M&P 9mm accuracy issues?

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Most of the accuracy noise is coming from the M4 forum. I haven't been able to figure it out: is it one or two disgruntled owners, or someone wanting to make money on aftermarket equipment, or perhaps just nothing.

From personal experience, I didn't shoot my own M&P 9 as well as other 9s that I own. But my trigger time on the M&P was pretty minimal before I sold it. Certainly not enough time to make a judgement on the inherent accuracy of the pistol.

If you like the feel, buy one. Shoot it. If you don't like the way it shoots, sell it and try something else. Doubt you will lose much if you have to sell. M&Ps are pretty popular.

Out
West
 
Long story short since I already had a thread on this, my FS 9mm M&P has early unlocking issues. I have an Apex hard sear and polished/rounded the striker block. It has a better trigger than 80% of my handguns.

Originally it shot 10" groups at 15 yards with 7 different brands of ammo in 3 different weights weather bench resting or off hand, sent it to S&W and all they did was adjust the rear sight, took it to the range and they adjusted it to shoot to far to the right and I still got 10" groups.

While at the first range trip after I got it back I put a 20# recoil spring in it and the groups went down to 4" at 15 yards, went home and my laser bore sighter showed the rear sight was indeed off, I set the sight back where it was suppose to be and am now waiting for Apex to come out for a real fix which includes new locking blocks and/or barrels.

Basically, it's not always the shooter and the M&Ps don't have some special,one of a kind trigger that will take crates of rounds to learn. It may or may not be the gun, but the only way to know is to eliminate every possibility like I did, otherwise people will tell you it's you learning the gun. Not all are effected but mine is and S&W refused to fix it.

That's the short version...really it is. ;)
 
M&P Accuracy

Like NAK posted, I have an M&P that was build in early May 2012 that was not accurate... actually would not group out at 15-25 yards. I would have shots off the paper (25yd slow fire bullseye target) at 25 yds. This was sandbaged on a sturdy bench. Sent it to S&W and they replaced the barrel. My gun was in their shop the same time as NAK. One trip to the range and I'm on the paper getting decent groups of 4-5 incheds at 25 yds... with the still occasional flyer out of nowhere. For a defensive gun, it is now accurate enough. For a competition gun, I shoot better than the gun can. I have a new Glock 34 that was accurate right out of the box. I like the feel of the M&P much better (apex competition AEK), but the glock is more accurate. The glock with a .25 cent trigger job and competition springs is still not the trigger on the M&P.
I will probably try the #20 spring like NAK did to see if I get further improvement. Certainly, the new locking block that apex is developing should increase the dwel and improve the early unlocking issue this gun has.

My new barrel is definitely a tighter fit in the slide and locking block. For those non believers out there... well, my targets tell the truth. Still can't explain the occasional flyer... that is the weird part.... and these flyers are off a sandbag. At least now for the most part I can call my shoots with the M&P.

Believe what you want, but the accuracy of these FS 9mm varies from gun to gun.

Cw
 
Now I feel better. I thought it was just me. :p

I still dont regret trading a Sig SP2022 9mm for my M&P9 FS though. There is something about the grip that I just really like. The Sig that I had was a fine shooter but I just could not get comfortable with it.

I did have some accuracy issues with the M&P since I know I could shoot pretty accurately with a 1911 to 25 yards and a Kahr CW40 to 10 yards. Right now I average 3" 5 shot groups to 10 yards with the M&P and I'm happy with that. If I wanted better, I would have bought a target gun. :D
 
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My 9 Compact and my Shield have been very accurate. I posted a photo in the Thread link below of my wife's target....a 68 year old grandma to boot!

http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-wesson-m-p-pistols/257683-my-wife-loved-my-shield.html

and another......

5-25-11B.jpg
 
The issue...

The compacts and Shield do not have a know accuracy issue.
All the accuracy (or lack of accuracy) observations are in regards to the FS 9mm M&P
 
Mine hits where I point it. Is it as accurate as my SIG P220? No My first time shooting it had my confussed because I could not hit the target Went to the range a few days later and had no issues with it 7 10 15 yards. It is not a tack driver but its my home defense and car carry pistol.
 
To those who own M&P 9fs pistols exhibiting accuracy issues, I really do hope that S&W addresses whatever flaw there is in your pistol.

At 10 yards, I can keep 17 rounds within a 2" group. As I push out, the groups progressively widen. The M&P 9fs shoots so well in my hands that I sold my other semi-auto pistols.

My M&P 9fs serial prefix is DXJ. The test fire date is 3-15-2012.
 
Well my M&P 9fs was made back in early 2010 and it is way more accurate than I am. When I shot it side by side with a Glock 19 I shot the M&P much better.
 
Very confusing. I believe all the reports; the ones that say the gun can't group and the ones that say they shoot just fine.

I sold my M&P 9FS just because I had other guns I wanted. I will buy another, but think I will wait until the range reports are more uniformly positive.

Out
West
 
Out West said:
Very confusing. I believe all the reports; the ones that say the gun can't group and the ones that say they shoot just fine.

I sold my M&P 9FS just because I had other guns I wanted. I will buy another, but think I will wait until the range reports are more uniformly positive.

Out
West
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I believe it's a roll of the dice at this point since the accuracy issues with the FS 9mm M&Ps began with the introduction of the Compact and S&W changing the profile of the 9mm barrels throughout. I shot my Shield at the same 15 yard distance and got a nice sub 3" group with my first 5 shots. By the end I was getting closer a 2" group and I'll bet under that the next time out.

I just called S&W again and they're sending me another shipping label. I asked how I would know if they would actually do anything this time and the guy said "Well, it will be marked as sending it in the second time for the same thing." yay.....another month of waiting :rolleyes:....hopefully it won't be for nothing this time.
 
I have three stock FS 9's (FS FS-L FS PRO) that are 3-4 years old and ALL are tackdrivers right out of the case and got better the more I shot them. 9c is a few months old and shoots just as good and getting better. Had the Shield 9 since late April and it's just as good as the rest and getting better as I shoot it more too.
 
Nakanokalronin said:
Long story short since I already had a thread on this, my FS 9mm M&P has early unlocking issues. I have an Apex hard sear and polished/rounded the striker block. It has a better trigger than 80% of my handguns.

Originally it shot 10" groups at 15 yards with 7 different brands of ammo in 3 different weights weather bench resting or off hand, sent it to S&W and all they did was adjust the rear sight, took it to the range and they adjusted it to shoot to far to the right and I still got 10" groups.

While at the first range trip after I got it back I put a 20# recoil spring in it and the groups went down to 4" at 15 yards, went home and my laser bore sighter showed the rear sight was indeed off, I set the sight back where it was suppose to be and am now waiting for Apex to come out for a real fix which includes new locking blocks and/or barrels.

Basically, it's not always the shooter and the M&Ps don't have some special,one of a kind trigger that will take crates of rounds to learn. It may or may not be the gun, but the only way to know is to eliminate every possibility like I did, otherwise people will tell you it's you learning the gun. Not all are effected but mine is and S&W refused to fix it.

That's the short version...really it is. ;)
Click to expand...

Had the same sear installed in mine.

At 25' 5 shot group you could cover with a quarter.
 
I started last winter with a 9 FS that would give me 8" groups at 25yds. I know it's not me as I can frequently pull 2" groups or smaller at that range with my Blackhawks and MKI.
Put in a 20lb spring and it got better but I was paranoid so I sold it and got a 9c. No issues with it. 3" at 25yds is fine with me for a CC pistol.
According to the thread on M4c forums Apex is working on a new locking block for the FS to correct the issue but it's been a few months since there has been an update on that project.



Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I847 using Tapatalk 2
 
Nakanokalronin said:
I believe it's a roll of the dice at this point since the accuracy issues with the FS 9mm M&Ps began with the introduction of the Compact and S&W changing the profile of the 9mm barrels throughout.
Click to expand...

Most any gun can shoot better than the shooter doing the shooting. Might be better to trade for a Springfield XD and see if you have better luck.
 
Lee in Quartzsite said:
Most any gun can shoot better than the shooter doing the shooting. Might be better to trade for a Springfield XD and see if you have better luck.
Click to expand...

I've had 7 XDs and they all shot fine, I've had 6 Glocks and they all shot fine, I've had 15 1911s and they all shot fine, 2 P89s - fine,2 P95s - fine,Berettas - fine,multiple revolvers, multiple surplus guns, multiple pocket guns - fine, etc - all fine. Honestly, the M&P is the only gun where fans tell owners to buy something else just so nobody brings up legitimate problems. It's been the same on other forums so it must be a brand thing.

The M&P has everything I could ever want in a poly gun, but the accuracy is not there in my particular model. My Shield shoots close to 2" groups at the same 15 yard distance even though it has less grip, a shorter barrel and sight radius while using the same ammo I tried in the FS.

The thing I see most is the older model owners talk about decent accuracy ,yet you'll get random people talking about the accuracy problem in the FS 9mms, post Compact introduction. It's enough of a problem that a very well known and trusted aftermarket parts company is designing new locking blocks and barrels to improve the accuracy and lock up in models exhibiting these issues.

ETA: I'd link a current thread with 9" groups at 15 yards while being bench rested and pictures of targets from another forum and FS 9mm but I know that's against the rules. Let's just say ARFCOM and leave it at that. I'm glad not all models share the characteristic of mine and many others, but considering it's random, it's hard to pin point the problem in the production line.
 
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I have no accuracy issues with my early manufacture fullsize M&P9 related with the pistol itself. Frankly, it is more accurate than I can shoot it. However, I've seen enough reports in enough places that I believe some fullsize M&P9s are having real accuracy issues.
Hopefully S&W will make everything right for everyone with a problem pistol. It certainly will be more difficult than shipping out a new striker. I would feel much better about purchasing another fs M&P9 if they took the problem head-on...

Nak, I hope they resolve your problem.
 
mewisemajic said:
I have no accuracy issues with my early manufacture fullsize M&P9 related with the pistol itself. Frankly, it is more accurate than I can shoot it. However, I've seen enough reports in enough places that I believe some fullsize M&P9s are having real accuracy issues.
Hopefully S&W will make everything right for everyone with a problem pistol. It certainly will be more difficult than shipping out a new striker. I would feel much better about purchasing another fs M&P9 if they took the problem head-on...

Nak, I hope they resolve your problem.
Click to expand...

I sure hope so since I'm sending it back for another month wait according to the second CS/tech I called today. This one told me to put his name on the box so he can view it personally. I basically told him that I don't want to have the rear sight adjusted incorrectly like last time and have it sent back as a-okay. I also mentioned how another member sent their gun in and got a new barrel for the same issues, which he then replied that I just may need a new barrel.

I'm just glad someone over there is taking a little more personal hands-on approach to this. Everything about the M&P is perfect and if it even shot as good as my Shield, I wouldn't be posting a single thing about accuracy problems since I know it's not a target gun. I guess it's time to play the waiting game again and see how this is hopefully resolved.
 
Nakanokalronin said:
I sure hope so since I'm sending it back for another month wait according to the second CS/tech I called today. This one told me to put his name on the box so he can view it personally. I basically told him that I don't want to have the rear sight adjusted incorrectly like last time and have it sent back as a-okay. I also mentioned how another member sent their gun in and got a new barrel for the same issues, which he then replied that I just may need a new barrel.

I'm just glad someone over there is taking a little more personal hands-on approach to this. Everything about the M&P is perfect and if it even shot as good as my Shield, I wouldn't be posting a single thing about accuracy problems since I know it's not a target gun. I guess it's time to play the waiting game again and see how this is hopefully resolved.
Click to expand...

Hey there, I've been following this thread for a little bit and just thought I'd chime in. I'm new to the forums (first post) and I have a FS M&P9 that I purchased a few months back. I really hope they resolve your issue and it slightly makes me paranoid about my FS9. I've been to the range a couple of times but have never pushed it out to 25 yards yet. Really looking forward to your follow-up after you receive your gun back from S&W.
 
Does this accuracy issue vary with caliber? Is the M&P45 more consistent than the M&P9s and 40s?
 
Failwhale said:
Hey there, I've been following this thread for a little bit and just thought I'd chime in. I'm new to the forums (first post) and I have a FS M&P9 that I purchased a few months back. I really hope they resolve your issue and it slightly makes me paranoid about my FS9. I've been to the range a couple of times but have never pushed it out to 25 yards yet. Really looking forward to your follow-up after you receive your gun back from S&W.
Click to expand...

If you're getting good groups now even at 10-15 yards, I'm sure you won't have any problems. The techs have told me a 3" group at 25 yards is what the FS M&Ps in 9mm are suppose to achieve. If you get say 5-6 inch groups at 25 yards, I call that okay in my book. I'm not going to make self defense shots at 25 yards but if you're looking to use it for competition, then it may be a concern.
 
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Nakanokalronin said:
If you're getting good groups now even at 10-15 yards, I'm sure you won't have any problems. The techs have told me a 3" group at 25 yards is what the FS M&Ps in 9mm are suppose to achieve. If you get say 5-6 inch groups at 25 yards, I call that okay in my book. I'm not going to make self defense shots at 25 yards but if your looking to use it for competition, then it may be a concern.
Click to expand...

Thank you for responding! I plan on doing some range testing soon to see what I can do at 10, 15 and 25 yards. I'm certainly no marksman at this point (this is my first gun). The gun currently for me is for home defense / target shooting. Assuming I should be looking at roughly 2 to 3" or less groups at 10-15 yards? I'm a decent shot but not the greatest so honestly the gun at this point is easily more accurate than I am.
 
Failwhale said:
Thank you for responding! I plan on doing some range testing soon to see what I can do at 10, 15 and 25 yards. I'm certainly no marksman at this point (this is my first gun). The gun currently for me is for home defense / target shooting. Assuming I should be looking at roughly 2 to 3" or less groups at 10-15 yards? I'm a decent shot but not the greatest so honestly the gun at this point is easily more accurate than I am.
Click to expand...

If it's your first gun, your going to learn basic marksmanship skills such as proper trigger pull, grip, stance, etc, so don't get discouraged with groups until you've got shooting a handgun in general first. Remember that the M&Ps sights are set-up so the front sight covers what your aiming at. Many talk about the M&Ps shooting low but that's because they are lining up the top of the front sight with the middle of the target.

sightimages.jpg



ETA: Dropped off the M&P a few minutes ago and should arrive there Monday morning. Hopefully the turn around time isn't too bad.
 
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Nakanokalronin said:
If it's your first gun, your going to learn basic marksmanship skills such as proper trigger pull, grip, stance, etc, so don't get discouraged with groups until you've got shooting a handgun in general first. Remember that the M&Ps sights are set-up so the front sight covers what your aiming at. Many talk about the M&Ps shooting low but that's because they are lining up the top of the front sight with the middle of the target.

sightimages.jpg



ETA: Dropped off the M&P a few minutes ago and should arrive there Monday morning. Hopefully the turn around time isn't too bad.
Click to expand...

Thank you for pointing this out I seriously had no idea. This gives me an excuse to go to the range now :D Thanks again for your help!
 
Long story short I couldn't hit squat with the M&P 9MM Pro Series gun..even with the APEX Competion trigger parts in it. It was really discouraging. I'm not a marksman but have always been able to group most anything I shot.

I got my son out to the range...a die hard Glock guy that competes on a regular basis. He picked it up...shot it 5 times and put 5 rounds within 1" of each other.:o

He made me aware of the sight picture pointed out here and after months of practice I now have two Pro Series 9's that I can consistanty group within 2" at 25 yards.
 
M&P 9 accuracy

I got a new m&p a couple of months ago. The grip, sight picture, low bore axis and trigger were overwhelming in a good way. Perfect reliability with several types of ammo. I did have to get used to the trigger pull, to me the percieved pull was light. I polished the sear, trigger bar loop and firing pin block. It has a tremendous trigger. Accuracy was a puzzle. Poor groups and inconsistent. A close look with a magnifying glass showed "chatter" marks on the barrel crown, and it was easy to see that the crown was not cleanly round. I carefully smoothed out the ragged crown and the accuracy improved greatly. It is very acceptable accuracy for the price.
This is how handguns are marketed these days, poor QC, get them out the door and sale them and then fix the returns that come back. This is why there are so many love/hate issues with most all handguns brands. At least the m&p is reliable.
 
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