Competition Gun

[Jacobus]

Hey Fellas, Just got an M&P 9mm Full Size, and I am new to the forums also. I love this thing, but I have a few questions.

I go to speed steel matches every weekend. I Shoot very well with my 1911, at 25 and 50 yards. Its hard to beat with its long sight radius and light Crisp trigger BUT its not as reliable as the M&P, However I don't shoot so well with the M&P. It has 10-8 combat sights that are kinda big. I think they are .125 front and .156 u-notch rear. Don't get me wrong they are fast but not good at longer distances

By Trying different ammo. I did narrow the group down to 8" at 25 yards standing off hand with the winchester 115 grain whitebox. So my next project is either 1. longer sight radius with a new longer slide and fitted stormlake barrel, 2. New narrower sights, 3. or new Apex Trigger, sear, and spring set.

My questions are.
1. Is there a better ammo to narrow the groups in the M&P. I do plan to start reloading soon, but whats good untill then
2. which of the projects above would show the most improvement, should do first or most bang for the buck. as it will take me a while to save up and do the next.
3. Do you think I should just get a fitted storm lake barrel instead of a longer slide with a storm lake barrel.
4. Are there better triggers vs APEX.
5. what are you other suggestions


I hate slippery guns. Had to stipple it

 

[OKFC05]

what are you other suggestions

1. Buy a Pro 5", all set up for what you want to do.
2. Either handload or get some good ammo for it. WWB is iffy.
3. Go shoot the matches.

My Pro 5" trigger settled down at 4+#, smooth, and the gun has no trouble taking down a steel plate at 50 yd if I manage to hold it still. I handload 124gr Precision Delta over Titegroup.
It comes with the FO sight you need, narrow front.

Why throw away all the parts and money modifying a standard 4.25" M&P when you can just buy the Pro 5", competition ready?

 

[jimjc]

Your gun stippling looks good not to deep...I`d have the Apex trigger first and see what it produces...it may be all you need to do...Of coarse it all depends if you can out shoot your gun or not...For me the trigger is key and Apex has it covered..

 

[Wee Hooker]

Your going to need to drop another $200 (min) on sight and trigger parts to get where you want Add another $400 if you want a new slide and match barrel.

You'd be better off just to buy a pro which is 5", has the better FO sights and factory trigger job.

 

[Dino1]

Your using the wrong gun for what you are trying to achieve.
Do some more research and find out what others are using successfully and re evaluate what you need to purchase to achieve your goals.
As stated, a FS PRO would be a better option.

Nice pistol by the way.

 

[walkin' trails]

You can get S&W warranty to address the accuracy issue. Mine was doing the same thing - 10 inches at 25. I just got it back with a new barrel. Consider giving that a try.

 

[Jacobus]

I have done a little research on what other people are doing well with at competitions, and that would be 2011 or 1911, which I already have and do well with. as far as striker fired KC Eusebio Does well with a Glock 34 but nothing stock is on it. Its all Zev. Trust me, I would love to get an STI and trick it out but I'm not KC Eusebio. With the exception of my daily carry Glock 19, I get better or match parts for every pistol or rifle I own until there's nearly enough parts left over to piece together a 2nd one. I got a great deal on this pistol and I'm wanting to do something with it, so here's what I've found from the research so far.

NEW PARTS Apex trigger kit $164.00 . Dawson 100 front adjustable rear, new Slide with fitted 5" Storm lake barrel, Apex Tactical Striker Block, S&W Extractor and Guide Rod Assembly. $600.00 even
Total $764.00 we'll say 780.00 with shipping

NEW PRO M&P Pro 5" go for around $535.00 on buds for transfer and shipping we'll say $565.00.

That's $780.00 for a 5" with everything I want and I don't have to come up with that all at once I can do it over time
or $565.00 for stock 5".

I know you can tell I'm leaning toward more parts. But if you guys still think I need to buy a another Race Gun, probably won' t be that hard to convince me. I will at least get a new Trigger kit and take it to some defensive handgun classes, cause its super reliable, but sad thing is it'll just sit in the closet till then. like to take it to the falling plates every now and then.

 

[OKFC05]

Your price comparison conveniently leaves out the purchase price for the M&P you have. Add that to the price you quote for the new parts, and you are spending about $1200 to piecemeal build a gun about equivalent to a $600 Pro that still has a lifetime warranty.

I get better or match parts for every pistol or rifle I own until there's nearly enough parts left over to piece together a 2nd one

And you still have only the one gun when you could have a "daily driver" and a "race gun."
Oh well, everyone has the right to a hobby that does not make sense economically to other people.

 

[ca survivor]

practice, practice.....it's not the arrow is the indian.

 

[AGoyette]

NEW PRO M&P Pro 5" go for around $535.00 on buds for transfer and shipping we'll say $565.00.

Almost all the places that I have seen that have a 5 inch pro have it for around $600 or around that price (or more) after shipping. Isn't Buds for law enforcement?

 

[Dlister70]

Almost all the places that I have seen that have a 5 inch pro have it for around $600 or around that price (or more) after shipping. Isn't Buds for law enforcement?

Smith & Wesson 9mm M&p9 Pro Series 5" Barrel Black Stainless - $524 shipped | Slickguns

The link says $524 from Buds, but when I clicked on their site, it was $580 and that was the cash price. However, there are several other places selling the 5" pro for under $600.

You have to watch carefully though because some places are listing the cash price, and you're likely buying it online with credit card which they'll charge extra for.

Grabagun.com didn't have credit card fees, and It didn't look like cheaperthandirt.com did either. Those looked like the cheapest deals with credit card fees and shipping taken into account. With the FFL fee when you pick it up, you're still going to be close to $600 though.

 

[zeddic]

I have both the 5" pro and a 4.25" FS. I first got the FS and had the same idea as you (buy upgrade parts) until I handled a pro at a gun show. Months later I got a 5" pro as well. I have used both bone stock for IDPA/steel challenge/USPSA competitions and have been doing pretty good so far. I would say I have improved a ton since I switched to the M&P platform from glock and that's basically due to gun fit (small hands). Both guns were built in 2013 and have the much improved trigger but I have noticed the FS has a better trigger reset than the pro.

At a match a few weeks ago I was able to handle a pro that had the apex competition kit installed and was floored at the improvement in the trigger pull, I was told that it was down to 2.5-3lbs. I picked up 2 APEX trigger kits, a competition and a DCAEK kit. The competition comes with the same parts as the DCAEK kit with the addition of a replacement striker spring and no duty spring. I installed both trigger kits to the frame and put the striker spring onto the pro striker.

After the upgrade the trigger pull has been much improved but I am now using the FS frame because of the much better reset feedback with the 5" pro slide. The trigger on the pro frame has a much shorter reset but the reset feedback is not as pronounced. The trigger pull on the FS frame also seemed much smoother. I took both guns to the range doing double taps and bill drills and I couldn't be happier with the results. I plan on using the FS as a CCW during the cooler months and will put the duty spring instead and the pro will be my main competition gun.

I can shoot both guns equally well but having that 5" slide gives me more confidence when making those long shots.

Long story short, I highly recommend getting the 5" pro and using the FS you already have as a backup gun. I also highly recommend getting the apex competition kit for the pro. I'm not sure what year your FS was built but if it has the upgraded trigger from 2013 I recommend you try the APEX kit on it and the pro and see which one you like better.

Also, I did notice that I got 2 light strikes from the firing pin off the pro slide out of 100 rounds yesterday so I might switch out the striker spring back to the stock one (which never had any malfunctions).

 

[colt22man]

Drop in a KKM match grade barrel, accuracy will greatly improve. As for the APEX trigger, I hear a lot of disappointment with light primer strikes. I know they are a nice feeling trigger. However I know numerous shooters who experience light primer strikes. They have changed out striker springs and just when they think the problem is solved, a light strike surfaces. Take a lot of notes, change 1 part at a time and good luck.

 

[AGoyette]

Drop in a KKM match grade barrel, accuracy will greatly improve. As for the APEX trigger, I hear a lot of disappointment with light primer strikes. I know they are a nice feeling trigger. However I know numerous shooters who experience light primer strikes. They have changed out striker springs and just when they think the problem is solved, a light strike surfaces. Take a lot of notes, change 1 part at a time and good luck.

I agree and yet I disagree. I think that the people who are getting light primer hits have the competition spring kit in their gun. I don't believe that the FSS kit with a new trigger is what is causing the issues. I am planning on adding the FSS kit with trigger to my Pro. It was made in 2010 and could use the extra help.

 

[Bkreutz]

Drop in a KKM match grade barrel, accuracy will greatly improve. As for the APEX trigger, I hear a lot of disappointment with light primer strikes. I know they are a nice feeling trigger. However I know numerous shooters who experience light primer strikes. They have changed out striker springs and just when they think the problem is solved, a light strike surfaces. Take a lot of notes, change 1 part at a time and good luck.

Is this statement from your experience or are you repeating what you've read on forums? I have an Apex FSS kit in my 9L Pro Core and have over 30,000 rounds with no light strikes, I also have a KKM match barrel and didn't notice a huge difference (I put it in at about 25K rounds) It's so close of a call I don't know if the barrel actually helped the accuracy or if I'm concentrating harder (trying to justify the money I spent on the barrel). I do agree with changing one part at a time.

 

[Rastoff]

I go to speed steel matches every weekend. I Shoot very well with my 1911, at 25 and 50 yards. Its hard to beat with its long sight radius and light Crisp trigger BUT its not as reliable as the M&P.

Interesting. In my personal guns my 1911s are every bit as reliable as my M&P. In classes I've attended the 1911s have been more reliable.

If this statement is based on your personal 1911, I think it needs to be fixed.

I'm an admitted 1911 guy because I shoot them better. I have tried to make my M&P .45 more like my 1911, but it's still lacking.

When I started down the 1911 path, I fully intended to find that it was less reliable than the Glock, XD, M&P style guns. I have found the exact opposite to be true.