Love my M&Ps but....

bigdaddybluesman · #1 10-14-2014, 12:42 AM

So far I have purchased a M&P 9, a Shield 9mm and have a M&P 45 coming. I also have a .380 Bodyguard and a very accurate older 915.

After firing 200 rounds on my M&P 9 I noticed that some of the skin on my middle finger was gone. Right over the middle knuckle that rests right behind the trigger guard. I don't know what you would call that area.

There are reasons why I did not buy a Glock, they are great guns though. I have arthritis in my hands and ergonomics are very important to me. Although the GEN 4s are better the angle of the grip is too steep for me. The angle of the S&W is perfect and reminds me a lot of the MOE & MOE K2 grips on my ARs. Also on Glocks that part for your finger where the trigger guard meets the front strap of the grip is not right for me. It's too rounded out. I like the M1911 and it's straight, no cutout.

The stippling in that area on the S&W was excessive to me, no reason for it to be there unless maybe wearing gloves. I went online and did some reading. I found out I was not the only one with this issue. What I did was take some sand paper and sanded off the stippling. I went from coarse grade to 2500 wet. It's very smooth now and feels great. I just did that area, nothing else on the M&P9 and the Shield and did not remove any material

I can't wait to go to the range next week and waste more money as I watch my hard earned cash literally go up in smoke. I love it!!!! Best fun I ever had.

To me the S&W guns are superior, the ergonomics are the best by far. The only other handgun I like is the M1911. I plan on buying a S&W .357 revolver of some kind next year. And a few more as time goes by. I resisted buying a M1911, to get one to run like a M&P out of the box it would take 4X the money. So I'll stick with the S&W models for now. It's a hit and miss with the 1911.

The older 915 is a great shooter and I would buy a 5906 or another 915 in a heartbeat. The 915 like all other S&Ws fits my hand great and shoots great.

After a bit of range time I have found that the M&P 9mm seems to like Federal HST 124 +P, the Shield 9mm HST 147, in the 915 I use HST 124, I have tried a lot of different ammo and types, plus I checked out a few ballistic reports. If I don't have them as they are extremely hard to find the Gold Dot is next best IMO. Or Golden Sabers in a pinch but I'll stick with the HST. I even use the 147 +P in my 9mm AR or Ranger T 127 +P+ if I can find them at a descent price.

The Bodyguard is getting a new trigger kit from Galloway. The trigger pull was so bad I could not hit anything consistently. My gunsmith should get it right/fixed. It was so disappointing after the success of the other S&W guns to have that problem. I knew it wasn't me, as I had read many say the same thing about it.

I really don't think I need any work on the M&Ps other than just shooting them. Although that might change as I become a better shot and more knowledgeable about handgun shooting in general. Apex has some upgrades that look interesting but do I need them? We'll see.....

MichiganScott · #2 10-14-2014, 08:25 AM

My 9C will remove skin from my knuckle if I use the finger rest magazine plate. I changed all my mags to the flat plate. Problem solved.

My Taurus 1911 has a checkered trigger guard. After 100 rounds, I start to bleed.

Llando88 · #3 10-14-2014, 11:31 AM

Welcome!

Sounds like you got a solution (sanding the trigger guard) that worked for you.

I had a problem somewhat similar to this, and I solved it by not gripping "quite" that high on the bore axis.

But hands/people being what they are, obviously what works for one, will not work for all.

Enjoy the pistols!

Bkreutz · #4 10-14-2014, 11:35 AM

Had the same problem, I didn't get all the way down to 2500, I stopped at a 180 grit drum in the Dremel.

robkarrob · #5 10-14-2014, 12:08 PM

We are all different sizes and guns do not fit us all the same way. We modify our guns to get them the way we want them. If you have an older Bodyguard (1 1/2 years or older), the Galloway kit will make the pull similar to the newer improved Bodyguard trigger pull. My suggestion is if you are having a gunsmith fix it for you, sell the Bodyguard and buy or at least dry fire test a new Bodyguard. That way you can see if the new pull is better for you. Between the cost for the Galloway kit and the fee the gunsmith will charge, you should be able to sell your Bodyguard and buy a new Bodyguard for about the same cost, and then you have the latest and greatest.

Bob

kennyb · #6 10-14-2014, 12:42 PM

sounds like you devised a great solution ! I have the M&P 45c and love it...when you look for a 357 mag.consider the "bloodwork" gun from the performance center...its an N frame 8-shot,uses moonclips...it may just be the UDR (ultimate defensive recolver)

bigdaddybluesman · #7 10-14-2014, 12:53 PM

It was pretty new as far as I knew I just got it from Palmetto State. Very long pull and stiff. But that was not the issue, it was at the end. When you thought it would break it took a little more to fire. That extra squeezing effort took you off target. It was an aiming issue caused by the trigger issue. I tried to fix that with technique. But the way the gun was going to be used I had to make a gun that I could pull out and not worry about a different technique to shoot straight. It was an emergency gun that would be used as a last resort. That means I would be in a situation. No time to be worried about the trigger or anything else. I had seen that problem on a Youtube video and the cure was the Galloway kit.

robkarrob · #8 10-14-2014, 10:42 PM

I checked the Galloway website and the kit is close to $110 shipped. You might ask those that have the new model Bodyguard if the trigger pull is improved over the older models. If minimal or not improved, then go for the Galloway kit. The issue with the older Bodyguards and all Ruger LC9's was the long deep breaking trigger pull, that breaks just before hitting the frame. I have the LC9 and it had a bad pull until I got a LC9 trigger kit from Galloway. My LC9 used stock Ruger parts that were modified by Galloway. His new kits use his own parts, and he has had issues with the trigger bars breaking. Galloway no longer sells just the trigger bars, but forces the buyer to purchase a trigger with the kit. The trigger has an over-travel stop, which must be adjusted to limit OT. Limiting the OT takes the pressure off the trigger bars, so they do not break.

Bob