I need Target practice help. M&P 9 vs 5946 9mm

[perfectcircle1]

As of lately I've really been trying to force myself to practice shooting my M&P 9. Long story short, I can't hit jack. At 15 yards I'm barely staying on a 12 by 12 Target. Most of my shots are hard left. For giggles tonight I pulled out my 5946 to see if how well I shot with that. A nice little 4 inch group towards the center of the Target. Is it me, the gun? I've already drifted the sights a hair on the M&P but it didn't seem to help. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated

 

[perfectcircle1]

So I decided to include this pick so all of you could see. The 10 shots all within the second white wring was my 5946 and the other 30 were my M&P. As you can see they are all over the place. Both guns were shot at the same distance with the same stance and not taking much time between shots.

[/QUOTE]

 

[Silversmok3]

Going between my 5903 and my M&P9, I find the M&P9 much harder to shoot accurately on account of the uncertain trigger pull.

Ive never shot a double action only 3rd Gen, but I find my 5903 to not drift as much between shots.I believe the trigger's feel may be causing your wide patterns, because the stock trigger has an uncertain break & during the build up youre waiting....and waiting....waitBANG! Its easy to ride the reset, press to the rear, but instead of getting consistent resistance you get a very fast BANG because the reset wasn't distinct. Its a limitation of the stock trigger design in my book.

The 5903, by contrast, I know when the old girls going to fire and can hold it steady accordingly. The grip can also hold you back-I find a Weaver stance works well with the old-school 5903, but on an M&P I lean my shots shooting it that way. Thumbs forward grip works on both guns reasonably well, so that's what I use.

 

[perfectcircle1]

I've put almost 1000 rounds through it, could it be the gun?

 

[18DAI]

I've yet to shoot an M&P that I found to be accurate. 4 inch groups is about what I've seen them do. See if you can let a friend who's an accurate shot try your M&P 9 so you can see its not you.

I'll wager it is not you. Good luck! Regards 18DAI.

 

[azalea]

Some guns, especially polymer guns, simply don't work for many people. I've heard countless military folks tell me that they can shoot a 45acp 1911 far more accurately than their assigned Beretta 9. (From my avatar, you can guess my personal choice!)

Technically, it probably isn't the gun's fault. But practically, I would NOT mess with a gun I couldn't shoot well when, with a different gun, I can easily punch holes in scoring territory.

 

[perfectcircle1]

Some guns, especially polymer guns, simply don't work for many people. I've heard countless military folks tell me that they can shoot a 45acp 1911 far more accurately than their assigned Beretta 9. (From my avatar, you can guess my personal choice!)

Technically, it probably isn't the gun's fault. But practically, I would NOT mess with a gun I couldn't shoot well when, with a different gun, I can easily punch holes in scoring territory.

I agree, i bought it new 2 months ago and can't shoot it for ****. Im near the thousand round count and I'm ready to give up

 

[Cyrano]

Go with what you shoot best. Go with what feels best in your hand and looks best across the sights. A couple of times I didn't and paid the consequences (a Glock 21 for example, that was just too big for my hand).

 

[Brass Nuggets]

Just my thoughts:
- Left POI, in general, too much finger on the trigger or cross eye dominance (right handed, left eye dominant).
- Front sight to narrow
- Left hand pull (anticipating recoil)

As was mentioned previously, polymer frames / grip can be an issue… try the largest grip insert. I find XDM’s point high, and my M&P Pro 9 left and low.

 

[McBear]

I just went to the range today with my M&P9 and M&P9c. The 9c gave me very tight groups...the 9 threw tight groups - but two inches to the right. Using the shooting error target [what I might be doing wrong] I switched the grip on the 9 to see if that gives me more finger [and squarer] on the trigger - It does. Now, to the range tomorrow to see if that pulls the groups to the left where I want them.

 

[Forsmithers]

PerfectCircle1,
You could always ask someone else to shoot your M&P9 to see if they get the same results. You could also start closer to the target and see if the groups tighten up. Normally is best to have a group before moving the sights at all. The spread on your target looks like you have several issues going on.

Try shooting at about 5 yards and see if you can keep all your rounds in about a 3" group. If not, go to about 3 yards and repeat. Your pistol should be more than capable of keeping rounds in about a 2" group at 5 yards. Report back and let us know if you saw any improvement.

You might also try dry firing to work on your trigger press (not pull). Just add an increase in pressure to the trigger until it fires. If you have snap caps or dummy rounds you could also have someone else load a magazine for you and practice the ball and dummy (round NOT shooter) drill. That usually gets you concentrating on your sight allignment and trigger press. You'll be expecting that every shot goes click instead of bang. When it does go click you want absolutely no movement in the pistol. When it goes bang and you've worked out your trigger press the rounds should be going in a VERY
tight group.

Before and after targets tell quite a tale after a good practice session with ball and dummy.

Good luck and keep practicing!

 

[jdesro1911]

On several other handgun internet forums there has been a lot of discussion about this.

There seems to be a pretty widespread problem with many 9mm M&P's showing very lackluster accuracy- much like yours. Doesn't seem to occur with the .40 S&W or the .45's - only 9mm.

The way I see it, you have three possible solutions:

1) You can try different types and weights of ammo and see if that helps at all.

2) Some people have sent theirs back to the factory with complaints about the accuracy. Some come back better, others don't.

3) Storm Lake makes drop-in replacement barrels that have helped some.

I wish I had a better answer for you, but the way you can shoot your 5946 I do not think your accuracy problems are you, I think it is your M&P. I think you just got a bad one.

 

[fiasconva]

Have you tried a different sized grip? I like the feel of the large grip much better on my M&P9 but am more accurate with the medium grips.

 

[perfectcircle1]

These were shot at 15 yards. Here's the full size 9

Heres my new shield

 

[Silversmok3]

Results of my last outing with the M&P9. My example is limited only by the ability of the shooter.

 

[blujax01]

Results with the 3rd Gen and Shield show that you are a competent shooter and that for whatever reason the M&P is not shooting correctly for you. Time to tell it bye-bye.

Some things just "are". Shrug your shoulders, shake your head and move on.

 

[growr]

I would give the good folk at S&W a call and see what they have to offer. You may be be very pleasantly surprised.....For what it is worth my M&P 9mm stacks them up one round after another. I did change to a 147 projectile instead of 115/124's however.

Randy

 

[Badkarma 1]

So I decided to include this pick so all of you could see. The 10 shots all within the second white wring was my 5946 and the other 30 were my M&P. As you can see they are all over the place. Both guns were shot at the same distance with the same stance and not taking much time between shots.

[/QUOTE]

I agree with what the others said about you possibly having a "lemon" M&P and have heard rumors about the M&P9 being akin to a shotgun at longer ranges. I currently don't own one so I can't confirm it for myself, but those who've told me this are trustworthy souls!
In any event you mentioned you weren't taking much time between shots...WHY? Granted I shoot pretty fast when practicing for real myself, but I think if you slowed down a bit, and took a little time with that trigger pull your groups might tighten up.
I too have a 5946, and it just astounds a me with its accuracy!
Next time you go to the range try this; Concentrate on that front sight! It's the only thing you see! Line up your sights with the target and think "FRONT SIGHT!" then with a smooth and continuos motion pull the trigger straight back! Don't stage it, don't "catch the link" just smoothly straight back while staring at that front sight!! Do it slowly at first, speed will come with practice. Try it and see what happens. Dale

 

[joes4570]

It is very unlikely to be the gun. The M&P is not a camp perry bullseye tool but 15 yards isn't much distance.
I believe the shots pulling to the left are because you are not pressing the trigger straight back but rather pushing it to the left. I've seen it a fair amount with people using polymer guns, especially is there hands are borderline small for the pistol.
I helped a friend correct it by using those red dummy round snap caps and inserting a couple of them in random spots in a magazine. Once he saw what he was doing, the rounds became centered again.
This should also help you tighten up the groups, its all got to do with trigger control or lack thereof.

 

[perfectcircle1]

Thanks for all the words of wisdom guys. I have taken it all into account! More practice is in order.