First range session with M&P 4" compact...

Status
Not open for further replies.
M

Mystery123

Member
Joined
Mar 11, 2019
Messages
55
Location
Colorado
I went to the range this evening and shot around 70 rounds.

It was very difficult to load the first round into the magazines.
For some reason, the feeder needs a lot of force for the first round to go in.
Even then, it was pretty stiff. My thumbs were hurting after few mags.
Thankfully, RSO loaned a Uplula and it was way better on my hands afterwards.

I used Federal champion FMJ 115 gr ammo.
There was a lot of smoke today.
Not sure if it was my ammo or others' ammo or ventilation but I felt and smelled more smoke than last time.

BTW, the Howard Leight Impact Sport is pretty useless.
It doesn't block noise to be called shooting ear protection.
With double protection, it was still pretty loud so I tested the impact sport by itself at home and I can clearly hear normal conversation.
Yes mic was off and good seal around the ear.
My stereo headphones block more noise. Maybe the one I got is fake.
Thank god that I used ear plugs under these.
Basically, it was the ear plugs that was working.
I'll get a Peltor or something better soon.

Aim was not bad but I found it was very hard to see gap between the front and rear sights.
Probably due to lighting in the range.
My shots were still little bit low and left.

Gun felt pretty good with medium large grip.
I'll try large grip next time as I still felt I needed more thickness there.

As for pistol case, don't laugh.
I used a table tennis paddle case as a gun rug and put it inside Craftsman router's hard case along with eye/ear protection and ammo.
:D worked great and Craftsman doesn't scream gun!

47595662892_280dfbbe87_c.jpg

Aim was in the area but not exactly where I pointed.
They were mostly around an inch or two low and left.
There were some noob moment where I pulled the trigger without racking the slide after inserting the mag. :D

40681875563_e8b8e38871_c.jpg
 
Full agreement on the Howard Leight Impact Sport ear pro. I can't believe they were recommended to me by multiple people, they're practically useless. Maybe they're useful in a hunting situation?
 
Mystery123 said:
I went to the range this evening and shot around 70 rounds.

It was very difficult to load the first round into the magazines.
For some reason, the feeder needs a lot of force for the first round to go in.
Even then, it was pretty stiff. My thumbs were hurting after few mags.
Thankfully, RSO loaned a Uplula and it was way better on my hands afterwards.
Click to expand...

I always used the cheap one piece plastic loaders til someone loaned me an Uplula. Thought they were pulling my leg when they asked if I'd ever used an Uplula. Thought it was some kind of shooting range snipe hunt. Didn't hurt that her Uplula was for a .380 and my plastic one piece was a freebie someone gave me for 9mm and fit my .380 mags sloppy front to back.

As for pistol case, don't laugh.
I used a table tennis paddle case as a gun rug and put it inside Craftsman router's hard case along with eye/ear protection and ammo.
:D worked great and Craftsman doesn't scream gun!
Click to expand...

Laugh? That's brilliant.

There were some noob moment where I pulled the trigger without racking the slide after inserting the mag. :D
Click to expand...

Every experienced shooter who hasn't done that raise your hand. Yeah, didn't think so.
 
Thanks for comments.

I'm liking this gun so far except the manual safety paddle comes too far out.
It is right where thumb rests on the frame. I have to think not to push it up. Probably training issue.
Not that big deal for range but I can imagine it engaging/disengaging when walking/bending etc... if holster does't have guard for the safety for carrying.

11646_03_lg.jpg

Size is fine but shorter or flush safety like they have in the Shield is better for carrying.
 
SeanSw said:
Full agreement on the Howard Leight Impact Sport ear pro. I can't believe they were recommended to me by multiple people, they're practically useless. Maybe they're useful in a hunting situation?
Click to expand...
Ear pro effectiveness varies widely depending on the individual. Your head and ears aren't the exact same shape as anyone else's, which means that what works great for someone else may not work well for you. Doesn't mean the product is no good, it just means it doesn't fit you.
 
Mystery123 said:
It was very difficult to load the first round into the magazines.
For some reason, the feeder needs a lot of force for the first round to go in.
Even then, it was pretty stiff. My thumbs were hurting after few mags.
Thankfully, RSO loaned a Uplula and it was way better on my hands afterwards.
Click to expand...
I had the same experience which prompted me to buy an Uplula. Curiously, it's easier to load my .45 ACP 1911 mags the old fashioned way.
 
Mystery123 said:
........BTW, the Howard Leight Impact Sport is pretty useless.
It doesn't block noise to be called shooting ear protection.
With double protection, it was still pretty loud so I tested the impact sport by itself at home and I can clearly hear normal conversation.
Yes mic was off and good seal around the ear.........
Click to expand...

I shoot in a lot of matches, last year +45 of them. Of all the muffs that I see out there the Howard Leigh Impact Sport is in my opinion the most popular model buy a big margin.

They are the ones I use, the pair I'm using now have seen hard service for 5 years. I won a pair of Walker muffs last year but they are still in the package. I can see the end of my Howard Leigh coming but I'm going to get every last cent out of them. The only thing I don't like about them is after about 4 hours continuous use they get a bit uncomfortable.

Not to say you might have a defective pair. Read the instruction carefully. I had to stretch the top band quite a bit to get them to fit semi-comfortable. I put the volume at approx. 75% At full throttle they are quite sensitive.
 
I went back to the range today and shot for around half an hour taking my time.
I finished the leftover Federal champion ammo and switched to Remington UMC 115gr.
The Remington felt better. There's not much price difference so I'll go with the Remington.

I tried to focus on the front sight as much as I can.
I think the front sight needs to be slightly over the rear to hit where I aim.
It could be just me compensating for other things like squeezing the trigger.

I also tried the front sight completely over the rear and that hit higher so I think the gun/sight is okay.
I need more practice.

Anyways, I had 5 or 6 out of 45 rounds close to the red dot, in the middle square at 7 yards.
Better than first session I think.

46767929105_2088827481_c.jpg

Btw, today I was on the rifle bay and there was one guy two lanes over and he was shooting some type of AR rifle, I think it was AR 10 or 15.
It was first time I ever heard rifle that close and even with double protection (I used range's earmuffs this time with earplugs underneath), the compression hit me every time he shot.
He had the hostage target in 90 degree rotate mode and he would shoot two rounds at the bad guy every time it faced him.
Nice little practice mode but I'd go to pistol bay next time. Rifles are too loud, even though he was two lanes over. :eek:
 
Mystery123 said:
I need more practice.
Click to expand...
You should get some professional training. It'll help you in being able to diagnose some of these issues and make you an overall better shooter. The problem with "practice" without a good grasp of the fundamentals is that you're cementing whatever habits that you have currently. If those habits are causing accuracy issues, like what you're experiencing, that can be detrimental. Not saying to stop practicing, but getting to some good training soon should be top priority for you, IMO.
 
bearcreek said:
You should get some professional training. It'll help you in being able to diagnose some of these issues and make you an overall better shooter. The problem with "practice" without a good grasp of the fundamentals is that you're cementing whatever habits that you have currently. If those habits are causing accuracy issues, like what you're experiencing, that can be detrimental. Not saying to stop practicing, but getting to some good training soon should be top priority for you, IMO.
Click to expand...
Thanks for comment.
What kind of training should I look for?
There are so many classes to choose from. If I sign up for all of them, I'd have to sell my house. :D
For example...
Intro to USPSA Competitive Shooting
USPSA Practice Course
Intro to Bowling Pin Shooting
Intro to Pistol (Women Only and Co-ed)
Fundamentals of Home Defense Handgun
Fundamentals of Concealed Carry
Fundamentals of Defensive Focus Shooting
Shoot House Classes
Practical CCW Skills
Basic Pistol Cleaning
Defensive Handgun Low Light
Family Firearms Safety Seminar
Basic Threat Awareness
Personal Defense Courses
Private Instruction
Casualty Care
Ti Outdoors Virtual Training Simulator
Hunter Safety Classes
Unorthodox Gunfighting
Concealed Carry
Concealed Carry Drill Night
Red Dot Handgun
Target I.D.
Low Light Pistol
Handgun Evaluation
Pistol Care & Maintenance
Other Training
Situational Awareness
CQB/Home Defense 1
CQB/Home Defense 2
Basic Trauma
+ many more...
 
I didn't have to much trouble with the first round into my M&P40 M2.0 4" Compact. Might be easier with the fatter round and a little bigger opening.

Find the notch on the side of of the feed lips and position the rim there., Stand the round up on about a 45 degree angle push down as far as it will go and a twist and roll as you reorient the cartridge and it will slide under the feed lips.

Now forcing number 13 in the Compact Mags and 15 in the new Full Size Mags bruised my thumb pretty good.
 
Mystery123 said:
Thanks for comment.
What kind of training should I look for?
There are so many classes to choose from. If I sign up for all of them, I'd have to sell my house. :D
Click to expand...
Where did you get that list? Are those all available locally for you? It can certainly be a bit of a dilemma choosing the right trainers. Just like your practice sessions, it gets easier after you've had some experience because you're making more of an educated decision rather than a guess. As a general rule though you can judge a trainer based on his/her reputation (just like everyone else really). I'm generally inclined to have more confidence going to a trainer who has some real world experience with the subject matter they're teaching, although is isn't always necessary for a basic pistol class. That's what I would start with if you have no previous training under your belt. I can give you a bunch of names of good trainers but in most cases you'd have to be willing to travel quite a bit. I'm sure there are quite a few good pistol trainers in Colorado.
 
bearcreek said:
Where did you get that list? Are those all available locally for you? It can certainly be a bit of a dilemma choosing the right trainers. Just like your practice sessions, it gets easier after you've had some experience because you're making more of an educated decision rather than a guess. As a general rule though you can judge a trainer based on his/her reputation (just like everyone else really). I'm generally inclined to have more confidence going to a trainer who has some real world experience with the subject matter they're teaching, although is isn't always necessary for a basic pistol class. That's what I would start with if you have no previous training under your belt. I can give you a bunch of names of good trainers but in most cases you'd have to be willing to travel quite a bit. I'm sure there are quite a few good pistol trainers in Colorado.
Click to expand...
Yes, those are some classes listed in local ranges.
 
Mystery123 said:
Yes, those are some classes listed in local ranges.
Click to expand...
Consider yourself lucky. Most people don't have nearly that kind of selection close by. Just based purely on the names alone, I'd start with Intro to Pistol. Ask about the instructor's credentials and experience. If they're hesitant about that, find another instructor. They don't need to be an ex Navy Seal to teach basic pistol, but an NRA Basic Pistol instructor certificate isn't enough by itself either, (I know, because I am one). The instructor should be a perpetual student, always learning and furthering his knowledge and skills.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

M
  • Locked
Went to the range for the first time
Replies
1
Views
323
cmidkiff
C
C
  • Locked
First Handgun Ever - XD45 Range Report
Replies
18
Views
649
atomd
A
mikemyers
  • Locked
Hearing Protection at the Gun Range
Replies
7
Views
866
hso
hso
E
  • Locked
Another range session and some observations
Replies
0
Views
281
extremefishin00
E
J
  • Locked
1st range visit w/ Beretta m9a1
Replies
9
Views
565
JayBoogs
J
Back
Top