Do your handguns group some types of ammo better than others?

L

lambertsteeth

New member
When I buy a new rifle, I always try at least 5 different types of factory ammo in it, to find the round that gives me the best groups. (I don't reload)
Although I don't know why, I have never done this with handguns.

Does anyone have an opinion on whether handguns have certain factory ammo that groups better than others in a handgun. Is it worth the same type of research I do with a long gun?
I am not a hunter with handguns. I carry ccw.
 
Certainly, my CZ-75 seems to prefer bullets in the 124-127grn range, though Hirtenberger 100grn JSP is also scary accurate.
 
Never tried. I figure if it groups minute of chest at 15 ft. then that's good enough. My primary concern is reliability (FtF, light strikes, stove pipes, etc.).
 
Some .22 pistols can be very ammo sensitive. There are definately some brands that shoot better than others in any particular pistol. I just bought a new 9mm pistol and found out it likes my reloads better than factory. Go figure.
 
In fact, yes they do. My SW1911PD consistently shot high and to the right when I would use 200 grain Gold Dot +P and 230 grain Winchester Ranger T-series. When I began to use 230 grain Rem. Golden Saber Bonded point-of-aim was point-of-impact. Obviously all my 1911 mags for that pistol are full of the Golden Saber bonded 230 grainers.
 
For SD range's (5-15 yards) I don't seem to notice to much in change, but 25 yards witch that not as realistic for SD, but then again, my variations have been more me, not the ammo using free hand.

It's still fun to try out different ammo out to 25y. So if you really think you might need to test different weight's and velocity's I'm all for it.
 
Yes.

I handload, and work up loads for my handguns to figure out the best performance I can get for both accuracy and terminal affects on game I hunt.

Daryl
 
At 25 yards I have some handguns that group from 4 inch's with some ammo and ragged holes with other. Some handguns are very ammo particular and since I reload and tend to try to squeeze the most from my guns in terms of accuracy, I have been very surprised at how some guns perform with various ammo.

I also find some are bullet weight sensitive especially revolvers that have a wide weight variation in ammo availability such as the 44 magnum. Powder burning rates are also a factor when it comes to barrel length as well as bullet weight, and primer type.
 
Yep, same as a rifle. Not as noticable due to increased human error,etc.etc.

But. Sig 220 .45- 2 3/4" at 25 yards with 230 grain XTP's, 3" with 200 grain Gold Dots..
 
Thanks for the help guys and gals. Nearly all of my training is at SD range. As a result, I have always been far more concerned if I am hitting the vitals area. As stated by others, this gives me another excuse to spend some time on the range.
 
I'm not sure where the quote "Aim small, miss small" came from, but the meaning simply is be as accurate as you possibly can under the present circumstances.

That said, ammo can be a factor in the accuracy equasion, . . . so it behooves one to know which ones shoot POA and which ones shoot a shotgun patttern on a pie plate at 10 feet.

Hoping never to have to use my shooting ability, . . . I nonetheless try to keep all accuracy factors under control. Ammo is just one of them.

May God bless,
Dwight
 
Yup. I'm still working things out but my first batch of mild .45ACP handloads shot better than factory at 10yds out of my KP90. The next batch with the same 230gr Berry's FMJ with .4gr more Bullseye sprayed kinda randomly by comparison.
 
Yep, same as a rifle. Not as noticable due to increased human error,etc.etc
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That's the key. The average handgun shooter just isn't good enough to notice the same type of variability that they would notice when shooting a scoped rifle off of a bench.
 
Seems to me that most of the pistols an some rifles I have owned or currently own all have been better with the heavier factory ammo. My USPc 357sig would not group 124gr but would be very accurate with 147gr. Most of the 1911s I have had or have like 230gr ammo better than 200gr or 185gr. I have an old Winchester 94 that will shoot a tick off a dogs butt at 100yds with 170gr silvertips, but will throw a pattern not a group with 150gr silvertips.
 
Hope no one uses one of your loved one's as a human shield and you have to make a precision shot.
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LOL. That might make for a good Hollywood scene or be standard SWAT training, but I don't get enough trigger time for that kind of reflexive shooting under high-stress.

If I'm that far behind the power curve I've just entered a Mexican standoff.
 
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