New M&P 9 - Shooting Low - Options?

[woodsideseen]

Picked up my new M&P 9 Full size w/optional safety on Saturday. This new gun is a companion to my M&P 22 which I like a lot. No firing problems of any kind in first 50 rounds. But using the range shelf as a bench rest I formed a group about 2 inches low of the bullseye shooting from 15 feet. If this problem persists what are my options since the rear sight is not adjustable for elevation. Do I have to file down the front sight? Are the night sights or fiber optic sights that will fit the M&P adjustable for elevation? Is this too much of a gap that filing down the front sight or adjustable rear sights would not fix it? Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

 

[DustyDawg48]

I had a similar issue with both of my M&P autos; I was constantly shooting low, even up close, but I had just started shooting them and they do shoot differently from the Glocks that I had become accustomed to shooting. After working to see just where it shot, plus working some dry fire to get used to the gun's site picture, I'm now more accurate with it than I ever was with my Glocks.

I'd say give it some time, maybe even have another shooter you trust shoot it to see where they hit; it's my opinion but it seems the Glock and the Smith shoot to 2 different locations...that whole Point of Impact/Point of Aim stuff that I still can't get my head around, but what I do know is that it seems my M&Ps, to me, cause me to have my sites covering the spot that I want to hit, which I actually prefer, over having what I am aiming at on top of the sites.

 

[tgmorris99]

Which sight picture are you using? The M&P line is designed to use a combat picture (#3) so if you are using a standard 6 O'Clock then you will be low, even from a rest.

 

[Twoboxer]

Thought I'd add this possibility from experience with my M&P9 . . .

I was shooting low @7yds until I realized that, with my eyes at least, lining up the centers of the three dots left the top of the front sight post *lower* than the tops of the rear sights.

When I lined up the tops of the sights - making the center of the front sight dot look higher than the centers of the others - the shots were on target.

 

[OldFencer]

Right out of the box I was shooting low and left with my 9 (you'll see a lot of threads on this site with exactly the same experience). About 200 rounds later I'm coming up and moving right with my groups. Give it some time and see if your eye and hand don't come together with this weapon.

 

[StanNm19]

Which sight picture are you using? The M&P line is designed to use a combat picture (#3) so if you are using a standard 6 O'Clock then you will be low, even from a rest.

I am using the #3 sight picture and am still low. I've ordered a set of Sevigny competition sights and hoping that will take care of it.

 

[tgmorris99]

I am using the #3 sight picture and am still low. I've ordered a set of Sevigny competition sights and hoping that will take care of it.

How low and what distance/bullet weight? The 9mm POA/POI is set for 124gr at 25 yards as I recall. A 115gr will be low and a 147gr will be high by comparison.

 

[spirit4earth]

Is the 9 compact meant to use 124gr? Just wondering...I hadn't thought about the sight picture being specific to a bullet weight.

 

[Gran Torino]

I have two M&P 9 MM and using sight picture #3 it is right on the money. I too shot low at first but after a while they both dialed themselves right in. I find they like the 124G much better than the 115G. I don't find much difference when stepping up to the 147G bullet.

 

[Fat B]

Which sight picture are you using? The M&P line is designed to use a combat picture (#3) so if you are using a standard 6 O'Clock then you will be low, even from a rest.

Now I know #1 is the 6 O'Clock hold but I'm confused on what they call #2 or #3. Which one is Point of Aim or POA? Do #2 or #3 go by different names for distinction? I see you called #3 a combat picture. I thought I'd gets some clarification so I know what I'm talking about when I discuss sight picture.

 

[MMac]

I use site picture #3 to hit right on. My compact is closer to #2 and tends to shoot slightly higher.

 

[ChicagoZman]

Now I know #1 is the 6 O'Clock hold but I'm confused on what they call #2 or #3. Which one is Point of Aim or POA? Do #2 or #3 go by different names for distinction? I see you called #3 a combat picture. I thought I'd gets some clarification so I know what I'm talking about when I discuss sight picture.

#1 is 6 O'Clock hold, #2 is Center Hold and #3 is Driving-the-Dots. I find that most of my stock guns will shoot to the center of the target at self defense distances (3-15 yards) when using #2.

I have one gun (a Taurus) that seems to be set up for #3 and it drives me nuts. I have removed all dots and bars from most of my sights as they detract from me focusing on the top of the front sight.

 

[mrbort]

I didn't see this mentioned here so thought Id mention it.... I also was shooting consistently low; my trigger was a bit gritty out of the box and after replacing the apex kit plus soe new sights the gun is much smoother and true to my natural point of aim. I'm guessing I was jerking the trigger because a) I'm not a crack shot and am prone to mistakes of inexperience and b) the lack of smoothness in the trigger never gave me a consistent feel for the shot.

I've decided though that the m&p with the apex trigger/reset and trijicon hd sights is my vastly preferred setup. I'll be selling my kimbers and SIGs and picking up a few more identically set up guns in the .45 and .45c.

 

[GT1]

Right out of the box I was shooting low and left with my 9 (you'll see a lot of threads on this site with exactly the same experience). About 200 rounds later I'm coming up and moving right with my groups. Give it some time and see if your eye and hand don't come together with this weapon.

That right there.
I was going to change my name to Low & Left at one time.
Now that I have some trigger control it is no longer the case.

 

[Lewis Smith]

Shooting 115gr I find my compact M&P 9mm definitely low. I have to float the front sight over the rear dots. It's annoying to buy a gun that shoots differently than normal practice. I didn't know these guns shot like this. Not sure what to do about it.

 

[Don 73]

When I was helping my wife shoot, I had her use #3 and she was dead on. When I aim, I use a mix of #2 and #3 and for all practical purposes, I hit dead on what I'm aiming at, but for the most part I try to point shoot using only the front sight.

 

[Rastoff]

#1 is 6 O'Clock hold, #2 is Center Hold and #3 is Driving-the-Dots. I find that most of my stock guns will shoot to the center of the target at self defense distances (3-15 yards) when using #2.

That's the first time I've heard that name for using the dots. Most of the time people call it the "Modern Combat Sight picture".

I'm tempted to say that #3, whatever it's called, is wrong. There are a few problems with it. First, the overwhelming majority of M&P shooters find that the center hold (#2) is right for their gun. That's how my M&Ps shoot when using a rest. Second, lining up the dots is very difficult. All the dots are the same physical size therefore, the front sight appears smaller because it's further away. This leads to the question of how do you line them up? Third, using #3 requires the shooter to cover the target. This makes it difficult to aim properly. Fourth, those that say S&W says that #3 is how the M&Ps are set up at the factory cannot produce a reference to prove it. In fact, S&W does not say anything about how to use the sights in the manual. Fifth, not all sights with dots are drilled the same, but all are the same if you line up the tops.

Now, the reason I'm only tempted to say #3 is wrong is because there is at least one sight company that states #3 is the way their sights are supposed to be used. I can't remember the name of that company. Shame on me.

So, I will finish this with what I usually say about shooting anything; use the sight picture that works for you. If you're shooting low and using #1, a change to #2 or even #3 is logical. Always test your gun for accuracy from at least a rest. Use a vice if you can.

 

[steveac1]

new Dawson .160 FO front sight

Fellow M&P'ers. Been frustrated for a while in how the 5" M&P prints so low. Really screwed up my IDPA classifier. So....I just installed a new Dawson .160 FO front sight and it made a world of difference. POA/POI with 115g. Love this gun again.