S&W M&P FS 9mm first impression. Advise?

[RStephen]

I recently purchased a New S&W M&P FS 9mm 4.25" to replace a 30 year old S&W 459.

Due to recent shortages... I picked up... Grabbed what I could find and felt lucky to find anything!

Power Pistol

CCI 500 pistol primers

Rainier Plated 124g Round Nose

Mixed brass

Got load data from Rainier by calling and e-mail. Confusing because I got two different responces.

phone call: PP 5.6 to 6.4

e-mail: PP 4.8 to 5.3

Loaded upsome test rounds starting with what was given to me in phone call.

5.6, 5.8, 6.0, 6.2, 6.4.

At 15 yards no keyholing and no high pressure signs on brass.

Groups looked like #0 buckshot. 6" to 8" at 15 yards and all over paper???

Any good advise? Loads?

My old wore out S&W 459 got better groups than the new M&P.

Not happy so far with new M&P.

 

[OKFC05]

You're probably having "trigger shock" getting used to the new striker fired pistol: very common.
Just concentrate on the fundamentals of grip and trigger control, and it will come together. Above all, DON'T try to make it fire exactly when the sights look just right by snatching at the trigger. Concentrate on the front sight and press the trigger. Front sight, press. Front sight, press.

 

[Rule3]

I love PP for the 9mm and 40 SW. I was a die hard HP38/W231 (still am)

I use 5.O gr PP with real 124 gr FMJ RN bullets
From the Hornady manual. 1009FPS out of 4" SW M 39 (test results)

Alliant lists a max of 6.4 grain for the Speer GDHP so you want to start at least 10% below that.

Be sure and put a light to med taper crimp.

I can't say about the gun. I did have a MP 45 and went round and round with that gun. Even went back to SW several time. Might be a duty or combat gun but was not a accurate gun for me. It went good bye.

 

[RStephen]

I definitely understand trigger shock with the M&P. It is a different animal. Before ever going to the range, I played with dry firing it until I got the hang of it. I can stand an empty round on front sight and squeeze off a dry fire without upsetting the empty. I also had a buddy bring out his kimber and a glock. My groups were a lot better with his guns and loads. My buddy shot my M&P with my test loads with similar results to the #0 buck shot grouping I was getting. Didn't think at the time to try some of his rounds which would have helped... hind sight! I am still thinking maybe I need to refine. some better loads with power pistol and rainier 124g plated RN. I know my barrel is the new 1/10 with test round date of July 2013. Really hoping it isn't the M&P.

 

[Rule3]

I definitely understand trigger shock with the M&P. It is a different animal. Before ever going to the range, I played with dry firing it until I got the hang of it. I can stand an empty round on front sight and squeeze off a dry fire without upsetting the empty. I also had a buddy bring out his kimber and a glock. My groups were a lot better with his guns and loads. My buddy shot my M&P with my test loads with similar results to the #0 buck shot grouping I was getting. Didn't think at the time to try some of his rounds which would have helped... hind sight! I am still thinking maybe I need to refine. some better loads with power pistol and rainier 124g plated RN. I know my barrel is the new 1/10 with test round date of July 2013. Really hoping it isn't the M&P.

I know it is expensive but try some factory ammo.

See how that works. If they groups are the same, you have your answer. If they are better you also have a answer

 

[Bkreutz]

You haven't mentioned the OAL length. I played around with that and different bullets and charge weight. My most accurate for my 9L CORE ended up being RMR plated RN 115gr in front of 4.7 W231 and an OAL of 1.135. For some reason I couldn't find a happy place with a 124gr bullet. Maybe if there was more availability of different powders I could find one. I just got 8# of Titegroup today, maybe I can find a use for the 124's with that.

 

[RStephen]

OAL was set at 1.15 & slight crimp with Lee factory crimp

 

[RussellD]

Plated bullets can be very finicky. Your overall length is critical. Powerpistol is loud but known for giving excellent groups.

If you are concerned on whether or not is the gun try some known quantity factory ammo as a benchmark and have a shooter try your gun who has owned an M&P for a while.

 

[Vulcan Bob]

I cannot help with loads but I can tell you about the trigger on it. Now this may be the gun or it may be me but this is a bit weird. If I place just the front pad of the finger on the trigger when the sear breaks the front sight gives a bit of a jump to the right. If I treat it like a DA revolver and use more trigger finger back to between the last two joints it breaks clean and the sight is steady. Now I have a full size .45 ACP M&P also and it responds quite well with the front pad pull. Weird huh? But Anyhoo, with Federal 124 FMJ it is totally reliable and quite accurate, I am impressed with this Tupperware!

 

[OldGoat]

My first impression with my FS 9mm is that a 12 to 15# trigger pull seemed...well, excessive...and not conducive to accurate shot placement. It is now at S&W awaiting the return of the repair staff from vacation to see if it can be improved. Since I had so much trouble getting used to the "striker fired" approach with the FS 9, I gave up my quest for a M&P 9c and bought a nice STI 1911 9mm compact. No experience with reloads, only factory so far. Regards, Ed

 

[Rule3]

Basically the issue and "cure" folks gave for the 45 MP. Replace parts with a Apex sear and other goodies. Sorry not gonna spend over $100 to get a little better groups. I sold mine and bought a SA XDm. works out of the box.

 

[S&WProtected]

I do not have any experience with that powder, but the 3 M&P's I own all will out shoot me. I have the Apex kits in my 45 & Shield both shot good out of the box but this made them better. My M&P 9 Pro seems to shoot very well even though I think the trigger could be a little lighter, I have only shot 200 rds so I will give it some time. I have fired factory ammo and reloads out of all 3 and have not had any issues. I agree with Rule3 the SA pistols do have better triggers out of the box my XD9 shoots as good as anything I own and has no modifications at all.

 

[125JHP]

I fixed the buckshot pattern my M&P had.... I bought an XD

 

[perfectcircle1]

I fixed the buckshot pattern my M&P had.... I bought an XD

I couldn't have said it any better

 

[Twoboxer]

You didn't say whether you shot from a rest, so I'll assume you didn't. My experience with the M&P9:

- M&P9 felt best of many in my hand, so I bought it. But I was never really happy with (my) accuracy with it.

- Bought a CZ75 in 9mm, and I shot it much better.

- Curious, shot both from a rest. I shot about the same with both using 115gr Blazer as well as 115gr FMJ reloads.

YMMV.

 

[RStephen]

Haven't posted in a while... Love the KKM barrel. Also had to put in the apex trigger kit. groups now down to 1.5" @ 15 yards.

 

[Jamie]

Your loads seem pretty good, I have a bunch of PP, loading 124gr Bayou Bullets, 124 Precision Delta JHP. With an OAL of 1.100", (due to the short throat of one of my guns), I'm loading both for target work at 5.2gr. I'm working on some hotter loads, up to 6.1gr for the Precision Delta, SHTF stuff. They are target JHPs but they DO expand. I would get some factory stuff, Wal Mart Federals, Winchester White Box, compare to your reloads, shoot from a rest. You should then have a good idea where the problem is.

 

[Nevada Ed]

I shoot the 115 and 124 plated......
I have found that a oal for the 115gr RN (FMJ) can run from 1.12 to 1.142 for enough case support.

the 124gr can have a oal of 1.12 to the NATO oal of 1.165".
I have yet to try the full length of 1.169".

I have set my limits from 1037 to 1180 for the 115gr and 1050 to 1150fps for the 124gr plated bullet. I have yet to test loads that are said to be at factory fps as yet and will try to keep all loads under 1200 fps for the platted loads, with powders from Bullseye up to SR 4756.

I load for my Grand-son and he has a new Springfield XD that he is learning to shoot. It is all new to him and trigger pull and sight adjustment is all very "Green" at this stage.
Starting loads with the 115 RN at 1037 to 1190, all shot low with a 1.12 oal. The 124gr RN from 1074 to 1145 fps were just below poa and did a little better in the accuracy department with a oal of 1.14"

1200 fps + is not needed for target work but I will pick up some xtp or GD when he starts to get it dialed in to see if that pistol will group at SD speed with the light 115gr......but hope the 124gr will come out on top.

 

[RStephen]

Well here is my last update… I can’t drink this Kool-Aid anymore! I finally got rid of the piece of junk M&P FS 9mm that I purchased almost two years ago. After sending the pistol back to S&W multiple times the accuracy issues were never resolved. I am very disappointed that S&W would make such a piece of junk. I have shot off the shelf Glocks, H&K’s, Walther PPQ’s and several others and they would ALL run circles around this gun. I bid the farewell S&W, you just lost a long time S&W fan because of this over rated junk!

 

[MyDads38]

Well here is my last update… I can’t drink this Kool-Aid anymore! I finally got rid of the piece of junk M&P FS 9mm that I purchased almost two years ago. After sending the pistol back to S&W multiple times the accuracy issues were never resolved. I am very disappointed that S&W would make such a piece of junk. I have shot off the shelf Glocks, H&K’s, Walther PPQ’s and several others and they would ALL run circles around this gun. I bid the farewell S&W, you just lost a long time S&W fan because of this over rated junk!

I'm sorry the M&P 9 didn't work out for you In post #16 above, you stated groups were down to 1 1/2" @ 15 yards. What kind of accuracy were you looking for? IMO, 1 1/2" @ 15 yards seems pretty good!