M&P 9, low and to the right

[jbinbi]

was at a 50' range, not hitting target at all even though i feel i have a good sight picture. i have a sig mosquito 22 that i am hitting well with, so i am thinking my sighting is good.

I noticed one round just at bottom right corner.

Move into 35 feet, put about 50% onto target, still low right.

The biggest diff between 9 and 22 is that the trigger pull is almost 2x. I am in a compliant state, so adjusting trigger is not an option.

Kind of new to this, so any help is greatly appreciated.

i am also looking for red dot as old eyes can't focus on both front sight and target. Still I believe from 35' i shout be able to get 10 shots on target...

 

[Bicky Robby]

Without watching you shoot, here are a few thoughts. I am assuming you are a right handed shooter. Low right for a right handed shooter indicates squezzing the thumb to tight or too much trigger finger. Could also be a grip issue.

Suggest you move closer to the target. Shooting at 16 yards is too far to expect consistent or accurate results. Recoil difference between a 22 and a 9mm is quite a bit and will add to the inconsistent results. Try shooting 8" plates at 5 yards until you can keep all the shoots inside the plate.

Grip, trigger break and sight alignment are different for each gun. Spend some time safely dry firing your M&P focusing on grip, trigger control and sight picture before your next range trip.

 

[missiondude]

Try focusing on the front sight only. With iron sights, you cant focus on the sights and target, and "Old Eyes" tend toward the target which will yield inconsistent results. I wear corrective shooting glasses as my "Old Eyes" cant focus on the front sight. Huge difference in my shooting after getting the corrected glasses. You should also practice dryfiring at a close target until you can press the trigger without disturbing your sight picture. Take up the slack until the trigger is about to break, then add steady pressure until you get a suprise break. After you have mastered that dry, go to the range and do some more dry practice. After 10 or so dry presses, load your pistol, focus on the front sight, and press the trigger the exact same way you were during the dry session. You should get a very good hit. If you start straying, go back to a few perfect dry presses, then resume live fire. My M&P had a hitch just prior to the trigger breaking and it caused me to anticipate the break making me shoot low and left.

Good luck...

 

[jbinbi]

thanks. i was under the impression that dry firing, that means no round loaded, right, is bad for the firing pin and shouldn't be done?

 

[S&Wnewb]

I got a set of azoom snap caps for under 20 bucks. I would suggest getting some to use during dry fire practice.

 

[tgmorris99]

From the S&W FAQ

Can I dry fire my S&W handgun?
Q: Can I dry fire my Smith & Wesson?

A: Yes, except for the .22 caliber pistols which includes models 22A, 22S, 422, 2206, 2214, 2213 and 41.

.22 caliber revolvers such as models 17, 43, 63, 317 and 617 also should not be dry fired.

Q: Why can't I dry fire my .22 pistol or revolver?

A: Dry firing a S&W .22 pistol or revolver will cause damage to the firing pin.

 

[OKFC05]

old eyes can't focus on both front sight and target

Nobody can. With an iron-sighted handgun, you're supposed to focus on the front sight and let the target go fuzzy. You may need computer glasses that focus at one meter.

Why do you think they named the USPSA magazine "Front Sight"?

 

[jbinbi]

Nobody can. With an iron-sighted handgun, you're supposed to focus on the front sight and let the target go fuzzy. You may need computer glasses that focus at one meter.

Why do you think they named the USPSA magazine "Front Sight"?

Yup, that is how I have been doing it. I focus on the front sight, the target is fuzzy. but from 50' i can hit 10 shots on target, half in the black with my 22 mosquito, with the 9mm, none or maybe 1.

 

[jbinbi]

I got a set of azoom snap caps for under 20 bucks. I would suggest getting some to use during dry fire practice.

thanks, just looked this product up.

after each shot, does one have to manually re arm (which would eject a round)? or can you pull the trigger repeatedly with just the dummy round in it?

 

[OKFC05]

Recock by pulling the slide back a fraction. The M&P does not have restrike. You don't have to pull all the way back and eject the dummy to recock.

 

[jgreiner]

was at a 50' range, not hitting target at all even though i feel i have a good sight picture. i have a sig mosquito 22 that i am hitting well with, so i am thinking my sighting is good.

I noticed one round just at bottom right corner.

Move into 35 feet, put about 50% onto target, still low right.

The biggest diff between 9 and 22 is that the trigger pull is almost 2x. I am in a compliant state, so adjusting trigger is not an option.

Kind of new to this, so any help is greatly appreciated.

i am also looking for red dot as old eyes can't focus on both front sight and target. Still I believe from 35' i shout be able to get 10 shots on target...

Are you by chance a southpaw? I am.....and when I first started shooting my MP I was low right. But after getting used to the trigger, I am now dead on. I do have the Pro...which has a little better trigger pull than the standard MP.

 

[jbinbi]

Are you by chance a southpaw? I am.....and when I first started shooting my MP I was low right. But after getting used to the trigger, I am now dead on. I do have the Pro...which has a little better trigger pull than the standard MP.

nope. rt handed. but have noticed that with compliant trigger, after 4 or 5 rounds, i will pull and nothing happening, will have to take finger off, resight, and re pull.

i had tested this model in non compliant state, liked it alot. But
in compliant model, lot harder pull...

 

[southchatham]

nope. rt handed. but have noticed that with compliant trigger, after 4 or 5 rounds, i will pull and nothing happening, will have to take finger off, resight, and re pull.

i had tested this model in non compliant state, liked it alot. But
in compliant model, lot harder pull...

By compliant I assume you have the 10lb trigger. This will cause you to jerk. Look up the Apex trigger. I had a 10lb trigger that I reduced to 5lbs.

Also if you have the compact the small grip can also cause you to jerk.

 

[missiondude]

nope. rt handed. but have noticed that with compliant trigger, after 4 or 5 rounds, i will pull and nothing happening, will have to take finger off, resight, and re pull.

i had tested this model in non compliant state, liked it alot. But
in compliant model, lot harder pull...

Pretty sure that once you have bought a Mass trigger gun, it is legal to do a trigger job. I know Apex does a lot of trigger jobs on Mass guns. Dont know this for sure, but in CA once we own the firearm, we are free to get rid of the Ca required BS.

With the 10 pound trigger, I suspect you may be using the first joint in your finger to press the trigger rather than the first pad. That would explain why your shots are tending right.

Got to love the nanny state mentality where they would rather have you miss under a stressful situation and possibly hit a bystander than the intended target...

 

[jbinbi]

By compliant I assume you have the 10lb trigger. This will cause you to jerk. Look up the Apex trigger. I had a 10lb trigger that I reduced to 5lbs.

Also if you have the compact the small grip can also cause you to jerk.

Yes, 10lb trigger. I was advised that changes to the trigger would have potential signidficant legal ramifications should i ever have to use this in self defense. Not that I want to hijack my own thread, but feel free to comment on that pls.

 

[jbinbi]

Pretty sure that once you have bought a Mass trigger gun, it is legal to do a trigger job. I know Apex does a lot of trigger jobs on Mass guns. Dont know this for sure, but in CA once we own the firearm, we are free to get rid of the Ca required BS.

With the 10 pound trigger, I suspect you may be using the first joint in your finger to press the trigger rather than the first pad. That would explain why your shots are tending right.

Got to love the nanny state mentality where they would rather have you miss under a stressful situation and possibly hit a bystander than the intended target...

Definitely on first joint. no way to use just pad and pull with enough force continuously. will try moving finger over a bit and seeing how it goes. thanks.

 

[Martya]

I had your problem with my M&P45 fs, not the MA 10# trigger, though. My first groups were all right and below the bulls eye. Couple of things that helped me get better -

Grip more with your left hand, 60% - 40% left - right.

With the gun empty, very, very slowly squeeze the trigger, focusing on the front sight as it appears in the rear sight. Very carefully as you slowly squeeze the trigger and it releases (M&P triggers are somewhat abrupt) watch how the front sight jumps inside the rear sight. With mine the front sight jerked about 1/3 width to the right inside the rear sight.

Seeing that slight movement, I practiced dry firing with slight grip adjustments and mostly finger positions until I didn't see that front sight move as much. Now I am low center, mostly.

But I practice almost solely defensive shooting, targets at 4-7 yds, draw and shoot different tactics, covering 8x8" target, so I am not bull's eye shooting.

But the Apex conversion is probably the best answer.