In praise of the M&P 9mm.

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jon_in_wv

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I just back from the range and I fired about 100 rounds through my M&P 9C and my new Colt Combat Commander. Things went life they normally did with my M&P. I fired several different brands of ammo....147gr JHP WWB, Federal 147gr JHP, 115gr ball, and 124gr HST. My M&P has been totally reliable since I bought it. What amazes me the most about it is just now easy this gun is to shoot WELL. Whether I shoot it fast, slow, point shooting, or PINPOINT shooting, it is incredibly easy to put all my rounds in the black. I trust it more than any other gun that I have ever owned.
After shooting my M&P I broke out my Commander and my shots were all over the place. At first I thought, "dang, this thing isn't accurate at all." I finally settled down and really concentrated. I shot a nice group with it. It was accurate but my M&P had spoiled be so bad I thought shooting well was EASY. My Commander had some new parts in it, the hammer and sear were brand new and the trigger pull was anything but light but still I am convinced that the M&P is my favorite carry gun of all time. My wife has a full sized M&P 9mm and it is even easier to shoot than my compact.
I'm going to send my Commander out for a trigger job and perhaps that will level the playing field a bit.

Note: My Commander was 100% reliable through about a hundred rounds of 200gr XTPs, 200gr SWC, 230 Magtech ball, and 230gr JHP WWB. The 200gr XTPs were loaded by Mountaineer Custom Cartridge and they were HOT! I am definitely replacing my grip safety with a beavertail. They hurt.
 
A polymer 9mm out shooting any 1911, methinks you need to work on your flinch. :)

Why the "new trigger parts"? Who's the hack what put them in? My worst out of the box 1911 trigger is way better than any polymer gun's trigger. If its a new Colt, send it back it should have a better than good trigger by polymer pistol standards out of the box -- everybody lets some bad ones get out from time to time.

I do rate the S&W M&P as the best polymer gun so far, I put the XD in second (was first, until I got the M&P) and admit Glock could be #1 for some folks but they just don't fit me well making them the gun I shoot worst.

--wally.
 
If a 1911 doesn't have a reasonably crisp and light trigger pull, IMO it is really no easier to shoot than what I like to call a "'short-stroke' DAO" like the M&P. I have both, so I know. ;)
 
If a 1911 doesn't have a reasonably crisp and light trigger pull
Click to expand...

Who is making one? How do they stay in business? or have they gone under already.

As I said I rate the M&P as the best polymer trigger out of the box I've found yet, but my worst 1911 trigger is still better, although either is good enough for most usage.

When the short stroke polymer triggers start winning 2700 bulls eye matches then I'd admit they've caught up.

--wally.
 
I'm the hack Wally. That was classy. What other gems do you have to add?

I didn't start this as a discussion to compare the 1911 to the M&P. I know SOME people can't stand the idea their pet 1911 isn't better than EVERYTHING ELSE but the fact of the matter remains, in my personal experience the M&P is the easiest pistol to shoot well I have ever handled. Does that mean it has a better trigger pull??? I never said it did. Trigger pull is but ONE factor in the equation. If you 1911 has a good trigger, good for you.

My Commander just happened to be the other weapon I had with me today. I also have a safe full of other weapons. Regardless of what else I take with me the impression has been the same. Actually, I would rate the Hi-Power to be closest in ease of shooting.
 
The M&P overall is an excellent pistol, but with one drawback. The trigger is one of the heaviest, stacking, grittest trigger out there. Good thing there's Dan Burwell around to help clean up and lighten the trigger, it's amazing how much more fun the gun is to shoot.
 
The trigger on both my M&P and my wife's are fine. There is no creep. They break cleanly and there is no grit of any kind. I've heard that criticism before and I have not really seen that to be so. Actually, I would rate the trigger to be a bit like a HP. A bit of takeup and a longer reset like the HP. Personally, the trigger has never seemed to be a factor in the way these guns shoot. Have you ever fired one?? The trigger when you fire it feels much different than when you dry fire it. I think the shape of the grip, the mechanical accuracy of the weapon, and its soft recoil go a long way.
 
Holy crap guys. Thanks for the hijacking. Once again. THIS WAS NOT INTENDED TO BE FORUM FOR A COMPARISON OF M&P AND 1911 TRIGGERS. YOU CAN OBVIOUSLY GET A BETTER TRIGGER FROM A 1911. ITS PRETTY STUPID TO COMPARE A SINGLE ACTION 1911 TO A DOUBLE ACTION M&P. I GIVE UP ON THIS THREAD. I SHOULD BE ABLE TO START A THREAD ON THE HIGH ROAD WITHOUT BEING INSULTED, CALLED A HACK, TREATED LIKE I'M IGNORANT, OR HAVING IT HIJACKED BY SENSITIVE 1911 GUYS WHO WON'T LET ANYONE TALK ABOUT ANYTHING BUT 1911'S.

ALL BY SENIOR MEMBERS TOO.
 
You guys can have this thread. I will try again WITHOUT mentioning the 1911. APPARENTLY you are not ALLOWED to mention one unless you are drooling all over it.
 
jon, sorry you got hacked, but that behavior is not limited to 1911 guys. Had you said you also brought your glock, you would have had the glock fans all over you. I also think it was a little bit of disbelief that your M&P trigger was "better" than a 1911s. However, that can happen. First, "better" is a subjective word, and I have a couple friends who like a heavy HK trigger pull better than my tuned 1911 pull. I don't understand it, but it's their opinion.

Second, 1911s can have bad trigger pulls. I shot a friends Colt and could not believe how hard the trigger pull was. He is not a gun guy, so I have offered to tear it down for him and see what the deal is. My suspicion is that he has not take care of it, so it has rust and/or gunk in the mechanism.
 
When did I compare the trigger of a 1911 to the M&P????? In fact I said such a comparison is STUPID.
I made no such comparison and in fact tried more than once to steer the conversation AWAY from such a comparison. To no avail. I no longer find the content of this thread maddening, only comical.

Just so you guys know. I am a BIG fan of the 1911. It is design genius. I have only built one custom 45. It was a AMT Hardballer. I upgraded everything but the barrel to match grade parts and when I was done I had it checked over by a guy I had met a few time by the name of Terry Tussey. I didn't tell him who did the work but he said whomever did it did a fine job, especially the fitting of the beavertail grip safety (which I did free hand and WITHOUT a jig) My crappy AMT is the best shooting 45 I have ever handled. I parted ways with it years ago but I'm not a dumb kid nor a "HACK" with a 45.
Not only am I familiar with the workings of a firearm I finished my service in the United States Marine Corps with a FIVE Awards for shooting Expert with the pistol and FIVE with the rifle. I was awarded high shooter for the Marine Detachment at Lackland Air Force Base when I out shot EVERYONE in qualification during my law enforcement training and I was the only shooter at that point to have ever shot a perfect score with the M9. I have spent the last twelve years working for an agency that requires me to qualify yearly. I have been in the top two of three shooters during qualification every year since day one. I have taken part in ONE competition and I won the pistol AND rifle events of that. SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.
I am not a hack,
I am familiar with the concepts of marksmanship,
Methinks I don't flinch,
and I find it interesting you guys are arrogant to have assumed otherwise but if you don't mind I have no need of further condescension.

And if I say the M&P is one of the easiest and best shooting guns I have ever shot its because IT IS and I think I am qualified to have an opinion of my own. I was attempting to initiate a discussion of the M&P NOT the 1911. I'm not trying to talk you gray haired guys out of your 1911s. I just wanted to talk about something........brace yourself.........NEW.
 
I just wanted to talk about something........brace yourself.........NEW.
Click to expand...

Ahhh...Right there's your mistake.

That's not allowed. :D

You should check out the Glock vs. M&P thread that Tx mentioned in his post. All sorts of good assumptions and accusations being made over there.

I'm in love with the M&P series of pistols, as many on this forum have ascertained from my countless posts about the series. While I'm not as experienced as you (thank you for your service, btw), I have had the privelege of owning and shooting several 1911's and several different polymer-framed pistols.

Without a doubt, the M&P has captured my heart. Enamored is an understatement.

Do I think it's better than my 1911s. Yes. I shoot any of my four M&Ps better than my 1911s. So it's better FOR ME. Is it better than Glock? Yes, FOR ME.

I'm glad you dig your M&P.
 
Jon,

I hope you check back in on this thread. I enjoyed reading your experiences with your Smith and Wesson M&P 9mm Compact and tried to ignore the trolls - hope you continue to do the same. I am holding out for an M&P .45ACP, which are not yet available in the very state they're made in! Hint: Don;t move to Massachusetts unless you absolutely have to... ;) I have however fired all models of the M&P and am impressed with just what a nice gun they are. As much as I love my Glock22, I will not miss it nearly as much after experiencing the M&P line - there's just something about the grip angle and the adjustable palm swells that have spoiled me and I now find my trusty old friend less enjoyable to shoot. The two M&P
s I have fired with Burwell triggers have been amazing - that guy knows his stuff and can't wait to send him my M&P 45.

PS: I have 1911's as well and adore them, but don't tell anyone that I actually shoot both 1911's and 9mm's on the same day and talk about it and for God's sake never let them know that as much as I love them, I don't think they are the end all be all...shhhh... ;)
 
HA HA. Personally I am waiting for a more compact version of the 45. My wife's full size is a great shooter but compared to my compact it is a BIG gun. I really just wouldn't have any use for a full size. The only thing that will be a drawback may be its capacity. A shorter grip means fewer rounds but an M&P the size of the XD 45 compact would be AWESOME.
 
^ Well, you may be in luck in just a few short weeks at the Shot Show.

Rumors have M&P 45 models coming out with a 4" barrel and same grip, and a 4" barrel and shorter grip. No word on capacity of the shorter gripped model.
 
Quote:
"Quote:
If a 1911 doesn't have a reasonably crisp and light trigger pull

Who is making one? How do they stay in business? or have they gone under already."

Sounds like youre talking about Detonics. Fortunately, I picked one up before they went under. Nicest 1911 I have bought so far!:D
 
I once heard somebody remark that people who like the 9mm don't shoot people with their handgun.
Well I guess I am in that crowd because if I am going to shoot someone my first choice wouldn't be a handgun and I like the 9mm just fine.

It is a heck of a lot more fun to hit what you are shooting at and at todays ammunition prices NOBODY should enjoy missing.
 
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