First totally ambi pistol, New M&P 357 Options

[netfotoj]

Picked the little darling up this afternoon. Here she is, with five loaded mags ready to go to the range Saturday. Think I'll call her Minnie Pearl, or just MP for short. I'm a lefty and this is my first totally ambi pistol. I'm stoked!
(IMG:http://www.johnwmyers.com/357SWMP.jpg)

I already turned the mag-release button around for my lefty self and put the large palm-swell on the grip. Feels mighty fine! I'm not gonna know to act being able to reload without changing hands from left to right, not to mention being able to reach the slide-lock release button with my left hand, too. I've been amphibious or ambiguous for so long I may have forgotten how to be just plain ol' left-handed.

In case you've never seen one, here's what a left-handed pistol looks like.
(IMG:http://www.johnwmyers.com/357SWMP-left.jpg)

Got a coupon for two free mags plus a $50 cash rebate along with the pistol so I'll end up with seven mags, two with the pistol and three extra I got at Midway on sale. And with the rebate I'll end up with less than $475 in the pistol, which I think is a pretty sweet deal.

Got my Lyman Digital Trigger Gauge out and she measures an average of 5 lbs., 6 oz.; which is just a shade under both my Steyr MA1s by 4 oz., M357-A1 is 5 lbs., 10.5 oz.; M9-A1 is 5 lbs., 10.0 oz. I may not do a thing to the trigger, though it's nice to know it is tunable if I want to. Standard 3-dot Novak sights, no magazine safety lock. Let's go shooting!

Weather forecast for Saturday is 70s to 80s with 10% chance of thunderstorms in the morning here in the middle of North Carolina. I know where I'm going to be and I know what I'm going to be doing. Yet to be determined is how many other pistols are going out to play with Miss Minnie Pearl. I know my Steyr M357-A1 goes for sure and I do believe I feel another Rooster Cogburn drill coming on. Can you tell that I'm a happy camper? Happiness is a pair of 357 Sigs! (IMG:http://mp-pistol.com/boards/style_emoticons/default/yes.gif) (IMG:http://mp-pistol.com/boards/style_emoticons/default/lol.gif)

[Necritan]

Congrats on the purchase!!! I think you got a hell of a deal!!!Have fun at the range.

[berkbw]

I have neither skill to see where my empties go, nor the opportunity to ask someone. Since the barrel twist is RH, it probably will not be a problem for you.

Let me know how it works for you, eh?

b-

[chefdog]

netfotoj,
congratulations dude, let us know how you fell after putting some rounds through it this weekend. Make sure and try out the other backstraps at some point after you get comfortable with the pistol. While the large may feel right when fondling the pistol, you COULD find out that you're more accurate with one of the others. But, only one way to tell, go shoot it (IMG:http://mp-pistol.com/boards/style_emoticons/default/2guns.gif) Have fun.

[KRWeiss]

Dude,

Nice looking UpLULA. So that's what the left side looks like. Why is there a big square hole in your slide, and what does that lettering say? I don't think mine has that, but I can't say for sure because I never looked.

Most of the problems users report with brand new M&Ps can be avoided with an initial cleaning and lubrication. If you clean and lube before your first trip to the range you might spare yourself some aggravation. I you choose not to clean first, well... we'll be here for you when you get back.

Kevin

[metz33]

i too am a lefty shooter. I am totally satsfied with my purchase. I really like this gun so far, and plan to buy another bfore the rebate goes bye bye....

[longhuntr74]

Have fun at the range and welcome to the family!! I'm here at Bragg, so we're practically neighbors! Where do you shoot out your way? I usually shoot on Bragg at McKellar's, but I'm always interested in other ranges, as the rules they have are fairly restrictive (no prone, no speed drills, etc...though I have seen people do drills involving drawing and not be chastised about it). Shoot me a message if you would be interested in shooting sometime.

[m4arc]

Congrats bro, it looks great!

Let us know how your range trip goes.

[DM-SC]

Enjoy your new M&P! (IMG:http://mp-pistol.com/boards/style_emoticons/default/thumbup.gif)

[Tanker811]

netfotoj.....Welcome, you have a very good beginning to a MP family. Enjoy shooting Minnie Pearl & beware of the "BGD" ie..Black Gun Disease. Before you know it you will want to add to your family & add nice little goodies like maybe a laser or maybe getting the texturing done from one of the fine smiths that are sponsors to the site. Anyway enjoy!

Tanker

[mugdava]

Hey Net!

Fancy meeting You here! (IMG:http://mp-pistol.com/boards/style_emoticons/default/whistle.gif)

You scored w/ that purchase! (IMG:http://mp-pistol.com/boards/style_emoticons/default/thumbsup.gif) Congrats! (IMG:http://mp-pistol.com/boards/style_emoticons/default/cool.gif)
_______
mugdava

[netfotoj]

Dude,

Nice looking UpLULA. So that's what the left side looks like. Why is there a big square hole in your slide, and what does that lettering say? I don't think mine has that, but I can't say for sure because I never looked.

Most of the problems users report with brand new M&Ps can be avoided with an initial cleaning and lubrication. If you clean and lube before your first trip to the range you might spare yourself some aggravation. I you choose not to clean first, well... we'll be here for you when you get back.

Kevin

That big rectangular hole in the slide I do believe is where the empties eject. Lettering is no surprise either, says Smith and Wesson on one side and M&P 357 on the other side. You're kidding, right? I thought they all had that, except for the 357 of course.

As for lube, she's all lubed up and with a nice coat of Slide Glide Lite on the slide and rails, ready to go shooting. I figured I might as well do what while I had the slide off reversing the mag release button and putting on the large palmswell grip. The Good Lord blessed me with big hands so I do believe the large will work fine for me.

[netfotoj]

Hey Net!

Fancy meeting You here! (IMG:http://mp-pistol.com/boards/style_emoticons/default/whistle.gif)

You scored w/ that purchase! (IMG:http://mp-pistol.com/boards/style_emoticons/default/thumbsup.gif) Congrats! (IMG:http://mp-pistol.com/boards/style_emoticons/default/cool.gif)
_______
mugdava

Always room for another Steyroid.

[netfotoj]

netfotoj.....Welcome, you have a very good beginning to a MP family. Enjoy shooting Minnie Pearl & beware of the "BGD" ie..Black Gun Disease. Before you know it you will want to add to your family & add nice little goodies like maybe a laser or maybe getting the texturing done from one of the fine smiths that are sponsors to the site. Anyway enjoy!

Tanker

Too late, already caught it. Got two Steyr MA1s, 9mm and 357 Sig, G29 10mm and Kel-Tec PF-9, all in black polymer; plus CZ75 SP01 9mm, Llama IX-C .45 ACP and S&W 21-4 .44 Special revolver (all in black steel). Yep, I've definitely got black gun disease. And it's spreading. Who knows where it'll bust out next? I feel a G20 coming on.

[netfotoj]

Have fun at the range and welcome to the family!! I'm here at Bragg, so we're practically neighbors! Where do you shoot out your way? I usually shoot on Bragg at McKellar's, but I'm always interested in other ranges, as the rules they have are fairly restrictive (no prone, no speed drills, etc...though I have seen people do drills involving drawing and not be chastised about it). Shoot me a message if you would be interested in shooting sometime.

Unfortunately, I'm an old swabbie, so I ain't got no rights at McKellar, though I'd love to shoot there. I use the Camp Millstone 4-H range in the Sandhills Gamelands between Ellerbe and Hoffman in Richmond County, about 10 miles from my house. Five bucks covers all day for rifles, shotguns, pistols and cannons, too, if you got one. The rules at Millstone are don't shoot nobody. Other than that, nobody seems to be too worried about what you do.

I'd love to get together and get some shooting lessons from a real pro. Shoot me a line next time you go. I've got an appointment with my son and grandson at Millstone Range Saturday morning at 9 a.m. sharp. Come join us!

[netfotoj]

For some reason, when I got set up at the range today to try my new S&W M&P 357, I decided to start off at 47 yards. The table I used is on the front of a pad and if you shoot from the back of the pad, you have 50 yards, but 47 seemed far enough. Was it ever.

Here's 15 from the M&P, sitting using the table for a rest, slow fire, aiming at center mass.
(IMG:http://www.johnwmyers.com/47-357-sit.jpg)

Now here's 15 from the M&P amied at the head, same distance, including a few extras from another mag aimed a bit higher at center mass.
(IMG:http://www.johnwmyers.com/47mp-head.jpg)

Now here's 12 from my Steyr M357-A1, same distance, aimed low at the gut/crotch.
(IMG:http://www.johnwmyers.com/47steyr-low.jpg)

Enough of that 47-yard stuff! Time for the Rooster Cogburn Drill at 10 yards, M&P in right hand, M357-A1 in the left.
(IMG:http://www.johnwmyers.com/357rooster.jpg)

Here's the Rooster target, plus a few extra holes from a third mag.
(IMG:http://www.johnwmyers.com/357rooster-tgt.jpg)

Here's back to good ol' two-handed lefty shooting at 10 yards, one M357-A1 mag at the head, one M&P mag at center mass and another M&P mag in the gut.
(IMG:http://www.johnwmyers.com/10-357.jpg)

Finally, here's the five pistols that got a workout today.
(IMG:http://www.johnwmyers.com/5-at-range.jpg)
From left, M&P 357, Steyr M357-A1, Steyr M9-A1, CZ75 SP01 9mm and S&W 22A-1.

Put about 125 rds. through the M&P with absolutely no problems. Trigger very similar to the MA1s. Of course, after shooting the two MA1s and the M&P, seemed all I had to do to make the SP01's 2.5-lb. trigger trip was just think about it. That custom trigger spoils you.

Shooting impression is the M&P is a softer shooting pistol than my Steyr M357-A1, which surprised me. Only difference between the two is the M&P is a quarter-inch longer at 4.25" barrel vs. 4" barrel, so perhaps that extra mass for the slide makes a difference in felt recoil. Then after shooting both 357s, dropping down to 9mm felt like shooting .22.

A great start for the M&P, don't seen how it could have been better. As the French cop said to Bogey, this looks like the start of a beautiful relationship with my second 357 Sig. :mrgreen:

[papasmurf77]

The fact that this gun is lefty friendly is the reason I like it so much. Thank you S&W!!! (IMG:http://mp-pistol.com/boards/style_emoticons/default/unworthy.gif)

papasmurf77