S&W M&P 45 Surprise

[schmeky]

Took my M&P to an indoor range this evening to shoot some groups at 30'. This M&P 45 literally shot a single oblong hole using my handloads.

I had no idea these pistols were capable of this kind of accuracy. I'm very impressed with the M&P now.

 

[chupacabrah]

my 9mm is awesome, great guns
glad you like it.

I may pick up one of the .45s at some point as well

 

[schmeky]

Jon,

How accurate is the M&P 9?

 

[HoosierQ]

Mine is way more accurate than I am. I wish I could consider myself a marksman...but I cannot. But I am all over the place with my Glock 17 and with my S&W M&P 45 I am shooting much tighter groups on day 2 thay I ever have with my Glock which I have had for years.

 

[fastbolt]

I was also quite surprised by the inherent accuracy of the M&P 45.

I'd been hearing how accurate the M&P platform was turning out to be from various sources, but I'd heard that song & dance about new handguns more times than I cared to remember.

I had been rather impressed with the M&P during the armorer class, however, so I finally decided to pick one up and see what all the fuss was about. Continued reports of the great accuracy being experienced from the .45 model finally tipped from ordering a 9mm or .40 S&W version and choosing a M&P 45 Dark Earth with thumb safeties (I'm a long time Colt Model O Pistol owner and shooter, after all ).

Being a traditional double action and single action pistol pistol user I had to accustom myself to the different trigger action ... but I'd also had to do so with the Glock.

I was very surprised by the inherent accuracy I experienced with a variety of commercial loads. Very.

I found I could consistently realize better practical accuracy with M&P 45 than I could, under the same conditions, with my latest new 1911's (XSE & SW1911SC 5").

S&W has done a nice job with the M&P, all things considered, and although I don't participate in sporting or competitive venues I'd almost be interested in seeing what a M&P 45 Pro-Series 5" might be able to deliver.

Might pick up a M&P 45 Compact, too. I'm glad I picked the standard size, since I was originally considering ordering a Mid-size, but if the compact shoots as well as the standard size I might pick one up for those times when I feel like carrying an off-duty (or retirement) weapon larger than a J-frame, G26 or CS9. Probably carry one on my own time before I'd carry a 4513TSW, comes to that. Dunno. Interesting, though.

Glad I picked it up.

 

[schmeky]

Fastbolt,

I agree with the initial reviews on firearms, they many times don't pan out. I have a great affinity for accuracy; it's the best indicator of my shooting skills, or lack of, on any given day.

I have always used my Kimber Classic Custom 45 as my accuracy yardstick, as well as my mildly modified Norinco 1911 and my CZ-97 (in this order). Imagine my surprise when the polymer framed M&P matched my prized 1911's for accuracy.

I did perform the Dan Burwell trigger modification on my M&P, which helpd a whole lot. But I now have no doubt the M&P45 is inherently accurate. Lastly, the fixed sights on my M&P are dead on the "X" ring.

What's not to like.

 

[fastbolt]

Yep.

I've heard the hoopla and found the ordinary and pedestrian actual results more often than not ...

I was completely prepared to be ambivalent toward the M&P 45. More than a little skeptical, matter of fact, going into it.

I left my M&P 45 completely stock. I decided to focus on improving the user of the new platform rather than the new platform.

The most surprising thing for me was that even though my gun's trigger weight was on the heavy end of the acceptable tolerance range, it still permitted me to obtain very surprising practical accuracy.

So now, although I do appreciate the overall balance and lively handling characteristics of the 1911-style pistol, and have learned to do very well with the TDA (DA/SA) service pistol platform over the years we've been carrying them ... I've come to take the M&P 45 out of the safe whenever I'm going to be spending the day working a range and want to do some shooting with a .45 pistol. Never would've expected it ...

I'm still getting acquainted with it, having just come up to hitting the 1,000 round mark.

Always nice to be surprised as far as getting better than expected accuracy, I'd think.

Of course, I also waited until the .45 model had been out for a while too, and until after I'd had a chance to hear about the extended testing that had been done with it for the earlier anticipated military pistol trials. I hate being a Beta-Tester.

This is the first polymer-framed .45 ACP pistol I actually felt like spending my own money toward, too. That surprised me in and of itself. The other 8 pistols I own chambered in .45 ACP are metal-framed.

 

[GaryArkansas]

Don't downplay the role of those handloads. I also have an M&P 45, and its a great gun. But handloads almost always give me tighter groups.

The same holds true of the .223 that I handload.

I think its a matter of getting better consistency from bullet to bullet when you do it yourself.

Commercially purchased budget ammo is usually mix of whatever powders give the proper burn characteristics for the best unit price. You'll get different results from batch to batch.

 

[chupacabrah]

Jon,

How accurate is the M&P 9?

well I'm not too great of a shot, but I can shoot almost an entire magazine into the "head" of a mansize target at 20 or 25 yards (length of indoor range), medium rate of fire.

I think out of 18 rounds, i may have 3 misses.
but like I said, I'm not a great shot.





At 7 yards or so, like you said w/ your .45...just kinda makes a nice big jagged hole. ....it takes a little longer to get a big hole w/ 9mm though hahaha

 

[JFettig]

I'm not the best shot, but pretty decent, I can consistently hold a 2" group at 10 yards, a friend of mine will make a nice 1" or less hole with it, he does the same with his G17.

Jon