Accuracy with an M&P-What do you expect?

M

MyDads38

Member
Joined
Dec 7, 2013
Messages
1,869
Reaction score
1,285
Location
Central Indiana
Accuracy means different things to different people. I was wondering what kind of accuracy folks expected from their M&P pistols? Shield, compact, full size; what are your requirements, for the type of gun you have and for your type of shooting?

I am not a target shooter/competitor, so 15 yards is usually as far as I shoot any of my handguns. I mainly shoot/practice at 5, 7 & 10 yards. My personal requirement for any of my handguns, is to stay within the 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" center of a B-24 target, off hand, at all 3 distances. This would be for the total rounds fired per gun, and is usually 50 rounds each. If using the range's bullseye targets (provided), then all rounds should stay within the 3" black bullseye.

Most of my groups stay within 2"-2 1/2", when I'm not doing my part, they get larger and then I grumble to myself about what I did wrong! :mad:

So, what are your personal requirements for handgun accuracy? :rolleyes:
 
Register to hide this ad
I think your shooting is what most expect to be able to with your 2" to 2 1/2" groups at 15 yards . Some days that ain't happening, more like 7 to 10 yards .

I try to not go to an indoor range so my target is the uspsa carboard target and I will stick a couple 1" red dots on it when I want to check my ability to shoot a group some what quickly. Most time I do some sort of point shooting, draw and fire a double tap and do it again . No focus on the sights at 5 , 7 1/2 and 10 to 12 yards and try to keep everthing in a 5" x10" area out to 10 to 12 yards yards and some days a large 9" paper plate
 
Last edited:
improved accuracy 9c

installed a dmps/dpms (whichever) multi-spring recoil unit and my shooting improve noticably (mp9c). the recoil system package was marked CZ75, but sold as workable for the 9c. comes with two outer springs. the heavier one was best for me. 9c operates just fine with the new system (muzzle flip is way less), at 25ft, using the front dot over center of the target. the left/right drift is my fault.

cheers, ya'll
 
I believe that S&W will tell you a 2" group, with the gun in a bench rest, at 25 yards is acceptable to them.

I'm a defensive shooter. To me, a controlled pair within a hand span of each other is good enough. Smaller groups mean I need to shoot faster. Larger groups mean I need to slow down. Every gun I've ever used was good enough to meet that standard.

I have some target guns, but rarely use them. For those, a 1/2" group at 25 yards is acceptable.
 
It is in the ability to keep the muzzle still, and speed of shots. If I take my time and shoot for accuracy, I can consistently get most all shots inside a 2 1/2 inch circle at 15 yards with my Shield 40. Even in a smaller circle with my FS Springfield XD45. That is both single handed and two handed, but single handed takes a few seconds per shot longer than double handed. That doesn't make me a good shooter as I just make sure I am on target before squeezing the trigger. As the time between shoots get shorter (faster shots), the circle get larger. And as the distance goes up, the circle gets larger and conversely as the distance comes down the circle gets smaller.

The longer the sight radius, the better the accuracy should be, if all else remains the same. So a FS gun should be able to attain a tighter pattern than a sub-compact.

Bob
 
Last edited:
5 shots in 4" at 50 yards from a solid rest. The Missus' 40c will do it.
 
2 inches at 10 yards is about what I shoot with my shield. What puzzles me is my first range trip with my 9 pro with 5" barrel was WAY worse than that. I hope it gets better and is just a matter of break in or me getting used to it, because I was not pleased.
 
Long as I'm hitting center mass at 5 yards rapid firing, I'm happy. When I rapid fire, I usually empty the mag. (I've heard a few ask if I'm shooting a full auto :D)
 
Last edited:
I'm with the group. I use 8" targets. I get within the bull somewhere, out to 15 yards I'm good. Actually, if I hit an 8" paper anywhere out to 15 yards, I figure that is COM and is effective in a SD situation.

I'm strictly a SD shooter but do practice all aspects of grip, trigger control, sight picture, etc.

Rastoff has some great drills that have helped me immensely, I don't have the links to the threads here, but I have them saved as word docs if you would like them. They stay in my range bag for review when I get that "frustration" you speak of.:D
 
Last edited:
minimum 2 inch group at 7 yards and ime happy, rapid fire 5 round bursts 6 inches or so and ime happy, if i do my part the gun will do it's part.thats not as good as alot of folks but it will get the job done if ever needed!!!!!
 
I can cover my 2 shot groups on a pie plate with the palm of my hand at 7 yds with my 9c, 40c and 45c.
That's center mass and good enough for me.
 
A prudent rule of thumb (and potentially flawed like any generalization :)) is that in a defensive/offensive you will shoot groups about twice your average at that range.

I practice with that rule in mind. YMMV
 
Since i've only been shooting 2 yrs now i try to hit the range monthly. I start with my 9c and usually 50-100 rounds at 5-10 yd distances. Then spend rest of time plinking with my Buckmark, maybe a couple hundred rounds for fun. I know both are more accurate than my skill set and grandpa eyes will be so normally happy enough with the results. But one thing i try for is to have that first shot be on target. I treat it like my old bowhunting practice in that i had one shot and had to make it count. So i figure if i get to the skill level that after a month the first time i grab my 9 it hits the mark then i am getting to where i need to be.
 
M & Ps are accurate enough

M & P pistols were meant to be sidearms, not target pistols. In my estimation, the game changer for the M & P series is reduction of trigger pull. I have Apex triggers in 3 of my 9 mm COREs set between 3 and 3.5 pounds. Rapid fire sequence groups dramatically improved. That suggests that the pistol itself is very accurate, just hard to shoot well with a 6 pound trigger. I have included a 7-yard target shot at fairly rapid pace with factory loads. If I slowed it down a bit, the grouping may have been tighter yet. I love these guns! They out-perform handguns at three times the cost.
 

Attachments

  • CORE target.JPG
    CORE target.JPG
    140.8 KB · Views: 45
I'm using my M&P 9 Pro 5" for local shooting league competition at my local range. I'm hardly a sharp shooter, so my 25 yard shots aren't the greatest, but I do pretty well at 5, 7, 10, and 15. Last week I scored a 473/500 on a B27 target shooting ten shots at each distance. I just barely missed the six ring on one of the 25 yard shots. I'm aiming to improve my score each week.. So we'll see how it goes! I started shooting handguns roughly 10 months ago, so I'm pretty pleased to be hanging in there with guys who have been shooting for decades.

I just put on some Dawson Precision adjustable sights which helped me out a bit. I'm trying to adjust them so I can use a 6'oclock hold instead of covering the bullseye with the front sight as the stock sights seemed to be set up for. However, at 25 yards, I'm having trouble seeing the x ring at all, so I guess my hold doesn't make much difference at that point. :)

So far, my skill level has not surpassed the M&P's accuracy, so it's accurate enough for me! ;)
 
Last edited:
They generally shoot better than I can - Not into measuring group size because pistols are defensive tools to me - and if I can keep them center mass at out to 50 yds it is good enough
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

D
Do ANY Shields shoot to POA from factory?
2
Replies
30
Views
1K
Dave686
D
R
Federal American Eagle 230 ball vs. Winchester Service Grade 230 ball
Replies
16
Views
914
decuerno
D
R
.45 ACP cast target loads
2 3 4
Replies
67
Views
3K
rockquarry
R
jbtrucker
  • Locked
Expired/Withdrawn M&P 2.0 9mm Compact $525
Replies
0
Views
213
jbtrucker
jbtrucker
D
Still very much a work in progress but here are a few groups with my new 4" PC Shield Plus W & W/O MRD
Replies
3
Views
151
M1A4ME
M1A4ME

Latest posts

Back
Top