pocket pistol accuracy

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.
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Some yes, some no.

I'm reasonably accurate with my snubs. Low and left with my XDS'. XD subcompact no low and left problem, but wider group than the full size version.

Beyond the short barrel making for a short sight radius, a good part of it is, I think, is the grip.

(My LCP, the few times I shoot it, I don't even try. "Minute of bad dog" accuracy is the best I can do with that with its essentially non-existent sights.)
 
I'll add another vote to the "it varies" column. I never graded myself higher than acceptable with a 642 I owned and carried for several years. I have never owned, but have shot, an LCP, and I would say acceptable but could improve with practice for it. I had a short stint with a Diamondback .380 and try as hard as I might I was all over with it, even when I tried to bench rest it. My current pocket pistol is a Sig P238 and it can reliably keep it on half-sized silhouettes at 25 yards when I take my time.

I have never shot the either of the little single stack Glocks, but I own a G26 and have shot the larger 9 mms. The Glock trigger takes a little getting used to, and for whatever reason it is not uncommon for people to go left with them during the learning process. Personally, I would put in some hours with it before I drifted the sight, because I would not want to drift it one way now and have to drift it back after a couple of more range trips.
 
I've found that I can shoot a pocket gun reasonably well - if I concentrated on a good grip.

When shooting a G42, I go off target if I let the gun squirm in my hand as I don't have the same grip as a bigger gun. If I get it down - then I can make a head shot on an IDPA target at 15 yards.

I can do a similar shot with a 642 - just takes technique and practice.

PS - you should shoot your pocket gun in a more dynamic, speed needed situation than the good old square range to see if you have it down. It will surprise the folks that say all you need are five shots (yeah, if you hit anything).
 
Depends what you consider "inaccurate."

My Bersa Thunder 380CC isn't exactly a tack driver, and I'm only an OK shot, but if I can keep a couple mag-loads within a paper plate sized target at 25 feet (give or take), I'm a happy guy.

Not really the kind of gun to cut single holes with.
 
I have a KelTec .32 - with the 7 round mag I am okay but with the 10 round mag, the grip extension improves everything.
 
It might be more about the size of the grip than most people realize. I usually shoot with my FiL. He is 6'8" and his hands are medium-large for his size. (He is from Kentucky and reminds me of Hicock45 sometimes.) I am 6'6" and my hands are larger than his.

We usually shoot at 15 yards. With a nice big service pistol he can easily put every shot onto a 12"x12" target. I am younger and have better eyes. I can do 6"x6" with a good service pistol. Neither of us are competition level shooters, but this means every shot out of 50 or more, until we decide to change the targets.

Give us smaller handgun with smaller grips, and our shooting goes right down the toilet. It's not just the barrel length. With a shortish barrel but decent sized grips, we can both do okay. But give us some pocket handgun that we can hold with only 1.5 fingers on the grips, and our accuracy goes right out the window.

I have some pocket pistols that I can shoot decently, but it is very dependent on me being able to get at least a good solid two-finger grip... with good pinkie support underneath.

With a pocket pistol that fits my hand okay I can easily rapid fire all of its bullets onto a small paper plate at seven yards, and that is good enough for SD imho, but I don' expect to shoot them well at longer ranges because they twist a bit in my hand. Their grips are just too small for me to fully control the handgun as it is fired.
 
I watched a Bonneville power right-of-way patrolman use a 2" Smith revolver to hit an eight inch gong that we had set up at 150 yards. He hit it 5 of five shots. He had come down to make sure we weren't shooting insulators. We always brought our own target stands and metal gongs so we never thought about shooting the insulators of the high voltage lines overhead. Sounds like a good way to have a shocking experience as your last experience.

We thought he was just a guy who came to watch us shoot. After complimenting us on having targets and gongs he identified himself as a line patrolman. Then he showed us what real revolver work was. I was shooting the gong off hand with my 03A3 and he did as well with that little "toy" gun. I was impressed!
 
Due to their abbreviated grip sizes and to a lesser extent their short inter-sight distance, all of the really small defensive revolvers and pistols are tough to shoot groups with, until you get down to nitty-gritty combat distances; say 5-8 or 9 yards. Most do well enough at those ranges if you count on hand size, two-shot spreads to the chest. Here's our experience with our usual carry pieces:

I carry, for the most part, a M60 Smith 3" J frame and get less than 1-1/2" gps, DA at 12-15 yds, slow fire. That's due to the good grips on it...hand filling. At maximum 'from the holster' speed, I can keep all 5 in a palm sized group without problem at 7 yds or a bit further.

I also carry when necessary, a Smith Bodyguard 380 that'll easily do the same from 5-7 yds...more than enough in my estimation. My wife carries the same Bodyguard and does nearly as well.

For a bit more accuracy & stopping power, we both occasionally carry, a Sig P290 in 9mm and shoot it nearly as well as the M60 J frame.

For all of the above, we use OWB holsters, but slip the Bodyguard into a pocket when the OWB's are not feasible.

HTH's Rod
 
Glenn makes a good about keeping the gun from moving around in your hand. My accuracy with my original LCP improved when I added a Houge grip.

Although I can do pretty well, I rarely shoot slow fire bullseye with my LCP. I shoot 2 or 3 shot rapid fire groups for combat accuracy. If I can quickly put 3 rounds in a 6" circle at 10 yards, I am good.
 
Pocket guns are as accurate as most other guns.
It just takes lots of practice to shoot them, and most people won't take the time to learn to shoot them, or they actually believe the guns themselves aren't accurate.
 
Bill DeShivs Pocket guns are as accurate as most other guns.
It just takes lots of practice to shoot them, and most people won't take the time to learn to shoot them, or they actually believe the guns themselves aren't accurate.
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I agree totally. It is not the weapon it is the man/woman behind it.
 
Accuracy is in the hands of the shooter, not the firearm...in relation to the distance and the urgency. A "Pocket Pistol" (I'm assuming it is not a "mouse gun) is in relation to the depth of the pocket and the ability to remove it in time for the attack of an assailant. The ammo is, of course important to stop the attack! So a "target" doesn't attack...right? It is all about control on the grip, control on the front sight, control of the trigger, and control of your breathing. Stopping the attack with a small caliber round is at most a "possibility."

If you want a pocket pistol to feel safe, your feel is adequate, but not like a larger caliber to stop an attack in the few seconds to respond. Make sure your pocket (licensed by the state you are in) is substantial to your need!!
 
Joe sixgun said it best

Pocket pistols are for close range. If you are trying to shoot 150 yards with a pocket pistol, you are being just plain silly'']]

I carry a 38 Special snubby, and believe me , if you are within 20 feet , the legal distance, you are going to hurt seriously, And that is all that matters.
 
There is no "legal distance." That's absurd. You don't know how far you may have to shoot. You might as well be able to hit what you are aiming at.

One of the most accurate pistols I ever shot was a 2" model 60 S&W.
I had a 3" barreled Beretta minx .22 short that would hold 2" at 25 yards.
 
Pocket pistol

I have found that Colt 1903 and 1908, .380 are very accurate for me that are not tilt barrel pistols. The sights are very small but they feels so good in my hand might be a reason for the accuracy. Practice with a small stick on splatter target has increased my shootng also along with once a week practice.
 
I found accuracy has to do nothing with practice but all has to do with the gun.

You should be able to hit your target with very few practice if you have the rigth gun.

Accurate guns are
Revolvers (Pietta SAA 1873)
Walther style action guns (Beretta 92/Taurus PT 92)
Blow back action guns (no personal experience with these)
due to the fixed or semi fixed barrel and SA trigger

Not accurate guns are
All Browning-Pettersen action guns (All Glock style pistols)
due to the loose tilting barrel and bad triggers

Believe me. I had a SD9VE and have an SAA revolver and Taurus PT 92.

It has to do with the gun. I tell ya.
 
However for ccw I chose the Browning-Pettersen action Beretta Pico 380 acp. Browning Pettersen action guns are most reliable with an sligthly edge over the Walther falling block pistols regards reliability.
 
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