good deal on M&P 9mm

[idonthuff]

I found a used 4" M&P 9mm at a local store that's marked $399. It looks like it has hardly been shot, but it only comes with 1 10-rd mag. The original case and extra backstraps are included. This store has a reputation for not moving on their prices. Is this a good deal?

I've also seen brand new XD9's with the full kit for around 450, so I wonder if I shouldn't just get that instead. I like both - just trying to decide what to do. Any suggestions or thoughts?

 

[Sam1911]

You may want to Google the M&P 9 and extraction problems. They are fantastic pistols. But, there does appear to be a not-uncommon issue with feeding/extraction reliability.

S&W has been very good about taking (thousands?) of them back for service, which I've been told mostly involves a new extractor and polishing the chamber more completely. Some of them, including a couple I know of personally, have not been fixed satisfactorily, even after a couple of trips back to the mothership.

Many of the M&Ps that have had issues are now out on the used market as their former owners gave up. This is definitely true of the several I know of which S&W did not get running correctly after one or more repair shop trips.

So, for my money, while I still think the M&Ps are a wonderful, very ergonomic design with a lot going for it, I don't think I'd buy a used one. I'd save the cash and buy new, hoping to better my odds of getting one that works right out of the box, or that just needs one trip back to S&W for fixing.

With any used gun, you run the risk of buying someone else's chronic problem gun that they've given up on. With the M&Ps, the used market has the potential to be a minefield of these lemons.

Of course, maybe the former owner just wanted a change...after only a few boxes of ammo. Only one way to know...

-Sam

 

[krs]

$399. is the price I paid for a new one from Bud's last year, but it was out of their law enforcement/military retiree section. I got three 17 round mags with and then got $50. back in the rebate program.

So, aside from the things relayed by Sam1911 above, I'd check to see if S&W has a rebate or free mag program going now and whether or not you can qualify to buy in that section of Bud's. I saw a price of $415. for the package I bought not very long ago.

You'll want more mags, and the high capacity ones too unless you're in la-la land, and mags aren't free.

BTW, I've had ZERO issues with mine, not one failure of any kind though it's only been fired right around 500 times.

 

[Rontherunner]

I think that's a good price if it's nearly new. A very nice gun.

 

[Defense Minister]

I agree with Sam1911. The M&P is a great defensive pistol-I own two of them. But, the earlier models had some issues, especially the 9mm. If it comes with the box, the date of manufacture should be on the tag. I would definitely get one that was made within the past year or so.