The old debate between revolvers and semi-autos usually comes down to capacity and ease of carry. But when it comes to raw accuracy, especially at the range, a decent revolver will often outshoot more pistols than folks like to admit. Barrel alignment, fixed sights, and consistent lockup give many wheelguns the edge. Meanwhile, some pistols, even when rested or fed match ammo, just don’t deliver tight groups. Whether it’s loose tolerances, bad triggers, or sloppy machining, these are the pistols that make revolvers look like tack drivers in comparison.
Hi-Point C9
You don’t buy a Hi-Point C9 for precision—you buy it because it goes bang on a budget. Accuracy is an afterthought, and even rested at 10 yards, you’ll see groups spread out more than you’d expect. The slide is massive, the trigger is mushy, and the barrel-to-slide fit varies.
A halfway decent .38 Special revolver will easily shoot tighter groups. That’s because the revolver’s barrel is fixed and usually better machined. The C9 can be fun to plink with, but if you’re chasing tight shot placement, it quickly reminds you what you paid for. Even folks who defend the Hi-Point admit it’s not winning any accuracy contests.
KelTec P-11
The P-11 was a compact 9mm before it was cool, but its heavy, gritty double-action trigger makes shooting tight groups a real challenge. Even with the gun rested, the long pull adds enough inconsistency to blow your groups wide open.
Combine that with barrel lockup that isn’t exactly tight and sights that are more suggestion than precision tool, and you’re not stacking rounds. A Smith & Wesson Model 10 with fixed sights and a smooth trigger will run rings around it at the range. The P-11’s size and price made it a carry favorite for a while, but accuracy was never its strength—especially compared to even a basic revolver.
SCCY CPX-1
The CPX-1 is another budget-friendly double-stack pistol with a heavy trigger and average machining. That trigger alone makes precision hard. When you bench it and slow things down, the inconsistency in break and reset still throws shots wide.
Barrel fit isn’t the tightest, and there’s enough flex in the frame and slide to affect consistency. A mid-range revolver with a smooth DA trigger, like a Ruger SP101, will almost always give you better results on paper. The CPX-1 isn’t useless, but it’s not a range tack driver either. If your revolver groups better than your semi-auto, this gun is likely part of the reason why.
Taurus PT709 Slim
Slim, lightweight, and affordable, the PT709 was popular with budget-conscious carriers. But accuracy has always been hit or miss. The short sight radius and light build make it tough to hold steady, and the trigger can vary quite a bit between units.
Even when braced, you’ll often see flyers or loose clusters at 10–15 yards. It’s not the worst shooter ever, but plenty of wheelguns at the same price point offer better mechanical precision. If you’ve got a decent .357 snub and this Taurus side by side, you might be surprised which one prints the tighter groups.
Remington R51 (Gen 1)
The first-gen R51 was plagued with problems, and accuracy was one of them. You could put it on sandbags and still see weird vertical stringing or group shifts. The hesitation-blowback system wasn’t consistent, and the barrel lockup added variables with each shot.
Most revolvers don’t have that kind of erratic behavior. Even an older Ruger GP100 would make the R51 look sloppy on a target. Some of that was fixed in later versions, but the Gen 1 model earned its reputation for being a scattergun in disguise.
Jimenez JA-380
There’s not much to say about the JA-380 that hasn’t already been said. Accuracy is low on the list of design priorities. Loose tolerances, spongy triggers, and vague sights mean it struggles to put rounds in the same zip code from a rest.
Even a well-worn Taurus .38 with fixed sights will usually group tighter. The JA-380’s tiny size doesn’t help either—every trigger press is a gamble. You might hit your target, or you might keyhole two feet away. It’s a last-ditch gun, not a paper puncher.
Walther P22
The Walther P22 is fun to shoot and easy to handle, but it has never been known for stellar accuracy. Barrel fit can be inconsistent, and the slide is light enough that even minor ammo changes affect performance.
Plenty of shooters have tried to get small groups from a rest and walked away disappointed. Meanwhile, a Ruger SP101 in .22 LR will shoot circles around it. The P22’s performance is fine for plinking but lags behind revolvers when you’re aiming for precision.
Phoenix Arms HP22A
This little .22 is better than folks give it credit for, but only just. Accuracy from a rest is passable, but still trails behind most revolvers. The short sight radius and heavy trigger don’t help, and the barrel and slide lockup can vary slightly from shot to shot.
Compared to a revolver like the Ruger LCRx in .22, the HP22A shows its limitations. It’s not terrible—but when you’re seeing group sizes that double what a revolver can do, it’s clear where the HP22A stands.
Beretta 21A Bobcat
The Bobcat is compact and clever with its tip-up barrel, but tight groups are hard to come by. The sights are tiny and fixed, and the trigger isn’t tuned for finesse. Even from a rest, rounds can walk across the target more than you’d expect.
You can hit center mass just fine at close range, but when you’re trying to get a cluster at 15 yards, it doesn’t compete with a decent revolver. A Smith & Wesson Model 34 or even a Heritage Rough Rider will likely shoot straighter, more consistently.
Raven MP-25
The MP-25 wasn’t designed with accuracy in mind. Loose parts, cheap materials, and indifferent craftsmanship mean this .25 ACP won’t group well no matter how steady your hands are. Put it on a rest, and you’ll still see wandering shots.
Meanwhile, even a budget .38 Special revolver can keep things tight with the right load. The MP-25 fires bullets, sure, but don’t expect much else. If you’re comparing it to revolvers, the difference in precision becomes obvious fast.
Taurus Curve
With no sights and a strange grip angle, the Taurus Curve was always going to be a tough one to shoot well. Add in a trigger that feels like it’s connected with rubber bands, and even rested groups don’t inspire confidence.
You might hit your general target area, but that’s about it. Even with careful slow-fire, group sizes stay large. A snub-nose revolver with fixed sights will likely shoot better groups, even in less experienced hands. The Curve isn’t built for accuracy—it’s built for deep concealment, and that shows on the paper.
*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.
