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New to M&P and loving it!

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T

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Discussion Starter · #1 ·
Hi everybody, I'm new to handguns and to this forum, just signed up today. I've been shooting my wife's uncles guns for about half a year. I don't want to buy any handguns (yet) because my wife and I have a 3 year old girl and an 8 month old boy, and very little room.



The shooting range where we would go to shoot every so often started up a shooting league, every Tuesday night, so luckily my wife's uncle has enough guns so we could all join. The league shooting is awesome! pressures on, and that's good! You get 60 rounds. Each 'heat' you have two magazines, 6 rounds in each. He'll say "dominant supported, 25 seconds" and then after making sure we're all ready he blows the whistle. You fire 6 rounds, drop mag and charge your second mag and fire them. 5 'heats' makes 60 rounds: dominant supported, dominant unsupported, nondominant supported, nondominant unsupported, 21 feet and 50 feet, and all combinations!



I was shooting with my wife's uncle's Colt 1911 .45. Scores for me were around 425 to 450 (with a perfect target scoring 600). My wife was shooting with her uncle's H&K9. Her scores were low 200's, with all her non-dominant unsupported rounds completely missing the target.



Well one of the men had an M&P9. We all got talking and he let my wife try his M&P with the small palm swell installed. She scored a 488!!! Holy crap I've got competition from my own wife, and she's the only chick shooting in the league and she's beating half the men!!! I'm a lucky guy alright!!!



Well my dad (he'd been shooting with us but couldn't join the league because he travels every other month for his job) caught wind of her improvement and bought himself an M&P9 (with night sights -- nice!). So last Tuesday I gave the M&P9 a try instead of the regular .45 1911. I scored a 502! I do believe with my wife this has got to be 100% grip. With the H&K she complained of hardly reaching the trigger. For myself, I installed the medium sized palm swell and it just melted into my hand.



We've fired 600 rounds through "our" M&P so far with no problems feeding or ejecting. I love this handgun, and I love that my wife and I can share it, even though my hands are three times larger than hers! Love the forum too.
 
T

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Discussion Starter · #4 ·
Well YEAH!!!
The thing I've noticed in being new to guns is that it's the ONLY time when I'm both having a blast (pun intended!) AND being very serious at the same time. Any other time I'm having fun, I'll let things go all the way, but this is a new kind of FUN! Learning about shooting techniques, firearm technology, seeing myself improve, who could hold back any enthusiasm?!
 
F

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#9 ·
Tamworth, if you ever decide to get into reloading, let me know. I don't have an impressive setup, but I can certainly help with the basics. In any case, maybe we can get together for some friendly competiton sometime.
 
T

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Discussion Starter · #10 ·
Thank you very much! If you ever make it to the Barberton-Norton Area, stop by The Marksman. It's the only shooting range I know so far... I know there's a place in canal Fulton...
 
F

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#11 ·
Midwest Gun Club www.midwestgunclub.com is the one in Canal Fulton. I shoot IDPA there every now and then. I was thinking of going tomorrow night, but hadn't decided. They have a nice range, but might be out of the way for someone in Akron. Memberships are pricey, but they include up to 2 friends on the same lane, a free rental on your B-day, and free FFL transfers.



I'm currently a member out at Kelbly's on Dalton-Fox Lake road, just outside of Orrville. THis is an outdoor range with fairly strict rules (no friends can shoot, in-home family (wife and kids) only, no class 3 weapons or rapid-fire rifle), but they have a 3 and 20 yard pistol, and 50,100,200 yard rifle ranges. The cost is 150-170, so it's reasonable. It's also easy to get to from akron, if you don't mind either taking the 77/30 interchange or the back roads.
 
C

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#12 ·
Welcome to the family. I cam totally relate to the addiction. We've only owned our M&P for a couple weeks, but I've already gotten a new spring installed and a holster on order.


I shoot at the Midwest Gun Club as FieroCDSP mentioned. It's a great place and everyone there is nice as nice can be. We'll be there tonight for the IDPA shoot. Unfortunately it will just be to watch though.
Have to wait until the holster arrives.



-Chris
 
L

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#13 ·
Welcome to the world of the S&W M&P, or as Coltman put it, the DISEASE!

If you get to the point where you want even more stimulation and excitement from your shooting experience take a look at IDPA. Not too much extra equipment required, just a carry holster and a couple magazine pouches.

It is definately a BLAST! (pun intended). Check out the IDPA web site and/or do a google video search for IDPA and take a look at what it's all about.



Have fun and be safe.
 
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T

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Discussion Starter · #14 ·
Wow thank you all very much for your welcoming kindness! I'm glad there's no big-headed show-off know-it-all elitists here; you all seem very encouraging and help everyone else grow. I've followed up and researched the shooting ranges suggested to me, and am going to try and take on some IDPA shooting when/if I purchase a holster. For IDPA and other more official shootings than a friendly shooting league at the local gun range, does the gun I shoot have to belong to me? I'm shooting my dad's gun at the range right now, and before that I was shooting my wife's uncle's guns. I'm also looking into applying for a CCW (after I get my own M&P!), but I'd like to have a little more experience (and a holster!) handling guns before I hold one 24-7. I do know that if I do get a CCW I plan to carry all the time. When I hear people say "I only carry when I know I'll probably need it" I think "well you shouldn't go there to start with." The point to carrying is you don't know where or when or who, but everywhere could be dangerous at any time. With all the complications and lawsuits accompanying even a justified use, I also plan on only using it to protect my own family, as that is the ONLY time I'll know the entire situation. Off subject, sorry, I haven't even read any of the CCW topics yet! Anyway, thanks!
 
F

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#16 ·
At IDPA locals, I doubt anyone would even ask if it belongs to you, and I don't think there's a rule against it. In fact, there is a provision in the rules that should your gun fail in one stage, you can continue in the next stage with an identical piece, ie M&P9 breaks, you can continue with a borrowed M&P9.



Regardless of whether it's yours to own or borrowed, safety first!!! You should be familiar with the weapon in most, if not all of it's details. An example would be to know whether it has a mag-safety or not. This does matter, as when you're told to unload and show clear, you need to pull the trigger to release the firing pin (after emptying, of course). The RO is going to be listening for the striker to click, but won't hear it since there's a mag-safety. Let them know before the round or when they ask you to show clear. Most of them can ID an M&P on sight and expect that, but you should tell them anyway. Also, being familiar with the feel and noise level of the gun is important. The last thing you need is to fire on a missed squib load in the heat of "battle".



Finally, IDPA rules are listed at their site, www.idpa.com. The rules are fair, and most people at the locals are perfectly happy to give you advice, so long as you've made an effort to learn them for yourself. IWB holsters are the norm, and there's restrictions on which designs of holsters are allowed (no shoulder or SOB holsters). The M-TAC or C-TAC holsters from Comp-Tac are nice, and sold through the M&P Store and Comp-Tac's site.
 
W

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#18 ·
Welcome to the site...
 
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