A long time gun owner, first time Pistol buyer. I did my research and decided I would buy a Smith and Wesson M&P in the 40 s&w caliber.
I purchased the 40 S&W M&P New on 8/4/07. I shot one box of 50 rounds through the pistol the same day. After shooting it I oiled the locations listed in the manual and wiped the gun down with a clean rag. I went home put the gun in the new holster I purchased with the gun. I then placed it in our night stand drawer in our temperature controlled bedroom. The gun never touched a drop of water, or sat in a damp location. One week later I take the gun out to shot again and it was covered in rust. Needless to say I was very upset that my new gun, only a week later, looks worse than my 1934 revolver. There is surface rust on the serial number, both magazines, front and rear sight, inside the magazine chamber, and even on the Slide (on the bottom rear and back sides)! I was under the impression the gun was stainless steel. In fact it says stainless just an inch in front of the rust on the slide?! Since it was designed to be a duty pistol I figure it would be low maintence and withstand most conditions. That was not the case; it couldn’t even sit in room kept 70 degrees for one week. I could not imagine it after a month if I was an officer carrying this weapon in the weather.
Buyers beware! I contacted Smith and they are sending me a prepaid label to ship it too them. I will follow up with what they do.
If you are on the fence like i was between the m&p / xd /Glock 22. This should help make up your mind.
I purchased the 40 S&W M&P New on 8/4/07. I shot one box of 50 rounds through the pistol the same day. After shooting it I oiled the locations listed in the manual and wiped the gun down with a clean rag. I went home put the gun in the new holster I purchased with the gun. I then placed it in our night stand drawer in our temperature controlled bedroom. The gun never touched a drop of water, or sat in a damp location. One week later I take the gun out to shot again and it was covered in rust. Needless to say I was very upset that my new gun, only a week later, looks worse than my 1934 revolver. There is surface rust on the serial number, both magazines, front and rear sight, inside the magazine chamber, and even on the Slide (on the bottom rear and back sides)! I was under the impression the gun was stainless steel. In fact it says stainless just an inch in front of the rust on the slide?! Since it was designed to be a duty pistol I figure it would be low maintence and withstand most conditions. That was not the case; it couldn’t even sit in room kept 70 degrees for one week. I could not imagine it after a month if I was an officer carrying this weapon in the weather.
Buyers beware! I contacted Smith and they are sending me a prepaid label to ship it too them. I will follow up with what they do.
If you are on the fence like i was between the m&p / xd /Glock 22. This should help make up your mind.