As we reported in December, the M&P Endurance Test ended at 62,333 rounds … 12,333 rounds more than originally planned. Smith & Wesson proudly had the test pistol on display at their 2009 SHOT Show booth.
But even though the slide developed a crack, we promised a follow up to check the accuracy. To achieve this, we will be performing two different accuracy tests with the Endurance Test gun. One was performed yesterday, and the second will be performed next Monday with a report to be filed immediately thereafter.
Test #1: Without any cleaning or lubrication, shoot five 5-round groups at 25yd from the bench for accuracy. Almost 9,500 rounds had been through the gun since the last cleaning.
Test #2: Perform a detailed strip & cleaning of the pistol and repeat the accuracy test.
The first test was performed yesterday. While accuracy was still on par with typical service weapons, there was a noticeable drop from the last test (Week 26, at 52,900 rounds). Some groups were excellent — see the 1.19″ group pictured at the beginning of this post — but others showed noticeable horizontal stringing (see picture at right).
The overall average for the five groups was 2.88 inches.
We’ll perform the second and final accuracy check next week.
Federal 124gr +p HST
- week 1: 1.46″
- week 6: 2.05″
- week 10: 1.69″
- week 17: 1.99″
- week 22: 1.92″
- week 26: 1.72″ (after thorough cleaning)
- Post-Test Accuracy Check #1: 2.88″
PLEASE NOTE: Neither pistol-training.com nor Smith & Wesson recommend or condone firing a pistol with known broken components. This test was performed by a shooter with extensive training and experience in firearms test protocols. Do not try this at home. If you detect a broken component in any firearm, clear the gun and return it to the manufacturer for service at once.
Train hard & stay safe! ToddG
Currious. What effects did having the gun sit untouched for more then a week at shot have on the accuracy test? In my mind this gives any build up in the barrel time to settle and harden. Granted I deff. could be way off base but currious none the less.
have you guys (todd or s&w) thought about trying an endurance test with a m&p but with proper maintenance this time? since most of us don’t really abuse the gun or neglect cleaning it would be interesting to see how long one would go under the normal maintenance and proper care recommended by the manual. i would think the gun would be able to go even further under normal care.
hahaha, unless Todd was to ship it back after every firing to S&W, it would never get proper maintenance.
Loco — I doubt sitting in a case for a week had any detrimental effect. The gun actually hadn’t been fired since early December.
David — As Rob E pointed out, it would be nearly impossible to do that kind of testing without a full staff of people. To clean & lubricate the gun every 250 rounds (which is the industry standard) would require 2-3 breaks per shooting session sometimes. Cleaning a gun “every time I go to the range” is easy if you go to the range once a month. It would eat up a great deal of time when you’re going 3-4 times per week on average.
Todd – How did you feel about the shooting? I’m just wondering whether the horizontal stringing was due to the gun itself or to excessive operator headspace…which is the usual problem with my guns.
well i didn’t really mean “that” rigid of a maintenance regime but something a bit more than the halley’s comet cleaning schedule you followed :O)
Revchuck – I would have to say I felt reasonably good about my part. I warmed up before shooting the groups and dry fired the pistol about a dozen times once I was set up on the bench.
I regret selling my 3 week old M&P9 with 377rds. I sold it to get a Sig P229R 9mm, which has had 3 fail to feeds in 400rds. M&P had ZERO issues, as well as my SW40VE had ZERO issues in about 1500rds. I wish I could shoot as much as you!! Ammo = mad bucks$$.
Matt H — Go check out sigforum and raise your issue there. They can help you figure out what is causing the problem. If it really is something wrong with the gun rather than a maintenance or ammunition issue, they can give you the best advice about returning it to SIG for repair.
You guys oughta just make the same trade I did: my 2400 rounds through it Glock 19 for a brand new, unfired MnP 9mm.;) Then I replaced the Glock 19 with a new one at a used price.
I’m spoiled. lol!