S&W MP9 Range Kit

T

TacticalCanuck

Regular
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Location
SW Ontario
Hi CGN,

New to hand guns in Canada. I've passed all the tests and have the card, and I'm ready to do some target shooting. I'm looking for feedback on this kit as a first timer purchase, pro's and con's from owners etc. I've watched countless youtube vids of people shooting it and know where to get it when I'm ready. Just looking for feedback on it from owners/previous owners! It seems to be a great value for the money! What are the down sides?

Thanks!
 
Awesome deal. I personally love the gun and have it in 9 and 40. Super reliable. New production runs (last few years) have cleared up the early production issues.

I can fire the 9 virtually as fast as i can fire the m&p 22

Make sure you know how to PROPERLY grip a handgun, and go to a store to see how it fits your hand.

*edit:

Downside is it's not as accurate as a 1911 ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
 
It was my first gun, easy to maintain, great reliability!
You cant go wrong imo, if possible though, maybe you can find someone who has one at your range and fire off a few rounds?
Its one thing to hold one at store but another to actually fire it :)
One downside is availability of parts, when they are in stock at Brownells stock up on them.....springs, trigger assemblies and usual wear and tear parts
 
I liked the CZ's, but found they were too small for my long fingers. The M&P comes with different back-straps so you can get a better fit. I agree, the trigger is "unique", but I got used to it. The M&P range kit was my first 9mm purchase, and I love it. It shoots anything and never fails.

Cannon
 
Some random thoughts in no particular order

Solid, reliable in the extreme and very shootable - oh yes, and cheap. You've gotta love it.

Accuracy is a function of the shooter, not the gun - so I might do better (or worse) than someone else with a different gun, basically though the gun will outshoot you.

The trigger on the M&P (and the Glock) is quite unforgiving of poor technique, expect to see your groups go low and left before you start to develop the skills you need to have to get these guns to work for you. Sight alignment and trigger control are key.

Use the money you've saved by buying the range kit to get ammo and training.

Regarding training - the single best use of money when it comes to shooting isn't gun bits, pistolsmithing, or even a metric buttload of ammo, the best use of money is professional training from an expert. It's also a ton of fun.

The trigger will smooth out with use - these guns are meant to be used - hard, don't be afraid to get it dirty. (as an aside; at a recent course I was at, when we had to start the drill with the pistol on the ground facing the target, the funniest thing happened - all the Glock and M&P guys basically dropped the gun down and kicked the muzzle square to the target, all of the 1911 and other shooters bent down and placed theirs carefully on the ground)

Last but not least - when you start shooting, don't stand at 25 yards and assume you're going to hit a 10 inch bullseye, there are 2 things wrong with this; firstly you're too far away and secondly your point of aim is too big. Start as close as you can (3-5 yards is ideal) and use a smaller aiming point on your target (a standard 3x5 filing/recipe card works great). This is because every small mistake is magnified by your distance from the target, and it's psychologically advantageous to aim at a small target - hence the expression "aim small, miss small"

I'm not sure how much of the above applies to the OP, but it's what I've picked up in the last 30 or so years of handgun shooting and 42,000+ rounds of M&P shooting.
 
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We've had issues with people buying 'range kits' and showing up on the range with noformal training. Net result: we passed a 'holster qualification' requirement to be allowed the wearing of a holstered gun on club ranges.
The specific incidents that generated this was the observance of 'self-trained' people holstering loaded guns and walking off the range to their vehicles for more ammo, equipment, whatever. Some of the muzzle directions while gun handling were also discomforting.

Others are showing up with low drop tactical rigs, again without the benefit of any training beyond what they got to get an RPAL. There is no handgun shooting sport that tolerates such unsafe practices and doing so would result in immediate disqualification.
 
Love my M&P40. First and only handgun i've shot, so i can't say anything about the trigger unless i want to compare it to my rifles.

It's been knocked off the shooting bench, empty with the slide open, and i just blew the dirt out without tearing it down and it kept on firing (someone at the range tripped over their own damn feet and ended up pushing most of the stuff on my bench onto the ground). The finish is tough on it, even after taking that tumble off the bench there are no marks on it. It's extremely easy to take down and clean, not that you really need to that often, but i still clean it after every 250 rounds.

Whether you buy it in 22, 9, 40, or 45 it's a good gun for taking to the range and putting holes in paper, and clay pots, and target clays, and .....

So long as it fits your hand i don't think there is many other firearms out there that are as good of a value as the M&P Range Kits.
 
Just shoot my MP9 this weekend and the range kit is the best bang for your bucks going. For some reason the gun just feels "right" in the hand straight from the box. I tried the various straps and it just felt "more right". I also love the finish on the slide and the fish scale serrations.
 
enefgee said:
Some random thoughts in no particular order

Solid, reliable in the extreme and very shootable - oh yes, and cheap. You've gotta love it.

Accuracy is a function of the shooter, not the gun - so I might do better (or worse) than someone else with a different gun, basically though the gun will outshoot you.

The trigger on the M&P (and the Glock) is quite unforgiving of poor technique, expect to see your groups go low and left before you start to develop the skills you need to have to get these guns to work for you. Sight alignment and trigger control are key.

Use the money you've saved by buying the range kit to get ammo and training.

Regarding training - the single best use of money when it comes to shooting isn't gun bits, pistolsmithing, or even a metric buttload of ammo, the best use of money is professional training from an expert. It's also a ton of fun.

The trigger will smooth out with use - these guns are meant to be used - hard, don't be afraid to get it dirty. (as an aside; at a recent course I was at, when we had to start the drill with the pistol on the ground facing the target, the funniest thing happened - all the Glock and M&P guys basically dropped the gun down and kicked the muzzle square to the target, all of the 1911 and other shooters bent down and placed theirs carefully on the ground)

Last but not least - when you start shooting, don't stand at 25 yards and assume you're going to hit a 10 inch bullseye, there are 2 things wrong with this; firstly you're too far away and secondly your point of aim is too big. Start as close as you can (3-5 yards is ideal) and use a smaller aiming point on your target (a standard 3x5 filing/recipe card works great). This is because every small mistake is magnified by your distance from the target, and it's psychologically advantageous to aim at a small target - hence the expression "aim small, miss small"

I'm not sure how much of the above applies to the OP, but it's what I've picked up in the last 30 or so years of handgun shooting and 42,000+ rounds of M&P shooting.
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Enefgee you've pretty much nailed the M&P 9 right square on the head!

I have similar pistolero experience(over 33), but only several hundred through my son's 9 M&P. Only thing I could fault the kit was that when the mag release was set up for left handed use, the mag follower would get caught in the mag locking notch. I carefully filed the followers on that left side and am hoping its okay for him now.

Great deal and I love the look of the pistol the best in a Combat 9, though I still prefer Glock overall.

M&P 9 Kit to the OP,.. you can't go wrong! Many good deals on lightly used on the EE as well. A co-worker who had to have a .40,..bought the M&P40 kit on my advice for it's bargain with three mags and what ever,.. and he loves it. I think it flips a little lighter than my G22 with 180's, but I still prefer Glock ergo's.
 
Sharps '63 said:
We've had issues with people buying 'range kits' and showing up on the range with noformal training. Net result: we passed a 'holster qualification' requirement to be allowed the wearing of a holstered gun on club ranges.
The specific incidents that generated this was the observance of 'self-trained' people holstering loaded guns and walking off the range to their vehicles for more ammo, equipment, whatever. Some of the muzzle directions while gun handling were also discomforting.

Others are showing up with low drop tactical rigs, again without the benefit of any training beyond what they got to get an RPAL. There is no handgun shooting sport that tolerates such unsafe practices and doing so would result in immediate disqualification.
Click to expand...


Hmmm - Firstly, the single safest place for any pistol, in any condition is holstered in a properly designed holster. Since all guns are always loaded, all holstered guns must always be loaded too - right? The muzzle direction of a holstered gun is always the same (assuming we're not talking shoulder rigs which are a different issue) - straight down, which is coincidentally where you'd probably want them pointed. But hey, it's all the fault of the range kit - just like guns cause violence. The idea that a sentient being would need "formal training" on how to use a holster is well.......amazingly condescending - a few pointers from a concerned range officer and a quick demo should be more than enough.
 
First off, thanks to you all for responding!

As you can imagine, my first pistol purchase is an exciting decision to make! The range kit seemed to be of immense value because it comes with 3 mags a speed loader and a carry box that I can fit locks on for safe transport. For that price I have found nothing else like it. My main concern was the consistency of the firearm in relation to ballistics. It will take me some time and many rounds I'm sure to get handling it well. It's much easier to adjust your own faults when you’re certain that the firearm is shooting the same every time.

I really appreciate the feedback; I think the decision is all but made!

As an aside, the holster is of little concern, though certainly a nice added value to the package. I have no idea what the rules at the range are yet, as I plan on joining in the spring. Those rules will be my rules and I will abide by them whatever they are. I have no interest in unsafe or unwanted practices. I also don’t feel any need to strap it on and walk around like some mock bad ass. I simply want to punch paper and anything else the range will allow.

I consider it an absolute privilege to be allowed to own a hand gun in this fine country and I have no interest in abusing it in any fashion. I understand some of the laws are questionable to experienced owners, but they are the laws, the laws I agreed to obey when I applied for my permit and the laws I will abide by now that I have one. There are practices and channels to change laws if one is so inclined. I may even support some of the suggestions!

My concern was merely of the quality and value of the pistol, and I believe, thanks to those of you have provided this feedback, it is worthy of being my first purchase!

Lessons are certianly not out of the question, however simply getting to the range and experiencing the moment are my short term goals.

Shoot safe!
 
PRIVILEGE?

Some of us think that we have the RIGHT to own ANY gun without the OK of 'Big Brother'. Owning guns under the suffrage of the government means that 'privilege' can be revoked at any time for any purpose they deem appropriate according to the political flavour of the day.

European feudal serfs and Japanese peasants were not allowed to bear arms, a 'right' accorded the ruling classes by themselves. Registration can expire (i.e. the LGR) but licencing is forever, until revoked, rescinded or you forget to renew your PAL/RPAL.

TacticalCanuck said:
I consider it an absolute privilege to be allowed to own a hand gun in this fine country and I have no interest in abusing it in any fashion. I understand some of the laws are questionable to experienced owners, but they are the laws, the laws I agreed to obey when I applied for my permit and the laws I will abide by now that I have one. There are practices and channels to change laws if one is so inclined. I may even support some of the suggestions!
Shoot safe!
Click to expand...
 
I have a M&P 40 Range Kit. Love the gun, the accessories are nice and I will even admit I love the mag loader tool. I thought it was for pussies and i'd never use it but the followers in the mags are pretty darn stiff compared to my buddies 1911 and the ####ty ol high powers we have at work. Get the .40 kit even if you don't want to shoot .40! All it takes is a barrel switch and new mags and you can shoot 9mm or .357 Sig (or .357 auto as S&W calls it). You can go from .357 or .40 to 9mm but not the other way around.
 
I totally understand your POV. I do believe in the right to bare arms. Bare other things too *wink wink*. But, I live in a country where things are the way they are, and I need to play by those rules. I sorta hinted at the fact that there are other opinions, and I may agree with them! Firearms are a touchy subject with non owners. I see it is touchy for some owners too, and I'm fine with that. I enjoy shooting for sport, fun and for hunting, and I am able to achieve all my goals with the current legislation. I understand places outside our country do things differently, some for the better, some for the worse. But this is the fine land I was born on! I would love to see some changes for us all down the road, I really would. If you have strong opinions and ideas, if others agree, surely you can petition for change and make things better for us all!! you may even win my vote!

Sharps '63 said:
PRIVILEGE?

Some of us think that we have the RIGHT to own ANY gun without the OK of 'Big Brother'. Owning guns under the suffrage of the government means that 'privilege' can be revoked at any time for any purpose they deem appropriate according to the political flavour of the day.

European feudal serfs and Japanese peasants were not allowed to bear arms, a 'right' accorded the ruling classes by themselves. Registration can expire (i.e. the LGR) but licencing is forever, until revoked, rescinded or you forget to renew your PAL/RPAL.
Click to expand...
 
I bought my M&P9 about 2 years ago. I absolutely love it. I got the range kit and it was very economical. I like the swappable backstrap and found that even with my big mitt a medium grip is best for me.
I bought a Glock 22 in .40 for about the same price a couple of months ago but I don't find anywhere near as ergonomical as I have not found the grip I need. My accuracy is pretty good with the S&W but a bit off so far with the Glock.
 
Snakehunter said:
I bought my M&P9 about 2 years ago. I absolutely love it. I got the range kit and it was very economical. I like the swappable backstrap and found that even with my big mitt a medium grip is best for me.
I bought a Glock 22 in .40 for about the same price a couple of months ago but I don't find anywhere near as ergonomical as I have not found the grip I need. My accuracy is pretty good with the S&W but a bit off so far with the Glock.
Click to expand...

I like the grip on the M&P also, fits like a glove. Not so with the G22 Gen 4. Plus the backstraps on the Glock is pretty cheesy and a quick fix compared to the M&P palmswells.
 
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