New M&P full size- is it me or the gun?

[Gorme]

Just tried a new M&P9 today (it has the night sights), and I found that I was consistently shooting about 3" low/right (about 4:30-5:00). I'm certainly not a great shooter, but I was consistently tearing up the same spot on the target. I switched over to my 9C and though I'm not as consistent w/it as the full size, when I took my time I was hitting the bullseye. I never did hit the bullseye with the full size. When I took my time w/it, I kept tearing up that same spot.

Is this something where I should send the gun to Smith for a sight adjustment, or is it "me?" Again, I don't claim to be a great shooter, but I've shot my own 9C and full size MP9 rentals in the past and never had this much trouble hitting a spot on a target. The fact that everything was hitting in about the same spot seemed a little odd too. Don't know if it matters, but I am a lefty.

 

[Gorme]

Just tried a new M&P9 today (it has the night sights), and I found that I was consistently shooting about 3" low/right (about 4:30-5:00). I'm certainly not a great shooter, but I was consistently tearing up the same spot on the target. I switched over to my 9C and though I'm not as consistent w/it as the full size, when I took my time I was hitting the bullseye. I never did hit the bullseye with the full size. When I took my time w/it, I kept tearing up that same spot.

Is this something where I should send the gun to Smith for a sight adjustment, or is it "me?" Again, I don't claim to be a great shooter, but I've shot my own 9C and full size MP9 rentals in the past and never had this much trouble hitting a spot on a target. The fact that everything was hitting in about the same spot seemed a little odd too. Don't know if it matters, but I am a lefty.

 

[Lee in Quartzsite]

Just a couple of suggestions....have you tried using a different size grip? Is your front sight exactly in the center of the slide? Mine was off about 1/8 inch when new. Have you tried letting someone else shoot the gun and see if they have the same results?

 

[magnum12pm]

Have you tried shooting it off a sand bag or pistol rest? I don't know why this is such a lost art! It's the only sensible way to determine which is at fault, shooter or Gun. When I get a new gun this is the first order of business of sight adjustment or no need of adjustment.

 

[RON in PA]

Lots of folks who are right handed report shooting low and left, especially with Glocks, until they get used to the trigger.

 

[Bullitholz]

As soon as I read you were hitting low an right I thought...he's a lefty.

Shoot the gun off a rested position, sandbags are the best but I realize they are not always available. Shooting from a rested position takes the "shooter" factor out of the equation.

If, while shooting from a reste position, the rounds hit where they should it's you that have the problem. If the rounds hit in the same place when the gun is rested, as shooting off hand then it's the gun.

I have a feeling that it's really you causing the POA/POI error. You just need to get used to this particular pistol and it's quirks. Just because you shoot other guns well doesn't mean you'll shoot them all well. I learned that lesson a while back myself.

 

[Gorme]

Bullitholz: If it is indeed me, what is causing me to shoot low and right? What do I need to watch for when I'm shooting to avoid this?

It's weird I've shot the M&P9 fullsize just recently-- several times-- and never had this issue where I was consistently low and right. It's just with this new gun. I was heartened, I guess, that I was hitting in the same spot and not all over the place.

 

[M16]

I have a .357 sig M&P that is going back because it shoots five inches low.

 

[Bullitholz]

From my own experience, I was shooting my M&P45 low and right, and I'm right handed. It's a pretty well known phenomenon that because of how we hold(hand(s) placement) the gun and pull the trigger that we will have a tendancy to pull the muzzle down just as the shot breaks and also push it to the opposite of our strong side, usually due to gripping the gun tigher as you stroke the trigger aft. I found that changing my hold and with concentration and practice I overcame this bad habit, took a while though.

Something else that I found was that I thought the mid sized grip was the most comfortable but I shoot the gun MUCH better with the large grip installed. Anyway, I have been shooting the gun with the large insert on it for the last 6 months and then went back to the mid size insert a couple of weeks ago. Well I guess I am comfortable enough with the gun now because I can shoot it equally well with either insert installed.

FWIW A good trigger job on these pistols REALLY helps reduce the tendancy to pull the muzzle off target.

 

[cajun 48]

My vote goes for either the trigger or the grip.
With my .45 f/s it took about 500 rounds for the trigger to smooth out and depending on the
grip it will move the group or make it larger.
Just my 2 cents aj b

 

[Bandersnatch]

Here, hope this helps.....

 

[Spotteddog]

Thank You Bander!
That illustration is ALWAYS worth it's weight in gold!
(Or lead, or primers, or brass, or loaded ammo or?)