What's the most accurate service-grade 9mm semi-auto?

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I guess the smiley face ( :D ) wasn't a big enough hint that I was JERKING YOUR CHAINS!!!

HK fanboys are SO fanatical... :neener:

Hey, I hear that the P7s get so hot when you shoot them that they will set your knuckle hairs on fire... :eek:

Back on planet earth... the P7 series are neat guns, but way expensive compared to mainstream service pistols. I have, in fact, shot them, and aside from being heavy for their size (unobtanium steel is dense!) thought they were pretty cool. If you are talking U.S. law enforcement, they are less a mainstream "service pistol" than 10mm is a mainstream "service caliber," which is saying alot. As a military weapon, the P210 was more prevalent than the P7, which again is saying alot for how esoteric the P7 really is.

Estoteric isn't bad, but comparing $1,200 uber-pistolen to $300-600 service pistols is kind of unfair.
 
Hey, it was the same old saw, repeated so often that some people believe it. It bothers me when people write off good gear based on posts like that, humorous intent or not.


Unfortunately, :D often just means "I am a complete bastard" rather than "I am taking this subject lightly and so should you".

So, I will leave you with this note:

:cool:


Whatever the hell that means.
 
For me, HK makes some fine 9mm's! From your list, I'd vote for the USP 9. From what's been suggested, the P7M8 would win out.
 
I think that it all goes with who is pulling the trigger. I’m a good shot but I can’t really tell a great gun from a really good gun. My father, who shot competition handguns for years, can shot almost any gun accurately and has always said that it is the shooter not the gun. He and I both know a piece of crap, poor design or over shot, hand gun from a nice one. There are competition or custom handguns that are awesome guns that are balanced and set up for competition but a majority of people will never have one, lack of money or they just don’t see fit to buy one. When it comes to your personal gun it should always be the gun that you like and that fits you the best. I love CZ’s and Ruger’s I just bought a Steyr m-9 and I love it. If there was anything that I would say to anyone go to a gun range and test multiple guns. I have found out that most folks you find at gun ranges will be more than happy to let you shoot some rounds down range with their guns. My 2 cents.
 
I am curious why you left out the Browning Hi Power in your list as it is the classic, hi-cap 9MM service pistol and very accurate. For accuracy, my choices in this class in no particular order would be:

BHP
P7M8
CZ-75
P-08 Luger
 
I didn't leave out the BHP on purpose. I couldn't think of any more at the time. Of course, the BHP is worthy of consideration. I was hoping the "etc" would cover whichever ones I left out.
 
P7s can be found for under $1000. I bought a refurb with 200 rounds through it for $600. After hard chroming, shipping fees, FFL transfer fees, another magazine, and night sights, my total cost ran right at $1000.
 
My Springfield XD9 will give me sub 2 inch five shot groups from a rest at 27 yards using CCI Blazer 115gr FMJ. :D Better than the Kahr K9 or the Walther P38 I've had. Great reliability, too, along with super ergonomics and very quick take down.

FWIW,

emc
 
I dont think as a rule you can say any one style or brand of auto is the most accurate. In my limited experience, they are as unique as people. I have two BHP's, one is a tack driver while the other is about on par with a Ruger P95 or Glock 17, which I have found to be similar in accuracy. I have a Kimber classic that is as accurate as my Ruger MK I with bull barrel which is not quite as accurate as a Ruger Security Six which has defied the odds by having some cylinder play and a 2 3/4" barrel but will put them in one hole hand held (not by me) at 7 yards.
Gerald
 
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My Beretta 92 was unbelievably accurate. I should have put target sights on it. Instead I was a dumb *** and sold it for something else. This gun was more accurate than any other 9mm I have shot including the P7s tested by my department.

There are alot of great guns out there from different manufacturers, but in a full size service pistol I believe that the Beretta is the best and certainly the most accurate and reliable that I have used.
 
My CZ75 is only slightly less acurate (from a Ransom rest) than my SIG 210 and will eat any type of ammo. I have shot P7s and would put up the CZ75 against it for acurracy.
 
I've had 3 Beretta 92 pistols and all would shoot about 1.5" at 25 yards, and around 0.75" at 15 yards offhand using factory ammo.

I suspect that from a rest and with tailored loads, all of them were 1" guns.

With the exception of a trigger job on one of the guns, all three were factory Beretta guns--no fitted barrels, no match components--pure stock.

IMO, the biggest hindrance to accuracy on these guns is the trigger overtravel. The inherent accuracy is there, but sometimes it's hard to get it to show because of the overtravel.

I've owned a USP and a Glock and they don't compare in the accuracy department, although they are fine weapons with more than sufficient accuracy for a service pistol. I've also owned an EAA Witness (CZ-75 clone) that was very accurate. I didn't shoot it enough to really wring it out, but it may have rivaled the Berettas--I have the feeling it was pretty close if not equal...

Dunno about the rest of the list.
 
.75" off hand at 15 yards, regardless of pistol your my hero ;)

I recall on Brian Enos competition bulletin board world class competitor Rob Leatham checking in on an accuracy thread and saying something to the effect of: 3" at 25 yards is fine, I can't gurantee I can hit a 3" target at 15 yards on demand in competition. Food for thought...

As to pistols all I can say is my Glock 19 and 17 were both more accurate than any of my S/W or Taurus autos. Most accurate "service type" auto I've fired has been a 70's vintage browning high power a friend brought to the range.

You would think the Army test of the 226 and 92FS would have included the average group sizes of both guns, anybody got a link???:confused:
 
Anybody else's gun come with a factory test target? These are usually hand fired at 25 meters.

My P7s is an inch.
Brother's P5 is 4".

Blah.
 
Gee, Sean, if you were shooting lead through your P7, I guess you WOULD be having problems with the gas system...;)

I vote for the P7M8 or M13 as the most accurate AND reliable. I've seen them run with broken parts that would put other guns down as well as shoot overloaded ammo that wouldn't be safe in other pistols (still shouldn't shoot it in a P7, though) and they WILL run when incredibly dirty. I HAVE seen them lock up when the piston got too dirty but that's an operator error and not the fault of the pistol. When you shoot a few thousand rounds of filthy ammo through it and never clean it because you want to brag about how reliable your handgun is, then you WILL screw yourself (happened to one of my best friends). People need to remember that it's only a tool and you have to maintain your tools. They don't maintain themselves.

With all that said, though, I don't carry a P7 or even own one right now. I place my trust in a BHP in 9mm or in a full-sized 1911 in .45 ACP.
 
Blueduck,

That's slowfire, giving myself time to rest between shots. And, I should point out, it's not like every group I shoot is that good.

Usually in a given trip to the range, I've got one really decent group in me if I have a good gun & ammo, take my time and really concentrate. The rest aren't nearly so impressive--on a really good day, I might shoot a couple of keepers. The rest of the time I spend working on target acquisition and speeding up my shooting. A lot more fun, a lot less concentration required, and probably a lot more useful in the real world.

I also sometimes have to switch around on the lanes until I get lighting I like...

The secret to shooting tiny groups is in pulling the trigger ONLY when everything is perfect. ;)
 
1. The ultimate 9mm Sig-Neuhausen P210. Often can be found used for around $1,200. Trigger, workmanship, quality of materiels used in construction and accuracy unmatched even today.

2. Second runner up the "T" Series High Power of the 1960's. Outstanding workmanship, trigger pull, and accuracy. All forged Parts. The ultimate High Power. Will need its sights updated.

2A. Browning long slide GP Competition. Excellent trigger pull, accuracy and long sighting radius and good adjustable sights were standard.

3. German Luger. Outstanding accuracy. A tie to the "T" Series High Power in workmanship and accuracy if trigger is reworked. Needs sights updated.

4. C96 Mauser 9mm in excellent condition. Very expensive but very accurate, outstanding accuracy, workmanship and trigger pull. Can be used as a rifle carbine with original shoulder stock attached. Do not pass up same in .30 Mauser. Extemely high velocity, high penetration and very deadly at long range with or without shoulder stock at 100 yards.

Modern 9mm's.

1. Sig p226 , excellent trigger pull and good accuracy but a fragile weapon due to the aluminum frame, and open backstrap covered only by the grips and sheet metal stampings used in its construction.

2. Cz75 , very accurate but made of castings and the newer models have a passive firing pin safety that sometimes breaks its sheet metal roll pin. Trigger pulls on standard grade guns are generally gritty. Very long trigger reach in double action mode.

3. Walther P99, Outstandingly accurate, very good trigger pull and has a good reliability record without the many recalls of other plastic pistols.

Recomendations:

Sell off several of your current pistols and buy a Sig-Nuehausen P210. You will never miss the other pistols after they are gone.

Second option. Buy a 1960's "T" series High Power. Have a set of adjustable Bo-Mar sights installed and you will never need or want or be satisfied with any other 9mm (except maybe the P210).

3rd Option. Browning GP competition High Power.

4th, option for those on a budget. Buy the Walther P99 pistol. Its much more rugged than the P226 and has a much better trigger pull than the standard grade CZ and fits the average hand much better than the CZ. It has interchangeable back straps to fit the size of your hand and interchangable front sights and an adjustable rear sight (for windage). Has a cocking indicator and loaded chamber indicator. Can shoot the first shot in double action mode, or single action mode or a third option of a 1 lb double action mode.

5th. option. A quality used High Power preferably made before 1993. The last year of the forged frame High Powers. Many came with usable sights both fixed and adjustable.

A note of interest:

Do not lock yourself into the mindset that you must buy a new weapon. Many deals exist on quality used weapons at gun shows and on the internet. And often you can find them for less than buying new. It takes a little patients and time but can be the better route to go in the long run because older quality weapons are also an excellent investment that are skyrocketing in value far faster than todays plastic and sheet metal weapons.
 
I've had 3 Beretta 92 pistols and all would shoot about 1.5" at 25 yards, and around 0.75" at 15 yards offhand using factory ammo.
Click to expand...

That is really hard to beleive, I'm not saying I don't beleive you but from a factory gun with only a trigger job, I think that is exceptional accuracy. I think it is a rare Beretta that would do this well and you have 3 that will do this? I wish I could shoot that well or get guns that were that accurate.

I really am not mocking you because I know it is possible. There is a guy at my league that has a Para P14 and he consistantly does 1 1/2 to 2" groups at 25 yards and all it has is a trigger job. He is my hero right now.
 
Sean,

Just an observation, no flame intended. . .but your intial post in this thread included no " :D " . Do we take that to mean your statement:

A $1,200 P7M8 (the going rate) probably doesn't cut it as a "regular service pistol," especially when you consider how prone to fouling its gas system is.
Click to expand...

was made in all seriousness?

Shake
 
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