Most accurate sub $1,000 carry/combat pistol?

[springwalk]

So whats the most accurate carry/combat pistol you have or have experienced that doesnt exceed $1,000? For me the Sig P220 Combat 45 is the most accurate, but for carry the ultimate 9mm is my Heckler and Koch P7 PSP 9mm. Both with the right ammo will hover around 1" at 25 yards. Whats your special tack driving protection piece?

 

[rellascout]

Mechanically accurate or in your hand accurate?

 

[springwalk]

relishscout, mechanically theres no doubt a fixed barrel pistol like the HK P7 cant be touched in accuracy. In my hand the P220 45 is scary accurate. Of course the 45 cartridge has always been inherantly more accurate than the 9mm and definitely the lousy cop loving 40.

 

[clang]

S&W Shorty 40.

 

[bigfatdave]

Is there really a meaningful difference in real-world accuracy in duty/carry handguns of modern manufacture?

I find my Walther PPS and compact 1911 to be very accurate when I do target work with the goal of punching small holes in targets, neither is a match gun or dedicated target pistol, but each is mechanically sound and has good enough sights and ergonomics to allow me to make pretty holes in paper to hang on the fridge.

Now, if one were putting their handguns into Ransom rests for self-defense purposes, it might matter, otherwise I'm thinking that the gun with a fixed barrel or at least sights mounted to the barrel will do best ... I think the new Detonics is planned to have the front sight built into the barrel rather than the slide, my old Walther P.1 has the front sight on the barrel instead of the slide, I think (correct me if I'm wrong) Lugers had sights and barrel fixed together, and there must be others I'm just not thinking of.

Operative factors I can think of; sight radius/design, ergonomics, trigger quality, lockup or having sights and barrel fixed, consistency of cartridge, quality of barrel, degree of recoil's effect on ballistics ... ...
there's probably more, too many variables and no real-world testing may mean no meaningful answer here.

 

[springwalk]

Walther PPS, though seemingly a good carry, isnt something I'd trust my life to in carry, nor accuracy. As for the expired and often touted 1911, one must pay a good $2,000 for a custom unit to meet the accuracy of an out of box Sig P220 or modern design. My point is there are differences and some designs are more inherantly accurate. Sure, some folks may not have the skill to reach the given potential, but its always comforting to have a design that maybe just one day you can experience its potential.

 

[HK-Freak]

P7 for sure.

 

[pvtmcd]

I think I do my best with my sig 229 in 9mm.

 

[Rinspeed]

My 220 is very accurate.

 

[rellascout]

relishscout, mechanically theres no doubt a fixed barrel pistol like the HK P7 cant be touched in accuracy. In my hand the P220 45 is scary accurate. Of course the 45 cartridge has always been inherantly more accurate than the 9mm and definitely the lousy cop loving 40.

By how much and at what yardage? Data please.

As for the expired and often touted 1911, one must pay a good $2,000 for a custom unit to meet the accuracy of an out of box Sig P220 or modern design.

IMHO you are making a mountain out of a mole hill. Combat accuracy is withing 0 to 15 yards. bigfatdave is spot on with the question is there really a difference.

I also believe that my $700 DW CBOB & my $700 Colt 70 repo are just as accurate as my W. German P220. I do not have a ransom rest and do not shoot from them because they give me no enjoyment but it is my belief that if I put these 3 guns on a rest they are all going to be so close in mechanical accuracy that the difference will not be meaningful in any real world situation. 99% of the accuracy of said a pistol comes from the Indian not the arrow. Almost all modern pistols are capable of greater mechanical accuracy than the shooter is capable of producing.

The question should be which gun is the most accurate in your hands and why. This is a completely subjective question because "real world combat accuracy" is more about how the gun fits you and how well you interact with it then how mechanically accurate the pistol is.

I think that this video perfect illustrates my point. YMMV

http://www.youtube.com/user/hickok45#p/u/27/UVzSAm5VhfE

 

[alienbogey]

P7.

 

[Hk Dan]

Never seen something beat my HK USP45 for accuracy out of the box.

 

[Hangingrock]

Springwalk:Of course the 45 cartridge has always been inherantly more accurate than the 9mm

That is a general misconception.

 

[jim243]

That is a general misconception

Yes, by anyone that shoots the 45 ACP. Own both, shoot both, accurate with both, but more accurate with the 1911, and that is not an accident, Just designed that way.

Jim

 

[bigfatdave]

Yes, by anyone that shoots the 45 ACP. Own both, shoot both, accurate with both, but more accurate with the 1911,

Sure, but is that ergonomics and a better trigger, or some magical property of the .45ACP?

Or is it that the extra ~1/10" diameter from .35" to .45" means you cross a line on the target more often?

 

[crashbuell]

I really like my XD 9 in 4" for autoloaders, but I used to have a Ruger GP100 4"(I know, not an auto) that was just sick. That was a true point of aim shooting gun. But getting back to the XD, right out of the box, I could shoot two inch groups at 30' with it. I know that I'm not the best shooter in the world, but I can't get those groups with my 229...

 

[Isher]

The CZ97B, although a fullsized weapon, is out of its scary little mind accurate right out of the box. For $625 NIB. No competition that I know of until you get waaay North of a G.

Isher

 

[denfoote]

1985 Herstal High Power.

This gun is scary accurate!!

 

[LiveLife]

I think that this video perfect illustrates my point.

+1 to Hickok45 comments about pistol accuracy. Many times at the range, other shooters complain about their pistols not shooting accurate as mine (which are all essentially stock). When I produce the same tight shot groups with their pistols, they just give me the "look"

 

[Kachok]

No question about it .40S&W Springfeild XD 5" tactical by far. I would tell you about the 14 round group I shot the other day but nobody would beleive it. Lets just say it shot tighter then my old Winchester Model 70 off the sandbags NO KIDDING. That level of accuracy is simply pointless in a personal defence handgun but wow is it fun showing up your buddies like that

 

[G27RR]

These are all about the same for me. I only shoot pistols offhand, so I am the limiting factor in differentiating the "most" accurate one. These have always produced better groups than my other pistols, though.

STI Ranger II .45ACP
STI Ranger II 9mm
Colt Combat Elite .45ACP
Springfield XD45 Tactical .45ACP
Glock 21SF .45ACP
Sig P226 9mm
HK USP .40S&W

 

[Airburst]

I can shoot ragged holes with my S&W 645, SW99 in 45ACP, both far under the 1k cost.

 

[54lariat]

Sig 226, little big for carry, but I have carried it...great groups

Kahr CW40 Great for carry, but has the longest travel trigger, I could hit center of Mass, but placement is not as nice as the Sig, or My XD's

 

[John Wayne]

Of course the 45 cartridge has always been inherantly more accurate than the 9mm and definitely the lousy cop loving 40.

Where do people get this crap? What features of the .45 CARTRIDGE do you feel make it more accurate than a 9mm or .40 S&W?

 

[bluto]

rellascout (and the Hickok 45 video) answers the question perfectly.

It's almost always the Indian, not the arrow. Even when you take combat accuracy out of the equation and talk only about target accuracy almost all production guns can outshoot you. For under $1000 you have dozens of pistols in 9mm, .45, or the much maligned (but very accurate) .40. that will put 5 shots around 1.5" at 25 yards.

The guns judged "most accurate" usually come with the best triggers and sights OOTB.