Sorry, a question about 3rd gen accuracy

[1sailor]

I know that in the end most everything depends on the skill of the shooter so, having that out of the way here's what I'm looking for. I own an M&P40 which I really like. Converts easily to 9mm and is reliable in either caliber. Here's the problem. Myself and a few other guys have gotten together and we compete informally against each other firing at paper targets offhand at 50ft. I do as well as can be expected with my M&P but because it requires a combat hold on the sights accuracy is pretty much limited to keeping all my shots inside a 4" circle. At 50ft that front sight covers quite a bit of the target. Using a 6 o'clock hold I'm hitting way low. I really don't want to spend a months pay on another pistol and so the 3rd gen guns look pretty good to me. Especially since they can be had with adjustable sights (can't find adjustables for my M&P). I know a lot of board members own 3rd gen guns and was wondering what kind of groups you're capable of getting at 50ft. I seriously considered getting a Sig 1911 but right now an extra $800 is pretty tough to come up with.

 

[k22fan]

Most any 3rd gen. ought to print 4 inch 10 shot groups at 25 yards with decent ammo, or at least mine have and I own a variety of them. Usually a reload can be found that does quite a bit better. For what you are starting, informal accuracy competition, unless you get very lucky with a combination of fixed sights and ammo, adjustable sights make sense to me. Maybe it's a guy thing but accuracy that ordinarily is good enough isn't anymore once the other guy is doing slightly better than you. I'd suggest you compare the cost of equipping your M&P with adjustables versus dumping it and buying an adjustable sighted gun. My guess is you'll arrive at the decision to buy a more appropriate pistol.
You didn't write if you are reloading so I don't know if my experience with factory 9mms helps, but I'll give it anyway. I found both Remington's and Winchester's least expensive FMJ 9mms did not give adequate accuracy to compete in events that required fairly fast shooting at 50 feet while dirt cheap Wolff 115 grain FMJ gave very good accuracy. I just had to start shooting the Wolff with a dry barrel. Any oil in the chamber caused the crud Wolff leaves behind to stick in the chamber and cause jams.

 

[1sailor]

Not really giving much thought to getting rid of my M&P. It's a great gun for what it was designed for. It's just not ideal for what we're doing. If I could find adjustables for my M&P I would go that route first. Just being able to use a 6 o'clock hold on a target would shrink my group size considerably and allow me to put them all closer to where I want them. I wouldn't give up the M&P unless I could find something I liked a whole lot more.

 

[Silversmok3]

Heres two pics of my 5903 , from the POV of the sights and my 15 round group at about 15 paces, shot offhand.I'm allergic to bench rests .

Ammo used was 115 grain UMC yellow box FMJ. Hope these pics help.

Rest assured a 3rd gen is quite capable of long range accuracy for target shooting work, ive used this pistol to 'recycle' my Guiness Extra Stout bottles from 25 yards on occasion.

 

[BruteTC]

My 4006 is easily as accurate as my 1911. I want to go out and make some targets to prove it, but it's late and I have to work in the morning


Typoed on my iPhone.

 

[gunny4053]

I don't have any pictures of target groups, mainly because I tend to shoot what's on the hill side. As for accuracy, my 6690 shoots "minute of beer can" at 50 yards with no problem. I can only imagine in the hands of someone serious about their target shooting, that sub 4 inch groups are in the realm of reality.

 

[k22fan]

Not really giving much thought to getting rid of my M&P. It's a great gun for what it was designed for. It's just not ideal for what we're doing. If I could find adjustables for my M&P I would go that route first. Just being able to use a 6 o'clock hold on a target would shrink my group size considerably and allow me to put them all closer to where I want them. I wouldn't give up the M&P unless I could find something I liked a whole lot more.

Two thoughts: first, M&Ps have become so common that if there are no aftermarket adjustable sights yet, it probably won't be long until they are available, and second, S&W offers lower front sights for 3rd generations, so I'd ask them if they have shorter front sights for their M&Ps.

 

[Glenn H]

1006 shoots better than I do

^headline says it all

 

[wharvey]

Typically my 6944, (blue DOA and I understand kind of rare), normally shoots about 6 inch groups at 25 yards. I normally only do drill type draw and fire, quick double tap type shooting. Rarely do "precision" shooting with it. Always found it to shoot minute of bad guy at 25 yards even shooting like this.

I really didn't believe that ammo made that much difference with a handgun but recently tried HP38 powder since I couldn't find my normal powder. I loaded up some using Rem 115gr hollow points using a load about 60% up between the starting and maximum loads that Hogdon recommended. Did some slow fire and found that most of my bullets were cutting the same hole at 10 yards. Not two bad for hand held double action shooting - at least for me.

Edit - BTW, this load does tend to shoot a bit low. My normal carry load, 124 gr. Gold Dots shoot to point of aim

 

[dirtysanchez]

Dawson precision or novaks make adjustable sights for m&p's

 

[jdh]

I agree with Glenn H.

My 1006 is easily the most accurate of all my pistols.