I found the prefect gun (for me)!!! Yahoo...

[James39b]

After lots of research, thousands of rounds of ammo, and a few hundred dollars of range and rental fees I found the gun that was perfect for me.

Guns that I shot before making my decision:
Sig 229/P220; XD40 tactical 4" and subcompact 3"; Walther P99 and SW99; Glock 19/17/22; HK P2000; 1911 Colt; HK P30 - I just handled this gun, did not shoot it; and a few revolvers (just for fun).

I have to say that some of the more popular guns preformed poorly when I shot them. That's when a little switch in my head went off and I realized that all the hype about foreign engineering was nothing more but a clever advertising. For example, I found that XD series was more reliable in my hands than some German or Austrian uber guns. How is that possible? Well, I believe that some of those guns are made for professionals. Those guns are not necessarily best choice for a "home user". They have very low tolerances for new shooters like me and mistakes that new shooters make. I found only Glocks to be exception to this rule.

Long story short... after trying all those guns, I came across SW M&P 40. Somebody in the forum recommended that I try the gun and I did. Thank you! The ergonomics of the gun and design of the interchangeable grips felt much better to me than even the new uber HK P30 or Sig Sauer. I hate to say it this, but to me Glock ergonomics felt like like stone age pistols after I tried M&P 40. Grip angles are phenomenal on M&P40. Magazine release; build of the gun -- a combination of polymer and treated/black stainless steel; weight; size; magazine capacity... I loved everything about this gun. If you like 1911 or XD grip angle you must shoot this gun. In my hands this 40SW gun has less recall than 9mm guns that I tested. I loved it.

I did not buy the gun yet and therefore I believe this is a fair and independent review and I hope some new users will find it useful.

 

[madsciencedude]

I have used this gun you speak of. My purchase decision was was between the M&P .40 and xd-m .40. I chose the xd-m however both were amazing. In my experience although the xd .40 is good, the xd-m is much better.

 

[charles.emond]

yep well the M&P 40 has pros and cons...
In canada if you get a lemon (and theres a fair amount of chances you do cause smith has lowered their quality standards) you cannot ship it back to get it repaired because SW doesnt want to honour their warranty, but thats just canada.

IMO save the hassle get the STI GP-6, a similar pistol, yet better in some means

 

[jpwilly]

I like the M&P line. The Ruger SR9mm is often overlooked and is a fine 9mm too. I don't own either. Did you try the CZ P-01 yet...

 

[againstthagrane]

m&P has a horrid trigger. i've fired BB guns with nicer triggers

 

[Racinbob]

Ditto with jpwilly. I spent quite a bit of time researching and going back and forth between the M&P9 and SR9. After what seemed like hours at the dealer I went with the SR9. I love it. It doesn't give a hoot what I feed it. The trigger was OK out of the box and is getting real nice now. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure the M&P would have been great too but I just love the SR9. That's coming from a Smith revolver guy.

 

[James39b]

No, I haven't tested SR9. I will test it next week. Good suggestion. I heard good stuff about SR9.

againstthagrane: Where are the facts? Where is the data?

To me SW M&P 40 trigger pull was very smooth. Very similar to XD. Do your own research and belive facts only. Test and shoot as many guns as you can. Here is some data:

SW M&P trigger pull = 6.5lbs
XD trigger pull = between 5.5 lbs and 7.7 lbs.
Glock trigger pull = 5.5 lbs
Walther P99 = 8lbs

With a little research you can also find trigger pull distance.

Quality Issues
I experienced no issues and I'm very picky about that. I want my first gun to be perfect and free of unnecessary gaps or as some call them "tolerances", scratches etc. SW MP had none of that. The gun I handled was perfectly manufactured. Additionally, SW MP40 has life time warranty. Some other guns like XD have that too. That's nice.

Consider this. Guns that are rented at ranges are very reliable. If they were not reliable and if they needed lots of maintenance or repairs gun shops would not rent them. Store clerk told me that their guns are cleaned once a month. I can confirm that M&P I shot was very very dirty. I'm sure it had hundreds of rounds shot trough it and no cleaning -- yet I experienced absolutely no failures of any kind -- and I shot with a limp wrist as part of my tests.

Customer Service
This is a serious consideration. Look for life time warranty AND good customer service. I don't know why but for some reason few of those uber companies had absolutely the worst customer service. I don't want to name any names out of respect for the current owners. See for yourself. Call them.

Opinions
Everybody has one. Seek independent opinions. I believe my opinions in this matter are independent and honest because I do not own any of those guns. I don't need to justify my choice of guns and why I spent hundreds or thousands of dollars to buy a piece. In fact I don't even own a gun yet.

Marketing
Um, this might have escaped some oldies out there but you should know that companies pay people to say certain things online. PR companies often target various large forums like this, or wikis and blogs. These people always masquerade themselves as ordinary users -- when in fact they are paid to spread FUD (fear, uncertainty, doubt) about competitors products or to simply say great things about a product they are trying to push and advertise. This is called social engineering. Microsoft was cough doing this... google news stories and find for yourself.

 

[againstthagrane]

i tried one out at the range. i liked everything about it(especially the looks, ergonimics and price). the trigger, however, was crap for lack of a better word. the hinge on the trigger was a horrible idea and is useless as a safety. there was a good deal of grit and a dull break. i never understood the "safety on the trigger" concept. you shouldn't have you finger on the trigger anyways unless you're ready to go.

i'm glad you like your m&p but i went with a glock. ugly sure, but a much nicer trigger, more aftermarket parts and roughly the same price(although the plastic sights are not the greatest).

 

[Matthew Courtney]

I don't know what the deal is with S&W triggers. New shooters keep coming to my classes with 14 pound triggers that S&W says are within their specs. It is not easy to teach petite ladies to shoot pistols with such stout triggers.

 

[Butter]

I like the M&P that I own, but have to say the worst area of that gun is the trigger. It wasn't the pull weight but its consistency and grittiness. Had a different feel at different times when you pressed the trigger and that wasn't apparent until you shot rounds out of it and not sitting there dry firing with snap caps.

On the other hand, it has smoothed out after 1,200 rounds or so and is a neat gun. But that tigger is the flaw for me in an otherwise really good pacakge.

 

[old_ironsights]

So, what's the practical difference in the M&P and the much-maligned Sigma?

 

[Matthew Courtney]

Price

 

[SHusky57]

The Springfield XD is made in Croatia and imported by Springfield. So, it's still a European gun.

As far as reliability.... the Sigs and Glocks should be reliable regardless of whose hands they are in. So should any home defense gun. Range pistols go through a lot of neglect (aren't necessarily cleaned well) and go through 100x what the normal pistol goes through, as far as a round count goes.

I don't think your comment on foreign engineering is very objective or well thought out.

Anyway, find something that fits you and stick with it. I still have a feeling you might be working for a marketing firm for SWHC.

 

[mljdeckard]

The Sigma was/is a Glock ripoff with a heavy trigger spring. The M&P is a completely different pistol, completely redesigned. I don't know how they shoot, because I still have a bad taste in my mouth from my Sigma, and S&W autos are still at the very bottom of my list.

 

[J. Jay]

Grats!! Now go shoot 200 rounds twice a month for the next year.