I don't like the S&W M&P .40
 

This was the first hand-gun I purchased. I like the calibur, and I have a couple thousand rounds of it.

When I first purchased it, it felt great in my hand, well weighted and sat well in my hands.

I am having a hard time shooting it. I'm not sure if my form is bad - it probably is. I've gotten lessons before but not with this handgun specifically. I just can't hit anything with it! :signs14:

Anything I can do to help break myself into this piece? Any tricks for getting better with a handgun that maybe doesn't suit me 100%? It is still factory + my cleaning - should I consider taking it to a gunsmith? Trigger pull is fine for a factory job.

Should I start looking for trades for one of the other, more well liked, .40 calibur semi's?

Are there training exercises I can do that will improve how comfortable I am with it? Practice seems to drag and I can't hit anything with it.

I have 2 S&W wheel guns and those shoot well for me.

Any tips? Any questions I can answer that will help you get a better understanding of my form? Or should I just trade it?

http://www.randymays.com/SWMP060306.jpg

Re: I don't like the S&W M&P .40
 

The sites on your gun are not fixed....maybe you need to adjust the sites. My best friend has this gun and his sites were off...just needed tweaking.

Re: I don't like the S&W M&P .40
 

Never owned a Smith M&P...so I can't speak for it.

How are your groups? Mostly centered, high, low, left, right, too scattered to tell?

I shoot from a solid rest to determine inherent accuracy of any pistol with any given ammunition, initially from about 15 yards and at a small highly visible dot.

Then, I test different bullet WEIGHTS and BRANDS to see if there is a preference. Almost every pistol I have ever owned showed a preference for either lighter, medium, or heavier bullets.

Later, I move to more instinctive shooting at clays and steel silhouette targets.

I realize ammo is expensive, but experiment a little.

Firm grip. Remember to lock your wrists.

Slow steady trigger pull with finger tip, not knuckle.

Try dry-firing to see if you are flinching or stabbing trigger. Practice until there is no front sight movement.

Practice enough to get a good feel for the pistol.

Let us know how you are progressing.

Good luck, SC

Re: I don't like the S&W M&P .40
 

A .40 S&W in a poly frame recoils more than one would expect. Are you flinching? Maybe have a friend do the ball & dummy drill with you. You turn around facing the other direction. Turn around when he tells you and He hands you the pistol. Sometimes with a round in the chamber sometimes with the chamber empty.
Make sure the sights are adjusted correctly.
Make sure your grip is correct.
Maybe trade it for a 9mm.

My G23 "kicks" worse than my steel framed 1911 45acp.

Re: I don't like the S&W M&P .40
 

I don't know what you're shooting at but you need to put some rounds through on paper. A good way to do it might be to brace it somewhere and line the sites up so you're barrel site isn't moving at all and fire a round. This will let you know if your sites need to be adjusted.

Also, by shooting paper there are a lot of people that can tell you things that I'd have to research. Like if you're shooting low maybe you're dropping the gun too soon to see if you got a hit. Or if you're hitting all one direction you might be gripping too tight.

I was actually considering a .40 M&P myself, but I'm thinking about a .22 instead to try to make sure I have some basics before I start up to something with a little kick. I hope it works out for you, by all accounts that's supposed to be a pretty good pistol, but not every good pistol will be right for you.

Re: I don't like the S&W M&P .40
 

I have had a couple of handguns that I have had issues with shooting - both were revolvers. I would find an indoor range where you can set the target very close, say 3 yards, and try to get a pattern. Once you have it sighted in and are happy with the groups, then you can try increasing your distance a little at a time.

Sometimes it is also helpful to have someone who you know is a good shot, give your handgun a try. If they can group well with it, then you know it is your form and not the gun - which can lead to you feeling more confident about your weapon and allowing you to shoot better...

My problem with the two revolvers was that the trigger pull when firing double action was very hard and caused the barrel to move when firing.

If you can find a range that rents guns, perhaps that would also be a good way to compare you S&W to some other firearms.

Re: I don't like the S&W M&P .40
 

Thanks for the replies, they were all helpful. I think that I do have a flinching problem, and that is part of the reason I practice so much - I am trying to overcome it instead of cementing it into my habits.

How does one adjust sights? They seem on there pretty solid.

I will try shooting from a bench position as well as getting someone I know is a good shot to try the pistol.

Anyone thinking of buying this gun, it feels very solidly made and dry fires well. I haven't had any problems with it, mechanically - no FTF or FTE. I think I'm just a noob when it comes to true marksmanship. It may be a skill level problem.

Re: I don't like the S&W M&P .40
 

One other idea, if you think you might have a flinching problem is possibly try buying a tamer caliber to practice with as well. You could keep it and consider it a backup.

I was trying to get my wife to shoot my Sub-Compact XD9mm and she was having a tough time with it (not to mention that she was also having trouble racking the slide...). I think the small light frame was producing too much recoil which was making her flinch when firing.

We purchased her a Bersa .380 and it was like night and day. The 380 is a really comfortable round to shoot and I was amazed at how accurate she was with it right away.

I really enjoy shooting the Bersa as well (and even picked one up for myself for occasional carry when I don't feel like carrying something larger/heavier). It is fun to shoot larger caliber handguns, but after being punished with 357 mag and other high power rounds from small/light handguns, it is enjoyable to switch to the 380 for some easy, comfortable shooting.

Just a thought...

Re: I don't like the S&W M&P .40
 

A 22 pistol is a great way to learn basic shooting skills before graduating to heavier calibers.

40 caliber polymer pistols have more "snappy" recoil than all steel ones...

Re: I don't like the S&W M&P .40
 

I have that same Pistol and learned a lot from Todd Jarret on You Tube about holding it. When I'm hot 10/10 2 inch circle at 7yds. I do not claim to be the best but I have no problem with the accuracy of it at all.

I went with the fattest grip thinking it would spread recoil over a larger area. Never changed it to another size.
E-A

Re: I don't like the S&W M&P .40
 

You could also buy a drop-in Storm Lake 9mm barrel for it and use it for practice. Less recoil than .40 and cheaper ammo. Dry-firing is a good way to cure flinching, too, so keep dry-firing every chance you get.

Re: I don't like the S&W M&P .40
 

:biggrin:If you ever decide you need to shoot someone with it just get real close and pull the trigger. Just sneak up on them and make it a surprise!!!! :biggrin:

Re: I don't like the S&W M&P .40
 

My little bit of advice, which you probably already know.
1)Front sight
2)Crush grip
3)Trigger control.............Snap caps.....practice with these with eyes on front sight and see how much it moves off target when you squeeze.
A 22lr is also good to get the flinching out of the way, build technique.

Re: I don't like the S&W M&P .40
 

Start close...3 yards or so. When you can hit from there then move back a couple yards. Keep doing this till you are hitting from 15 yards. Also get some snap caps and practice with a friend. Have them load your magazines with a mix of live rounds and snap caps. This is called ball and dummy practice and will help show if you are flinching. Because you don't know when you will be pulling the trigger on a snap cap it will show if you are maintaining your sight picture through the trigger press. While shooting the sights shouldn't leave the target when the hammer falls, if they do you will miss. This is a standard drill most instructors use. Use of a video camera can also show bad habits you may not be aware of.

And as others have said practice with a 22 can help as can dry fire practice.