R.W.Dale said:
The s&w m&p is an impressive pistol. But the fact remains that it doesn't do a darn thing even the oldest gen1 glock doesn't do. 30years to improve on the original glock design and what do we have from glock and its competition today as an improvement? The interchangeable backstrap. THATS IT!
so for me the glock is still on top. They set the bar and in 30 years it has yet to be raised.
This is coming from a Glock fan who shot matches with two Glock 22s and 250,000+ rounds of reloads. I have shot and owned both in 9mm, 40S&W and 45ACP.
I still like Glocks and carry a G27 and depend my life on it.
HOWEVER, there are few things M&P does better than a Glock:
- My father is left-handed and I have several friends/co-workers who are left handed. I guess Glock "perfection" don't include south-paw people.
M&P pistols (all models) have full ambidextrous controls to include ambi slide lock. Left handed shooters must learn to use their shooting hand's index finger to operate the slide lock on Glocks.
Most left-handed shooters I have range tested with will often gravitate towards ambi-friendly pistols for purchase.
- As to the rest of "ergonomics", the M&P grips gives you the "Oooooooohhhhhh, NICE GRIP" feeling when you pick up the pistol and I can reach all the key controls (mag release/slide lock) readily with my thumb without having to shift my grip. With Glocks, I must shift my grip to fully operate the mag release. Over the years, I have "adapted" to sharper Glock grip angle, but whenever I pick up M&P pistols (even PT145) and point at the light switch, the sights are always right on.
- During early years of match shooting with G22s, I found my "drop-free" magazines didn't always wanted to drop free, especially when the pistol was tilted so I could reach the mag release with my shooting thumb (My match 1911/P226 always dropped the metal magazines
). I have since adapted and now use a "wrist flick" during mag change to ensure empty magazines are flung free from the mag well. With M&P metal magazines, they always drop free even when the pistol is tilted at an angle. As to M&P magazine base, unliike Glock's magazine base, is wider than the mag well and act as limiter for magazine insertion. No matter how hard you slam on the magazine base, the magazine cannot go past the magazine base. My Glock magazines are mangled at magazine release point.
- My wife likes/wants/needs to comfortably shoot every pistol we have. She can comfortably grip the M&P45 with the small grip insert but Gen3 45 Glock grips (No Gen4 Glocks for CA!), even with SF models, is "no go" for my wife. It is one of several reasons why G30 got replaced with PT145. Yes, she loves shooting M&P45 and PT145.
- I am finding myself shooting a lot more lead reloads in 9mm, 40S&W and 45ACP. I use 40S&W and 40-9 conversion barrels in G22/G27 to shoot lead reloads because the hexagonal/polygonal hill/valley rifling with loooooong leade aggravates gas cutting/leading issues. The aftermarket barrels with traditional square-cut land/groove rifling and shorter leade are much more lead reload friendly and accuracy is better.
Lead reloads and M&P pistols? No problem! BTW, I can still get 40-9 conversion barrels for M&P40
.
- Comparing factory recoil springs, M&P40 and M&P45 seems to offer softer felt recoil for me and everyone who has shot them side-by-side.
- This may not apply to everyone. Although I buy firearms based on quality of construction and accuracy (my last purchase was a railed Sig 1911), I am happy with the fact that M&P pistols are made in USA. With the correction of triggers, S&W finally has a product line that can rival any pistol line whether for law enforcement/military use or competitive match shooting. I for one would love to see M&P replace the Beretta M9. Hooah!
