The Coin Test: A Simple Measure of Accuracy for Defensive Handguns

Accuracy is a vague and ambiguous term that is often grounded in the perspective of the individual shooter. I have seen deer hunters enthusiastically satisfied with pie plate sized groups, varmint hunters aggravated by minute of angle, and handgun shooters captivated by "combat accuracy" which is probably most consistently defined as the ability to keep hits well within center mass while firing rapidly. For those who are not particularly good shots, "combat accuracy" may be considered the ability to simply hit a B-27 style silhouette at the average "combat range" of seven yards. Sometimes "combat accuracy" is used to extoll the virtues of defensive handguns that will not group into a paint can at twenty-five yards off of a bench rest.

I believe that accuracy is an important virtue that defines the worth of a firearm and the skill level of a shooter. Likewise, I believe that a deliberately placed shot is more valuable than speed in defensive situations. A combination of both is desirable but speed without accuracy has proven fatal for as long as handguns have been carried in pockets and holsters. Thus, I am unwilling to settle for sloppy and ill defined standards of accuracy when more is available in a reliable package. Thus, when I shoot most handguns from either a rested or prone position, I want groups that are under three inches at twenty-five yards and better if I can get them.

A simple measure of accuracy that I have adopted for most defensive handguns is what I refer to as a coin test. Offhand, at three yards, I expect to be able to consistently hit a dime sized target; at five yards, a nickle sized target; and at seven yards, a quarter sized target. I make an exception for ultra compact "mouse guns" with miniscule sights and a very short radius and use a playing card at seven yards as a benchmark (I guess this is my version of "combat accuracy"). Perhaps this standard originates from the influence of precision inherited from shooting Bullseye back in the Nineties but defensive handguns that will not meet this simple measure of accuracy do not suit me.

Thoughts on Accuracy, Stopping Power, and "Marginal" Cartridges

For years, debates regarding handgun stopping power have raged and many have their favorite cartridges that are hoped to be panacea for a deadly force encounter. My favorite is the .357 Magnum but that does not mean that I would feel under gunned with a .38 Special, 9mm Luger, or other cartridge that has been relegated by experts and gun shop commandos alike as "marginal". The fact is, nothing is one hundred percent. Sometimes, the best cartridges fail to stop and conversely, those that are looked down upon as inadequate or marginal sometimes do an admirable job.

I firmly believe that you should carry the most powerful handgun possible but I do not believe that accuracy and the ability to deliver rapid, well placed shots should be compromised for the sake of power. Shot placement is critical to stopping an assailant and neither misses nor peripheral hits with a handgun and cartridge combination that you do not shoot well will guarantee an end to an attack. Thus, a pistol chambered for the 9mm Luger cartridge that can be effectively used is far superior to a .40 S&W or.45 ACP that one does not shoot well.

Gun shops and periodicals are filled with advice and the misapplication of good advice can prove fatal for the stubborn and the ignorant. Back in the 1990s, I was conducting a concealed carry class and one participant, who was fairly well off, was determined to have the "best" defensive handgun and ammunition available, in accordance to the advice that he had received. Thus, he had acquired a beautiful, Colt Gold Cup and several boxes of then new, Remington Golden Saber ammunition which had been well reviewed.

Sadly, his Colt would not reliably feed the ammunition that he had chosen. When he was advised to change ammunition, he adamantly stated "this is the best ammunition available and it is what I want to carry." He was unable to explain how ammunition that rendered his pistol a single shot could be considered the "best" and he grudgingly bought ammunition that fed reliably. He then demonstrated that he was sensitive to recoil and that he was not a good shot. Although such deficiencies can be overcome, the fact of the matter was that the pistol and the cartridge for which it was chambered, contrary to reasonable advice, were unsuited to the level of skill and knowledge of the user which rendered them ineffective and far from "best" under the circumstances.

Firearms enthusiasts sometimes make the mistake of assuming that everyone who purchases a firearm will ultimately share their zeal for shooting and for knowledge. This is just not the case and many who carry firearms on a daily basis (even in professional capacities) never develop more than very basic skills and knowledge. For such shooters, control of the firearm (and simplicity of operation) will ensure greater success than optimum stopping power and "marginal" cartridges with low recoil such as the .38 Special and 9mm Luger may well prove more effective for them than more powerful cartridges that are more difficult to master.