Range report for the new CCW! M&P 9c

[johndoe1027]

Well, it finally came today. My new CCW, a S&W M&P 9mm compact. First impression, good! The pic is of my very first ten rounds through the gun @ 7 yards. Not too bad for using Independence 115 gr FMJ's. I am no expert in these "type" of pistols either. I am used to revolvers and 1911's.

I was really looking forward to buying a gun and not having any malfunctions. That did not happen. I had a malfunction on round 5. The slide did not return to battery completely. There was no FTF, the round seated but the slide did not move far enough forward to let the trigger work. I tried to fire because all looked well but there was no resistance on the trigger and nothing happened until I tapped (VERY lightly) the back of the slide then everything was normal again. I will chalk that up to the fact that I did not field strip, clean, and lube the gun before firing as I should have. I didn't have time for all of that. I just put some oil on the rails, barrel and chamber then let it rip. That was the only malfunction of any kind though with 3 kinds of ammo (cheap reloads, Independence, and Gold Dots). I ran a total of 89 rounds through it today.
I like it so far. It is almost as comfortable to carry as my 5-shot .38 snubbie! My personal opinion is that this gun is more comfortable to hold than other double stack polymer semi's (we'll mention no names). I haven't even tried the other backstraps yet....
Of course I probably paid more for mine than most would ($525 with 2 mags and no night sights) but I supported my favorite shop so it was worth it I suppose. I thought it was funny that they got a full size 9 in with mine and a guy was filling out the paperwork for it as I was leaving. So far, so good! All I need now is a light and some night sights. Anyone know which streamlight fits these guys correctly?

 

[johndoe1027]

and now that I think about it, one other very odd thing happened today.
I was loading 10 rounds at a time to make the boxes work out right (and my thumb isn't strong enough to get 12 in).
I stepped up, fired 10 rounds (or so I thought, my counting may have been off), the slide locked back, I dropped the magazine, I lowered the slide, turned to do something on the table with the gun, as I'm turning around I go to lock the slide back again and a unfired round fell out of the cylinder. Yep, exactly as I said, lack of periods and all. I have no idea what that was about because I always look at the follower through the ejection port at the end of a mag and this time was no exception. I guess the slide locked back one round early, the round was all the way into the chamber when I looked and I didn't notice it. Then it managed to stay there throughout dropping the mag and lowering the slide. Anyone else had a experience anything close to this?

 

[GunNut]

That sucks, you're going to have to really shoot this gun to develop some confidence in it and to ring out the problems.

Put some more rounds through it, if you still have problems contact S&W and they will take care of you.

Steve

 

[treebeard]

Nice shooting and thanks for the range report. If you continue to have problems I am sure S&W will make it right. I loved the M&P 9mmSC I had.

 

[johndoe1027]

Yeah, they were minor issues and I'm sure I won't have to send the gun back. I'm going to strip it and oil it tonight. Hopefully that will fix it. I'll probably run a couple hundred rounds through it tomorrow. I'll let everyone know if it is still acting up or not.
I'll post another target pic if my groups get better. I think they will. I figured out that my trigger squeeze was pretty off towards the end of my run last night. The trigger is nice and crisp (for a poly) but a little longer than my 1911 so I was drifting right at the end of the pull. I like the trigger much better than the XD I shot.
I didn't realize that this gun is fairly safety-free until I went to shove it into my pants (I always think about it then). The only external safety of any kind is the trigger safety. The trigger pull is not 2" long @ 14 pounds either. That will take some getting used to for me.

 

[DirksterG30]

I wonder if your problem had something to do with the brand ammo you were using? If the extractor groove is not correct, you could have extractor problems. I had smilar things happen with my P3AT using Wolf ammo. I compared the brass from Wolf and WWB, and the extractor grooves were different. I had no issues is the P3AT with WWB.

 

[loplop]

John, I don't understand your second failure. Something different must have occurred; if the slide locked back, and you dropped the mag THEN the slide, there's no way a round was in the chamber.

NOW... If you dropped the slide, THEN the mag, this is quite possible. I have had this happen with one particular 1911 I shot that I occasionally engaged the slide lock for whatever reason (grip issue probably). I always drop the mag before the slide now, or if I'm still shooting drop the mag, reload, then the slide.

Sometimes when firing an unfamiliar pistol you will do things "out of time" or practice... Just keep learning the pistol and you'll develop a sense of whether you're confident in it or not. Personally, I won't tolerate a carry gun that has any failures after the first few hundred rounds (this, allowing for a "break in" period). Safe queen, OK, but carry gun, no.

A friend of mine just bought this M&P 9c. He is thrilled with it. He said he's not terribly used to the trigger yet, either, but I'm sure that will come with range time. I haven't yet shot his M&P but I'd really like to.

I know what you mean about lack of external safety; I am a 1911 guy, and cocked-and-locked is the way I feel most comfortable. I'm getting used to my new SIGs, though (DA/SA) although I agree it feels a little odd to reholster a live weapon without a safety engaged! Lots of folks feel C&L carry is "nutty" too, so it's all about what you're used to. The M&P seems like a very safe design and I don't think you have anything to worry about. Enjoy the gun.

 

[johndoe1027]

dirkster, I'm not sure why the extractor would have been an issue since it was a live round that was in the chamber, not spent. Or maybe that is the issue with the slide not locking up properly? I'm a bit confused with that one.

loplop, I thought that I dropped the mag first but maybe you are right and I lowered the slide first. As you said, with a new gun it's very easy to do things out of order. I passed up two different 1911 carry guns because I feel that C&L carry is a tad dangerous. I'm the type to dream up the one situation that could end in you shooting yourself in the butt (or worse). Now I'm not sure that the SA trigger safety is any more safe. At least the 1911 has the backstrap safety as well. Either way, I am thrilled with this little guy and hope that the next 10,000 rounds or so are flawless. I will be able to get really accurate with this gun. I'll post pics once I start modding it. I'm going to invest in a lot of ammo first though.

 

[johndoe1027]

Sent 300 rounds down range tonight with no malfunctions. One follower got stuck as I was loading a magazine... Other than that, great!
My groups aren't better yet but I am figuring it out. I still have a couple of flys on each mag.

 

[loplop]

300 rounds in one night! Man, I don't toss that much brass in an evening. I try to keep it anywhere from 25-100 most of the time, I'll crack 100 if I'm really cookin'. I tend to take better to more frequent short range sessions, instead of a major bash a week.

I just passed 300 rounds downrange with my new SIG P239 (9mm). Not one problem with it, except my own accuracy. I'm not as good with this one as my 45's, but I'm getting there.

My friend with the M&P 9c said he's had zero problems with his, so you hopefully won't from here on out.

 

[karz10]

Nice shootin out of the box. I'm curious to see how well it shoots for you at slightly greater distances. I was looking at the M&P, and the M&Pc in 9 MM, and the Glock (assuming that's the one you didn't want to mention ) 19 and 26.

I really like the M&P in my hand, but didn't shoot it as well as the 19. I liked the M&Pc too, but couldn't find anywhere to shoot one, so as my first gun I went w/ the one I shot the best, which happened to be the G19, but I did like that one you have too!

Oh, and when I tested the M&P, I found it hard for me to load it up, and that was a broke in demo, my Glock came w/ an easy-loader that makes a world of difference, you can get one for that M&Pc too, but I don't think it comes in the box with it.

----

LOL loplop. Man, my first time out the other night w/ my new G19, I went through like 150 rounds at least, and it was all over so fast, I couldn't believe it! I was trying to run some practice and defense ammo through it. And test out all my mags, that's the problem for me, my gun came with 4 15 round mags and I got 2 extra 31 rd mags with it too! That makes it easy to run through some ammo!

Karz

 

[RON in PA]

The Glock mag loader for the G17 and G19 mags works fine on loading M&P mags.

 

[johndoe1027]

you can get one for that M&Pc too, but I don't think it comes in the box with it.

You are correct, it does not. I understand that there is a "shooter's pack" or something for the full size that comes with some extras but I don't think a mag loader is one of them. I think that the M&P would do a lot better if the case looked like an XD case when you opened it. IE Mag loader, holsters etc.

The Glock mag loader for the G17 and G19 mags works fine on loading M&P mags.

It does work. I used one last night to get rounds 11 and 12 in there because I am a wuss. I almost bought the 26 until the girl behind the counter handed me the M&P. I am still working on my accuracy with it. I do "well enough" at 7 yards but I'd like to be able to sling this thing out with my eyes closed and hit the 10-ring @ 7 yards.

300 rounds in one night! I tend to take better to more frequent short range sessions, instead of a major bash a week.

I tend to take better to more bashes per week. I got a good deal on some ammo at Dick's yesterday, girlfriend was working late, and my brother wasn't around to help me remodel so it all fell into place last night. I had a blast. My hands were sore as heck though. I was trying to get an awesome 10 shot group to post a pic of but there were always a fly or two. I'll fix that!

On an unrelated note, I made a round count spreadsheet in excel last night that is cool. Different columns for different brands and types of ammo. Different rows for each month. It counts total rounds, total JHP, total FMJ, etc. It's a little much but I might as well keep good track as this is my first new semi. I'm up to 400 total right now. I picked it up on Tuesday and the range here is closed on Wed. Yeah.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Mine functions perfectly (and did so right out of the box) and will shoot circles around another recently purchased handgun that cost twice as much.

 

[EdLaver]

as far as lights go, I would buy a insight X2 sub light. Its perfect for all the "lil" compacts.

 

[johndoe1027]

hmmm, nice suggestion Ed. Thanks. I do not know about the insight brand lights, I'll have to check that out.
First will be a set of Tru-Glo sights with Tritium. I saw my first set yesterday and they are AWESOME! I might hold off on the light since I have a streamlight strion that is a weapon in itself at night. I am still on the fence a little when it comes to the rail mounted light. I know that it is uber handy but I'm still not sure about the dead giveaway aspect. I suppose that is a discussion for another section of THR.
Lone Haranguer, I'm glad to hear there are flawless ones out there. I have heard others say the same thing. Sometimes I get the impression that I have a different definition of flawless than other people do. I started this thread with the intention of listing EVERYthing about this great little pistol. Good and bad. I bet the followers don't stick once I clean and lube them (I haven't yet). Sorry to hea the you paid nearly a grand on a gun that doesn't perform as well. I wish I hadn't heard about and experienced that as well.

 

[DirksterG30]

dirkster, I'm not sure why the extractor would have been an issue since it was a live round that was in the chamber, not spent. Or maybe that is the issue with the slide not locking up properly? I'm a bit confused with that one.

Oops - I guess I misread your post. I'm glad it's working out for you now. Keep us posted.

 

[johndoe1027]

Another 150 rounds tonight, no malfunctions or hiccups of any kind. Groups are still pretty ugly but getting better.

 

[tydephan]

This is torturing me. My LGS is having a sale tomorrow on SW. The M&P compact will be $399. That's about as low as I've seen it anywhere. I have the full size and love it. Low on funds though...thus the torture.

 

[johndoe1027]

DANG! 399!?!?!?!?!?!
I assume I posted already that I gave $525 for mine!!!!!!
Another 150 rounds through it on Friday evening with no problems. That brings the total to 770 rounds in 10 days.
I had been shooting with the medium backstrap until Friday. I tried on the Large (which didn't feel as right at home when I tried it). My goups were instantly better. I had been trying looser grips with it and one of the experienced guys at the range told me to tighten up my grip (almost to the point where I shake). I put 3 rounds in a row through the same hole right off the bat! The were VERY close to the bullseye too. I thought I was missing the paper with the second two until I looked over and saw him smiling real big. My 10 round groups are still a bit erratic (always a couple of flys) but they are getting much better and I am confident with this thing now. I know its going to run and I know I can hit something with it. At 7 yards I can get 10 body mass shots with less that a second between shots. They might not be the most beautiful group, but they are all center body mass.
I'll post a couple of target pics later today.