Most Accurate Self Defense Handgun

[PH/CIB]

The Wilson Combat 45ACP, the Les Baer 45ACP, and my HKP7M8 in 9mm, are some of the most accurate handguns I have ever shot. And they should be considering the price they cost. However my Glock 34 in 9mm is extremely accurate and reasonably priced and even more amazing my Smith & Wesson model 638 Bodyguard in 38 Special, a snub nose revolver with very basic fixed sights, is a tack driver and very reasonably priced. My question is of the self defense handguns you own and use which is the most accurate and with what ammunition?

 

[Jim March]

The most consistently accurate packin-size handgun will likely be a Freedom Arms '97, in 357 or one of the big bores. In 22LR these guns are often capable of MOA and aren't too far off in centerfire.

 

[Rumble]

Of my guns, the one I am most accurate with (as opposed to mechanical accuracy, which I've never evaluated), is my CZ P-01. Shooting any old crap, actually, I can do one-ragged-hole groups at defensive ranges; my usual range load is 115gr FMJ. I shoot Speer for defense; it is likewise accurate.

the one I am least accurate with, and working on, is my snub .38 Taurus.

 

[Sunray]

There isn't any one handgun that is the most accurate. My nearly stock Colt Series 70 with my handloads, will shoot as well as any high priced custom pistol. If I do my part.

 

[Pax Jordana]

Kel-Tec P11, with WWB (that's premium sniper ammunition btw).

course, it's the only handgun I 'own'. Out of the family stock, I'd have to back the other guy, I have a series 70 that's really nice. Won't feed to save its own life, but if you're willing to tap and rack seven times per mag you can make nice groups with it.

My brother has a nice P220 that he handloads for. It'll shoot minute of balloon (MOB) at a hunnit yards.


Now if you wanna talk "one ragged hole" I think my Mossberg persuader takes the cake. I can shoot basketball sized groups with it at 7 yards

 

[texas bulldog]

well, i didn't own it, but i can shoot MOA or damn close with a friend's BHP from a benchrest, a bit less off-hand. as for those i own, i guess it would be a 6" S&W 586. of course, i'm not choosing from a very large pool of personally owned handguns.


...unfortunately.

 

[modifiedbrowning]

1. Walther P88
2. Walther P99
3. CZ P-01

 

[thegriz]

Any decent handgun with which you practice extensively. Most shooters don't have enough skill to match the accuracy of their pistol (myself included).

 

[Autolycus]

It is the shooter not the gun.

 

[bluto]

I couldn't agree more with the previous two posts.

I've learned that I can shoot with nearly the same degree of accuracy (out to 25 yards at least) with almost any one of my modern handguns. The difference is that some took longer to master because the trigger, lock time, grip angle, sights, bore axis, recoil characteristics, etc. didn't all come together right out of the box for me without lots of practice. Even guns that I thought were hopelessly inaccurate have proven over time that I just didn't know how to shoot them well.

 

[Jomax]

While I agree that the burden of accuracy rests mostly on the shoulders of the shooter, some guns simply aren't accurate. My Kahr PM9 shot low left and that got worse as I worked my way through a box of ammo. My G26 is super-accurate for me. Same for my SP101, even with full loads. However, I have a bit of a struggle with my 642's accuracy but I chalk that up to the gun's scant weight and short barrel.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

and even more amazing my Smith & Wesson model 638 Bodyguard in 38 Special, a snub nose revolver with very basic fixed sights, is a tack driver and very reasonably priced. My question is of the self defense handguns you own and use which is the most accurate and with what ammunition?

PH/CIB,
The M638 is my carry and I agree with you about it's accuracy.

I fire Remington 130 gr UMC factory rounds or 158 gr LSWC rounds I reload for practice.

For SD, I carry Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel 135 gr .38 Sp +P rounds or Federal 158 gr .38 Special NYCLAD rounds. (FBI Load)

 

[crankshop1000]

Kind of like asking what the most accurate golf club is. Not many guns out there that can't hold a decent pattern in the right hands.Chuck.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

Virtually any quality gun you buy that's suitable for self defense will be more than accurate enough at the range 99.999% of defensive gun uses occur. Obviously, some guns are inherently more accurate.

E.g., I have a S&W Model 625 that I used to keep in my bedside safe. It's probably the most accurate handgun I've ever shot. I know that guns can't compensate for their shooter's shortcomings, but with the 625, sometimes I wonder.

 

[crebralfix]

My question is of the self defense handguns you own and use which is the most accurate and with what ammunition?

Absolutely, positively, does not matter.

If you can shoot a four inch group with the gun out to 10 yards and do "minute of man" at 25, you're good to go. When you're fighting, you won't have time to aim like it's a shooting match. You'll be moving, dodging, and shooting...as will the goblin.

 

[Cowboybootnut]

I don't claim to be the most accurate handgun shooter, but for me, I am best with my Beretta 84 (.380 ACP). Followed by CZ 75B, and S&W Mod 19.

 

[Golddog]

Of the hundreds I've owned and/or shot, in terms of practical accuracy at defensive distances? Any of the eight or ten CZ 75B 9 mm's.

 

[targatop]

I agree on the shooter not the gun. I have two guys at the range with custom kimbers that I can outshoot any day with a tupperware M&P 9mm Compact.

That being said, there are some guys at the range that can outshoot me with my 1911 using a short barreled revolver.

So far my two most accurate guns are the SW1911 and the Sig 226.

 

[CWL]

There is no such thing as "Most" or "Best" with any tool. It really depends on the skills of the user. Skills are part natural but mostly from hard training.

No one applies this to sports: Most accurate baseball, basketball, hockeypuck, etc. You really believe that the right shoes and basketball would make you the equivalent of an NBA player?

No one applies this towards other tools: Does the possession of the best hammer make you equivalent to the best builders?

Skills of the individual is most important. Focus on this as your starting point.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

I am not a good enough shot to tell minor differences in group size from my handguns. I look more for practical accuracy, i.e., that quality or property that helps me to get good fast center hits. Some handguns are easier to do this with than others, be it from sight picture, hand fit, trigger action, etc. At long ranges I do find longer barreled revolvers (e.g., my six-inch Colt Python, 6 1/2-inch S&W M29) easier to shoot tighter groups with.