I got the M&P Shield in 40 years ago and was not too happy with the recoil it gave me. After doing a straight trade, I fell in love with the 9mm, though it's grip still left a lot to be desired. It was the perfect height for a complete grip, but I really thought a 4" barrel was more desirable. In fact, now that is a common thing to see, but only out of the Performance Center for a couple hundred more bucks. No thanks. I ended up giving up the Shield for other pistols in hopes that I would find the holy grail. Never really happened, so I ended up just getting the 2.0 Shield since the grip was upgraded, despite the extra $50 or so dollars it cost me. So was it worth the upgrade?
Aiming a pistol Is nothing fancy, but it can always use visual assistance. We are basically using the sights as a reference to verify that our bullets will hit the target roughly where we need it to. Too often we are hearing that we need to STARE/FOCUS on the front sight. This is merely a method of trying to get people to lessen the likelihood of movement of the sights. I feel that this is stupid since we don’t need THAT level of visual focus to see if the sights are staying aligned. Simply watch the threat/target and lift your gun until your sights sit between. They will be a bit hazy but it will be unmistakable whether they are aligned and moving. Plus, having a hard focus on a close object and leaving further objects hazy is going to adversely affect accuracy. The eye is going to not be able to help but see the sights accurately and you will be able to see them with precision due to the close range. Try using your thumb to aim at little letters in this article. Watch the word with a hard focus and bring your thumb up like a pistol sight. The edges will be hazy but sharp Also, look at the current RMR fetish where this is the exact visual method used. If this is used for electronic sights, what is the excuse for all other sights? This is a simple explanation and example proving my point. I have been doing this since I started shooting in Marine Boot Camp. Not being able to see the target at 500m made it necessary. Go figure, though I was supposed to focus on the sight, I hit perfectly using the method of focusing on the target. Since then it made no sense the stare at the sight when the sight is not the threat that I should be monitoring during the engagement anyways. How are you going to monitor your shots on target if you stare at the sights? Perform constant shifts in focus? Ridiculous. How do you think machine gunners track their tracers? Stare at their barrel or sights to ensure no movement? PFFF!!
Almost 4 years ago, Smith & Wesson release the 2.0 series which included the new “Compact” 4” model, which directly competes with the much-loved Glock 19/23 in size and capacity. After years of success with the M&P line, Smith & Wesson noticed a few things that could use changing to further improve an already robust design without necessarily fully inventing the wheel. If you look at the M&P 2.0 line, you will see how the engineers took the older generation and basically changed only that which needed improvement and left the rest alone. This means that there is still some parts compatibility between the older generation and the newer 2.0, such as magazines, springs, sights, and other generally high wear parts, making the switch that much easier for those of us worried that parts we already have will be useless. Granted, my compact is a new size addition, requiring a new set of recoil springs for my collection.
Not too long ago I invested in an M&P Compact in 40 caliber. I actually like it and find it to be very manageable compared to the Glock 23 Gen4 I have. There are other things besides recoil characteristics that I like about it, but that is not the focus of this article. What I want to talk about is a recent development that is making me kind of have buyers remorse.
When I got my Glock 23 Gen4, I immediately went in search of some affordable magazines that I could use for training. It is common for many people to regard anything other than OEM Glock magazines as strictly training magazines. However, let us not underestimate the need to have reliable training mags so that we aren't getting too accustomed to our guns giving us problems. Training and practice is the time we are supposed to be developing good habits, not anticipating the next issue.
It has been a hot minute since I have given the Beretta 96A1 any trigger time. I honestly was actually looking at selling the pistol in order to make some dough for something else. However, after handling the pistol a bit, I decided that it was time to put some rounds through it and see if there was any spark between us. The recoil was firm and the hits were right where I wanted them to be. The gun just has this odd characteristic that makes it hard to hate, but somewhat of a challenge to dedicate solely to. Let me use this article to explain what I mean.
Recently I took a huge step out of my comfort zone and took a course on how to use a red dot sight on a pistol. The idea of using an MRDS (Micro Red Dot Sight) on a pistol has seemed more like a trendy move and didn't appeal to me in the least. However, I like to step outside of my comfort zone often and try new things, so I coughed up some cash and took a course on the pistol MRDS using a rental pistol and gear. What an experience! Anyways, in the next few paragraphs, I want to glaze over a few things that I noticed that a red dot can do for you that irons never could.
I was shooting long before I started this blog or my YouTube channel. Prior to even living in Alaska, one of my favorite guns was the S&W M&P line. I say the M&P "LINE" because I owned virtually every caliber except .22 and .380. The reason for my love for the M&P line was that they simply performed perfectly in my hands. I cannot remember having any legitimate issues with the pistols in terms of reliability other than the one time my shield recoil spring popped off its guide rod. Any time I had an issue or had a recoil spring that was a bit weak, S&W was a quick call away willing to send me parts or offering a return label for me to get my gun fixed free of charge. In my simple mind, naturally performing well with the gun and having the manufacturer standing behind you 100% makes the M&P line a no-brainer for me now.
Being a human being, we have to be real with ourselves and understand that we are bound by physical limitations. Of course we can always ask more from ourselves and train our bodies to a higher level of performance. However, we must at least understand that we are flawed from birth. After understanding this, we must establish a reasonable and practical standard for how we will perform with our firearms, as far as accuracy is concerned. Barring you being part of a team/department/unit, you must focus on yourself and your abilities and just keep practicing and asking more of yourself....within reason.
I have not reached my desired round count to make a video update, but at 2000 rounds, enough has happened with this pistol in order to encourage me to give an update. It has not seen many rounds through it by my standards, but I feel that it has had enough trigger time to show or work out any "break in" issues. In the 2000 rounds I have shot so far, here is a breakdown of the round count sources:
- 600 Winchester Train and Defend 180gr FMJ - 200 Blazer Brass 180gr FMJ - 500 Remington 180gr JHP - 100 Winchester 180gr JHP - 600 Reloads 165gr FMJ |
Do It RiteAlaska-Based Youtube Vlogger, Retired Marine, Firearm and Gear Tester. Archives
December 2023
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