Smith and Wesson M&P question....

[Excaliber]

Looking at it on paper, .40 S&W looks good to me. I just DON"T like shooting it. Now this may be more personal preference than anything. I have a 9mm XDm that I love. And after shooting other people's 1911s I have a desire to get one. So I'm all for 9mm and .45 ACP. The thing for me with .40 S&W is the "snapiness" of the round. Maybe a better way to put it is the impule from from firing a .40 is shortened. It comes on very quickly. My experience was from a SIG 229, which is all metal, so it should have helped absorb more of the recoil as opposed to a polymer griped gun. (Heavier gun = more recoil absorption)

Looking at link fedaykin posted, you can see that .40 is a very new round, and as such, it is designed to run at higher pressures than 9mm or .45. I think this is the reason for the difference in the feel to me. On the few occasions that I have shot +p ammo in my 9mm, it has a much different feel, because it is running at a higher pressure than standard 9mm. Still less than the .40 but noticeable.

Also please take what I have to say with a grain of salt. I've only been active in shooting for about 2 years. Alot of what I know from reading on forums like this, and researching things I would come across and not recognize. 8 months ago I didn't even know there was such a thing as +p or +p+ ammo.

As you said earlier, you really need to try them out. I know guys that LOVE their .40s, but you will not know until you've sent several rounds down range.

I'm with you on the "snappiness" of the .40. I can shoot fine with it, but I don't like it because of the sharpness of the recoil. It doesn't "kick" hard, but to me the recoil impulse from this round is mildly unpleasant.

I have a couple of guns in that caliber because it's very widely available and is a better fight stopper than the 9mm (which is an OK round, but not what I'd pick when I have better choices available.)

As others have said, the 9 is good for training new shooters and for getting more range time with cheap ammo. If I have to draw a gun in a fight, my personal caliber preference is the .45.

That being said, I wouldn't feel undergunned with any caliber that starts with a 4, and if I could only have one gun (horrors!) I would pick the .40 over the 9mm despite my quibbles with its recoil characteristics.

[Rugerboy50]

I love my M&P 9's. I have the compact and full size version.

I think using the M&P for newb training is a great idea.

Everytime i'm in BPS and i see someone struggling with a decision i tell them to look at the M&P. Have made a few salesman mad i'm sure.

I shot mine today and handled a gen 4 model 26 tonight @ the Arms Room. I'll stick with my M&P.

[Fedaykin]

I was pawing over an M&P at the gun shop today. They've really got the grip and controls "right". It feels great in the hand. The one I looked at had the fiber optic front sight. Liked them a lot. I also liked the lines of it. As much as I love my Glocks, it's not hard to improve on the appearance of them (unless square is you're idea of cool). The only thing I didn't like about it is the "vague" trigger reset. I'm used to the really pronounced reset on my glocks and 1911. It felt a good bit further forward as well. I'm sure I could get used to it, but was still disappointing.

I completely agree. The Glock is hands down the apex of handgun engineering for reliability and safety, it's the original gun that won't fail, or at least fails way less often than most. But dang, it's ugly. As i've posted before, it looks very 'utility'. It's a tool.

When I picked up the M&P the first thing that came to mind (after my hand melted into it and became one), I thought "A Sexy Glock..." . It's got that glock mentality, but's all dressed up for dinner. It has a very sexy look to it.

We all want reliablity, but it's also nice to have something nice to look at.

Plus it just really tames the .40 for me. Don't judge .40 until you fire it through an M&P.

[BrianSW99]

I love my M&P Pro 9 that I picked up for IDPA. I like Glock and I carry a Glock 19, but I like the M&P enough that I've thought about switching to an M&P 9c for carry.

[KaiserB]

The M&P45 has a slightly longer barrel and is longer overall than the M&P9, width and height remain about the same if memory serves. Most people find the recoil of the .45 to be slightly more manageable than that of the .40, but that is a personal decision. If your between Lubbock and Midland/Odessa I can arrange to let you shoot two guns with the difference being the caliber (Both are XDm pistols, one is in .45 and the other is in .40) so you can compare and contrast.

The M&P 45 is a great pistol. I bought one to go with my 9 Pro. Sizewize the guns are very close dimensionally and would both fit the same leather holster, but slight differences would dual use of a kydex holster a bit more difficult.

[LAYGO]

I don't have a problem being an M&P fanboy. I like it for several reasons beyond what's already been stated.

It's American. We as a country are buying foreign EVERYTHING yet complain about our economy. Think about it.

It looks good. It is just a visually appealing weapon. Definitely better than the Glock.

It aims well. When you hold it, it feels right & aims true. I do not have any problems with the .45 caliber. Recoil or otherwise. (Well, except Winchester White Box being dirty ammo getting my weapon all white!) Also, it's not like the XD with this huge boxy slide. It's weighted perfect, balanced well.

It's not that expensive for level of weapon you get. I paid $560 out the door for my M&P 45c, had I waited another 10 days, I could've gotten it for $490 out the door, but I'm not a fortune teller & can't tell when sales will happen! ;)

It has every feature as a Glock. It can also switch between the .40/9mm with a barrel swap (must start with a .40 base) & a mag like the Glock.

There are a ton of after market parts/accessories for them, unlike my 4513TSW. Night sights, lasers, laser grips, barrels, etc etc.

Although, M&Ps are not without their problems. Albeit, none of which affect it's reliability. (I've had 0.0% failures in ~1200 rounds)
- The front sight dot falls off. Just does, but it's easy to repaint & S&W will send you a whole new front sight if you want.
- The stock trigger feels gritty when new. It breaks in after putting rounds through it or dry firing (with a snap cap!). The "vague reset" is a Glock guy talking about firing an M&P 100% of the time. That being said, the stock reset isn't as pronounced as the Glock's stock trigger reset, but it's not NOT noticeable.

The trigger issue can be improved with an $90 Apex DCAIK trigger kit. Mine was really firm in the beginning, but I'm positive it's lightened up some & the grittiness has lessened. Stock M&P triggers come from the factory 6.5-7.0lbs. Apex DCAIK trigger kit makes it about 4.5-5.5lb.

Hope that helps . . .

[KaiserB]

If the .40 holds 9 rounds, haow many does the .45 hold, maybe 8?

M&P 9c 12 rounds
M&P 40c 9 rounds
M&P 9 holds 17
M&P 45 holds 10

[Fedaykin]

M&P 9c 12 rounds
M&P 40c 9 rounds
M&P 9 holds 17
M&P 45 holds 10

Correction:

M&P 40c hold 10 rounds + 1 in chamber for 11.

[LAYGO]

If the .40 holds 9 rounds, haow many does the .45 hold, maybe 8?

M&P 9c 12 rounds
M&P 40c 9 rounds
M&P 9 holds 17
M&P 45 holds 10

45c = 8+1
45m = 10+1
45fs = 10+1

C = Compact (short slide, short grip)
M = Medium (short slide, full grip)
FS = Full Size (full slide, full grip)

[Mike from Texas]

I recently picked up a M&P 45 with the threaded barrel kit (for future appurtenances ). The gun feels great in the hand but I HATE the trigger. I know it will get better but I'm used to my 4# Glock triggers that I can cheaply and very easily swap out components in under 2 minutes and have a very decent trigger. I'm sure I will send it off to Burnwell to have the trigger "fixed".

[A-R]

I recently picked up a M&P 45 with the threaded barrel kit (for future appurtenances ). The gun feels great in the hand but I HATE the trigger. I know it will get better but I'm used to my 4# Glock triggers that I can cheaply and very easily swap out components in under 2 minutes and have a very decent trigger. I'm sure I will send it off to Burnwell to have the trigger "fixed".

No need for Burwell.

go to https://apextactical.com/store/product- ... cid11.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

and order one of their kits (or just the sear and striker block - which is what I used). If you can take apart your glock to isntall a 4# trigger kit, you can do the M&P also. Only differences is you must drive out the frame pin with hammer and punch (not just simply push out like a Glock) and to access the striker block you have to remove the rear sight - easy enough with hammer, punch, and solid bench vise - they even provided you a little "helper" tool. Or if you have a sight pusher tool even easier. Or do the striker block swap when you also swap sights if you plan to do so.

Apex guys have put great how-to videos on YouTube to show you how to install all the relevant parts yourself.

[Mike from Texas]

I recently picked up a M&P 45 with the threaded barrel kit (for future appurtenances ). The gun feels great in the hand but I HATE the trigger. I know it will get better but I'm used to my 4# Glock triggers that I can cheaply and very easily swap out components in under 2 minutes and have a very decent trigger. I'm sure I will send it off to Burnwell to have the trigger "fixed".

No need for Burwell.

go to https://apextactical.com/store/product- ... cid11.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

and order one of their kits (or just the sear and striker block - which is what I used). If you can take apart your glock to isntall a 4# trigger kit, you can do the M&P also. Only differences is you must drive out the frame pin with hammer and punch (not just simply push out like a Glock) and to access the striker block you have to remove the rear sight - easy enough with hammer, punch, and solid bench vise - they even provided you a little "helper" tool. Or if you have a sight pusher tool even easier. Or do the striker block swap when you also swap sights if you plan to do so.

Apex guys have put great how-to videos on YouTube to show you how to install all the relevant parts yourself.

I'm going to order the DCAEK from Brownells but it's looks much more difficult to install than my Glocks.

[RHenriksen]

I'm going to order the DCAEK from Brownells but it's looks much more difficult to install than my Glocks.

I'd never done any work like that before, but after watching the video I found it to be a pretty straightforward job. Was happy to have a bench vise to hold the slide.

[TxA]

Any ideas why the M&P9 Pro Series are all out of stock on the net??????

[Fedaykin]

I had a heck of a time trying to buy mine. S&W is having a hard time keeping up with demand for the M&P's right now, especially one with a thumb safety.