M&P 9mm: Can't hit the broad side of a barn - Sight adjustment?

[EthanG-M&P]

I put about 220 rounds through my M&P, and it seems very inaccurate. Many would say I just can't shoot, but that is untrue. My grouping with my Ruger Mach 1 is tight and controlled. Granted, it is a .22 with many thousands of rounds through it to break it in, but still, it just proves that my vision and stance are fine.

This leads me to believe in either/both of these assumptions:

A) I am just not used to this heavy 10lb trigger pull. The Ruger I shoot has the lightest trigger I've even felt, and is easy to catch after every shot. The M&P, a whole other story. Despite how hard I concentrate, and how slowly I breath and squeeze the trigger (hard to tell when it is going to give), my shots are off - usually low and to the left.

B) The sights are off.
What is the best way to align and perfect the sights if they are off?

 

[BobsSmith]

Hi..

Congrats on a great gun. I have the MP 45 FS, and love it. Perhaps most accurate gun I have fired.

You are grouping low and to the left? How big are those groups? If they are small groups, just a matter of sight adjustment on the rear sight and or hold over.

I am not a expert, but you may try different ammo, bullet weights. Generally the lighter the bullet, the lower it will print.

One thing I have done, prior to getting my MP out to the range for the 1st time, is to dry fire it with snap caps. This helped me get used to the trigger.

You may want to consider APEX, seems lot of people on this have done this.

Best

Bob

 

[agksimon]

Shoot the gun on a rest, like a sandbag and squeeeze that trigger, don't jerk it. Most right handed people that group left and low are jerking the trigger, even if they don't realize it. Have someone randomly put some snap caps in the magazine and put the magazine in the gun, so you don't know where the live rounds are. If you're jerking the trigger, it will show up that way.
Granted, a 10lb trigger will give wide groups and a trigger job, mostly filing and honing the sear to striker angle will drop it down quite a bit and make for smaller groups.

 

[bigmoose]

Do you shoot right handed? Low and left is usually a sign of allowing the wrist and hand to roll while squeezing the trigger. Every part of your hand, wrist, arm etc should stay rock solid until after the gun is fired. The very smallest of movements are exaggerated with a handgun. That trigger pull takes some getting used to. Have someone who is familiar with that type of trigger take some shots...see where they hit...go from there.

 

[EthanG-M&P]

Thank you, Bob.

Good point on the lighter bullets sinking low. I wouldn't think it would make much of a difference at only 50 feet, but I had thought about it. I was shooting 115gr jacketed and they were all low! But when I shot a few reloaded Lead RN rounds, they group seemed to come up a little bit.

Also, as far as "grouping" I wouldn't call it tight at all, so that is a little on me, but yes, generally low and to the left.



agksimon,
I was shooting while resting on a suite case I use to store my equipment. It helps steady my aim a bit, but I didn't see much improvement. I'll look into the snap cap test (or maybe some dry rounds without primers? The question on pure dry fires hurting the pistol is still up in the air).


Moose,
Yeah, the trigger is a big issue here; I'm not a fan of it. Good old MA and their 10lb law. Anyway, I let my friend shoot it, who was having horrible grouping with the .22, but he had reasonable grouping with my M&P, and he has horrible eye sight! So, I believe the main culprit is my stance/pull/heavy trigger.

 

[jmathis84]

I believe its the trigger pull. A 10 pound pull is crazy. It took me about 100 rounds to get used to my 40FS. I was shooting low and left but after some time the groups tightened up. It is a different pull but just keep plunking away and youll figure it out.Also check if you can get a trigger job i dunno about MA laws about getting it lightened. Mine is about 5.5 from the factory but I noticed it seems lighter the more I shoot it.

 

[OKFC05]

my shots are off - usually low and to the left.

This is the classic symptom for someone who is used to light SA pulls and tries a heavy DA. If MA would allow, I'd put in the Apex kit and get the pull down to 5 or so.
Changing the sights is not going to cure the problem, just mask them.
1. Change the trigger
2. Learn the technique for this type of trigger (you're milking the grip and moving the gun, don't bother to deny it)
3. Sell the gun and buy a SA centerfire.
4. Keep it and cuss S&W and MA for making a lousy gun you can't shoot.

Your choice.

 

[justsumstuff]

I don't know what the trigger pull on my M&P9c, but it's not as heavy as my 3953. I often can't hit the paper plate& it is also low & left. However, other members of my family, male & female, pick it up and hit dead center. The last trip to the range, after about 200 rounds I was getting much better. I really like the gun, just can't hit as accurate with it as my snubbie 64.

 

[EthanG-M&P]

This is the classic symptom for someone who is used to light SA pulls and tries a heavy DA. If MA would allow, I'd put in the Apex kit and get the pull down to 5 or so.
Changing the sights is not going to cure the problem, just mask them.
1. Change the trigger
2. Learn the technique for this type of trigger (you're milking the grip and moving the gun, don't bother to deny it)
3. Sell the gun and buy a SA centerfire.
4. Keep it and cuss S&W and MA for making a lousy gun you can't shoot.

Your choice.

I deny nothing. I know I need practice/patients with this new pistol, especially since I just learned what low/left is a sign of (the reason I posted this in the first place), but still, the trigger is way too heavy, despite my inability to shoot it well.

I am going to do a combination of 1&2&4.

Thanks for your input.

 

[Laddy Smith]

M&P 9mm: Can't hit the broad side of a barn

Move the barn.

Couldn't resist...

Lad

 

[Kevrod3]

I have the same problem with my M&P 9 but its just the opposite. I hit about 6 inches right. Of the 100 rounds I've put through her every one was right. my elevation is good just right? WHat you guys think?

 

[grampa p]

another idea

You say you were at 50 ft? When I first started with semi automatics and was not used to the trigger I started at about 15 - 20 ft and moved back gradually. I figured that the cc course longest distance was 21 ft. so my goal was to master that distance first. That helped me. It was just hand held though. Heck with my old eyes seeing a target at 50ft is challenging enough much less trying to hit the little red circle!!


Which grip do you have on it? Does it fit your hand right or do you need to try one larger or smaller?

 

[EthanG-M&P]

Move the barn.

Couldn't resist...

Lad

Hahah. No worries.

 

[missiondude]

Does Mass require all handguns to have a 10 lb trigger to OWN them, or to SELL them? Big difference there. If it just for the MFGR to sell it, then I would put Apex parts into it and never look back. There are loads of threads on the subject of the Apex parts, but I am sure there is a kit that will make you love your new gun...

 

[MyNewM&P9]

I have a similar problem, mine shoots about 5 inches too low and just a tad to the left. The left is my problem, but how low it shoots is the gun as I have compared it to a couple others at the range. I was always shooting low and with other guns of the same caliber, using the same kind of ammo I was dead center. I had my friend shoot my M&P9 and he was 5 inches low as well. I have about 300 rounds through this gun. I'm sending it back to s&w to take a look at it, while I have the Apex trigger kit on order for my M&P9c and I'll swap that at the range to do a before after since I have not really shot my 9c yet.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

WOW!!! I can't imagine a 10 lb trigger on one of those. I have an M&P9 that I love-great trigger pull and I can cover a 17 round group offhand rapid at 100 yards with a 9" pie plate.

OK OK 10 yards----sheesh you guys are tough
Seriously though I thinks you should put a lighter trigger in that puppy.

 

[DanWales]

Trigger

Whew ten pound pull would give me blisters. LOL

No doubt about it getting that sucker down to around 5 pounds will HELP A LOT. I had 7-15 on my .45C when I started. Apex kit made all the difference in the world. Averages 5-5 and to say it is much smoother would be a huge understatement.

However been through the low left deal myself.

I would be way more suspect of myself versus ammo. At 10 yards to me anyway that's huge for ammo.

Doesn't cost anything to call S & W but I know if it was me I'd do some serious bench rest testing first.

Dan

 

[EthanG-M&P]

I have a similar problem, mine shoots about 5 inches too low and just a tad to the left. The left is my problem, but how low it shoots is the gun as I have compared it to a couple others at the range. I was always shooting low and with other guns of the same caliber, using the same kind of ammo I was dead center. I had my friend shoot my M&P9 and he was 5 inches low as well. I have about 300 rounds through this gun. I'm sending it back to s&w to take a look at it, while I have the Apex trigger kit on order for my M&P9c and I'll swap that at the range to do a before after since I have not really shot my 9c yet.

I ordered the Apex kit yesterday. I am sure it is going to make a world of difference, but what is the deal with the M&P shooting low? I noticed it was definitely shooting low at the range, but I thought that was me, and the "low to the left" gig.

If I install the Apex trigger, would S&W still take a look at the gun?

 

[Kevrod3]

My question is why in the world doesn't the S&W people fix this before it gets in the shooters hands?? Seems crazy to have to spend another $100 just to get it on paper! The real reason I bought the gun in the first place was shooting the full size 45 mp and I loved it... Guess i'm gonna have to fork out the dough!

 

[vista461]

When I first got my M&P pro I was shooting low and sometimes low and left. It was me, as I shot it more and got used to it I was fine. The Glock I also had then I shot dead on with. Now I shoot great with the M&P and the Glock is gone