P64 Accuracy

[mwarren1]

People consistently comment on the great accuracy of the P64. I also found it to be very accurate from the first time I picked it up (i.e. with no previous practice with the P64). It was a surprise given its small sights, small grips, short barrel, and stiff kick. In contrast, my Walther P1 is intrinsically accurate, but I find it difficult to shoot accurately. Anyone want to comment or speculate on why the P64 just seems easy to shoot accurately? I think it may be a combination of the fixed barrel, small but precisely aligned sights and, in particular, its SA trigger action.

[juniustaylor]

I think one of the big characteristics is the fixed barrel. It is solidly locked into the frame rather than being removable. The P1 barrel does get "locked" into the frame and is removable. I don't know if that would make much difference in the accuracy. However, on the sights... the small sight radius of the P-64 is good at close range targets, but a long(er) range target may be harder to hit. Mine is accurate, yet shot left at a particular distance. I have since whacked the rear sight right, but have not shot it since. The single action trigger is rather light, but does have a lot of creep. I'm used to creep, I don't think I have one fine tuned gun with no creep. It does affect some people. I've never understood what's so hard about taking up the slack, breathe, aim, squeeze. I think it comes down to having a proper form, steady hands, and good eyes. I'm sure I left out something, but I think the shooter plays the largest part in a gun being accurate. Some guns just aren't that accurate and it's not because of the shooter, it's just the gun (muzzle crown or some other variable).

[mwarren1]

Juni - A common complaint of the last lots of imported P1s was they shot low and to the left, which is also a symptom of snapping the trigger. I initially experienced the same thing, but found the pistol shot just low of the point of aim from the bench. On close examination when dry firing, it seems that I had a natural tendency to twist the P1 low and to the left when squeezing the trigger. In contrast, the P64 shoots to the point of aim (10 meters) with little conscience effort on hold or trigger squeeze. The single action trigger on mine has some smooth travel (not a loose or dragging creep), then a brief slight increase in resistance, then BANG. For me, it just seems to naturally and effortlessly "work." I really don't know if it is me or the gun, but I can't help but love it!

[juniustaylor]

You can find free diagnostic targets on the internet. I found them somewhere that you could print out on your printer. Anyway, you blast at them, and wherever your groups are, you just read what piece of the "pie" it is. Here is an example. Low and left is typically jerking. Snapping the trigger as you said would seem to be a synonym for it. With some handguns, I'm typically left or left high. I need to concentrate on correcting these.

[mwarren1]

Great idea. Do you have the website address for the free targets? Thanks!

[juniustaylor]

Right Hand Shooter Target
http://www.piedmontnrainstructors.com/r ... tRight.pdf

Left Hand Shooter Target
http://www.piedmontnrainstructors.com/r ... rtLeft.pdf

Hope these help.

ADDED: (These are Lee ones, they're the exact same, just a bit cleaner looking.)
Right Hand Shooter Target
http://www.reloadbench.com/pdf/files/Ta ... Handed.pdf

Left Hand Shooter Target
http://www.reloadbench.com/pdf/files/Ta ... Handed.pdf

[mwarren1]

Thanks again!