M&P .40 problem child.

Nitrous SSC

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So, I have an M&P40. Groups started opening up like a mofo and driving me nuts and was shooting extremely low. 4-5" at just 20ft. I have this exact gun in a 9 and make one big hole in the middle all day. Also have a 40C that does the same one big hole in the middle awesomeness.

I sent it into S&W earlier this year and they sent it back with a new barrel. Yay!!! However, I took it to the range and have fired at least another 300 through it and they are all low as hell still. The good news is the group is nice n' tight, but it's in the wrong spot. I've tried it with apex stuff and without, same result. I've had someone else shoot it. Same result.

I used Dawson's calculator and my gun is so fricken far off they don't even make a sight short enough to fix this. I took the gun to a bowling pin shoot tonight and did so horrible, well, I took last place. In order to hit a pin I had to put the front sight completely over the pin with the rear sights stacked below. It was horrible. Instead of this *** It was *
* *

Time to go BACK to the mother ship and see what they can do. The gun has always done this. I've left it in the safe a lot. At first I thought it was me until I bought 4 other M&P's. Hopefully they'll change the slide.

Do the folks at S&W just point it down range and make sure it fires then send it back? Do they try to achieve a group? Do they vice fire it? Would be interesting to know if they actually fix and 100% verify or just throw parts in and send it back.
 
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Well that sucks! I feel lucky with my M&P .40 then. Haven't had any issues. I wonder if you can talk with a supervisor up front and let them know what you are looking for. They've been pretty good over the years in my experience.


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That's unfortunate, I have had my M&P 40FS for about 4 months and have put nearly 1,500 rounds through it. When I qualified with this firearm I had the same problem that you did. I found myself having to put the front sight slightly above the target to get consistent and tight groupings in the center. Trigger control could be a factor, although you have other M&Ps and are probably used to the trigger. I would send the fun back to Smith again for a deeper examination
 
I was having the same issue with mine...always low and left. I know this is common for a right handed shooter, especially one new to handguns, as I was. I tried everything from adjusting my stance and grip, to putting the sight above and right of center. Still not much change. I was convinced there was something wrong with the gun and I was about to take it to a gun smith for professional help, but when I talked to the guys at my range, they offered an interesting solution. They said I was unconsciously (or maybe consciously) concentrating too much on the recoil which caused me to pull the gun low and left. I thought they were nuts and that couldn't be the problem, but hell, at this point I was willing to try anything. Their solution...think about something else when aiming and firing. Think about what you had for dinner the night before or count to three...anything. I know, it sounds silly. It did to me too. But I tried it and I'll be danged...it worked. I've been able to consistently hit in the center. I still need to work on tightening up the groups at greater distances, but at least they are where I'm aiming...at the center. You might try that and see if it works for you. It sure did for me. Good luck!
 
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M&P40

by all means have someone else shoot it as well to see if it's the gun or you.
I have new S&W 15rd mags at $20 if you need some
Thx
Larry
 
Have you used a bench rest to take the human element out? Maybe even have another shooter who shoots M&Ps well bench rest it. We have 5 M&Ps of various flavors that all shoot dead on.
 
Have you used a bench rest to take the human element out? Maybe even have another shooter who shoots M&Ps well bench rest it. We have 5 M&Ps of various flavors that all shoot dead on.

No other shooter that shoots M&P well is needed.. THIS shooter does, with his other M&Ps. Problem obviously is just with THIS pistol:rolleyes:....
 
Shame on me. I didn't update this.

I went through the paperwork S&W sent me when it came back the first time with the new barrel. I found a small piece of paper with some options on it and PASS was checked and so was TEST FOR FUNCTION. However test with target was not checked. Which surprised me since they put a new barrel in it. I sent it back to S&W making note to please verify target test fire it came back with a picture and great detail showing POA/POI. Then I picked up the gun and immediately noticed a shorter front sight and saw that the paperwork mentioned front sight replacement. Measuring showed it's a .140 from the stock .160.

Re-installed the apex goodies and hit the range. Results, spot on. I wasn't nuts, it was the gun. Followed by a pin shoot the following day and it did fantastic.

While I'm excited it's spot on again I am saddened, I now have to go custom to get a fiber front sight and can't throw a "standard" hi-viz on it.
 
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