New M&P 9c Owner

[kevinmcc2]

Hey all, just picked up my first pistol. Got a M&P 9c, so far so good in my books. Then again I have not really shot anything else...

Any who, I went to the range today and threw 150 rounds down the range no hiccups or problems! The rounds I used are Remington UMC FMJ.

Now I have 1 question for you avid shooters out there. I have not had any practice with pistols so I know it can very well just be me but! Do these pistols come out of the factory pretty accurate, sight wise. I swear I line all the 3 dots up and fire but my shots are all over the place!

Now I know it sounds noobish, but I am a noob here! So should I adjust the sights at all or do I just need practice here!?

Any input appreciated.

 

[158Grain]

Shoot it, shoot it some more, then shoot it even more. I wouldn't touch the sites until you have many more rounds through it first. Buy some snap caps and practice dry firing your gun. You will be amazed how much your front sight will move when not anticipating the recoil.

 

[MP22]

You need to shoot enough till you see groups appear in your shots before you adjust the sights. Make sure your grip...trigger finger....stance...distance...etc are all correct. Lots of variables that can cause you to be all over the page other than sights.

 

[robkarrob]

What distance are you shooting? No do not touch the sights until you get some consistency. Try shooting from a rest, use a bean bag pillow or sand bag. Use a two handed grip and breathe out as you SQUEEZE the trigger, not pull the trigger. You cannot make adjustments until you get consistent groupings.

If you can't get good groups, see the range master and ask him/her to help you. Let the range master try the gun. Very unlikely the gun is off. It takes practice and skill to get good groupings, not something likely on your first trip out. Trigger control is most important. You have to have a good stance and grip. This will lead into a solid setup.

As much as everyone on this forum would want to help, we can't assist you as well as someone standing next to you at the range. You will improve and be happy with you gun.

Bob

 

[kevinmcc2]

Awesome guys! Thanks for the info and tips. Will try them out tomorrow at the range!

Got one more question if you guys do not mind. My older brother reloads rifle ammo for his 30-30 and his other rifles and has a press and powder measuring device. I want to get into reloading for my pistol to save some money, since I really do enjoy shooting a lot.

Now my question, can I just go to Gander Mountain or any other sporting good store and buy a new set of dies for the press we already have mounted in our basement?

I think I have the concept of reloading down, but I want to make sure...

What I "think" is, take the used cartridge, decap the primer, and as the primer is popped out, the die will also slightly flare the cartridge out. Next, clean them in a tumbler, if it is necessary? Install a new primer. Then measure out the powder and put in cartridge. Lastly push in a new bullet, and measure so its correct size?

Seems easy, and a lot more affordable... Do I have it right or am I missing something that makes this process more difficult.

Sorry about the noobie questions. Just new to the sport and looking for some info!

https://shop.rcbs.com/WebConnect/Ma...nlabel=index&productId=4824&route=C09J043N143

That is the die kit. The die kits my brother has only has 2 dies, what does the 3rd to with this?

Also, do I need a new seat for the 9mm cartridge to sit into on the press or are they universal, for example can I use the same seat for a .270 and with a 9mm?

 

[NashvilleMike]

When I got my first pistol, my shots were all over the place, mostly low. I asked a friend to check my gun out for me. He put five shots into a ragged hole in the bullseye at seven yards. I found out what the problem was.

The best three pieces of advice I ever got were: 1. to dryfire holding the barrel firmly but not pressing too hard against a wall, lining up the sights. Then move the pistol back an inch from the wall, dryfire and see how well you hold the sights, then repeat several thousand times. Many years later, I still do that. 2. to double plug my ears. Putting in earplugs then putting on muffs. It really does a lot to stop flinching. and 3. to randomly put a snap cap or two in when loading each mag, then mix up the mags so you don't know where the snap cap will be. When you click on the snap cap, you'll see if you're flinching. If you are, go back to number one for a few thousand more times. Several years later I still find flinching creeping up now and then, but now if I concentrate I can regularly put 5 shots in a ragged hole at seven yards.

 

[hkyplr]

Awesome guys! Thanks for the info and tips. Will try them out tomorrow at the range!

Got one more question if you guys do not mind. My older brother reloads rifle ammo for his 30-30 and his other rifles and has a press and powder measuring device. I want to get into reloading for my pistol to save some money, since I really do enjoy shooting a lot.

Now my question, can I just go to Gander Mountain or any other sporting good store and buy a new set of dies for the press we already have mounted in our basement?

I think I have the concept of reloading down, but I want to make sure...

What I "think" is, take the used cartridge, decap the primer, and as the primer is popped out, the die will also slightly flare the cartridge out. Next, clean them in a tumbler, if it is necessary? Install a new primer. Then measure out the powder and put in cartridge. Lastly push in a new bullet, and measure so its correct size?

Seems easy, and a lot more affordable... Do I have it right or am I missing something that makes this process more difficult.

Sorry about the noobie questions. Just new to the sport and looking for some info!

https://shop.rcbs.com/WebConnect/Ma...nlabel=index&productId=4824&route=C09J043N143

That is the die kit. The die kits my brother has only has 2 dies, what does the 3rd to with this?

Also, do I need a new seat for the 9mm cartridge to sit into on the press or are they universal, for example can I use the same seat for a .270 and with a 9mm?

There is ALOT more to reloading than that, reloading can be dangerous to those with a little knowledge. There are plenty of forums around specifically for reloading. Look those up and get The ABC's of Reloading and read it. There is really a lot to know. Good news is you shouldn't have to put a lot of money into reloading for your firearm. Dies, maybe a shell holder as some die sets have them, probably a different powder, some primers, and bullets of course.
You are welcome to PM me with any other questions you may have.
Good luck!

 

[Bengal07]

Reloading and 9MM

other than .22 ammo --9mm is the lowest price ammo-----it would take you 50 years to recover your equipment cost to reload 9mm when you can buy 1000 round bricks for $200 on line at various sites to include Cabelas, Natchez etc-------if you want to shoot reloads 124 grain 9mm FMJ that are clean and reliable-----try SprayandPrayReloading.com----they'll send you 1000 rounds or any multiple of 50 rounds for $10 per 50--I saw them at a gun show and tried them out---the owner is a former Army ranger

 

[Skeptic 9c]

I keep a copy of the following on my wall behind my monitor and in my range box.

STANCE: Feet shoulder width apart. Nose before toes.
GRIP: Right hand firmly around grip, left hand tight to gun, pull with left, push with right.
SIGHT ALIGNMENT: Focus on front sight, good sight picture
TRIGGER: Squeeze with pad of finger, firmly.
FOLLOW THROUGH: Finger holds trigger back until front sight is back on target, reset sear.
Geoff
Who also has "A paragraph is a group of sentences organized around one complete thought which is stated in the topic sentence." Jerry Pournelle

 

[Lost Lake]

Reloading is a satisfying hobby. You will save money, especially since you have the equipment already!

You will need a shell holder, they are cartridge specific. The three die sets include a second sizing die. Read up on it and you'll understand.

You will need a trimmer for a pistol. I use one for my rifle shells to improve consistency, but in a rimless gun they are extremely necessary. The brass expands and deforms as it is fired. The .40 is about the worst of the calibers because it is a very high pressure round. The case size has to be exact because that is how you set your head spacing, the case sets in the chamber on a small ridge to support it. That's what keeps a rimless cartridge from falling into the barrel.

A trimmer isn't expensive, but you have to be precise with your sizing so don't go too cheap. A good one will be easy to set, easy to lock in place, and you can trust it enough to only check every 20th shell or so to be sure it is right on.

Powders are much different, and watch your primers to be sure you use the one required by your recipe. Buy a reloading book and follow the recipe for the cartridge you like. It will tell you the primer, powder, case length, bullet weight, everything you need.

And separate your work on the bench! Some recipes take so little powder that it is possible to double charge a cartridge if you aren't paying attention. The resulting boom can take off a hand and destroy a gun. No screwing around when reloading!!

 

[Excel]

I picked up my new M&P 9c two weeks ago and took it to the range last week end. I found it very accurate right out of the box. I had no trouble putting 100 rounds right where I wanted them. This is the easiest most accurate firearm I've ever fired. Recoil was almost non existent. I shoot it better than my Glock 19 and find the trigger on the M&P superior to the Glock. I am very impressed with the weapon. Waiting on a shield anyone have any idea when production will start meeting demand?

 

[DustyDawg48]

First, congratulations on picking up your first pistol! Very good choice, by the way. The M&P9c was my latest purchase but is also now my daily carry. Nearing the 1,000 round mark with mine and it is one of the funnest and most reliable pistol I take to the range! I can't say enough good things about mine.

What others have stressed about taking your time and learning the proper grip and getting a good sight alignment and sight picture along with the proper trigger pull is true. It takes practice, but can be done without ever firing a shot. Dry fire practice is one of the best things you can do to improve your gun handling skills if you devote just a few minutes a day to work on them. Most people will tend to grip too loosely or have very jerky trigger pulls and that really effects your groups. Lots of YouTube videos out there to help but one of the best videos I've seen is from Magpul Dynamics. Their Art of the Dynamic Handgun DVD set is full of incredibly useful information, drills and exercises for the first time shooter all the way to the very seasoned gun owner. Well worth the $40 investment for something that can teach you a ton about pistol manipulation. Nothing beats instruction from a trainer but their video series is well worth checking out.

And on reloading, it isn't difficult at all. But you have to be exacting when you do take up that hobby. It is fun, satisfying and gives you a hobby to do when you can't get out and shoot. Be sure of your data, buy a good reloading manual; I'm a fan of the Speer #14 manual but any from a reputable manufacturer should do. Study it and check and double-check your measurements and you should be good to go!

 

[robkarrob]

Just another price for ammunition. Walmart sells Federal Champion 9mm 115 gr FMJ target ammo in 50 count box for $12.97 ($.26 each). When you can find them in stock they also have the same ammunition in 100 count boxes for $19.97 ($.20 each). Very good ammo and it is all I use for all my target practice. They have it in 40 S&W and 45 acp, but these are quite a bit more expensive than the 9mm. This is the current price at my local Walmart in Sarasota Florida, today (9/19/2012).

Bob

 

[Houdini1953]

When firing focus on the front sight not the target and keep your focus on the front sight after the round is fired, the target and the rear sights should be a blur but not the front sight. This alone will improve your shots, after you have shot about 6 or 8 rounds then examine your target. Start out at close range say 9 or ten feet and as you get good at that range then move the target out farther and get used to getting good results there then you can increase more and more as you like!

 

[kevinmcc2]

Just got back from the range again! Collected all of the brass!

I got a lot of .40 and 9mm brass that I have in a tumbler now for cleaning.

My shooting seems to be getting better but is still pretty random. I had a veteran of shooting shoot my gun and he was shooting low and to the left with the gun aswell!

Can this be the sights or just the gun or just both of us?

Thanks all.

Ohh and also I was talking with a man up at Cabela's today and told me that they have sales for 9mm once in a while for 50 rounds for 8.99 and that it is a debate that reloading 9mm is more affordable!

I shot 250 rounds in 2 days and want to go put 250 more down! So I think reloading will benefit me! I am going to look for a die set and pull the trigger I think.

Does anyone know a good site to buy primer, powder, and bullets online for a good price?

 

[DustyDawg48]

It is very easy to reload 9mm for around $8-$9 per hundred if you buy your components in bulk. The number of people that reload 9 mm is staggering and they certainly all can't be wrong!

Most polymer guns will put you low&left until you get used to the trigger. Usually indicative of a trigger pull that isn't straight back or where the weapon hand squeezes during the pull and it pushes the gun away for where you are aiming.