Most accurate 9mm for duty class

sureshot66

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Getting ready to buy myself a duty class 9mm automatic. Looking for the most accurate one and find myself leaning toward a Sig P226 since I tend to see these the most. What is the general consensus on this-looking for some opinions.
 
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Hard to beat the accuracy of the P226 in 9mm. I have shot one, and it was everything I heard; however, I wanted something that was a little smaller for concealed carry, and chose a P239 in .40 cal for my EDC. The P226 is a fine choice in a full size semi-auto. If you haven't done so, I would suggest that you go to a range that rents handguns, and shoot it for comparison with other popular full size nines. Have fun choosing!
 
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The "most accurate gun", any style, any caliber, is the one that you have put several thousand rounds through.

Every gun is capable of more accuracy than you are.

If someone else is a "better shot" than you are, they are a better shot with their gun, your gun, any gun, than you are.

For any instance of the word "gun" above, substitute "Guitar", "Bowling Ball", "paintbrush" or any other tool and the concepts are still true.


Sgt Lumpy
 
Thanks for the replies so far. I don't think I totally agree with the fact that most guns are capable of more accuracy than I am capable of. I am a master class in PPC but admittedly not near the top by any means so don't get me wrong. I can put 5-6 rounds into an inch in the sitting position at 25 yards(my favourite position to do sight in checks and new load evaluation's) with my open class revolver but could never do that with a Glock as that they are not capable of it. Basically I guess my question is what are the DM's and GM's using for the most part in this class.
 
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...I don't think I totally agree with the fact that most guns are capable of more accuracy than I am capable of...


ALL guns are capable of more accuracy than you are.

Clamp ANY gun into a bench rest and fire a group. Now take it out of the rest and you fire it. The bench rest wins every time, every gun.

ALL guns are capable of more accuracy than you are.


Sgt Lumpy
 
Are you looking for a duty gun or a target/competition gun? Pinpoint accuracy is not a requirement in a duty gun, and according to the experts given the stress and biological changes involved in a life or death gun fight, some fine motor skills decrease along with your accuracy. For a duty gun I would put reliability ahead of pinpoint accuracy.
 
I assume you are looking for accuracy first, not "what is an accurate carry gun"... If you are able to shoot 1 inch groups at 25 yards from the sitting position with your revolvers, then you will be disappointed with the accuracy of almost any service grade semi-auto pistol. Most will do between about 2 and 4 inches, from a rest.

The most accurate factory stock 9mm I have shot is an older forged frame Browning HP - Maybe an inch at 25 yards, from the bench, sometimes..

I would look at a 1911 gun from someone like Baer or Wilson, in 9mm. Expensive, but hand fit, and about as accurate as you will find in a duty type holster gun. Both makers offer 1 1/2 at 50 yard gaurentes on certain models.

If the 226 is really your desire, I am sure there are gunsmiths out there who can perform similar magic on them as well. 1 inch at 25 yards is a lot to expect from any out of the box service grade auto...

Larry
 
Check out the PC DPA 5906s........ w/ the PC bushing these are a cut above the average

On the Beretta's there is a guy (WAL) over on the Beretta Forum that makes the bushings..... no personal experience ....... but always good feed back there.
 
ALL guns are capable of more accuracy than you are.

Clamp ANY gun into a bench rest and fire a group. Now take it out of the rest and you fire it. The bench rest wins every time, every gun.

ALL guns are capable of more accuracy than you are.


Sgt Lumpy

Yes but some guns in the hand can out shoot others in the clamp. Some designs and the tolerances on some guns make them inherently more accurate.

Sent from my Motorola Flip phone.
 
I had the same "shooter shock" that you are likely to get when you compare the accuracy of, say a K38 to a Model 5906 with adjustable sights.

While 1 inch at 25 yards is much more common from a stable position with the K38 (or almost any S&W revolver), the same rested position will give you, at best, 3 to 4 inch groups at 25 yards with almost any "duty auto."

Glocks have such thick sights that it is nearly impossible to get "target grade accuracy" out of them unless you either use a paper target with a bigger bull to suit that fat front sight, or you replace the sights with sights that are are not as unfriendly to classic target shooting, which is not the purpose of that class of firearm. When so modified, it is actually surprising what a Glock is really capable of doing.

That said, all of the current crop of "combat pistols" are shoddy in the accuracy department (when compared to target grade firearms), whether you are talking about the Beretta M9, the Glock 17, the Ruger SR9, the S&W M&P, the Springfield XDM or whatever.

HKs are quite accurate and the HK USP and the HK45 are both surprisingly good with the issue sights.

That said, if accuracy is the most important consideration, get a 1911 or 952 from the S&W Performance Center, a 1911 from the Springfield Custom Shop (not a standard one sent back, but an actual one built and machined in the Springfield Custom Shop) or a Les Baer 1911. The Baer is so tightly fitted that administrative handling in the usual manner is nearly impossible, so be prepared to change the way you check the chamber for loaded condition, etc., else you will find yourself ejecting the round clear across the room when the action finally breaks open, if your hand hasn't slipped already causing either an abrasion or, worse yet, drawn blood.

None of those really accurate choices are exactly what anyone wants for duty, however. You will simply have to get over the shock of crappy groups with a service auto. Remember, group size is not what you want in a combat scenario. At Gunsite, if your groups are too small, you get called out for not going fast enough - target shooting instead of combat shooting. That said, accurate guns are better, all other things being equal.
 
If accuracy is your first concern, the next question is how much do you want to spend. There are some good 9mm 1911s out there, including from S&W. But my first choice would be a Hi Power, which I'd send off to Cylinder & Slide for as much work as my pocketbook could afford.
 
The most accurate "Service Pistol" I have ever fired is the Walther P88

p88s.jpg


The 4 different examples I have had the pleasure of taking to the firing line were all exceptional performers and out grouped every other production 9MM I have ever handled. (I added Nills to mine)

Even as we extend our look into the various Master Shops. Performance Centers and Custom Shops of he various manufacturers, the P88 is still quite impressive.

Now I know that on it's price alone many folks rule it out as a "Service Pistol" but that is what it was designed to be.
 
"Best gun" opinions are like belly buttons - everybody has one, and they're all different. For me, I've recently come to love the simplicity, accuracy, and ease-of-carry of my M&P 9. I've also owned a Beretta and a Beretta-clone Taurus - both were good guns, but I like my M&P best of all (no thumb safety to remember to flip!!!). I've never owned/fired a Sig; but friends who have one think it's the best thing since sliced bread.
 
SS, when you say duty class what do you mean , for PPC, stock auto, the S/W IDPA 5906 were long time winners, when 5" plus guns were allowed most went to some make of 1911 in 9mm, tightened up to shoot less than one inch at 25 yards.Mostly because of the added sight radius and easier to shoot trigger.
The P/C Smiths shot 1" or less out of the box, and if you trained with the D/A-S/A type gun it was no problem.
Both types of guns have shot many clean scores.
If you could find one of the P/C IDPA model guns at a decent price I would get it... Good luck Bob
 
Mr Lumpy ...
You can put your favorite Hi Point in a clamp and I'll bring my 41.
I have a feeling not all guns in a rest are more accurate than a gun in the hand.
 
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P7M8 is one of the most accurate carry weapon ever made. The fixed barrel and gas system is absolutely amazing.

Sent from my Motorola Flip phone.

I gotta agree with this from my own experience. In MY HANDS (not a clamp or anything else), my P7 PSP is the most accurate nine I've owned.

Actually I take that back, my S&W model 547 is more accurate but I assume we aren't talking revolvers.

As always...YMMV
 
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