Of course there is a standard. Confusion here is that most folks don't know a "standard" for what and for whom.
It's a standard that was set by the firearms industry, the earliest Revolver clubs from the late 1800's, the NRA etc. It is still used regularly in the American Rifleman and Handloader magazine as a test of the accuracy of handguns with select loads and bullets. That's 25 yards from a rest or a Ransom Rest. This was a "standard" set by them (the NRA) and used by them over a century ago. This was because it was and is a standard distance for bullseye shooting and one that most shooters could hit at and that most folks could have at hand, as distinct from longer distances.
So the industry standard for testing accuracy is 25 yards (or meters in Europe) when you get a pistol with a test target in it from the factory it's usually for this distance. Makers who guarantee a 50 yard accuracy include a target showing the 50 yard group. But this latter is rare.
I’ve seen sand bag handgun accuracy tests performed from 10 yards to 25 yards in gun magazines. I always thought 25 yards was the gold metal standard for hand guns (and 100 yards for rifles.)
Case in point, a recent 9 mm test of a 4.87” barrel with 3” avg. groups at 25 yards and a 4.6” barrel with 1” avg. groups at 15 yards. Only a 1/4” difference in barrel length but look at the groups!
This can be very misleading to potential buyers as well as possible increased sales to one manufacturer over another!
Is there another standard I’m not aware of?
Your going to have to point me to a magazine or online test that shot the gun from a rest at 10 yards. You will also have to point me to an article that used 15 yards from a rest. These things are rarer than hen's teeth. Often only used for snubby J frames. If it was the case that they did only shoot from 10 or 15 yards they likely stated a reason for why they did that, or else they were quietly telling you the gun was no good.
So there is a standard. It's been set by the industry. It's used in gun magazines and reputable websites as a way of illustrating the accuracy of handguns, with certain loads from a known distance from a rest, Ransom or otherwise, that minimizes the influence of the shooter.
Others will say that it's not "their standard". OK. But there's a world out there bigger than 1 person and in that world it's 25 yards from a rest. No it's not 50 yards.
tipoc
