M&P9 Trigger/training/pushing:anticipating recoil

[b79holmes]

I'll try to ask this without posting the targets.
Among others I have a M29 Mnt Gun and a M&P9.
Both MA triggers have been reworked.

I can fire 12 44 specials double action from the M29 and get 8 in the 9 ring/black of a 50FT Pistol target at 7 yards. So I have 10 rounds in a 3" circle a little left of the X. I am quite happy with this and shoot my 642CT at about the same level of accuracy.

With the M&P9 I fired about 30 rounds into a 5" circle, (same target) maybe 5 in the black/9 ring but noticeably up and to the right at 10-11 o'clock.

The Error Analysis pages on the Encyclopedia of Bullseye Pistol web site calls this Pushing:Anticipating Recoil. I am absolutely doing this with the M&P9 and if I 'misjudge' the moment of firing will catch myself doing this, pushing the pistol forward.

I think this (for me) has more to do with the length of the trigger pull.

How do I stop doing this? Some time ago I read a post somewhere about a drill to deal with the long trigger pull (squeeze and hold, repeat until bang) and am looking for similar info and drills to correct this problem.

Thanks,
Bill

 

[Sgt Preston]

Sgt Preston here. The best advice I was ever given was to dryfire, dryfire, dryfire. I was told to do this at home obviuosly with an empty gun. Sit in a comfortable chair. Do not put up a target. Cock the gun, slowly take up the slack. Close your eyes. Squeeze the trigger slowly. Do this very slowly 25 times a day. Begin to learn how the trigger feels & learn when it's ready to go off. After a week or so, do the same drill facing an empty wall. Get to know the trigger of that specific gun. Commit it to muscle memory. Next hang a target on the wall. Same drill, empty gun, standing. Cock the gun & bring it up. Aim it at the target. Pay careful attention to use the same hand position every time. Take up the slack. Squeeze the trigger. Pay very close attention to the front sight at the point wher the hammer falls. Concentrate on keeping the front sight motionless when the hammer falls. This proceedure is what worker for me. Hope it helps. Sgt Preston USMC LLA

 

[dennis40x]

Like most endeavors it's a matter of consistency. What's the last thing you saw before you closed your eyes was often repeated phrase on the range by instructors. My sight picture isn't what it use to be in decades past but trigger control is. Most people start chasing the bullseye thus rushing the trigger press. One may simply place a target with the clean side facing the shooter with out the bullseye it's surprising the groups that maybe obtained. As for dry firing it certainly has its place. I'll admit I'm not a big practitioner of dry firing. I'd rather be on the range firing but on the other hand dry firing takes one thru the basic mechanics of trigger control and sight picture.

 

[carlt]

This artcile may prove to be helpful to you. I also have an MP9 (loveit)and found this useful.

You want a smooth, even, uninterrupted pull. You can say to yourself, "press the trigger." You can say to yourself, "sque-e-eze the trigger." I say to myself, "roll the trigger," because that connotes the smooth, consistent, uniform pressure I'm trying to apply. You don't want the shot to truly surprise you, of course, because that would be an unintentional discharge. Rather, you want the exact instant of the shot to surprise you, so you don't anticipate it and convulsively jerk the shot off target. Experts agree that the best way to get the trigger pull down, once you know what it's supposed to be, is to practice it. Dry-fire, or "clicking" the empty gun, is the best practice.
By Massad Ayoob

 

[b79holmes]

Thanks for the ideas gentlemen. I find it frustrating that I shoot the M&P9 so much worse than the M29.

I will work on some dry firing exercises and see if that helps.

Bill

 

[Nightowl]

When I am not hitting the center of the target, I go back to the basics. Trigger, sight picture and in your case it sounds like the followthrough. Concentrate in holding the gun stady until after the shot fires. Shot aniticipation is the biggest bug a boo of any shooter. Dry firing helps a lot to master the fundamentals of sight picture and trigger control, but you have to actually have it go boom to master the followthrough, or so I have noticed. Oh, by the way, handgun shooting can be very frustrating!

 

[Wyatt Earp]

Have you tried all three different backstraps on your M&P?

I bet the right one will cure a lot of your problems.

 

[b79holmes]

Originally posted by Wyatt Earp:
Have you tried all three different backstraps on your M&P?

Actually, no. I have pretty big hands and the one originally installed seemed to be the biggest. I think you are right and I should try the medium one.

I also think Nightowl's point about follow-through may be the issue. Sometimes if I misjudge when it 'should' fire I am literally pushing the gun forward and maybe down anticipating the discharge.

Thanks for all the replies everyone.
Bill

 

[Will B]

I expect your trigger on you M&P 9 is the same as the one on my M&P 45. It's hinged in the middle for safety and not like most pistols triggers. While aquiring your target bring the trigger back to the point of resistance and hold. When you aquire the target it is a finger tip (before the first knuckle) pull to shoot, take a deep breath and on release is when you pull the trigger. Slow fire until you get use to the trigger and it will come easy latter. The M&P isn't a second knuckle pistol it requires good form to shoot well. Dry fire is alway ill advice and won't help you with the M&P trigger. The pistol and trigger is designed for professional use so put a finger tip on it, bring it back to resistance and aquire your target. I expect you will be amazed how well the pistol hits target.

 

[dennis40x]

Originally posted by Will B:
Dry fire is alway ill advice and won't help you with the M&P trigger. The pistol and trigger is designed for professional

We'll simply have to agree to disagree on the value of dry firing. While I may not be an avid practitioner of dry firing it is useful in the mechanics of trigger control and sight picture.

Are the examples of the 1911A1, S&W-4506, SIG 220, Glock 21, and SW99-AS-45ACP less professional than say the S&W MP series pistol? I think not.

 

[Munsterf18]

Also,
I don't know how many rounds you have through it, but my M&P trigger smoothed up considerably after about 1000 rounds (and dry fires).

Munster

 

[Matt Murphy]

"Dry firng is always ill advice" I wouldn't say that, ever. There's nothing wrong with dry firing and S&W even recognizes it's done with their pistols and addresses it in the owners manual. Practice with that M&P9 and you will improve.