Has anyone else noticed a big drop in their accuracy with pocket pistols? I understand to expect a small drop given shorter barrel, etc etc, however, I can't hit anything with my glock 42, consistently left. I've put a few hundred rounds threw it, added on a pearce grip extender (big help), dry fire practice without much improvement. I'm a decent shot and i'm convinced the grip is just too small for me.
pocket pistol accuracy
- Thread starter grantman
- Start date
Short sight radius is the big factor, for me.
If I concentrate and really focus, compacts are plenty accurate, but any small errors in sight alignment are magnified, and maybe a trigger reach that's shorter than ideal throwing shots off can make it tough to hit with a small gun.
Probably 90%+ of the rounds I've sent downrange in my lifetime have been through various 1911s, and I'm having to work a lot harder with my new SIG P938.
It's an accurate gun, but much harder to shoot accurately.
If I concentrate and really focus, compacts are plenty accurate, but any small errors in sight alignment are magnified, and maybe a trigger reach that's shorter than ideal throwing shots off can make it tough to hit with a small gun.
Probably 90%+ of the rounds I've sent downrange in my lifetime have been through various 1911s, and I'm having to work a lot harder with my new SIG P938.
It's an accurate gun, but much harder to shoot accurately.
Loosedhorse
Moderator
I have encountered two pocket pistols (for those with moderately big pockets, and big wallets) with wonderful accuracy:
--Walther PPS (classic; haven't tried the M2)
--SIG Sauer P938
It's perhaps worth mentioning that some of those "old guys" with J-frame revolvers can hit out to 50 or 100 yards with them on IDPA-like targets.
https://gunsmagazine.com/38-special-wadcutters-at-100-yards/
Haven't tried the Glock 42 or 43. For me, the biggest problem with J-frames is the short sight-radius. I find that a Crimson Trace grip is a big help (at closer distances) for that reason.
--Walther PPS (classic; haven't tried the M2)
--SIG Sauer P938
It's perhaps worth mentioning that some of those "old guys" with J-frame revolvers can hit out to 50 or 100 yards with them on IDPA-like targets.
https://gunsmagazine.com/38-special-wadcutters-at-100-yards/
Haven't tried the Glock 42 or 43. For me, the biggest problem with J-frames is the short sight-radius. I find that a Crimson Trace grip is a big help (at closer distances) for that reason.
RoughDivider
New member
I maintain acceptable accuracy out to about 10 yards with my bodyguard, learning to shoot on DA revolvers helped a lot with trigger control.
Superscrew
Inactive
Pocket Pistol
I would suggest you put it in a vice aimed at a target (attaching a laser sight) then fire and adjust the laser) to where the bullet hits if you want accuracy at any distance.
I would suggest you put it in a vice aimed at a target (attaching a laser sight) then fire and adjust the laser) to where the bullet hits if you want accuracy at any distance.
g.willikers
New member
Purty sure that accuracy with handguns is more about the shooter than the gun, the sights, the grips or much of anything else.
Smaller guns are hardest of all, especially in stronger calibers.
They bring out the worst in our shooting.
Concentrating on and practicing the fundamentals are the usual cures.
No matter how good we think we are, instruction with someone who knows how to shoot and can correct our mistakes is a real help.
Smaller guns are hardest of all, especially in stronger calibers.
They bring out the worst in our shooting.
Concentrating on and practicing the fundamentals are the usual cures.
No matter how good we think we are, instruction with someone who knows how to shoot and can correct our mistakes is a real help.
Depends on the distances you are talking about. My "pocket pistols" are a Taurus PT22PLY and a S&W M60. On a UIT target, both will hold the X ring at 5 yards. The 10 ring at 7 yards, and the 9 ring at 10 yards. Plenty accurate for self defense purposes. Tried both at 25 yards, not good at all, but they aren't made for Olympic rapid fire competition.
My sig p938 was pretty challenging to learn how to shoot accurately. My groups have improved a lot over lots of rounds training, focusing on my fundamentals,
Like RickB mentioned, the slightest bit of movement in sight alignment creates very big accuracy probelms, which is so hard to overcome with these small pistols, but I have learned it can be done. 99.9% of the time the gun is very accurate and it is me, the shooter, who is not.
Two big user error issues I faced with my p938 was trigger control and flinching. Rubber houge grips, and a lot of hours mindfully practicing marksmanship fundamentals with this little gun has helped me improve my shot with it tremendously. I still cant always group with it as well as I do my glock 19
Like RickB mentioned, the slightest bit of movement in sight alignment creates very big accuracy probelms, which is so hard to overcome with these small pistols, but I have learned it can be done. 99.9% of the time the gun is very accurate and it is me, the shooter, who is not.
Two big user error issues I faced with my p938 was trigger control and flinching. Rubber houge grips, and a lot of hours mindfully practicing marksmanship fundamentals with this little gun has helped me improve my shot with it tremendously. I still cant always group with it as well as I do my glock 19
Rangerrich99
New member
Are you saying that since you bought the gun that it's becoming less accurate? Or are you saying that your pocket pistol is just less accurate than your larger guns?
In my case, I can be fairly accurate with my LCP gen1, out to about 15 yards. I can usually produce baseball-sized groups at that range, as long as I focus on my trigger control, in spite of the non-existent sights, heavy, long trigger pull and long reset. But this is slow, aimed fire, and usually after a few warm-up mags. I have over 1,000 rounds through my LCP and haven't noticed a significant decline in its accuracy.
As to the issue of the gun feeling too small for your hand, you might try adding a Hogue Handall grip sleeve. One of these made a significant difference to me with my LCP.
In my case, I can be fairly accurate with my LCP gen1, out to about 15 yards. I can usually produce baseball-sized groups at that range, as long as I focus on my trigger control, in spite of the non-existent sights, heavy, long trigger pull and long reset. But this is slow, aimed fire, and usually after a few warm-up mags. I have over 1,000 rounds through my LCP and haven't noticed a significant decline in its accuracy.
As to the issue of the gun feeling too small for your hand, you might try adding a Hogue Handall grip sleeve. One of these made a significant difference to me with my LCP.
I've been oddly inaccurate with the pistol with little improvement after dry fire and a decent amount of practice. I think it's me more than the gun (it's never the gun). All of my other pistols I'm a pretty decent shot. For some reason I'm off with this one. The trigger pull isn't bad and I do well with the dry wire wall drill
Older pocket pistols were a blowback design, which is inherently accurate (my .25 auto Raven pot metal gun will hold a 2 inch group at 10 yards).
Most more modern guns have adopted the browning tilt barrel design (or a variant of it as in the Glock) which is a mechanically less accurate design unless a lot more work is put into the fit, tolerances and machining. Most pocket guns don't get that kind of care because they are inexpensive guns (there are exceptions of course like the Sig 938).
I had a Ruger LC9 that would hardly hold 8 inches at 10 yards. My Kel-Tec P32 will hold 4.5 inches at 10 yards.
Just in case some think that the groups are just my poor shooting, that may be a factor but only a small one. I just shot my best group in a while last week. Dan Wesson 715 revolver did a .9 inch group at 25 yards. Open sights. Single Action from a rest.
Most more modern guns have adopted the browning tilt barrel design (or a variant of it as in the Glock) which is a mechanically less accurate design unless a lot more work is put into the fit, tolerances and machining. Most pocket guns don't get that kind of care because they are inexpensive guns (there are exceptions of course like the Sig 938).
I had a Ruger LC9 that would hardly hold 8 inches at 10 yards. My Kel-Tec P32 will hold 4.5 inches at 10 yards.
Just in case some think that the groups are just my poor shooting, that may be a factor but only a small one. I just shot my best group in a while last week. Dan Wesson 715 revolver did a .9 inch group at 25 yards. Open sights. Single Action from a rest.
joe sixgun
New member
It amazes me that people still expect match grade competition accuracy from a pocket pistol that is only intended to hit a human size target center mass at less than 30 feet. They are not target pistols and never will be no matter how much people complain about the grips or trigger or sights. We need to have realistic expectations of our pocket pistols. JMHO.
Practice at 20 or 30 feet at the most. It isn't a target pistol. My LCP II and Kahr K9 are both plenty accurate at those distances. If you are pulling left all the time it is something to do with your trigger pull or anticipation maybe. Shorten up your distance and gain confidence at a reasonable target.
Bill DeShivs
New member
If you learn to shoot your pocket pistol at 25 yards, you will damn well be able to hit what you are aiming at at 5 yards.
If you learn to shoot your pocket pistol at 5 yards, you might hit something at 5 yards.
Little guns are usually inherently accurate. Shooting them accurately is a challenge- but it's a fun challenge.
Those that just practice up close are cheating themselves.
If you learn to shoot your pocket pistol at 5 yards, you might hit something at 5 yards.
Little guns are usually inherently accurate. Shooting them accurately is a challenge- but it's a fun challenge.
Those that just practice up close are cheating themselves.