I was getting some initial groupings with an Aero M5 .308 rifle at 50 yards just to have it on paper and collect some velocity data when I realized it was a perfect opportunity to get some more rounds through the GHP. Yes, that is a 4 inch group at 50 yards.
The Atlanta Arms 115 grain JHP ammunition is very accurate match grade handgun ammunition. Myself and a couple of others have shot scores in the high 570’s with Gen 5 Glock 17s with red dot sights on PPC Match 5 with this ammunition. The ammunition will shoot.
Groups at 25 yards are always prettier but 50 yard groups really tell the story of handgun accuracy, for me. The ability to shoot into 5 inches or better at 50 yards has always given me confidence that if I am armed only with a handgun against an attacker with a rifle at longer range then I have a very good chance of hitting the adversary in a place that will stop their attack. They could be using cover and/ or wearing body armor but with a handgun that accurate, I have a chance if I can do my part. On a less serious note, it gives me confidence to shoot at game animals, or pests, out to that range. However, with animals it is more of a “no further than” distance.
On our old outdoor range, a few of us would routinely shoot at steel targets from 100 yards, and further, with our duty pistols. They were usually 1911s in .45 ACP but in the later years, they were 9mm Glocks, HKs, and Smith & Wessons.
Of note on the groups in this article, I held dead on with my 25 yard zero. I believe shooting off the rest causes the gun to bounce a little and deliver the shots about 3-4 inches higher than they would without the front supported.
I also shot a group with some of Steve’s handloaded 124 XTPs. The load data shows 6.0 gr of Unique in mixed cases with Winchester primers. The date on the loads is 10-08-02, so they have been around a while. They did not group as well. Some of that could be me. I had already been shooting for a while and shot them after the Atlanta Arms.
I finished my GHP shooting with a group of Hornady Critical Duty 135 +P. This stuff generally goes into 2-3 inches at 25 yards with Gen 5 Glocks. I cannot explain how two of them went into the x-ring and the other 3 were high and high left. I did not call them off but it is odd enough that I will definitely shoot them again sometime to diagnose a little more.
Velocity data was gathered with Steve’s Chrony set 10 feet from the muzzle. I shot the groups over it so there are only 5 rounds for each load.
Atlanta Arms 115 gr JHP 1118/ 1099/ 1118/ 1142/ 1121 = Avg 1119.6
S.Camp HL 124 XTP 6.0 Unique 1214/ 1245/ 1221/ 1201/ 1227 = Avg 1221.6
Hornady 135 +P Cr. Duty 1098/ 1090/ 1099/ 1106/ 1113 =Avg 1101.1
The GHP continues to impress me, especially for what it cost. After shooting Steve’s Hi Powers last time, I can really feel the heaviness and grit in the GHP trigger. I also noticed that the fiber optic had left the gun during my last shooting session. Some of you may have noticed it in the pictures. I might put a green insert in it later but it doesn’t hurt anything to stay the way it is. I look forward to shooting the GHP a lot more.
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