Lead bullets in M&P pistol?

[ilmonster]

I know the Glock and HK's have polygonal rifling which precludes the use of lead bullets in them. Can I assume that the new Smith & Wesson M&P series of pistols have traditional rifling hence I can use lead bullets in them (the 9mm and .40 S&W specifically)?

 

[Cloudpeak]

I shot a couple of thousand lead loads through my M&P 9mm with good results.

 

[Hungry Seagull]

Yes the M&P 45 ACP has rifling and maybe a chrome lining. But not sure.

I fire copper lined metal jackets and copper lined hollowpoints from Speer Gold Dots through it exclusively.

So far no issues.

 

[jaysouth]

Good to go on lead. Shoot as many as your wallet can stand. You can't wear that barrel out with lead.

 

[rbernie]

I have shot many, many thousands of cast lead bullets thru my 9mm and 40S&W M&Ps, with no issues.

 

[Oro]

Can I assume that the new Smith & Wesson M&P series of pistols have traditional rifling

I think you should assume the new M&P has ECM rifling, and neither traditional rifling nor polygonal. I don't own one to examine right now, but I think most all S&W barrels for the last 10 years or so have had the ECM rifling.

This makes a rounded groove in the barrel which doesn't have sharp "shoulder" to the groove at all. If you use even slightly undersized lead, some have said it grips them poorly and results in reduced accuracy. As posters above have shown, it's not a problem if you use properly sized lead.

But in general, I seriously doubt your gun has "traditional" bore-through rifling.

 

[Kilroy]

http://www.smith-wesson.com/wcsstore/SmWesson/upload/other/S&W_M&P_Pistol_Manual.pdf

Few shooters actually know how to clean lead from a barrel, so that might be a skill to undertake.

 

[possum]

you will be good shooting lead in the m&p.

also just for fyi Kahr has polygonal rifled barrels.