FDE M&P 45 range report...

[Hawkeye]

Finally got a chance to get my FDE M&P 45 to the range for a minute. A hectic schedule has kept me from doing so already.

I'll admit upfront that this isnt much of a range report. I only had about an hour this morning to make a quick trip to the local indoor range, so I was limited in both how many rounds I could shoot, how long, and what kind of drills I could do. Round count was only 100 rounds. 50 Atlanta Arms 230 gr FMJ and 50 Federal American Eagle 230 gr FMJ.

That said....... I continue to be impressed with the M&P's, and especially the 45's. Accuracy was excellent. Recoil continues to be very controlable, especially for a light weight .45 handgun. I have 10-8 sights on all my other M&P's, and shooting this one today with the stock sights, showed me just how much I have come to love all black rear sights. I have also been running the medium grip piece on my 45's, but I think I have decided I like the small better. Its very much like a 1911 grip with the small piece on.

Groups were excellent considering the ammo and sights. As mentioned, it was very controlable. Doing 2-4 rounds NSR's were all easily kept in the large ring of the upper chest area of a EAG/10-8 target. I didnt experience any malfunctions.

[John_Wayne777]

At the low light course Ken said that the .45 caliber M&Ps were incredibly accurate guns for some reason....

He theorized that it was kind of a happy accident for S&W....

[Hawkeye]

Accident or on purpose, they just hit. And are very controllable at the same time. There are some things I'd like to say about them, but I wont....................yet......

[Razoreye]

Must... figure... out... way... to... lighten... the... trigger...

[Hawkeye]

Must... figure... out... way... to... lighten... the... trigger...

Why? These are fighting handguns, not 1000 yd precision rifles.

[Razoreye]

Why? These are fighting handguns, not 1000 yd precision rifles.

Because a lightened trigger allows accurate hits. Duh. It's all about trigger control... hence why double actions aren't as popular as anything in single action.

[Hawkeye]

Lots of practice makes accurate hits. Honestly, a 5 lb trigger is not a hinderance to combat accuracy. I honestly think that people (not saying you) get way to hung up on having a 2 lb sneeze on it to fire it trigger. Yes, a very light trigger will make extreme pinpoint accuracy easier to accomplish in a static range session shooting bullseye matches at 25 yards. But on a fighting gun, if you cant make hits at 7-15 yrds with a 5 lb trigger, you need more range/class time, not a lighter trigger.

Note - I use 5 lb's as a reference, as thats approximately what most Glocks, M&Ps, good 1911's, etc... come with stock, give or take a half lb or so. definitely not talking about 12 lb type double action triggers here.

[M4arc]

I think my M&P9 has smoothed out quite nicely and is a tad lighter than it was. I'm guessing it's at 5.5 right now and I haven't done anything with it but shoot it.

I need a M&P45 but first I want to pick up a M&P9c for concealed carry.

[Jay Cunningham]

Lots of practice makes accurate hits. Honestly, a 5 lb trigger is not a hinderance to combat accuracy. I honestly think that people (not saying you) get way to hung up on having a 2 lb sneeze on it to fire it trigger. Yes, a very light trigger will make extreme pinpoint accuracy easier to accomplish in a static range session shooting bullseye matches at 25 yards. But on a fighting gun, if you cant make hits at 7-15 yrds with a 5 lb trigger, you need more range/class time, not a lighter trigger.

Note - I use 5 lb's as a reference, as thats approximately what most Glocks, M&Ps, good 1911's, etc... come with stock, give or take a half lb or so. definitely not talking about 12 lb type double action triggers here.

I have been dry-firing the hell out of my 45 (only 100 actual rounds) and the trigger characteristsics are changing for the better.

That being said - Hawkeye, I don't have a scale but I will bet a paycheck that the break on the M&P45 is significantly more than 5 pounds... probably closer to 8. Mine has lightened up a touch, but the point is that yes, the trigger can effect the shooter if it is too heavy. Not talking about 3 lb. triggers here...

[Hawkeye]

No I agree. Too heavy a trigger can be an issue. I just think its very often used out of context as a crutch, and also applies more to DA and DOA type handguns.

I am beginning to wonder if there is some wide variation on the M&P 45 triggers. Both of mine feel like they are/were about 5.5 outof the box, 6 at the most. My black one, that I have more rounds through, feels about like a even 5. My newer FDE one feels like a 5.5 or so, with a little grit in the take up. I can tell a difference though with the dry fire it has been receiving and with just the first 100 rounds through it.
That said, I do here more and more variations on the 45 triggers. Maybe I've just gotten lucky with mine, which is entirely possible.

I still stand by what I said though. If one cant make decent (combat) hits with a 5 lb Glock/M&P/1911 type trigger, then you need more class time before you need a lighter trigger.