Range trip for the New 40 VTAC

[GB]

Picked up the new VTAC the other day and finally made it out to shoot today

Took along some Hornady factory loads (155 gr. XTP) and a handful of my 175 gr. lead handloads (5 gr. of Win. WSF)

I wiped the gun down and mopped the bore last night but left it nearly dry of lube. My experience is that in cold weather, well lubed guns sometimes won't cycle due to the stiffness of the oil.

Set my target up at 25yds. and loaded up the first mag. of factory loads. Gun shot about 6ins. low but well centered using the hiVis sights but was near dead on with the night sights(kind of hard to see in the bright sun but I used them like a dot system and they worked ok. (I then looked at the shell box and saw that I had grabbed 155s instead of my preferred 180--Duhhh!--- that explained the low hits on the target) Had two failure to feed in the first magazine. Shells partially chambered but not completely I/4in back on the slide and released finished the chambering. Figured that that was new gun and maybe lack of lube.

Reloaded with the 175 leads and shot again. This time the POI was only about 2ins low. Had 2 more failure to feed, same fix as last time.
I will reclean and properly lube the gun and try again in a couple of days.
This is my first striker fired pistol, ever, so there is a learning curve to deal with.( And the first NEW centerfire pistol I have bought since 1992)

30 rounds isn't much of a field test but it gave me a feel for the pistol and some expectations for my next adventure, when I will take the shooting bench and a rest along with some better targets.

A couple of observations:

The M&P, loaded with 15 rounds feels to be about the same weight as my 411 with 11 rounds. Recoil is a little more brisk with the M&P than the 411 especially when you get down to the last 4 or 5 rounds.

The barrel is not nearly as smooth as any of my other pistols ( S&Ws, Colts, Browning and Sig.). Lots of copper and then lead fouling in the bore,(I have read that this may be a by-product the new barrel making process) Hope this will be less of a problem as the unit get broken in.

I have 4 magazines for my new M&P. 2 that came with the gun(both with the centered, round, floor plate release) and 2 with the square release. Only one of these mags. will drop free, loaded or empty. That is a minor gripe and maybe it will become less of an issue as the gun is broken in. You can feel the stiff spots as you insert the magazine. It feels like it is bulged in couple of spots. I am not shooting the gun in matches or using it as a primary carry gun so I can live with the issue as it isn't any different than what happens with my older Browning HP.

Overall, I like the feel of the gun(using the Medium backstrap that came on it. Tried the other two but didn't think they felt as good.) I am not enamored with the need for a tool to disassemble the gun.( After figuring it out, I think a fellow could do it with a ballpoint pen, in a pinch)

Will I rush out and sell all my other Semi-autos and replace them with M&Ps? Probably not. But it is a nice addition to the herd. GB

[Jiman]

Congrats!!

I also have a 40 VTAC and carry it every day. I’ve been very happy with mine. I haven’t had any malfunctions after close to 1500 rds.

One reason your mags might not be falling out freely is because some of the mag releases are not molded correctly. Like your Hi-Power, the mag will only come out an inch or so and stop. After getting mine, I dry fired it a bunch of times and cycled all 6 mags that I had bought. Some didn’t drop freely (full, partially loaded or empty), some did. Not knowing what I know now, I figured the finish on the mags just needed to get worn in a little and didn’t think much of it. I bought an extra stippled release, still OEM, to match a stippled backstrap. After swapping out the mag release, all of the mags fell freely.

By the time I got to the range for the first time I had no issues.

A lot of my co-workers carry the M&P and anyone that had those issues called S&W and they were quickly sent a replacement mag release. The swap is very easy to do and cured the problem.

Before you went to the range did you load up your mags and let them sit fully loaded overnight or a few days prior? Often times loading them up allows the spring to take a set resulting in better feeding.

I swapped out my baseplates to 10-8. Wanting to keep all the floor plates the same, S&W sent me two extra square versions. The round ones I just keep as spares now.

I have no input for the POA/POI issue. I’ve shot 165 and 180 grain rounds without any noticeable shift.

Hope this helps and congrats again.

[GB]

Thanks Jiman, for the info. I will play with the gun for a little while and if the mag issue doesn't resolve itself I will see about a new mag release. As I said in my original post, I am old school and this is my first strikerfire/plastic pistol. I didn't expect 100% function on a new semi-auto, I have never had one run 100% until they broke in a little and I figured out proper levels of lubrication and preferred bullet style. The 155 Hornady ammo was given to me by a friend. I have never shot light bullets in my other 40s, just because I feel that the 180 is just about the perfect weight for that caliber. Most of my LEO time was spent with wheelguns only the last two with an issue semi-auto ( Beretta 92) I have been shooting a 40 cal. for 20 years but it is a 3rd gen model 411. Love the caliber but it may take some time to get to love the M&P. Thanks again..GB