S&W M&P Review

Inocibe · 10-11-2009, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LefthandShooter

I just wanted to say a bit here: I had a XD-40 and a XD-45. Loved both - both shot very well and accurate. Only problem is they are NOT left-handed friendly. Then the M&P's came out. I shot one and loved it. Very Left friendly and accurate with no feed/eject problems.
I now have an M&P 9mm, .40 Compact, .40 Full Size, and a M&P .45. I've shot each about 500+ times with no problems. Only thing is it's hard to find holsters although some Glock stuff works.

I should add this: I sold my XD's to pay for one M&P and a S&W .44 mag.

the Black Hawk "serpa" gear fits evey pistol ive seen they are extremely nice. i just got one today and i love it.

Tack Driver · 10-11-2009, 01:36 PM

I like the looks of the S&W M&P pistols, I like the .357 Sig version, and the .45 ACP too.

Inocibe · 10-11-2009, 02:58 PM

Guess i should check out the dates on these forums before commenting! but anyways i just became a member today and was in the middle of researching this pistol when i decided to comment here. i wanted to relay everything ive found out and if anyone has the time, correct me where I'm wrong and tell me what you think.
This will be my first pistol of my own. I am very excited and also skeptical about what to get, i am a lefty and like to take pride in the things i buy, i don't want garbage. Before i settled on the M&P9 i was looking at a few lefty pistols including the SIG p250, the HK p30, the HK p2000, and various Glocks. There aren't as many left hand pistols as i thought there would be.
The glocks are nice for the price, they have a longer range barrel and, being a Service Member, are reasonably cheap but over all not the best choice for a left shooter. i felt the same way about the XD's.
The HK's are very nice especially the p30; it is extremely comfortable to hold and had the most comfortable slide release I've ever felt.it also has a de-cock,2 extra mags and adjustable hand grips. but for all the research I've done it seems to not be as accurate as the price tag of 900+ would make you assume. also i don't like the fact that it's DAO and from what I've heard the slide release will break after a while.also it only came in 9mm. For all it's class id rather buy American for that kinda dough.
The HK p2000 is the same as the p30 a little larger and a squared grip like a Glock, which for this gun seems uncomfortable. other then that it's the same as a p30.
When it came to the SIGp250 it was a hard choice, with the ability to change between calibers with a change of a barrel and the left handed accommodations all in one package i was almost sold, but after handling one in my local gun shop i wasn't as satisfied. it was still DAO and a bit bulky. after the HKp30 the SIG seemed like a heavy brick I'd beat someone with as apposed to the even-weighted and ergonomic HK.it also has a hammer which as far as i could tell didn't actually do anything. it seemed to try to cover too many bases which isn't why i wanted a pistol in the first place. transformers are for the movies. So a little disappointed, i kept searching.(i still held both pistols in high reguard and if i were a higher pay grade i'd probably already own both)
Then the store owner showed me his personal S&W M&P. I still had a bit of bias toward how nice the HK was and so at first i wasn't impressed with the simplicity of the M&P. some seemed to have a really heavy slide release. and it wasn't as comfortable to hold as the HK. but i could get it in any caliber i wanted and it was a lot more comfortable then the SIG or the P200 with its adjustable handle grips. It also came with two extra mags and optional Trigicon night sights which pushed the price to $470 with a mil. spec discount. it can also can come with a built in trigger lock for transporting without hassle;but i wasn't interested. After playing with it for almost all afternoon. and jumping back and forth between my choices, i noticed that the M&P had almost an average of everything i wanted. left handed, a more comfortable grip, 2 mags, a good price with a mil. discount (which played a big role for me),and reputable accuracy. it wasn't too light or toyish like the p30 became.i liked that. It had a nice heavy feel,not off balance like the SIG was. So after all that i was pretty sure of what I wanted. I did nit-pick a lot but I felt better knowing everything that i was satisfied.
I am picking up my 9mm Smith&Wesson M&P in two weeks when it comes in. (They had to order it cuz they ran out by the time i made up my mind!)
I hope this is helpful to anyone going through what i was.
and if anyone can tell me more about the M&P that would be awesome.
thanks for reading

Integrity, Service, Excellence

sunwheel29 · 10-14-2009, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bravo

:

I went with the M&P in 9mm, which has a 4.25" barrel. The capacity is 17+1, double action only, novak sights, yata yata...Pretty much a Glock that I can hold that is made in Massachusetts.

.

Technically its not a Double Action. Its a half cocked and unlocked action just like a Glock.
I fired one on Labor Day and for that sort of gun, its okay. I am really more of a 1911 and Hi Power kinda guy though. I do like the fact that its available with a thumb safety though.
Having a gun on the market that has the firing pin cocked over a loaded primer with no thumb safety just seems to be begging for disaster to me.
As numerous Glock ADs seem to prove.

deserthobbies · 10-14-2009, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tack Driver

I like the looks of the S&W M&P pistols, I like the .357 Sig version, and the .45 ACP too.

the .40SW and the 357 sig use the same magazine, I plan on buying the 357 sig barrel so ill have 2 guns in one.

KYbigblue · 11-20-2009, 01:16 AM

I enjoy the reviews on the M&P 9mm. I carry the M&P 9L w/5" barrel, and although the 5" barrel isn't the best choice for CC, I finally found a great holster for Concealed Carry. After doing the Blackhawk paddle, shoulderholster, and OWB thing, I found a very comfortable IWB holster that is adjustable for ride height, cant and even gun retension. The nice thing is it seems to find its own sweet spot on your hip and gets more comfortable as you wear it. Check out the Super Tuck Deluxe from Crossbread holsters...I love it!

Gunman Oz · 12-13-2009, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunwheel29

Technically its not a Double Action. Its a half cocked and unlocked action just like a Glock.
I fired one on Labor Day and for that sort of gun, its okay. I am really more of a 1911 and Hi Power kinda guy though. I do like the fact that its available with a thumb safety though.
Having a gun on the market that has the firing pin cocked over a loaded primer with no thumb safety just seems to be begging for disaster to me.
As numerous Glock ADs seem to prove.

Glock ADs happen because people pull on the trigger when they shouldn't. The Glock firing pin safety and the fact that the spring is not compressed ensures that it won't fire unless the trigger is pulled. Thumb safeties are for non-professional handgun users. Police may well be professional policemen and women but they are NOT professional handgun users. At this time I don't know what the S&W M&P thumb safety does.

r44raven · 12-31-2009, 10:12 AM

I own the same gun, after a couple thousand rounds later...No jams no feed problems, well no problems period. The very best guns on the merket

GlockMeister · 12-31-2009, 10:22 AM

Congrats on your new toy.

And in regards to your 3" to the left and 2" low, maybe the charts below will help you determine what it is and what you need to do to fix it?

Just use whichever chart for whichever hand you shoot with. And because I don't know if you're left or right handed, I attached both. But, I'll assume you're right handed, because the odds favor you are, and if so, you're probably jerking or slapping the trigger? Just a guess. You'll be able to determine it better by comparing it to the target.

And in regards to the charts/images, the one on the left is if you're right handed and then obviously the one on the right is if you're left handed.

Drmarkway · 01-24-2010, 09:26 PM

I am shopping for a polymer gun with either a true single action, or a decent single mode like the Glock, but NOT the Glock.

That *&^%^%# Glock has that horrible backstrap which I hate. I have 10" wrists, 5"X4" palms, but cannot get a good grip on the Glock because of the palmswell, or operate a 1911's controls with one hand.

I have been seriously considering both the M&P and the XD. I found out by talking to a factory rep that that weird grip safety on the XD is ther to suck in the 1911 boys and make them feel warm and cosy. I hate it. I did fire one though at the range and it did fit a large hand, and the controls were back where they are on all european pistols. (where they should be)

I just picked a M&P up and it felt good in the hand. I was replacing a VERY cool Sig that was stolen from me, an X-5 "Short and Smart". I bought it by way of fortune. We were on vacation in Idaho. Some old bugger had ordered it from the Mastershop, but dropped dead before paying for it. This tiny gunstore by the Moose Cafe had it under glass on a piece of silk.

But I placed my faith in a California "security" safe. They're made out of plaster mostly and some low-life pried it open with a screw-driver. The insurance paid off, but I was looking at at least a year's wait, so I was amazed to find one of the wood handled X-5's in competition mode and bought that. I did try out about every other auto in the place at the time however.

What's the story with the M&P? I read that it's really just a DAO with a removable thumb safety. I also heard that to take it down you have to screw around with some tiny gizmo in the mag well. Now the crappy buggers are apparently coming to pieces.

KW Gary M · 01-24-2010, 09:52 PM

I was torn between the XD Subcompact .40 and M&P .40 compact when I was in the market for a new carry gun. I was very fond of both but chose the XD. I started shopping by renting the M&P, Glock and XD to do some side by side comparison. After a couple magazines I decided the Glock did not belong on the same range as the M&P or XD. Got rid of the Glock so I could shoot the two good guns. I shot 100 rounds through each the M&P and XD shooting one magazine from each at a time. Both felt good, both shot well, the M&P had a little less recoil but was also a little bigger. I liked the smaller XD even with a little more recoil. Both shot small, tight groups. I was stumped. I ended up deciding to put them both back. Wait a week so I had some time to think. I went back and rented the M&P and XD again. 100 rounds through each and decided to get the XD. I liked the back strap safety. The XD can be fully stripped down in about 15 seconds without even using even a fingernail nevermind a tool, is a breeze to clean and can be put back together in the same 15 seconds. I liked the XD being a little smaller too whereas I live in Key West and formal business attire is shorts and a t shirt. Easy to hide a smaller gun. I also liked the 12+1 extended magazine. Even with the extended mag the gun easily fits in an IWB holster or my fanny pack and can't be seen.

I want to say again that I feft, and still feel, the M&P is a great gun. I just liked the XD better for my needs. Both were a pleasure to shoot. There's my 2 cents worth and free opinions are worth less than 2 cents.

Draken · 02-05-2010, 07:02 PM

Ok, I just picked up my M&P .40c 2 days ago, and hope to put some rounds down range in the next week or so...

I have had a Springfield XD .40 sub compact for the past 4 years for a carry gun and love it, but as I don't like the bi-tone guns, I opted for all black and got a forged steel slide that has worn and it rusts on hot humid days. So I now have the M&P which even the black ones are a stainless slide (Springfield will not install a new stainless slide even if i send them the gun because of liability issues) for a carry gun.

After carrying both I like the feel of the M&P better because it is not as squared off and it is much more comfy on my side. Both point about the same and feel great, but still have to do the trigger job to the M&P to smooth it out.

Now, neither of these guns are double action, both are striker fired that is much more like single action then double action. You have no hammer you can drop, and unless you rack the slide you have no way to engage the striker on the sear, just pulling the trigger will not cock and release the striker.

Paper · 02-05-2010, 09:14 PM

I recently purchased a M&P 45 and don't get to pick it up for another day or two.. I have a Taurus PT1911 and a GLOCK 21SF, and wondered if anyone can tell me if the accuracy will be similar to either of these two weapons?

I recently converted a bunch of Frequent Flier Miles into Bass Pro Shops gift cards. I didn't plan on buying the S&W, but it was in stock at my local store. I was actually after a Kimber, but they didn't carry or have any way to get one. Since the cards were basically free, I figured on getting a decent handgun, and since the Kimber wasn't available, I basically flipped a coin between the M&P and a XDm.

The M&P won because they had a new one in the back, rather than a heavily handled XDm counter demonstrator. :-)

Anyway, I ended up with a full size 45 without the ambi safety, in black.. If nothing else, it's a good looking weapon.

Rogue Tom · 02-26-2010, 10:45 PM

The M&Ps are great pistols. I have one in 40 fullsize and a 9mm compact that I carry daily. I recently bought an XD45 and that is also very good. The M&Ps fit my hand PERFECTLY and the convertible backstraps are genius. I installed a crimson trace laser grip on my 40 and it integartes into the back strap. It won design awards for that innovation.

Now, the question of disassembly. The M&Ps field strip in about 5-10 seconds. The little tool integrated in the grip mainly just holds the chosen backstrap in place (one of three sizes supplied with the pistol). The rod also has a little handle on the end which when inserted in the grip, closes the bottom of the grip so there is not the strange hole you find on GLOCKS. The rod can also be removed to assist with field stripping.

To strip it:
You remove the mag, then just lock the slide back and look down the opening. I usually grab a pencil or pen and just move the sear forward and down about 1/2 inch (you could use the rod, but it easier to grab a handy pen or pencil). Then just release the slide and let it move forward and it "slides" right off the frame. There is never a need to pull the trigger to release the slide off the frame (which is required to field strip the XDs).

With a little practice you can easily strip the M&P in 5 seconds.

10-11-2009, 01:36 PM	#22
Tack Driver Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Caswell County, NC Posts: 562	I like the looks of the S&W M&P pistols, I like the .357 Sig version, and the .45 ACP too. __________________ If pro is the opposite of con, is Congress the opposite of progress?

11-20-2009, 01:16 AM	#26
KYbigblue Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 3	IWB Holster for M&P's I enjoy the reviews on the M&P 9mm. I carry the M&P 9L w/5" barrel, and although the 5" barrel isn't the best choice for CC, I finally found a great holster for Concealed Carry. After doing the Blackhawk paddle, shoulderholster, and OWB thing, I found a very comfortable IWB holster that is adjustable for ride height, cant and even gun retension. The nice thing is it seems to find its own sweet spot on your hip and gets more comfortable as you wear it. Check out the Super Tuck Deluxe from Crossbread holsters...I love it! Last edited by KYbigblue; 11-20-2009 at 01:20 AM. Reason: remove original quote

12-31-2009, 10:22 AM	#29
GlockMeister Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Northern Illinois Posts: 10,781	Congrats on your new toy. And in regards to your 3" to the left and 2" low, maybe the charts below will help you determine what it is and what you need to do to fix it? Just use whichever chart for whichever hand you shoot with. And because I don't know if you're left or right handed, I attached both. But, I'll assume you're right handed, because the odds favor you are, and if so, you're probably jerking or slapping the trigger? Just a guess. You'll be able to determine it better by comparing it to the target. And in regards to the charts/images, the one on the left is if you're right handed and then obviously the one on the right is if you're left handed. Attached Thumbnails __________________ "The people never give up their liberties but under some delusion." "Edmond Burke" Last edited by GlockMeister; 12-31-2009 at 10:26 AM.

01-24-2010, 09:26 PM	#30
Drmarkway Registered User Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Puget Sound, (Washington) Posts: 3	What's the deal with the M&P? I am shopping for a polymer gun with either a true single action, or a decent single mode like the Glock, but NOT the Glock. That *&^%^%# Glock has that horrible backstrap which I hate. I have 10" wrists, 5"X4" palms, but cannot get a good grip on the Glock because of the palmswell, or operate a 1911's controls with one hand. I have been seriously considering both the M&P and the XD. I found out by talking to a factory rep that that weird grip safety on the XD is ther to suck in the 1911 boys and make them feel warm and cosy. I hate it. I did fire one though at the range and it did fit a large hand, and the controls were back where they are on all european pistols. (where they should be) I just picked a M&P up and it felt good in the hand. I was replacing a VERY cool Sig that was stolen from me, an X-5 "Short and Smart". I bought it by way of fortune. We were on vacation in Idaho. Some old bugger had ordered it from the Mastershop, but dropped dead before paying for it. This tiny gunstore by the Moose Cafe had it under glass on a piece of silk. But I placed my faith in a California "security" safe. They're made out of plaster mostly and some low-life pried it open with a screw-driver. The insurance paid off, but I was looking at at least a year's wait, so I was amazed to find one of the wood handled X-5's in competition mode and bought that. I did try out about every other auto in the place at the time however. What's the story with the M&P? I read that it's really just a DAO with a removable thumb safety. I also heard that to take it down you have to screw around with some tiny gizmo in the mag well. Now the crappy buggers are apparently coming to pieces.

01-24-2010, 09:52 PM	#31
KW Gary M Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Key West Florida Posts: 7,155 Blog Entries: 1	I was torn between the XD Subcompact .40 and M&P .40 compact when I was in the market for a new carry gun. I was very fond of both but chose the XD. I started shopping by renting the M&P, Glock and XD to do some side by side comparison. After a couple magazines I decided the Glock did not belong on the same range as the M&P or XD. Got rid of the Glock so I could shoot the two good guns. I shot 100 rounds through each the M&P and XD shooting one magazine from each at a time. Both felt good, both shot well, the M&P had a little less recoil but was also a little bigger. I liked the smaller XD even with a little more recoil. Both shot small, tight groups. I was stumped. I ended up deciding to put them both back. Wait a week so I had some time to think. I went back and rented the M&P and XD again. 100 rounds through each and decided to get the XD. I liked the back strap safety. The XD can be fully stripped down in about 15 seconds without even using even a fingernail nevermind a tool, is a breeze to clean and can be put back together in the same 15 seconds. I liked the XD being a little smaller too whereas I live in Key West and formal business attire is shorts and a t shirt. Easy to hide a smaller gun. I also liked the 12+1 extended magazine. Even with the extended mag the gun easily fits in an IWB holster or my fanny pack and can't be seen. I want to say again that I feft, and still feel, the M&P is a great gun. I just liked the XD better for my needs. Both were a pleasure to shoot. There's my 2 cents worth and free opinions are worth less than 2 cents. __________________ To Say Guns Kill People Is To Say Automobiles Drive Drunk and Matches Commit Arson.

10-11-2009, 02:58 PM	#23
Inocibe Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 2	Guess i should check out the dates on these forums before commenting! but anyways i just became a member today and was in the middle of researching this pistol when i decided to comment here. i wanted to relay everything ive found out and if anyone has the time, correct me where I'm wrong and tell me what you think. This will be my first pistol of my own. I am very excited and also skeptical about what to get, i am a lefty and like to take pride in the things i buy, i don't want garbage. Before i settled on the M&P9 i was looking at a few lefty pistols including the SIG p250, the HK p30, the HK p2000, and various Glocks. There aren't as many left hand pistols as i thought there would be. The glocks are nice for the price, they have a longer range barrel and, being a Service Member, are reasonably cheap but over all not the best choice for a left shooter. i felt the same way about the XD's. The HK's are very nice especially the p30; it is extremely comfortable to hold and had the most comfortable slide release I've ever felt.it also has a de-cock,2 extra mags and adjustable hand grips. but for all the research I've done it seems to not be as accurate as the price tag of 900+ would make you assume. also i don't like the fact that it's DAO and from what I've heard the slide release will break after a while.also it only came in 9mm. For all it's class id rather buy American for that kinda dough. The HK p2000 is the same as the p30 a little larger and a squared grip like a Glock, which for this gun seems uncomfortable. other then that it's the same as a p30. When it came to the SIGp250 it was a hard choice, with the ability to change between calibers with a change of a barrel and the left handed accommodations all in one package i was almost sold, but after handling one in my local gun shop i wasn't as satisfied. it was still DAO and a bit bulky. after the HKp30 the SIG seemed like a heavy brick I'd beat someone with as apposed to the even-weighted and ergonomic HK.it also has a hammer which as far as i could tell didn't actually do anything. it seemed to try to cover too many bases which isn't why i wanted a pistol in the first place. transformers are for the movies. So a little disappointed, i kept searching.(i still held both pistols in high reguard and if i were a higher pay grade i'd probably already own both) Then the store owner showed me his personal S&W M&P. I still had a bit of bias toward how nice the HK was and so at first i wasn't impressed with the simplicity of the M&P. some seemed to have a really heavy slide release. and it wasn't as comfortable to hold as the HK. but i could get it in any caliber i wanted and it was a lot more comfortable then the SIG or the P200 with its adjustable handle grips. It also came with two extra mags and optional Trigicon night sights which pushed the price to $470 with a mil. spec discount. it can also can come with a built in trigger lock for transporting without hassle;but i wasn't interested. After playing with it for almost all afternoon. and jumping back and forth between my choices, i noticed that the M&P had almost an average of everything i wanted. left handed, a more comfortable grip, 2 mags, a good price with a mil. discount (which played a big role for me),and reputable accuracy. it wasn't too light or toyish like the p30 became.i liked that. It had a nice heavy feel,not off balance like the SIG was. So after all that i was pretty sure of what I wanted. I did nit-pick a lot but I felt better knowing everything that i was satisfied. I am picking up my 9mm Smith&Wesson M&P in two weeks when it comes in. (They had to order it cuz they ran out by the time i made up my mind!) I hope this is helpful to anyone going through what i was. and if anyone can tell me more about the M&P that would be awesome. thanks for reading Integrity, Service, Excellence

12-31-2009, 10:12 AM	#28
r44raven Registered User Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: PA Posts: 2	I own the same gun, after a couple thousand rounds later...No jams no feed problems, well no problems period. The very best guns on the merket

02-05-2010, 07:02 PM	#32
Draken Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Near Kalamazoo, MI Posts: 59	Ok, I just picked up my M&P .40c 2 days ago, and hope to put some rounds down range in the next week or so... I have had a Springfield XD .40 sub compact for the past 4 years for a carry gun and love it, but as I don't like the bi-tone guns, I opted for all black and got a forged steel slide that has worn and it rusts on hot humid days. So I now have the M&P which even the black ones are a stainless slide (Springfield will not install a new stainless slide even if i send them the gun because of liability issues) for a carry gun. After carrying both I like the feel of the M&P better because it is not as squared off and it is much more comfy on my side. Both point about the same and feel great, but still have to do the trigger job to the M&P to smooth it out. Now, neither of these guns are double action, both are striker fired that is much more like single action then double action. You have no hammer you can drop, and unless you rack the slide you have no way to engage the striker on the sear, just pulling the trigger will not cock and release the striker.

02-05-2010, 09:14 PM	#33
Paper Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: IL/WI Border Posts: 2,240	I recently purchased a M&P 45 and don't get to pick it up for another day or two.. I have a Taurus PT1911 and a GLOCK 21SF, and wondered if anyone can tell me if the accuracy will be similar to either of these two weapons? I recently converted a bunch of Frequent Flier Miles into Bass Pro Shops gift cards. I didn't plan on buying the S&W, but it was in stock at my local store. I was actually after a Kimber, but they didn't carry or have any way to get one. Since the cards were basically free, I figured on getting a decent handgun, and since the Kimber wasn't available, I basically flipped a coin between the M&P and a XDm. The M&P won because they had a new one in the back, rather than a heavily handled XDm counter demonstrator. :-) Anyway, I ended up with a full size 45 without the ambi safety, in black.. If nothing else, it's a good looking weapon. __________________ My motorcycles miss me..

02-26-2010, 10:45 PM	#34
Rogue Tom Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 113	The M&Ps are great pistols. I have one in 40 fullsize and a 9mm compact that I carry daily. I recently bought an XD45 and that is also very good. The M&Ps fit my hand PERFECTLY and the convertible backstraps are genius. I installed a crimson trace laser grip on my 40 and it integartes into the back strap. It won design awards for that innovation. Now, the question of disassembly. The M&Ps field strip in about 5-10 seconds. The little tool integrated in the grip mainly just holds the chosen backstrap in place (one of three sizes supplied with the pistol). The rod also has a little handle on the end which when inserted in the grip, closes the bottom of the grip so there is not the strange hole you find on GLOCKS. The rod can also be removed to assist with field stripping. To strip it: You remove the mag, then just lock the slide back and look down the opening. I usually grab a pencil or pen and just move the sear forward and down about 1/2 inch (you could use the rod, but it easier to grab a handy pen or pencil). Then just release the slide and let it move forward and it "slides" right off the frame. There is never a need to pull the trigger to release the slide off the frame (which is required to field strip the XDs). With a little practice you can easily strip the M&P in 5 seconds.