I've been struggling for the last few months to get decent groups out of my P30. I got it in December, and it's never been tight. For a while, I blamed myself, but then I took some instruction (used the instructor's guns that day) and discovered that I actually could shoot accurately... but when I tried it at the range I couldn't replicate that success. I tried switching ammo a few times (Remington UMC, S&B, Magtech, Independence), slowing down, swapped the sights, painted the sights, but my groups are still awful.
Today, I took it to the range, and put it up against two other guns, using the exact same ammunition, exact same range.
For the first one, I shot 5 rounds from each one, then 10 rounds from each one. For the second, I did 15 rounds straight through (one gun only has a 13 round mag so it was 13 then 2). The range for all three guns on each target was the same, since I just left the target out there and didn't move it in between each gun. The range is about 5 yards. I was NOT shooting for speed, I was shooting methodically, taking my time to line up shots, resetting grip as needed, but not lowering my hands or shuffling my feet. The ammunition was 9mm Independence 124 gr (had to buy it at the range since I was renting one of their guns for the test).
Here are the results:
Gun 1 is the P30, that I take to the range at least once a week and get 50 - 100 rounds through per trip, and dry fire multiple times per week. 5" groups.
Gun 2 is a Glock 17, rented from the range. I've only touched a Glock once before in my life, (other than holding them at gun stores) and that time I only put one mag through it. I am sure that this gun's been shot to death and it certainly doesn't have any modifications to it to improve accuracy.
Gun 3 is a Jericho Compact (Baby Desert Eagle Compact). I've shot this gun twice before (first time was just 6 rounds, second time was 2 or 3 magazines). Stock 3 dot sights, no modifications to it, etc.
What this test shows me is that I am *not* an awful shot, but I seem to shoot the P30 pretty badly, at least in comparison to the Jericho Compact.
So... is this "acceptable accuracy" from a P30? If not, should I be concerned? Should I send it to H&K? Take it to a gunsmith or armorer? Get a different gun to continue to practice with, and step up to the P30 when I am a better shooter? Is there something I might be doing wrong?
As a relatively inexperienced shooter, it is very tough for me to improve when I can't see to get the bullets on target, but at the same time, I'd not be so thrilled about committing to a platform like the Jericho that is based on a design with reliability concerned and has a total lack of aftermarket stuff.
J.Ja