So I own an M&P 9 core and I have an RMR installed on it. I had a regular M&P9 before this and I also had accuracy issues with it, but I just chalked it up to it being the original version which was plagued with accuracy problems.
Well, I got this gun, shot it a lot, couldn’t group for shit. I installed an Apex FSS trigger in it, helped a bit, but it was still pretty bad. I was consistently getting ~7 inch 17rd groups at 10 yards.
So I figured that it was still a barrel issue, I could feel the barrel move forwards/backwards and side to side in the slide. I decided to send it out to G&R Tactical to get their oversized Storm Lake barrel fitted. I waited about 8 weeks, it finally got sent back, and I picked it up yesterday. There is virtually zero movement in the slide and it feels really solid.
The range trip was still pretty disappointing. I was barely able to pull off a 5 inch 17 round group at 10 yards.
Now, I really don’t feel that it’s shooter error. I shoot significantly better with my M&P9c with a DCAEK trigger, my Ruger MarkIII with a VQ trigger, the 40s&w p229s at work that have a heavy double action trigger and tons of rounds through them, and my buddy’s stock G19. Even the XD9 I sold 6 years ago showed better results. I highly doubt the RMR is moving on me. I don’t remember what I torqued it to, but I know I looked up what the fastener is rated for and I used my FAT wrench to torque it… I then used a paint marker to set up witness marks to make sure it doesn’t loosen. I was using some cheap Freedom Munitions ammo for this run, but I don’t feel like they would make that big of a difference, especially considering my M&P9c with a factory barrel had a group half the size with the same ammo.
Can anyone help me diagnose what’s going on? I feel like this gun is capable of much more than it’s putting out. I would like put it into a vise and test it properly, but I don’t have access to one.
I don’t know what the ideal twist rate is, and I can’t find any info on the Storm Lake website. I found a bunch of results on random forums that showed the Storm Lake 9mm barrel being 1 in 16.
Have you shot it with just using the iron sights? You listed quite a few guns you had success with. Unless you had a RMR mounted on all of them, I would look there for an issue.
Bingo…I have never had great luck shooting M&P’s across the board. It’s probably me, but who knows. I only carry an M&P 40C which I actually shoot pretty well. Try swapping back to an OEM Smith barrel OP?
I ask because of a tip I got on the Brian Enos forum years ago regarding M&P’s. The tip was to not rest the gun on the bag but only rest your arms on the bag. It greatly improved my accuracy and groups with the M&P. But, I’ve never seen someone shoot a 17rd group. I probably couldn’t focus that long.
I have a 9L slide with SL barrel fitted by Grant with a RMR cutout from ATEi. This was unsupported slow fire @ 15 yards (closest photo I have to 10 yards):
If you’re having problems with that setup, I’d assume there’s an optic mounting problem, jacked up optic or possibly shooter error (no offense). Are you seeing any change in zero on the RMR relative to the irons?
You need to start eliminating some of the variables.
First I’d change your ammo, old carry ammo or anything of a known decent quality.
Second I’d probably unmount the RMR and shoot irons only.
Third get someone else to shoot it.
Also it’s hard to imagine that big of groups at such a close distance? Either turn off or remove the optic and with the irons shoot at 5yds at a tiny paster. You should be able to obliterate it at that distance. Then move it out until you notice the problem if any with the irons.
A lot of people don’t shoot Red Dot Sighted pistols well as they do not like all the movement they see with the dot. It is a learned skill to shoot them well IMHO.
We shoot the fitted barreled slides for group at our indoor range. They will shoot at least a 2" group at 25yds and have recorded SUB 1" groups before.
I was shooting unsupported. I shoot groups based on magazine size. If I was shooting my rifle at 100 yards then I’d keep it at 5 rounds for a bench mark, but I feel like ammo shouldn’t make that much of a difference at pistol distances.
I don’t really know anyone that can shoot precisely with a handgun.
I don’t take offense to it, I’m sure I’m better with some guns than others. I’m generally pretty precise with handguns and I figured that I could squeeze at least some respectable accuracy out of this gun, especially considering how much money I’ve dropped into it.
If you know anyone in the Tampa area, I’d love to hit them up. I don’t know anyone that can shoot a handgun precisely.
I’m sorry if I came off like I was blaming the barrel. I’m definitely not and I strongly feel that there are outside factors here. I’m going to mount the RMR on a few different weapons (another handgun, my AR15, and maybe my shotgun) to see how it reacts. For some reason I didn’t think to try shooting with irons.
I’m also going to try a different trigger, I still have my old CompAEK laying around. Maybe that trigger isn’t working too well with me.
Most of the “precision handgun” ammunition seems to be for 22’s for match. Sure you can hand load to achieve “greater accuracy” but unless your shooting 25 yard bullseye then whats the point? I can say that some guns shoot certain brands or bullet weights better than others, yes I’m referring to handguns here. I have a Sig MK25 that shoots 115 gr FMJ better than 124 FMJ but then again it shoots 124 +P GD’s perfect so yes sometimes it depends on the gun. More times than not, the issue pertain not to the gun but the jerk behind the trigger. (Note:I am not calling anyone a jerk but rather a reference to jerking the trigger)
