Quoheleth
Member
Mondays are my day off, so I loaded the car this morning with 300 rounds of 9mm (125gr Missouri Bullet LRN (Smallball) over 4.0gr Universal) and my CZ 85 and my M&P9. The CZ is relatively new to me; the M&P has been with me almost 2 years. It was a beautiful morning in SE Texas - temp around 90-92, slight breeze, and bright & sunny.
I decided to use the CZ first. The mag easily accepted a full load of 15 rounds and inserted crisply into the belly of the pistol. Slide cycled smoothly by hand as I loaded the first round into the chamber. Decided to forgo the DA shooting and see what I could do with the first shot, SA. At 10 yards, shooting at the July rimfire target (I had some in the range bag, never getting to the range in July), I put the first couple rounds in the 3x4 target square. The next two mags full proceeded to punch a golf-ball sized hole in the center of that 3x4 square. It shoots like a bloody laser - put the front sight where I want it to shoot, and BINGO, that she blows! There were some dirt clods at the 50 yard berm. I could engage those without difficulty as well. Maybe not every shot was a hit, but it was close! Recoil is very managable in this all-steel gun. Trigger is smooth. After a few mags I got a good feel for the trigger: it has a bit of creep and with careful focus, I can notice the slack being taken up just before the seer breaks. I had a few flyers around the target while experimenting and focusing extra-hard on the trigger break and less on the precise sighting alignment. Nevertheless, this is a new range favorite. Whether it makes it into carry rotation remains to be seen due to its weight. However, it's excellent shootability puts it into contention. A hundred rounds through this gun was a pleasure (I ran about 50, shot the M&P, then came back to the CZ at the end).
With the CZ getting warm, I set it aside for the M&P to take a turn. I have been trying to shoot this gun well for 2 years. It consistantly shoots low for me and it is only with EXTREME focus on front sight and SLOW trigger squeeze that i can get it to hit CLOSE to where I aim. Yes, I qualified for my Texas CHL with this weapon, but at 3 yards, that's not difficult. And, truth be told, the further I backed up (last 10 shots were at 15 yards) the lower I hit. I've been told that I anticipate recoil with this gun and I'm pushing the gun, thus lowering my POI from my intended POA. OK...I was determined to shoot cleanly, no anticipation, tight focus and good trigger discipline. Like the little engine that could, I thought I could do it.
I was horribly disappointed. I cannot get this gun to shoot POA-POI worth a darn. At 10 yards, I was shooting 6" low (nice fist-size group, by the way...just low!). I was focusing so hard that my eye hurt - I had to close my right eye (I'm a southpaw) and really zero in on the front sight. (I am not flinching -- at least, not that I can discern. I was there by myself, so i could not get a 2nd opinion to watch for flinch.) Per the Hogdon data, this load should be @1000-1050fps, slower than factory stuff, so I thought the low POI might be due to a slower velocity. I had a box of factory 115 gr Monarch - tried it. It maybe pulled up a little bit, but not much - still shooting 4" low.
I don't think it's the gun. A friend shot it and shot it remarkably well. Made me jealous...
Is it possible that the M&P and I are just not compatible? Perhaps I need to do an eHarmony listing and see if we can work this out or if we need to part company.
The CZ says "I like you." The M&P apparantly doesn't care for my toothpaste, deoderant, or aftershave. Anyone else have a logical reason as to why I can't shoot the one but the other is just fine? As of right now I am frustrated with the Smith and am strongly considering selling/tradint it - after all, if it doesn't shoot where I want it to shoot, it's not doing me much good, is it?
Q
I decided to use the CZ first. The mag easily accepted a full load of 15 rounds and inserted crisply into the belly of the pistol. Slide cycled smoothly by hand as I loaded the first round into the chamber. Decided to forgo the DA shooting and see what I could do with the first shot, SA. At 10 yards, shooting at the July rimfire target (I had some in the range bag, never getting to the range in July), I put the first couple rounds in the 3x4 target square. The next two mags full proceeded to punch a golf-ball sized hole in the center of that 3x4 square. It shoots like a bloody laser - put the front sight where I want it to shoot, and BINGO, that she blows! There were some dirt clods at the 50 yard berm. I could engage those without difficulty as well. Maybe not every shot was a hit, but it was close! Recoil is very managable in this all-steel gun. Trigger is smooth. After a few mags I got a good feel for the trigger: it has a bit of creep and with careful focus, I can notice the slack being taken up just before the seer breaks. I had a few flyers around the target while experimenting and focusing extra-hard on the trigger break and less on the precise sighting alignment. Nevertheless, this is a new range favorite. Whether it makes it into carry rotation remains to be seen due to its weight. However, it's excellent shootability puts it into contention. A hundred rounds through this gun was a pleasure (I ran about 50, shot the M&P, then came back to the CZ at the end).
With the CZ getting warm, I set it aside for the M&P to take a turn. I have been trying to shoot this gun well for 2 years. It consistantly shoots low for me and it is only with EXTREME focus on front sight and SLOW trigger squeeze that i can get it to hit CLOSE to where I aim. Yes, I qualified for my Texas CHL with this weapon, but at 3 yards, that's not difficult. And, truth be told, the further I backed up (last 10 shots were at 15 yards) the lower I hit. I've been told that I anticipate recoil with this gun and I'm pushing the gun, thus lowering my POI from my intended POA. OK...I was determined to shoot cleanly, no anticipation, tight focus and good trigger discipline. Like the little engine that could, I thought I could do it.
I was horribly disappointed. I cannot get this gun to shoot POA-POI worth a darn. At 10 yards, I was shooting 6" low (nice fist-size group, by the way...just low!). I was focusing so hard that my eye hurt - I had to close my right eye (I'm a southpaw) and really zero in on the front sight. (I am not flinching -- at least, not that I can discern. I was there by myself, so i could not get a 2nd opinion to watch for flinch.) Per the Hogdon data, this load should be @1000-1050fps, slower than factory stuff, so I thought the low POI might be due to a slower velocity. I had a box of factory 115 gr Monarch - tried it. It maybe pulled up a little bit, but not much - still shooting 4" low.
I don't think it's the gun. A friend shot it and shot it remarkably well. Made me jealous...
Is it possible that the M&P and I are just not compatible? Perhaps I need to do an eHarmony listing and see if we can work this out or if we need to part company.
The CZ says "I like you." The M&P apparantly doesn't care for my toothpaste, deoderant, or aftershave. Anyone else have a logical reason as to why I can't shoot the one but the other is just fine? As of right now I am frustrated with the Smith and am strongly considering selling/tradint it - after all, if it doesn't shoot where I want it to shoot, it's not doing me much good, is it?
Q
