At 25 yards, consistency matters more than anything else. A handgun that sprays rounds around the target forces you to work harder for accuracy and can wreck confidence fast. Some pistols struggle because of poor barrel fit, loose tolerances, or heavy, gritty triggers that make precision shooting tough. Others suffer from outdated designs or quality-control issues that affect long-range performance. If you’ve spent time at the range trying to tighten groups but the pistol fights you every step, these are the models known to give shooters trouble.
Taurus G2C
The Taurus G2C is affordable and popular, but accuracy beyond 15 yards tends to drop off quickly. Loose slide-to-frame tolerances and a mushy trigger make it hard to maintain consistent groups at 25 yards.
Even when using quality ammo, many shooters report wide shot dispersion. While it’s functional for close-range defense, if your focus is precision shooting or developing tight patterns, this isn’t the best tool for that job without heavy aftermarket upgrades.
KelTec PF-9
The KelTec PF-9 was designed for concealment and light weight, not tight long-range groups. Its short barrel, snappy recoil, and minimal sights make accurate 25-yard shooting challenging for most shooters.
The trigger has noticeable creep, which can throw shots even further off. It performs well for close-contact defensive distances, but if your goal is punching clean holes in a distant target, this pistol often feels like it’s working against you.
Hi-Point C9
The Hi-Point C9 can be reliable in terms of feeding and cycling, but when it comes to accuracy at distance, it’s rarely consistent. Its heavy construction and crude trigger mechanics make precision shooting an uphill battle.
Grouping at 25 yards often requires slow, deliberate shots and lots of compensation. While it’s known for being budget-friendly and rugged, it’s not the handgun you pick when accuracy is your top priority at extended ranges.
Ruger Security-9
The Ruger Security-9 delivers dependable function but struggles with accuracy at 25 yards due to its long, somewhat gritty trigger pull. Combined with a lightweight frame, controlling the muzzle consistently can be tricky.
For defensive distances inside 10 yards, it does its job well. However, if you’re looking for a pistol that consistently stacks rounds inside a small target circle at longer ranges, you’ll likely find yourself working harder than expected with this one.
SCCY CPX-2
The SCCY CPX-2 is praised for affordability and capacity, but accuracy beyond 15 yards isn’t its strength. The long, heavy DAO trigger can make consistent grouping difficult, even for experienced shooters.
It’s a compact pistol designed more for carry than target work. At close distances, it can perform adequately, but at 25 yards, you’ll often see flyers and inconsistent shot placement, even when using match-grade ammo.
Beretta Pico
The Beretta Pico is tiny, snag-free, and easy to carry—but its small size works against it when precision matters. The short sight radius and heavy trigger make stretching its accuracy beyond 10–15 yards a serious challenge.
At 25 yards, most shooters see wide variations in grouping, even when firing slowly and carefully. It’s a capable deep-concealment gun, but if range accuracy is a priority, you’ll want something with more barrel length and better ergonomics.
Springfield XD-S Mod.2 3.3″
While Springfield’s XD line has some accurate options, the XD-S Mod.2 with its 3.3-inch barrel struggles when pushed past 20 yards. The short sight radius and snappy recoil combine to make 25-yard groupings inconsistent.
It’s reliable and comfortable for concealed carry, but its design focuses on close-range defensive use rather than precision shooting. If you need a Springfield platform that shoots tighter at distance, a longer-barreled XD or XDM model would serve you better.
Remington RP9
The Remington RP9 had potential on paper but often falls short in real-world testing. Reports of inconsistent barrel lockup and mediocre trigger performance make 25-yard accuracy difficult to achieve.
Even with careful shooting, groups tend to open up quickly as distance increases. While its ergonomics are solid and recoil is manageable, this model rarely delivers the level of precision many shooters expect from a full-sized handgun.
Walther CCP
The Walther CCP is soft-shooting thanks to its gas-delayed system, but that same design leads to some accuracy compromises. Barrel lockup isn’t as tight as competitors, causing inconsistent group sizes past 20 yards.
At closer ranges, it’s smooth and controllable, but when testing at 25 yards, flyers and vertical stringing are common. While the ergonomics are excellent, shooters looking for pinpoint precision may find this model underwhelming.
Bersa Thunder 380
The Bersa Thunder 380 is compact and budget-friendly, but its blowback design can introduce noticeable recoil for its size. That extra snap, combined with basic sights, makes 25-yard accuracy harder than expected.
For defensive ranges inside 10 yards, it performs reliably. Push past that, though, and groups widen fast, especially without a very deliberate trigger press. It’s great as a lightweight carry pistol, but it’s far from a precision tool.
Smith & Wesson SD9 VE
The SD9 VE earns points for affordability and dependability but loses ground when it comes to tight grouping. Its long, heavy trigger pull demands a very steady hand, and small inconsistencies compound at longer distances.
Even when paired with premium ammunition, many shooters report erratic patterns at 25 yards. It’s serviceable for self-defense distances, but if your range work focuses on fine accuracy, this model isn’t built for clean stacking of rounds.
CZ P-07 Duty (Early Models)
Early CZ P-07 Duty pistols earned a mixed reputation for accuracy. Some examples struggled with barrel-to-slide fit and had triggers that needed breaking in before groups tightened up.
At 25 yards, inconsistencies often showed up as vertical stringing and scattered impacts. Later production runs improved on these issues, but if you’re shooting an older P-07, you might find yourself working harder than you’d like to keep shots inside the black.
Kahr CW9
The Kahr CW9 is thin, lightweight, and easy to conceal, but those same design priorities make precision harder at distance. The long DAO trigger requires steady, controlled presses to avoid pulling shots wide.
Its accuracy inside 15 yards is respectable, but at 25 yards, maintaining tight groups consistently can be frustrating. While it’s reliable and smooth for carry, serious range work may call for a more refined trigger and better barrel fit.
FN FNS-9 Compact
The FN FNS-9 Compact offers excellent ergonomics and reliability but can disappoint when you’re aiming for precision. Its trigger break isn’t as crisp as FN’s later models, which makes consistent accuracy at 25 yards tougher to achieve.
It handles recoil well and performs adequately for defensive distances, but shooters who regularly test themselves at extended ranges often prefer the newer FN 509 series for better mechanical precision and tighter barrel lockup.
Rock Island Armory M1911 GI
While Rock Island Armory’s GI 1911s are rugged and affordable, their looser tolerances mean groups can open up noticeably at 25 yards. The basic sights and gritty triggers on entry-level models don’t help matters.
For close-range defensive shooting, they’re serviceable, but for anyone focused on punching tight clusters on paper, you’ll need tuning or an upgrade. Higher-end 1911s from the same platform can be laser-accurate, but these budget versions often require more effort to get there.
*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.
