I'm thinking of trading my CW40 for an M&P Shield 40

[Crotalus]

Hi folks. I am a relatively inexperienced shooter. I bought a CW40 about 10 months ago. I have shot about 600 rounds through it, and I am not shooting it well. I have tried Glock 23, S&W M&P 40 and Springfield XD Compact and shoot all of them better than I shoot the CW40. I had an instructor try to help me with it, and he says I am pulling down and left, due to anticipation of the recoil and the long pull. I have no such problems with my CW380. I am thinking of just giving up and buying the S&W. Any suggestions? Thanks.

[muggsy]

The .40 &W generates a lot more recoil that the .380 ACP. Maybe you should go to a 9MM Luger instead. There's no difference in effectiveness and you'll add another round to the magazine. Most people will shoot a single action more accurately than a double action gun, but once you learn to shoot the double action trigger you'll shoot anything well. The nine is a lot cheaper to shoot, too.

[Cokeman]

Go to one of the S&W forums and search for low and left in the Shield section. You will be amazed at how many threads there are where new Shield owners want to adjust their sights because they are shooting low and left. They all get the same advice. Learn trigger control. It comes with practice and experience.

[b4uqzme]

600 rounds is a decent amount of practice IMHO. Sounds like you've developed a flinch instead of getting better. I don't think a change is a bad idea. Either to 9mm as muggsy said or one of the pistols you already know that you shoot better. I'm not a fan of the safety on M&P's. Can you get the .40 without one? I also agree that, if you could learn to shoot that Kahr well, it would make you a much better shooter overall. A lot of dry fire practice could help...no recoil...and you would develop the muscle memory that could help overcome that flinch. Good luck!

[Crotalus]

Thanks for the pep talks. I worked at home today, and every time I took a break I dry fired a few dozen times while aimed at various things. I think this has improved the situation a lot. I'm going to the range tomorrow and will report back.

[downtownv]

Now get out there and shoot like a man!:D

[Ken L]

Try to conciously relax your pinkie finger on your shooting hand. A lot of times part of the low/left flinch comes from squeezing the gun too tight.

[Pointblank]

I bought two 9mm Shields before I went with Kahrs. They are very accurate, but I can't say they are 100% dependable, even after hundreds of rounds. Shields also seem to be very ammo brand dependent. Other than that, Shields are ok. Just shoot them a lot.

[muggsy]

Try to conciously relax your pinkie finger on your shooting hand. A lot of times part of the low/left flinch comes from squeezing the gun too tight.

+1 I'll second what Ken said. I've always wondered why people complain about the short grip of a PM9 when you are only supposed to squeeze the grip with the middle too fingers of your strong hand. Squeezing with the little finger can cause the muzzle to drop when the trigger breaks resulting in a low shot.

[Crotalus]

Thanks again, everyone. I'll check in after I visit the range on Wednesday.

[Cokeman]

I bought two 9mm Shields before I went with Kahrs. They are very accurate, but I can't say they are 100% dependable, even after hundreds of rounds. Shields also seem to be very ammo brand dependent. Other than that, Shields are ok. Just shoot them a lot.

I didn't find my Shield to be undependable or ammo brand dependent. It works as good as my Kahr.

[gun papa]

I have been shooting the 40 s&w for almost 20 years. I hate the cartridge. I have never warmed up to it. It just seems to be unnecessary and needlessly high pressure for not delivering much extra.

I came up in an era where s&w made great wheel guns, and terrible auto loaders in centerfire guns. Back then I would never believe I would even consider a S&W autoloader, with the exception being a model 41 rimfire.
But now I am considering a safetiless Shield in 9mm. I like the feel of the gun, and the trigger. I am trying to find reasons to justify as my G26 has fit the bill for some time.

[Busted Knuckle]

my wife and I each shoot our shield 9 better than the cw9 which length, width, and height are virtually identical , within those dimensions the kahr does have a longer grip area. The shield trigger is by far the best of the M&P triggers. no experience with either in 40

[Crotalus]

Well, folks, I shot the CW40 better today. Still not great, but well enough to think that I may eventually conquer the trigger. I will keep trying. I also shot a Ruger 1911 and a Glock 30. First time shooting a 1911 of any brand, and holy moly! I shot fist sized groups at 15 feet, which is great for me. Anyway, I will keep trying with the CW40, and shoot some more 45s.

[bob98366]

Try practicing dry firing with an empty shell case balanced on the slide. The long but smooth trigger pull takes practice to master.

[Esco]

I find dry fire practice and even range shooting with a laser sight helps tremendously with mastering trigger control, the laser really lets you know how you are moving the gun throughout your trigger pull, you just concentrate on keeping the the dot motionless and the anticipation of the recoil fades away.
you would be very surprised how much the gun shakes around when firing. this also makes it much easier to identify at exactly what point during your pull you veer off target.
its not a cheap investment since the kahrs don't have a rail system, but keeping that easy to see dot as still as possible helps with developing muscle memory a great deal.
you also save ammo by mastering the trigger at home on a white wall. even practice hip firing with it, the added safety of being in your home and no risk of injury helps.
I even did dry fire practice after falling, (on the bed of course, my back isn't what it used to be ahahah)
and after you can keep that dot still got to the range and turn it off and you will be amazed how much your accuracy has improved.

[Bill K]

Well, folks, I shot the CW40 better today. Still not great, but well enough to think that I may eventually conquer the trigger. I will keep trying. I also shot a Ruger 1911 and a Glock 30. First time shooting a 1911 of any brand, and holy moly! I shot fist sized groups at 15 feet, which is great for me. Anyway, I will keep trying with the CW40, and shoot some more 45s.

Yeah, my best sight shooting has been done with full sized 1911's. Combination of the trigger, sight radius and weight of the gun I suspect. However I've yet to own one.

[Bawanna]

"with the exception being a model 41 rimfire."

Finest 22 auto ever made in my book. Wouldn't part with mine for anything.

[gun papa]

"with the exception being a model 41 rimfire."

Finest 22 auto ever made in my book. Wouldn't part with mine for anything.

I have wanted a model 41 since I was a kid.

[Redstate]

The simple answer (as indicated in other responses) is not to get a .40 Shield. Get a 9mm in the Kahr or the Shield. Why anyone would want a .40 in such a small pistol is beyond me. See this recent thread: http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.php?25859-Why-40

[TheLastDaze]

after 600 rounds I'd probably dump it as well.... then again many years ago when I bought my first Glock I had that very problem, low left anticipation and jerking the trigger... I had mostly shot SA triggers, sig etc.... the Glock was a whole new animal to me, there is a chart/target somewhere on the net that explains what you should work on when you hit the outer area of the bullseye... I'm sure you could google it if interested in downloading it... It helped me a little I think and it also took my around 300 rounds and a lot of dryfiring to get used to the trigger..... because I shoot Glocks more than any other gun I own I naturally shoot them the best and its because of the same trigger, all the time from gun to gun.....

good luck.....