UPDATE ADDED on 1 September 2012! Scroll down to Post # 10 for update.
I took a Ruger P95 to the range today. I like the P95, it's a good solid pistol, but it's not impressively accurate in my experience.
I also took several different kinds of 9mm practice ammunition with me. A recent thread got me to thinking about practice ammunition accuracy and so I decided to repeat a test that I had done some years ago.
I loaded the magazine with a mix of 5 different kinds of practice ammunition. 115gr FMJ Blazer Aluminum, 115gr Winchester SXZ9, 115gr FMJ Remington UMC, 115gr American Eagle & 115gr FMJ Sellier & Bellot.
Below are the results.
7 Yards, 10 Shot group using 5 different kinds of ammunition. 1.25"
15 yards, 10 Shot group using 5 different kinds of ammunition. 4.25"
15 yards, 15 Shot group using 5 different kinds of ammunition. 4 3/8"
To be clear, I'm not claiming that this is spectacular accuracy, it's not. But it is reasonable. I'm sure that these groups could be improved on with a more accurate gun, and/or a more accurate shooter and/or shooting from the bench instead of offhand.
The point is that even budget practice ammo is pretty accurate and, as long as you don't mix bullet weights, will shoot to more or less the same point of aim.
P.S. In my opinion, the high right flier in both 15 yard groups is a shooter problem I need to get lined out. I was getting one or two of those each group regardless of what ammunition I used during the range session. It got worse towards the end of the session as I began to tire a bit.
I took a Ruger P95 to the range today. I like the P95, it's a good solid pistol, but it's not impressively accurate in my experience.
I also took several different kinds of 9mm practice ammunition with me. A recent thread got me to thinking about practice ammunition accuracy and so I decided to repeat a test that I had done some years ago.
I loaded the magazine with a mix of 5 different kinds of practice ammunition. 115gr FMJ Blazer Aluminum, 115gr Winchester SXZ9, 115gr FMJ Remington UMC, 115gr American Eagle & 115gr FMJ Sellier & Bellot.
Below are the results.
7 Yards, 10 Shot group using 5 different kinds of ammunition. 1.25"
15 yards, 10 Shot group using 5 different kinds of ammunition. 4.25"
15 yards, 15 Shot group using 5 different kinds of ammunition. 4 3/8"
To be clear, I'm not claiming that this is spectacular accuracy, it's not. But it is reasonable. I'm sure that these groups could be improved on with a more accurate gun, and/or a more accurate shooter and/or shooting from the bench instead of offhand.
The point is that even budget practice ammo is pretty accurate and, as long as you don't mix bullet weights, will shoot to more or less the same point of aim.
P.S. In my opinion, the high right flier in both 15 yard groups is a shooter problem I need to get lined out. I was getting one or two of those each group regardless of what ammunition I used during the range session. It got worse towards the end of the session as I began to tire a bit.