9mm accuracy @ 50m

[Blackstone]

I've heard that different calibres have different inherent accuracies. My understanding is that the 9mm is not considered to be one of the more accurate calibres. When I was shooting "bullseye" at 50m with a 9mm, a fellow shooter recommended I try his custom loads. They were subsonic, so that they would not cross the transonic barrier, thereby increasing accuracy. What are your thoughts on this?

 

[Jim Watson]

Inherent accuracy is a misnomer.
9mm can be as accurate as any pistol calibre if given good ammunition in a good pistol. It need not be subsonic. It is just that good ammunition is scarce in a calibre directed towards military, police, and security users.

My Sig P210 came with a test target of 2.1" at 50 metres, and better ones are regularly reported.
Accurized Beretta 9mms are winning in US Service Pistol matches over the long standard National Match 1911 .45s.
Well set up 9mms are the standard in US Practical Police Competition autopistol division.
9mm Major is displacing .38 Super in USPSA (IPSC) raceguns.

But they are not shooting what I call "econo-ball" ammunition. They are shooting high quality match ammunition.

Don't worry about "inherent accuracy," get accurate gun and ammunition.

 

[Certaindeaf]

There's some sound reasoning along those lines.. the most accurate .22's do not cross the sound barrier or at least does not fall below/cross it. Most PPC shooters use/d .38 WC which is substantially below the sound barrier and very accurate shooting is done to 50.
However, very accurate shooting is done with fast/"normal" 9mm and it probably doesn't fall below sub-sonic to fifty yards.

 

[481]

I suspect that with decent 9mm ammo, like premium JHPs, most 9mm pistols (HK, SIG, Glock, S&W) are capable of greater accuracy than the hand that is holding them can deliver.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

I agree with Jim. My 210-5 group is about an inch at 50 meters. I had the fortune of having about 5 to select from so I just looked at each of the proof targets and picked the smallest one. The guns are capable of it with good to premium ammo.

 

[joeponds]

sharp shooter

Would the length of the barrel and grains, weight and bullets have any thing to do with it?
anyone?

 

[Hunter2011]

Length of the barrel will help. Longer barrels have a longer sight radius. That makes it easier to shoot better with.

 

[Deaf Smith]

Depends alot on the gun and ammo Blackstone.

A good Glock with factory ammo at 50m can put all it's shots inside a 6 inch circle. But a Sig 210 can put them inside a 2 inch circle same range.

And a worn out Star BM might put them all inside a 20 inch circle.

Deaf

 

[Throwingdown]

I have found 124gr to be the best overall for accuracy for 9mm. 115gr range ammo seems to vary too much from brand to brand, box to box IMO. The 124gr seem to be the best balance.

Your results may vary.