How accurate was your M&P out of the box?

[walkin' trails]

I've got as good as 3 to 3.5 inch groups with my M&P full sized 45 with Federal 230 grain Hydra Shoks.

The February 2012 issue of "Combat Handguns" features a test of some Hornaday 230 grain Steel Match ammo. Two of the test pistols were an M&P 45 full size and a 45C. The full size shot a 1.5 inch group and the compact a 1.42 inch group. Shooting was from 25 yards according to the article by David Bahde.

 

[rkammer]

Here was my 9c out of the box, slow fire, 18 rounds at 30 feet. My 45 mid size is about as good. Great guns!

 

[icemn]

Assume you checked for sight upset by dry firing.

 

[sjmjax]

I have both a M&P 9 and 45. Haven't found anything to complain about with either. Both are quite accurate for combat pistols, in my opinion.

Here's my first 15 yard test target "right out of the box" with the 45 when I bought it back in July 09.

Since then groups have actually gotten a wee bit better as I've become use to the trigger. Most my previous semi-auto experience was with 1911 & HiPower style pistols.

 

[chaddlee1978]

I just shot my m&p 40 for the first time too and when I first started shooting it my groups were pretty bad but after practice and really concentrating my groups got closer but I noticed them too being low and to the left. I started aiming a inch and a half high and about a inch to the right and put three in the bullseye but when I put up some little cans I was missing them by aiming like I was at the paper target so I aimed dead on them and was hitting them. I think we just need more practice. I do want to put my gun on something to keep it really still and shoot and just see if it is off any. I was shooting the blazer 165 grain TMJ bullets. Not sure if this is the best grain to use but I got them at good deal.

 

[Out West]

Mine all shoot fine: POA = POI. Several M&Ps (compact and full size); zero complaints.

Out
West

 

[anthonyresto]

Mine was dead on, untill I did a trigger job... oops I am going to send it out to get the new sight installed, but I cant seem to let it go, not even for a week...

 

[markush]

I see this thread is older and the OP figured out he had a sight adjustment issue instead of an accuracy issue. My target images will show both the POA/POI and accuracy that I get with my M&P40 FS. MY M&P isn't a Bullseye gun but it'll dump it's magazine into a fist (heart) sized hole.

All my targets were shot at just 7yds, two handed, unsupported. You'll notice I used about 10 different loads, mostly SD loads, in my testing.

I've found that with 180gr loads at this range my POI is about 3/4" higher then POA. When shooting 165gr POA/POI are right on. When I use my .357 SIG barrel in this gun and shoot 125gr loads, POA/POI also match.

All these holes show that me and my M&P can shoot right about 1" average groups at 7 yards. At 25yds we average about 5-6". For comparison my .45 1911 can pretty consistently make one hole groups at 7yds but at 25yds I can only average about 4". I know it can do much better at 25 and blame it on my eyesight. So I tend to shoot at 7 where I can actually see what I'm shooting at

Bottem of black (six O'Clock) hold.

6:00 again

The left and center were shot with the .357Sig and a dead center target hold. The right target is with 180gr .40 and I forgot to go back to my 6 o'clock hold therefore it is about 1" high

For comparison this is the very first 8 rounds I put through this gun. I can fairly consistently do ragged one hole 5 shot groups with it now. The orange sticker is 1"