but the Dan Wesson is easily capable of 1/2" groups right out of the box, as has been mentioned above and the T/C for a single shot also, both within your mentioned budget, except the new D/W's seem to be much higher than previous models, the Monson made guns were the best quality before the C/Z take over, and there's many available on auction sites, with the barrel flexibility to get a barrel to suite your specific wants. or get them all! This one gets 1" groups at 100 yds with 200gr cast match bullets!

 

[rpenmanparker]

Don't know about auto's, but the Dan Wesson is easily capable of 1/2" groups right out of the box, as has been mentioned above and the T/C for a single shot also, both within your mentioned budget, except the new D/W's seem to be much higher than previous models, the Monson made guns were the best quality before the C/Z take over, and there's many available on auction sites, with the barrel flexibility to get a barrel to suite your specific wants.View attachment 791543 or get them all! This one gets 1" groups at 100 yds with 200gr cast match bullets!

Seriously? That’s Impressive. I didn’t realize the rests were that good much less the gun.

 

[Mike J]

Seriously? That’s Impressive. I didn’t realize the rests were that good much less the gun.

The Dan Wesson revolvers were said to be more accurate because of the barrel/shroud set up. The barrel is under tension which increases accuracy.

robhof that is beautiful. I only have the 4" barrel for my Dan Wesson. I found it in a pawn shop for $100. Of course that was back around 1995 & the bluing shows holster wear but I believe it is my most accurate handgun.

 

[Saleen322]

The Dan Wesson revolvers were said to be more accurate because of the barrel/shroud set up. The barrel is under tension which increases accuracy....

The Dan Wesson revolvers do shoot well. I shot silhouette in the past and I kept my revolvers. I have Dan Wessons in 22 LR (8"), 357 mag (6"), 357 SM (8"), 375 SM (8") and 44 Mag (10"). My goal was to be around 2" groups (or better) @ 50 meters with iron sights and shooting free style. While all of the center fires would do that, the 375 SM seemed to be the easiest to get to group well. You had to make your own cases for the 375, not hard to do but you had to like to do that kind of stuff if you wanted to shoot that revolver.

 

[Shimitup]

I'm going to guess the Ruger Redhawk ought to do it, the last time I shot at the 50 meter piggies I was still able to clean the rack of 10 with 10 shots off hand. I think in order for that to happen it has to shoot WAY better than I do. While I'm at it the Ruger MK1 will easily do the same. My Ruger SR1911 Lightweight Commander turned in a group at just under an inch at 15yds. from rest, I hardly ever shoot from rest but it was new and I really wanted to see what it could do.

 

[brewer12345]

I'd guess a bunch of good quality revolvers would do it in your price range, but you might have to fool around with different flavors of ammunition. I certainly don't have the eyesight to shoot accurately with a handgun at 50 yards, but the right wadcutter loads at 25 yards are very accurate out of my security six. It would not surprise me at all if the gun could do the small groups desired at 50 yards. I always wished my eyes were good enough to try this, but I might as well try to fly by flapping my arms.

 

[Dogbite]

Hk USP series. This one i picked up used. never shot it at 50 yards but i bet its capable. Also i have a redhawk in 44 mag and a Sig 220 that i bet would do it.

 

[rpenmanparker]

Hk USP series. This one i picked up used. View attachment 791876 never shot it at 50 yards but i bet its capable. Also i have a redhawk in 44 mag and a Sig 220 that i bet would do it.

At distance DID you shoot that target?

 

[someguy2800]

I know it wasn’t stated in the original question but I think something that’s being overlooked is having good enough sights, and sight radius, and trigger, to practically shoot that well at 50 yards. For example my 4.2” sp101 will meet this criteria, I have the targets at 50 to prove it, but only because of the trigger job it has and with extream deliberate concentration due to the short sight radius and my poor eyesight. If it had a 10” barrel it would be a cakewalk just because of the extra sight radius.

 

[rpenmanparker]

I know it wasn’t stated in the original question but I think something that’s being overlooked is having good enough sights, and sight radius, and trigger, to practically shoot that well at 50 yards. For example my 4.2” sp101 will meet this criteria, I have the targets at 50 to prove it, but only because of the trigger job it has and with extream deliberate concentration due to the short sight radius and my poor eyesight. If it had a 10” barrel it would be a cakewalk just because of the extra sight radius.

Sure, but the original notion was mechanical capability. Shootability is such a bigger topic. It just isn't fair to mix them up together. Sure they both affect final results. But you have to start somewhere.

 

[someguy2800]

Sure, but the original notion was mechanical capability. Shootability is such a bigger topic. It just isn't fair to mix them up together. Sure they both affect final results. But you have to start somewhere.

Of what matter is mechanical accuracy if you can’t actually do it? That’s like saying my drag car will do a 9 second quarter mile but there is no drivers seat or steering wheel. It would be silly to recommend something that is capable of doing it but practically impossible in the real world.

That is why I called out the suggestion of a hi point. It would probably do it if you bolted it to a concrete bench but who could actually do it in the real world. It’s the same thing I tell people when discussing cars, I’m not interested in your dyno sheet or what desktop drag says it will do or what your friends car does, I want to see a time slip.

 

[rpenmanparker]

Of what matter is mechanical accuracy if you can’t actually do it? That’s like saying my drag car will do a 9 second quarter mile but there is no drivers seat or steering wheel. It would be silly to recommend something that is capable of doing it but practically impossible in the real world.

That is why I called out the suggestion of a hi point. It would probably do it if you bolted it to a concrete bench but who could actually do it in the real world. It’s the same thing I tell people when discussing cars, I’m not interested in your dyno sheet or what desktop drag says it will do or what your friends car does, I want to see a time slip.

Okay, but there is a bottom line capability that even the best shooter, sight radius, etc. can't overcome. If your pistol can't do it, then no matter how much you improve, neither will you be able to. OP wants a pistol that is capable of a certain performance in mechanical testing. I presume he plans to try to get as close to that as he can in real situations.

 

[Taroman]

For 25 yard .45 accuracy I have settled on a S&W 625-3 with Matchdot II.
Just seem to do best with revolvers.