Well i have been shooting for a better part of 15yrs and i have always been an import guy. My first hand gun was a Sig 226 in 1992. Since then i have always owned either Sigs, H&Ks or Walthers of all kinds. My current everyday carry piece is the Walther PPS which i love. It is slim, accurate and easily concealable.
I am good friends with Chris Costa of Magpul Dynamics and he convinced me to try the M&P9 since he has made it his go to piece. Coming from him, i didnt even question it and just went and purchased a new one for a great price of $499 and with the $50 rebate from S&W it is an amazing deal. Needless to say that i took the gun to my Fraternal Order of Police range this weekend and put about 400rounds thru it. I shot it from 3yards to 35yards at paper and steel.
I am absolutely amazed by this little gun. The trigger was a little gritty at first but by the end of the session had already improved. What is amazing is how quick the gun recovered from shot to shot and the recoil seemed like i was shooting a 380 out of similar frame size gun. I had brought out my Sig 239 and walther PPS and drill after drill i shot better and faster with the M&P. I was rapid firing from 25yards on 1/2 scale IPSC steel target and banging steel on every shot. It seemed like i could not miss even if i tried.
Finally i went back 35yards and measured with my Zeiss range finder and put up three shoot and see targets. I put 8 rnds in each M&P9, Walther PPS, and Sig 239 and wanted to check to see which one i could be more accurate form that distance with slow fire (2-3seconds between shots). As much as i liked the M&P9 i wanted to prove to myself that my beloved Sig was just as accurate and tried my best all three guns. My M&P groups were the tightest, followed by Sig and Walther. My M&P groups were about 4-5" at 35yards which to me was pretty amazing. With the Sig they had opened to about about 6-7" and with the Walther 8-9".
Obviously self defense would not be taking place at 35yards but it is good to know if **** ever hits the fan that this gun can be shot so accurate that far out. From closer distances accuracy really doesnt matter but no question that felt muzzle flip is significantly reduced compared to the other two to allow faster double taps. Based on Costa's recommendations i have also ordered the Apex Tactical hard sear and radiused plunger. I am sure with the new trigger the gun will be even that much better.
Needless to say that i am a new believer and thinking that i may have to also buy the full size M&P. I have shot my buddy's Glock 19 several times before and despite having the 3.5 connector and grip reduction by Boresight, it still did not shoot as well as this M&P did. I dont want to start a pissing contest, but this is just my evaluation.
I am good friends with Chris Costa of Magpul Dynamics and he convinced me to try the M&P9 since he has made it his go to piece. Coming from him, i didnt even question it and just went and purchased a new one for a great price of $499 and with the $50 rebate from S&W it is an amazing deal. Needless to say that i took the gun to my Fraternal Order of Police range this weekend and put about 400rounds thru it. I shot it from 3yards to 35yards at paper and steel.
I am absolutely amazed by this little gun. The trigger was a little gritty at first but by the end of the session had already improved. What is amazing is how quick the gun recovered from shot to shot and the recoil seemed like i was shooting a 380 out of similar frame size gun. I had brought out my Sig 239 and walther PPS and drill after drill i shot better and faster with the M&P. I was rapid firing from 25yards on 1/2 scale IPSC steel target and banging steel on every shot. It seemed like i could not miss even if i tried.
Finally i went back 35yards and measured with my Zeiss range finder and put up three shoot and see targets. I put 8 rnds in each M&P9, Walther PPS, and Sig 239 and wanted to check to see which one i could be more accurate form that distance with slow fire (2-3seconds between shots). As much as i liked the M&P9 i wanted to prove to myself that my beloved Sig was just as accurate and tried my best all three guns. My M&P groups were the tightest, followed by Sig and Walther. My M&P groups were about 4-5" at 35yards which to me was pretty amazing. With the Sig they had opened to about about 6-7" and with the Walther 8-9".
Obviously self defense would not be taking place at 35yards but it is good to know if **** ever hits the fan that this gun can be shot so accurate that far out. From closer distances accuracy really doesnt matter but no question that felt muzzle flip is significantly reduced compared to the other two to allow faster double taps. Based on Costa's recommendations i have also ordered the Apex Tactical hard sear and radiused plunger. I am sure with the new trigger the gun will be even that much better.
Needless to say that i am a new believer and thinking that i may have to also buy the full size M&P. I have shot my buddy's Glock 19 several times before and despite having the 3.5 connector and grip reduction by Boresight, it still did not shoot as well as this M&P did. I dont want to start a pissing contest, but this is just my evaluation.
The only thing I didn't like was its slide thickness; it was not as comfortable to carry IWB holstered as a slimmer gun. It was, however, 100% reliable from the very first round, something very few guns I've had could claim.
