View Full Version : Range Report: Smith & Wesson M&P9 Pro Series C.O.R.E.
Range Report: Smith & Wesson M&P9 Pro Series C.O.R.E.
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The Smith & Wesson M&P9 Pro Series CORE pistol uses the same 4.25” barrel found in the standard M&P9. This pistol has a serial-number prefix of “HBL” and the factory test-fire date is 5/17/2013. This pistol came from the factory with one of the “single-dimple” barrels. I conducted a brief accuracy evaluation of this pistol at a distance of 25 yards shooting off of a bench with sandbags.
Control Ammunition. The ammunition used in this evaluation consisted of hand-loaded Hornady 124 grain FMJ-FP bullets (#35567B) with a nominal muzzle velocity of 1050 FPS. When fired from my 9mm test platform (a bench-rested Colt 6450 with a free-floated, stainless steel Noveske barrel with traditional rifling) this load consistently produces 10-shot groups at 25 yards that have extreme spreads of less than one inch. As an example, the 10-shot group pictured below has an extreme spread of 0.76”.
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The M&P9 Pro Series CORE. I obtained a rough-zero for the M&P9 pistol at a distance of 7 yards. A 10-shot group fired at that distance formed one ragged hole. Moving the target stand back to the 25 yard line, the M&P9 turned in a 10-shot group that had an extreme spread of 2.31” (shown below).
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After a couple of adjustments to the RMR07 sight, the M&P9 was shooting dead-on for a POA=POI zero at 25 yards. A 10-shot group fired on an NRA B-8 target produced a score of 100-7X. The extreme spread for this group was 2.33”.
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I also tested some 147 grain loads using the factory “single-dimple” barrel. I started with a hand-load topped with Hornady’s 147 XTP projectile with a nominal muzzle velocity of 950 FPS. This load turned in a 10-shot group at 25 yards that had an extreme spread of 2.4”.
Next, I zeroed the sight for factory-loaded Federal 147 grain HST ammunition (P9HST2). This load produced a 25 yard group with an extreme spread of 4.6” (and a score of 96-3X.) This was a little disappointing, since the 147 grain HST load is my primary self-defense load. However, this is still a significant improvement over the 8” to 12” groups at 25 yards that people have reported with previous generations of the M&P9.
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My M&P 9mm FS dated Sept 2013 with Trijicon HD Orange, Polished and APEX Duty Carry kit installed by Grant @ G&R,
147 GDHP @ 25 yds. Took photo upside down, actually a "6" not a 9. I think that is an 8" circle. Large target has numbers in large circles, letters in smaller circles.
Hits inside the 6 circle are from same magazine. Those outside were from smaller target nearby and a young female shooter.
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Molon, as always, an outstanding report.
Overall, did you like the pistol? Did you find it's accuracy acceptable? If not, the M&P, what service pistols do you find that offer a higher accuracy potential?
Overall, did you like the pistol? Did you find it's accuracy acceptable?
The grip fits my hand well and the location of the slide-stop/release does not interfere with the placement of my firing-hand thumb. Accuracy is certainly adequate for its intended role, but it is the least accurate double-stack 9mm that I own.
If not, the M&P, what service pistols do you find that offer a higher accuracy potential?
For out-of-the-box accuracy from a double-stack 9mm, it's hard to beat a SIG Sauer P226. The 10-shot group pictured below was fired from the bench at a distance of 25 yards from my P226 stainless using one of my 124 grain hand-loads. The group has an extreme spread of 1.03".
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I've also been getting very good results with the new H&K VP9. The 10-shot group pictured below was also fired from the bench at a distance of 25 yards, using the same hand-load as above, from my VP9. The group has an extreme spread of 1.87".
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Molon,
Great work you do and I appreciate the visuals you post.
With your Sig 226, Do you use a 6 o'clock hold or POA/POI?
Some people say their 226 is a 6 o"clock hold but most I remember
shooting was a POA/POI
Thanks Again Sir.
Any plans to test a current gen CORE?
plouffedaddy
05-13-15, 15:02
Range Report: Smith & Wesson M&P9 Pro Series C.O.R.E.
The Smith & Wesson M&P9 Pro Series CORE pistol uses the same 4.25” barrel found in the standard M&P9. This pistol has a serial-number prefix of “HBL” and the factory test-fire date is 5/17/2013. This pistol came from the factory with one of the “single-dimple” barrels. I conducted a brief accuracy evaluation of this pistol at a distance of 25 yards shooting off of a bench with sandbags. Shooting was conducted with the pistol in its stock configuration, except for the mounting of a Trijicon RMR07 sight. (I did install an APEX trigger after the testing was completed, as you can see in the picture above.)
Control Ammunition. The ammunition used in this evaluation consisted of hand-loaded Hornady 124 grain FMJ-FP bullets (#35567B) with a nominal muzzle velocity of 1050 FPS. When fired from my 9mm test platform (a bench-rested Colt 6450 with a free-floated, stainless steel Noveske barrel with traditional rifling) this load consistently produces 10-shot groups at 25 yards that have extreme spreads of less than one inch. As an example, the 10-shot group pictured below has an extreme spread of 0.76”.
Prior to shooting the M&P9, I fired a 10-shot control group at 25 yards using another polymer-framed 9x19mm pistol that has previously proven to produce acceptable accuracy; a Springfield XD(M) with a 4.5” barrel. This pistol was also fired in its stock configuration, with the exception of mounting a Trijicon RMR07 sight. The 10-shot control group (pictured below) had an extreme spread of 1.92” and a score of 100-9X on the B-8 target.
The M&P9 Pro Series CORE. I obtained a rough-zero for the M&P9 pistol at a distance of 7 yards. A 10-shot group fired at that distance formed one ragged hole. Moving the target stand back to the 25 yard line, the M&P9 turned in a 10-shot group that had an extreme spread of 2.31” (shown below).
After a couple of adjustments to the RMR07 sight, the M&P9 was shooting dead-on for a POA=POI zero at 25 yards. A 10-shot group fired on an NRA B-8 target produced a score of 100-7X. The extreme spread for this group was 2.33”.
I also tested some 147 grain loads using the factory “single-dimple” barrel. I started with a hand-load topped with Hornady’s 147 XTP projectile with a nominal muzzle velocity of 950 FPS. This load turned in a 10-shot group at 25 yards that had an extreme spread of 2.4”.
Next, I zeroed the sight for factory-loaded Federal 147 grain HST ammunition (P9HST2). This load produced a 25 yard group with an extreme spread of 4.6” (and a score of 96-3X.) This was a little disappointing, since the 147 grain HST load is my primary self-defense load. However, this is still a significant improvement over the 8” to 12” groups at 25 yards that people have reported with previous generations of the M&P9.
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Great report. I have a 5'' with an RM06. I'll do a review of it one of these days but I was consistently hitting a 8x11'' plate at 150m in the video (9 out of the first 10 in fact) with 115gr. My last two M&P9 variants have both had good accuracy so it seems they've improved their earlier accuracy issues.
With your Sig 226, Do you use a 6 o'clock hold or POA/POI?
I replaced the factory installed sights for a combination that gives me POA = POI using the top of the front sight blade (not the dot.)
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Any plans to test a current gen CORE?
Probably not, although if APEX every actually brings their barrel to the market I might test that.
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Question for the original poster Molon:
Well, first the comment. Good shooting and good accuracy there.
Now the question. Have you done any timed fire including the draw from the holster? I'm curious in the red dot sight's acquisition speed. What's the time to draw and hit an 8" circle at 7 yards?
attrapereves
05-20-15, 10:22
I've never been able to get decent accuracy from any M&P, especially the 9mm model. I mostly blame the trigger.
I replaced the factory installed sights for a combination that gives me POA = POI using the top of the front sight blade (not the dot.)
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If you don't mind me asking, what sights and corresponding sight number? Sig 226 uses #8 frt and rear or did you go by actual measurements?
Thanks again.
If you don't mind me asking, what sights and corresponding sight number?
For my P226 Stainless (which obviously weighs more than a standard P226) I'm using a factory #9 front sight and factory #10 rear sight.
Thanks for the eval. I was looking at the M&P's as Glocks do not fit my hand well. I guess I will stick with my 1911 if I want that kind of accuracy.
For my P226 Stainless (which obviously weighs more than a standard P226) I'm using a factory #9 front sight and factory #10 rear sight.
Thank You Sir..
Vegasshooter
05-27-15, 10:19
Question for the original poster Molon:
Well, first the comment. Good shooting and good accuracy there.
Now the question. Have you done any timed fire including the draw from the holster? I'm curious in the red dot sight's acquisition speed. What's the time to draw and hit an 8" circle at 7 yards?
I'm not the OP, so please excuse if you only wanted Molon's answer. I have done a significant amount of shooting and testing of red dots on my 5" CORE lately. I was much slower at first. I have since learned to draw out and drive the gun towards the target, finding the front sight. This technique, as opposed to looking for the dot, has always put my dot right on the target. I have shot around 1100 rounds through my CORE in the last month. I'm running the Leupold DeltaPoint, not the Trijicon RMR. I'm getting draw to first round hits at 1.23. Bill Drills at 2.09. Splits at .18 with my set up.
I was very leery of the red dots on handguns in the beginning. I have since become a huge fan. I'm shooting Bill Drills faster with my DeltaPoint CORE than with my VP9.
I don't want to stray from the topic, and I'm not trying to step on Molon's post. I just offer this info up because I have done a fair bit of testing with this set up of late.
Mr. Vegas:
You hit a homerun with your response. I was looking for that kind of data. Thank you. For awhile I only heard crickets :)
I've always wanted to know the trick to picking up the dot quickly. Being an iron sight pistol shooter for over 30 years, it's hard learning new tricks.
Vegasshooter
05-27-15, 11:44
Glad it was helpful. ��
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Molon, this is cruel.
Well, it looks good.
Molon, this is cruel.
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Well.......
Did you go for the "Full Gunsmith Fit" or the "Semi-Drop In"?
I'm going to be picking one of these up, so I'm curious how the install went.
Well.......
Did you go for the "Full Gunsmith Fit" or the "Semi-Drop In"?
I'm going to be picking one of these up, so I'm curious how the install went.
Gunsmith fit from Apex Tactical.
Gunsmith fit from Apex Tactical.
I'm familiar with the install of the semi-drop in barrel. Could you elaborate on the gunsmith fit install?
Gunsmith fit from Apex Tactical.
I can't wait to see what kind of groups this can produce, I've heard good things.
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