Best 9mm Target Gun?

You'll see far more 9mm built on a 1911 platform @ Bullseye matches than the others . Have one built by a " Bullseye" gunsmith as they know exactly what you need to be competitive . Not saying the action pistol crowd can't build an accurate gun . If you get one built insist on a KKM barrel 1 in 32 twist . Jerry Kiefer , David Sams , Dave Salyer , Ed Masaki , Joe Chambers , Bob Marvel , KC Crawford can all build what you need . There are other 'smiths that can deliver too .
 
Boatbum; Why the 32 inch twist? That seems awfully slow to me. Is it to optimize something to do with the bullet weight or velocity?
 
Why would one choose any 9mm over a 52-2? The wadcutter sure makes a nice hole for touching the higher ring.
I recall reading about the 952 being a little over rated but cannot remember where.

Admittedly, this statement is biased and unqualified as I own a 52 but have never fired a 952.

And are you guys really one-handing 3/4 and 1 inch groups? Way better than I can do! I couldn't possibly squeeze the potential out of my 52 without a rest.
 
1 in 32 twist works much better with 115gr bullets than std 1 in 16 . Seems when David Sams was commissioned to turn the Berretta 92 into a viable target pistol he found std twist overstabilized . All this was done when he was still with USAMU . All because 9mm was issued caliber & they wanted to be able to shoot one in Service Pistol CMP " Hardball" matches . It's carried over to the 1911 platform for those who wish to shoot one in CF portion of NRA Conventional Outdoor Pistol or " Bullseye / 2700 " matches . Bullets of choice for the 9mm crowd are the Sierra #8815 115 FMJ or the Hornady 115 XTP JHP both of which will shoot sub 1" 10 round groups @ 50yds ( Ransom Rest ) with a well built 1911 or Berretta . The S&W 52 with 38 special 148 HBWC will usually hold 2" to 3" @ 50yds . The 38 is much slower ( 700fps ) vs the 9mm ( 1150 - 1300fps ) . Also more difficult to shoot well one handed @ 50yds than the 9mm . Technique / Follow thru is also more critical . According to the rules you MUST shoot a 22 & a 45 . Most just shoot the 45 for both CF & 45 matches . Accurate 9mm loads will have the same recoil as accurate 45acp loads , & they make a smaller hole in the target . Not to mention having to learn a 3rd gun . The 38 I can tell you from bitter experience will hurt scores far more than help them . It's your chicken , I ain't going to tell you how to pluck it .
 
Thanks, Boatbum; that's GREAT information. I, for one, didn't know that the 9mm was overstabilized at 1 in 16 twist.
 
As stated above, with the proper barrel twist rate, 9mm can shoot at or under 1" at 50 yards. There's an excellent list of bullseye 'smiths at the top of this page who can produce a centerfire 1911 capable of this kind of accuracy.
If someone can produce some targets, shot at 50 yards, from a CZ that's even under 2" I would sincerely like to see them.
 
I bought a 952 hoping it would be like a 52-2. I did not find it to be as nice as the 52-2, and the trigger was not nearly as good. I sold it and bought a Sig 226 X-5. It was about the same price, much easier to reassemble, had a better trigger and I was more accurate with it. Sig claims the same accuracy as a 210 - but who knows.

Jeff
 
If you want 9mm accuracy beg Fiocci to bring back the 9mm wadcutter. Under the S&W name back in the 1970s it was as accurate in a Browning HP with target sights as an AMU tuned .45 Bullseye gun. Not in my hands, but in the hands of an AMU (Army Marksmanship Unit) Sergeant.
Geoff
Who was never very good with the gun and traded it away for something or another.
 
gasaman said:
Please tell me more about the S&W Super 9???
Click to expand...
It was built on a 5906 platform, with 3 interchangeable 5" barrels in 9x19, 9x21 and .356 TSW. Single action tuned trigger, single left side safety, 15 round magazines, post front and adjustable target rear sights.

I passed on one locally recently that only had the 9x19 barrel. There has been one on that well-known auction site for a while, still there I think.
 
IMHO,
The S&W 52-2 although out of production is probably the most accurate Bulls-eye out of the box pistol ever built.
Does it need odd ammo, well yes, does it have limited size mags; yes to that too. Is is suitable for self defense, probably not
Is it the best built target pistol from S&W absolutely yes.
 
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