[bronicadave]

Finally got to the range with the new M&P40 today. I shot 150 rounds of 165 grain ammo, American Eagle and Winchester USA, and was consistenly hitting below the aim point. Is this common with 165 gr. and would I see a difference with 180 grain? I shot at distances of 7 to 15 yards and was consistently low by maybe 2 inches. I see similar differences when going from 125 gr to 158 gr in a .357 magnum.



Other than that I had the slide lock back twice with a few rounds still in the mags. I am not too worried about that until everything is well broken in. It was a pleasure to shoot and the trigger was much more crisp than I expected. I had not shot a .40 S&W before, it certainly has more snap and recoil than the 9mm. I have shot .45 ACP, .357 and .44 magnums frequently so it was not unmanageable by any means, just a bigger difference from 9mm than I had expected.

 

[jwells]

I was shooting low, as well, but I'm new at shooting so I'm not sure if it was just me or not.



Maybe the sights on the .40's are just set a little low?

 

[rowe_s]

I was shooting low, as well, but I'm new at shooting so I'm not sure if it was just me or not.



Maybe the sights on the .40's are just set a little low?

Without going into detail. Hold the pistol in your strong hand about like a good hand shake, and grip tightly with your other hand. Try to pull the trigger threw as slowly as you possibly can. Let it surprise you when it goes off. My guess is you will also be surprised how close your shot is. Have somebody that is experienced firing double action try it. If it's still low try a heavier bullet weight. (Stay away from that Russian crap.)

 

[Jester]

My first suggestion is, get another shooter to try it.



If problem persists, Call S&W. I have used several different types of ammo, factory, and reloaded, and havn't come up with that much deviance at that range.

 

[Mortech]

Some of us earlier adoptees of the M&P40 have noticed that our guns shoot low using 165gr ammo but then the sights are dead on with 180gr , I suggest you try ammo in different weights to see if this is the same for your pistol .

 

[remat457]

Another option is to shoot from a bench rest or sandbag to see if it is you or the gun...

 

[ben2112]

You might be doing what I was doing.. I was pulling down when I would pull the trigger.. Turned out that I wasn't using the proper sized grips.. I changed grips and my shots were right on the money...



HTH,



Ben

 

[jwells]

I'll give everyone's suggestions a try soon. I just picked up a buch of target ammo, so I should be able to get some good range time in soon.

 

[targetsup]

I have noticed that shooting 165gr WWB I was shooting low. But I just so happened to find some WWB 180gr at the not so local wally world. Didnt think they made the 180gr anymore. But when I fired it at the range today it was dead on. Dont know but my defense loads are dead on as well. Maybe its just the 165gr WWB, But I dont mind too much. Oh ya 200 rounds through today and its great.

 

[M&P Store]

Dave, if I may.....



I had my training buddy (an IDPA/IPSC shooter) with me the other day and he had the same problem. Rather than jumping to conclusions about ammo, sights, etc, I got him to grip the gun, aim it but keep his finger off the trigger. I squeezed the trigger instead. All 5 shots were POA=POI.



In this case, it wasn't the ammo but like Ben noted, could be the grip. He shoots .45 so much that when he tried the 9mm, his grip was pushing down the gun in anticipation of the recoil but it was not the 45 he was used to shooting.

 

[remat457]

I tend to shoot lower with the 165gr vs 180gr personally. But, it is probably my shooting and not the pistols.



One thing that can never be over-emphasized is: Front site, front site, front site!



Seriously, if you are looking/focusing on anything other than the front site (target, rear sites, slide, anything!) even after you immediately pull the trigger you could be slightly dipping the muzzle prior to the bullet leaving the barrel.



So.....

Front site, front site, front site!



It makes a difference to remind people even experienced shooters. Another thing is not to grip the pistol to tightly (causing tremors).



Good luck!

 

[vetter3006]

I have only shot 180 grain and noticed that sometimes I would shoot low to the left, I made my self the other day at the range slow everything down and find a comfortable grip and slowly sqweeze the trigger with no ammo and the mag inserted,just to practice the feel of the trigger, then I would load the mag and try the same thing at the target,just like others have said you need the surprise to get what you except,after shooting for a while I also noticed my arm getting tired and needed to rest. then I tried again and I was dead on.

 

[TxPhantom]

For correction chart....

The one & only time I have been able to get to the range with my MP40 I also shot low to the left. I was using WWB 165 grain FMJ & some JHP's. I corrected my aim and did much better.



You can go to www.sportshooter.com click on "Free Targets" then scroll down to "Correction Charts". Maybe that can help. It's a pretty good site.