S&W M&P C.O.R.E. Review
Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2013 5:55 pm
Ok, I have been asked to tell my thoughts on my new M&P so I figured rather than respond just to one person I would put it out here for anyone else that is interested.
One question asked was why did I choose the M&P over others?
I don't care for the Glock grip angle and the M&P has a more "American Style" grip angle. In addition the interchangeable palm pieces for the grip are a real benefit allowing you to make the gun fit better. Also the new texture on the CORE is awewsome.
I have owned a Glock 17 and a 19, and never could get used to the "safe action" trigger. Same thing on others like the XD, I can't stand the feel of the safety on the trigger.
I wanted to add an optic for use in Steel Challenge, and it made more sense to me to have the optic as low as possible to aid in making the transition from my S&W R8 . In addition, I have seen optics go out in the middle of a run, so having the sights there for co-witnessing just makes sense both for competition as well as tactically for real life. The taller sights of the CORE are ugly at first glance , but they are the perfect combination with the Delta I added. Also, the sights on my R8 are tall too, once again aiding in the transition. This is important for me, since in my last match I shot both guns.
So, on to the gun. I LOVE IT! I purchased the 9mm since I don't own any other .40 and I already load for 9mm, plus low recoil is best for what I do shooting steel. I bought the 4.25" barrel simply because it was what was available, but probablly would have bought it if both were available. Reason, carry is easier with the 4.25" , and the longer sight radius of the 5" isn't necessary since I have the Delta. My other thoughts were that I could add a ported barrel or a comp without getting really long.
The trigger feels good since there is no "safety" on it. There is quite a bit of takeup and out of the box it feels scratchy/gritty. The actual break of the trigger is REALLY light and crisp. We discovered that the scratchyness is causes by the Striker block. A buddy of mine has an M&P with the Apex trigger and the striker block kit installed. His does not have the scratchy feel, however mine is lighter pull than his. I have a striker block kit to put in, but I may not do it. I have put about 800 rounds through it and the gritty takeup has gotten much better. I hate to mess with success.
The CORE has a faster twist barrel and it really shows on the accuracy. It will shoot better than most of us. Of a bag at 25 yards a quarter sized group is pretty easy. (with my eyes)
Reliability, like I said above I have at least 800 rounds through it maybe close to 1000. This has been a mix of my light reloads, 5 different factory brands including hollowpoints and flat nosed bullets. There has been exactly one failure, and it was my fault. It was one of my reloads that would not chamber, it apeared to not have been through the sizing die.
This gun has been fired by at least 10 different people and nobody has even managed get a single hickup out of it. I think it's good to go. I may try some lighter loads, my reloads of 115 grain Berry's bullet over 3.5 grains of Clays is putting out 1048fps from my 4.25 barrel and 1080 from a 5" M&P with the slower twist.
After seeing how rugged the RMR sight is I thought that I was going to put one on. I actually watched the rep beat a table with the sight on a Glock like a hammer. Incredible. However after looking at it and the Leupold Delta Point side by side, the Leupold wins hands down. The RMR seemed to have a slight bit of distortion or magnification. On a split target one side would be larger than the other. I hated that, and it won't work on Steel Plates for me. SO I went with the Leupold. One of the guys asked if we could make the Leupold miss. I let him try. Meaning holding the gun at an angle where the sight was on target but the sights were not. We found out that the sight RULES. If it is on the target, you're gonna hit it. Didn't matter if we had the sights high, low, left or right. It's a little large, 7.5 MOA but it works great. I sighted it in with the tip of the triangle being the point of impact. That allows you to cover a large target with the triangle on COM and you will make a great hit, and if you need to make a tight shot you have a sharp point on the triangle to use. WOrks great!
So all in all it's a hoot. I'm still working on aquiring the dot faster, however I think it has more to do with switching from the revolver to the auto grip angle. I have discovered if I glance at the rear sight it's easier to pick up. However it's faster for me to just "push" forward as I come on target which fixes the angle for me and the dot jumps into view. More repetitions, I'll get it. I was pretty pleased this past weekend with 2nd place in Open and First in Revolver Iron Sights on Steel Challenge. On are Overall scores I took 2nd and 4th. I think both guns are working well. Now I just need to work on me.
In conclusion, if you even think you might like it, trust me....you will.
PS I'm tring to add a pic from my phone but not having much luck.
One question asked was why did I choose the M&P over others?
I don't care for the Glock grip angle and the M&P has a more "American Style" grip angle. In addition the interchangeable palm pieces for the grip are a real benefit allowing you to make the gun fit better. Also the new texture on the CORE is awewsome.
I have owned a Glock 17 and a 19, and never could get used to the "safe action" trigger. Same thing on others like the XD, I can't stand the feel of the safety on the trigger.
I wanted to add an optic for use in Steel Challenge, and it made more sense to me to have the optic as low as possible to aid in making the transition from my S&W R8 . In addition, I have seen optics go out in the middle of a run, so having the sights there for co-witnessing just makes sense both for competition as well as tactically for real life. The taller sights of the CORE are ugly at first glance , but they are the perfect combination with the Delta I added. Also, the sights on my R8 are tall too, once again aiding in the transition. This is important for me, since in my last match I shot both guns.
So, on to the gun. I LOVE IT! I purchased the 9mm since I don't own any other .40 and I already load for 9mm, plus low recoil is best for what I do shooting steel. I bought the 4.25" barrel simply because it was what was available, but probablly would have bought it if both were available. Reason, carry is easier with the 4.25" , and the longer sight radius of the 5" isn't necessary since I have the Delta. My other thoughts were that I could add a ported barrel or a comp without getting really long.
The trigger feels good since there is no "safety" on it. There is quite a bit of takeup and out of the box it feels scratchy/gritty. The actual break of the trigger is REALLY light and crisp. We discovered that the scratchyness is causes by the Striker block. A buddy of mine has an M&P with the Apex trigger and the striker block kit installed. His does not have the scratchy feel, however mine is lighter pull than his. I have a striker block kit to put in, but I may not do it. I have put about 800 rounds through it and the gritty takeup has gotten much better. I hate to mess with success.
The CORE has a faster twist barrel and it really shows on the accuracy. It will shoot better than most of us. Of a bag at 25 yards a quarter sized group is pretty easy. (with my eyes)
Reliability, like I said above I have at least 800 rounds through it maybe close to 1000. This has been a mix of my light reloads, 5 different factory brands including hollowpoints and flat nosed bullets. There has been exactly one failure, and it was my fault. It was one of my reloads that would not chamber, it apeared to not have been through the sizing die.
This gun has been fired by at least 10 different people and nobody has even managed get a single hickup out of it. I think it's good to go. I may try some lighter loads, my reloads of 115 grain Berry's bullet over 3.5 grains of Clays is putting out 1048fps from my 4.25 barrel and 1080 from a 5" M&P with the slower twist.After seeing how rugged the RMR sight is I thought that I was going to put one on. I actually watched the rep beat a table with the sight on a Glock like a hammer.
Incredible. However after looking at it and the Leupold Delta Point side by side, the Leupold wins hands down. The RMR seemed to have a slight bit of distortion or magnification. On a split target one side would be larger than the other. I hated that, and it won't work on Steel Plates for me. SO I went with the Leupold. One of the guys asked if we could make the Leupold miss. I let him try. Meaning holding the gun at an angle where the sight was on target but the sights were not. We found out that the sight RULES. If it is on the target, you're gonna hit it. Didn't matter if we had the sights high, low, left or right. It's a little large, 7.5 MOA but it works great. I sighted it in with the tip of the triangle being the point of impact. That allows you to cover a large target with the triangle on COM and you will make a great hit, and if you need to make a tight shot you have a sharp point on the triangle to use. WOrks great!So all in all it's a hoot. I'm still working on aquiring the dot faster, however I think it has more to do with switching from the revolver to the auto grip angle. I have discovered if I glance at the rear sight it's easier to pick up. However it's faster for me to just "push" forward as I come on target which fixes the angle for me and the dot jumps into view. More repetitions, I'll get it. I was pretty pleased this past weekend with 2nd place in Open and First in Revolver Iron Sights on Steel Challenge. On are Overall scores I took 2nd and 4th. I think both guns are working well. Now I just need to work on me.
In conclusion, if you even think you might like it, trust me....you will.
PS I'm tring to add a pic from my phone but not having much luck.
