WB
Your post got me to thinking.
Saturday, April 10, 2021, 06:40

There was a gun-writer I enjoyed very much. Robert T. Shimek. I hope one day he gets better recognition, I think he earned it. Besides a writer and gun fancier, historian, he was also a police officer. I think this gave him a better perspective and some credibility with me. His articles were a treasure of historical information on the subjected arm complete with technical take down information and design shortcoming notes. One of the most remarkable parts of his typical articles were the actual shooting tests. He shot "pocket autos" at 25 and even 50 meters! (he was also one of the first American writers to use "meters" that I can remember) It was crazy to me, him shooting WWII .25/.32/.380 autos at 50 meters and getting pie plate groups! Maybe I was just impressionable or perhaps he WAS that good. I loved it and was inspired.

That is a roughly 55 yd. group with a WWII Beretta .32 auto! He didn't say how many groups he shot to get this one. lol

It is a little known rumor that he was the fellow responsible for coining the term "Wonder Nine" referring to modern high capacity auto pistols. I think I found reference that Mr. Shimek passed away in October of 2000. His articles and compilations in "Surplus Firearms" collections will forever be a useful source of information on the specific guns.

Many of his tests were the small officer sidearms of WWI and WWII. It showed me that the mechanical accuracy was there, it was only the shooter's ability that limited accuracy from many larger guns.