Range Report M&P40 FS

[madsend81]

Well, I finally was able to get to the range to try out my new M&P40 FS. I went to Insight Shooting Range in Artesia and took along some targets that I made myself at home on 8.5x11 sheets of paper. I created a 1" grid pattern and made the center circle 1" OD with a 1/2" white center.

I scanned the results as a pdf when I got home, so that's why they are an attachment as opposed to embedded. Perhaps later I'll see if I can't post them inline.

It's not my first time shooting a hand gun, but it is the first time I've shot at something other than pop cans and clay pigeons on the ground, so I decided to start at 5 yds to get a general feel for it. I used 1 magazine per target. After the 1st mag I setup 2 targets at 10 yds, and then redid 2 targets at 5 yds. The targets are in order that I shot them: 5 yd, 10 yd, 10 yd, 5 yd, 5 yd.

No problems with the gun shooting or feeding the ammo. No FTF's or FTE's. I was a bit surprised at first that everything seems to be pulled to the right by about 1" at 5 yd. Primarily, though, I was looking for precision (keeping my shots together) and I kept most of my groups at 5yd less than 3" and at 10 yds less than 5" (aside from one flier that was my fault because I rushed the shot).

Had a great time, came home and showed my wife my results. Now she is contemplating a date night at the range ! We just need to find a babysitter...

[Legasat]

Looks like you were getting to know by the last target.

Congrats! M&P is a great platform.

[madsend81]

Looks like you were getting to know by the last target.

Yeah, and if ammo wasn't so expensive right now, I might have kept going, probably back out at 10 yds. But I felt this was good enough for me to get a feel for it. Next time I'll go 10 and 15 yds.

[9mmepiphany]

That is very presentable when getting used to a new trigger.

Just wondering, are you 1) left-handed or 2) are you locking down the thumb of your strong hand?

[madsend81]

Right handed, supporting with left hand, Right thumb is on top of supporting hand thumb.

[9mmepiphany]

My next guess would be having too much finger on the trigger and not pressing straight to the rear.

Just to be clear, neither thumb is applying pressure to the side of the frame

[madsend81]

No, I don't think either thumb was pushing against the frame, just down onto the fingers below it.

[559luke]

Does your new M&P have the new trigger with a noticeable reset?

[madsend81]

My M&P was made in Oct of last year. I don't know if they were installing the new resets in them by then or not. I was not paying attention to the reset of the trigger, only trying to keep my groupings consistent.

[9mmepiphany]

just down onto the fingers below it.

You're pressing down with both thumbs...or just the right one?

[madsend81]

Just the right one, I think. I wasn't really paying attention to it at the time. I don't think I was trying hard to push down with both thumbs, just trying to make sure I had a good grip on the gun.

[9mmepiphany]

I'll offer a small secret to the counter intuitive nature of shooting.

Gripping with your thumb doesn't give you a more secure grip...because you can't wrap your thumb all the way around it like you can a hammer or baseball bat...however it does tend to open up your groups...usually laterally. The gun is secured in your strong hand by the fingers pulling the frame straight back into the web pocket formed between the muscle at the base of the thumb and the palm

[madsend81]

Thanks for the advice. I'll remember that for the next time I go out.