Even a 2-inch barreled Smith & Wesson AirLite is capable of good accuracy. This 20-yard group measures a mere 1 1/2 inches.

SHORT-BARREL REVOLVERS
There is probably more controversy and misunderstanding regarding revolver accuracy than any other handgun, especially those with short barrels often referred to as "snub nosed." Several years ago, one of my older brothers, who was a small-arms trainer in the Vietnam War, dropped by my house to do some shooting and to sight-in a couple of new guns he had just purchased. One was a Smith & Wesson Model 686 .357 Magnum with a 21/2-inch barrel. I brought along several boxes of factory ammo and handloads as we retired to the hills south of my house. After initial sight-in, I took the little 686 and walked over to my 300-yard range where there was a piece of 18 x 18-inch sheetrock sitting downrange. My brother looked at me in total disbelief as I settled down with a backrest and my hands resting between my knees. After finding the initial range and where to hold, the little gun proceeded to kick white dust from the sheetrock on a fairly regular basis. I switched ammo and it shot even better! After several cylinders full, my brother excitedly said, "Let me try that!" After some coaching, he was able to connect occasionally. But his eyes were opened as he realized that even the short 21/2-inch barrel could produce astonishing long-range accuracy.

Obviously this was an exceptional gun, however most modern short-barrel revolvers can usually deliver groups measuring 2 to 3 inches at 25 yards, regardless of caliber. Keep in mind that small guns are generally not as shootable as full-size handguns, and therefore they are often perceived as being inaccurate. However their barrels are long enough to stabilize the bullet before it leaves the barrel, resulting in fine accuracy if internal dimensions are correct. My little Smith & Wesson AirLite .22 LR has a 2-inch barrel, and at 25 yards it can produce impressive groups measuring around 2 inches with almost any brand of ammo. And I suspect that it would group better if I put it in a machine rest! I carry this gun as I go running every morning and have killed countless muskrats in the small stream beside which I run.

Over the years I have owned five Smith & Wesson Model 36s chambered in .38 Special, and each one of them could consistently produce 25-yard groups of 2 to 3 inches. The one I currently own is exceptionally accurate and with match-grade ammo will consistently group 11/2 inches at 25 yards. If I can do my part, I can hit a gallon can almost every time at 100 yards. My experience with Colt and Ruger small-frame, short-barreled revolvers indicates that they, too, can produce a similar level of accuracy.

I am first to recognize that this is unnecessary accuracy for small-defense revolvers, but it is sure fun and challenging to try and shoot these guns to their full potential. And since I use my little S&W AirLite as a pest control tool, its level of accuracy is appreciated on small game.

SERVICE/FULL-SIZE AUTOLOADERS
Clearly the single most popular centerfire auto-loading pistol in America is the Model 1911 .45 ACP, and rightly so. In common military form, it developed a reputation as being rather inaccurate. Unfortunately this "labeling" was not an entirely fair assessment. Admittedly it was no target grade pistol, but it shot better than most soldiers would believe. Keep in mind the military versions were intentionally built with rather generous tolerances so that they would work in the worst possible conditions. And the military viewed the pistol only as a short-range weapon, so dependability was a priority and accuracy was not. And trigger pulls were generally heavy, making them difficult for even good shooters to shoot well. In spite of these obstacles in obtaining good accuracy, military Colt 1911s with a reasonable bore will usually produce 3 to 4-inch 25-yard groups.

Today there are countless manufacturers offering Model 1911s made in the USA and abroad. The quality varies drastically, as do the prices and accuracy. Most quality models will produce one-inch groups for every 10 yards distance, which translates into 21/2 inches at 25 yards. If a gun will not produce this degree of accuracy, don't give up, just try another brand or type of ammo. With a little experimenting, usually the right combination can be found that will bring the pistol's accuracy up to par.

In turning to some of the more popular "service" or self-defense autoloaders available from Glock, Smith & Wesson, Ruger, Beretta, SIG Arms and others, a similar degree of accuracy can usually be found. However, if a particular model fails to produce this level of performance, as some certainly will, I would suggest asking the question, "How much accuracy is really needed?" If the gun is used as a home-defense weapon, 3 or 4-inch 25-yard groups are certainly acceptable. However, if competition in IPSC Matches are on the agenda, then some accuracy work by a qualified gunsmith would be advisable.

COMPACT PISTOLS
Generally speaking, a compact autoloader is not as accurate as its big-brother counterpart or a larger pistol of similar design. I realize this is rather vague, but there are differences in makes and models. For example, recently I have been testing a Model 1911 Kimber Compact. Like other pistols in the Kimber line, this little rascal really shoots, with almost every load grouping between 2 to 3 inches at 25 yards. (If this were a full-sized Kimber 1911, groups would have been a bit tighter.) On the other hand, I have tested some manufacturers' 1911 Compacts that could only produce disappointing 5- to 6-inch groups.

Revolvers chambered for the .22 LR cartridge can be very accurate, such as this pre-war Smith & Wesson K-22 "Outdoorsman." Using CCI Green Tag Competition ammo, it produced this 25-yard group which measures just .85.

As with any rule there are exceptions, as is the case with the Walther PP, PPK and PPK/s line. Years ago, a friend had a nice German-made PPK/s chambered in .380. He needed money to pay hospital bills and asked if I would purchase the gun from him. By the nature of where I live and what I do, I rarely have much need for such a caliber. However, I made the purchase and proceeded to fire it from sandbag rests with ball ammo. At 25 yards it cut the center out of the bull's-eye with one flyer that opened the group to just under 11/2 inches!

THE .22 LONG RIFLE, REVOLVER AND AUTOLOADER
The .22 LR is possibly the most popular sporting cartridge in the world and has proven to be very accurate. In revolvers, with its outside-lubricated bullet, the .22 LR creates special challenges as it makes the transition from chamber, through forcing cone and into the barrel. The heel is smaller than the bullet's outside diameter and is very sensitive to chamber/bore alignment, throat dimensions and length of forcing cone.

Most .22 revolvers of reasonable quality are capable of out-of-the-box accuracy of 11/2- to 2-inch groups at 25 yards. There is an occasional stinker that just wont shoot, but this is the exception rather than the rule. And when we look at our finest-quality sixguns, such as those from Freedom Arms and Smith & Wesson, groups of 11/2 inches at 50 yards become possible! This is nothing new, as Smith & Wesson K-22 Outdoorsman revolvers built prior to World War II were required to group six shots into less than 11/2 inches at 50 yards before leaving the factory. When put in a machine rest, I have seen these sixguns go under an inch with today's best-grade target ammo!

The .22 LR autoloaders have a distinct advantage, as the bullet simply has to leave the case and engage the rifling, the same as a rifle. It is not uncommon for modestly priced guns, such as the Ruger Mark II, to produce one-inch 50-yard groups with target-grade ammo. And world-class target pistols can perform even better.

CONCLUSION
To get the very best accuracy from a handgun, any handgun, the shooter should select "match quality" ammo--not "promotional" grade or factory reloads. Don't get me wrong, promotional ammo is generally good, particularly for the price, however "Match" or "Target" grade uses the finest brass, bullets, powders, primers and even loading methods to offer optimum accuracy. The difference can be substantial.

Knowledgeable handloaders can assemble ammunition that is of match quality. And they have the distinct advantage of tailoring ammo to fit the dimensions of a particular gun. If you are not handloading, this is a great excuse to begin!

From my experience, I believe that quality out-of-the-box handguns are more accurate today than ever. There are certainly exceptions, as some old sixguns can perform as well as any now available. However, this is an overall average. Unfortunately, the beautiful hand-finished work is something of the past--but this is the '90s, and cost of labor is high and most people are simply not willing to pay for old-world craftsmanship. But with today's hi-tech tooling, it is almost hard to find a quality handgun that doesn't shoot reasonably well.