First time shooting Open Division, S&W M&P CORE/RMR

[1KPerDay]

I shot an ICORE/Handgun match yesterday with the M&P 9L CORE/RMR setup with the 170mm Taylor Freelance mag extension, up against 3 guys in my squad with "real" open guns and holsters. I think I did okay but at least one of them definitely beat me by quite a bit. I think I just need more time in grade with that optic.

The magazine/extension worked flawlessly all day, even with my short/stubby MBC lead reloads. I'm not sure if a FSS trigger setup or a compensator would help me much at this point, as my mistakes were primarily my standard ones of not looking at my sights, getting rattled by the timer/adrenaline, and generally being slow.

Lots of fun, though!

Video for any interested:

http://youtu.be/3OKB63edNfU

More info on pistol/optic and mag extension:

http://youtu.be/mDRrWwhspEk
http://youtu.be/wCPWbi6Wepw

 

[1KPerDay]

Results posted: 4th of 11 in Open division, 7th of 74 overall. Not bad for my first time, IMO, and without a comp or race holster or fancy mag pouches.

 

[StealthyBlagga]

An Apex FSS trigger kit will help a lot, especially with fast shots (such as on swingers). If you are loading to Major powder factor, consider a muzzle compensator - it will make a big difference. If at Minor PF, consider having the barrel/slide MagNaPorted (the gun will still fit in your existing holster).

 

[1KPerDay]

I've been considering the mag-na-port option. I load minor.

i assume compensators won't really make much difference without all the gas to run them?

Also, I was informed that "race guns" shooting 9Major actually have lighter recoil springs than standard... is that true? seems backwards to me.

 

[Owen]

how many people shoot semi-autos in ICORE?

 

[1KPerDay]

Our club does combined matches, so people who want to shoot "regular" pistols can still compete. Otherwise it would only be about 10 people at the match shooting revolver and nobody else would show... which is a lot of work for 10 people to shoot. They score the ICORE guys according to their divisions of course, and the rest are grouped according to the usual handgun divisions.

They used to do the same thing for IDPA/handgun but now do exclusively IDPA matches.

 

[Walkalong]

You shoot the smaller targets really well. Still liking the sight?

 

[waktasz]

Cool.
I tried it once last year also. The RMR has some serious disadvantages for me. I think I'm better with irons, but that could be a function of not having much time with the RMR. I've since sold the gun so I guess I'll never know.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaPuisiTnWY

 

[RussB]

COOL!


Nice match layout, and good shooting!


it's very "wide open" and barren out there!

Regarding comps and recoil springs...the comp takes a lot of recoil energy away, and light springs are the norm. I run an 8# in my 38 super open gun (124gr @ 1300fps for plates) I am looking for a red dot/reflex sight for my open revolver...considering the RMR among others. What size dot does yours have?

 

[1KPerDay]

Thanks for the info, russ, this RMR (01) has a 3.25 MOA dot and it's fine for me, but since trying one I actually prefer the larger version (RM02, 6.5moa IIRC) that was mounted on a Glock 19. They also offer them with green and yellow dots and triangle reticles as you likely are aware, up to 13MOA, but I think that might mess me up even more. Maybe not. I haven't tried one.

Walk, sorry I didn't see this reply earlier. Yeah, I'm getting more used to the sight. You really have to have your pistol lined up, though... one stage I was up close to large steel plates and I got going too fast and just pointed the gun and missed a lot, until I yelled at myself to actually LOOK AT THE SIGHTS, lol.

I can see the advantage of the larger window of the C-More and other "open" types.

The guy that won open had a slide-mounted RMR on his Glock, though... so I supposed you can get used to it.

 

[Walkalong]

You really have to have your pistol lined up, though

I have shot the steel challenge here with a .22 and a red dot a couple of times, and yea, you still have to line the gun up, and yea, I can miss a large steel plate being careless trying to go too fast.

 

[1KPerDay]

I don't know why it feels easier/faster for me to line up a standard front sight, but it probably isn't. I just need more practice... and to slow the heck down when the buzzer goes off.

 

[waktasz]

Are you looking through the optic at the target or focusing on the dot itself?

 

[1KPerDay]

I look at the target and the dot is supposed to appear on it. It's kind backward from focusing on front sight with the target being slightly fuzzy. I'm not really sure if I've been shooting correctly all this time because when I go fast with conventional handgun sights I'm pretty much just looking at my target.

With the dots, I believe you're supposed to look at the target, rather than hard focus on the dot. I could be wrong, though... I'm certainly not an expert.

 

[RussB]

I also look at the target and super-impose the dot on where I want to hit...the "trick" is developing the muscle memory to have the gun follow your line-of-sight. When you bring the gun up, you want the dot to be right there.

 

[Walkalong]

With the dots, I believe you're supposed to look at the target, rather than hard focus on the dot

Yes, focus on the target, your eyes will pick up the dot well enough to know when it is on target, but concentrate on the target. It is faster and just as accurate.

 

[taliv]

i've been trying to warm up to the M&P pro with RMR. i got the largest dot. for those using this pistol, i'd love to hear what your split times are before and after the trigger upgrade (for the life of me, i can't seem to break .20 and i'm almost always .22 or .23)

 

[waktasz]

Very little difference with the FSS trigger compared to an Apex sear as far as split times go. Your splits have more to do with recoil control than trigger travel, I'd think.

 

[1KPerDay]

I need to get a timer