Need some M&P and caliber advice.

[FullEffect1911]

First I would like to state for the purposes of avoiding a caliber war:

I think the 9mm and the .45 auto are close enough in performance that I don't care which I have ready to use. Secondly I am never overly concerned with capacity and it's not a deal breaker either way.

I was at the range yesterday with my M&P 45c and while I was shooting quite accurately, my aimed follow up shots were hurting due to the recoil of that particular round. The round was very close to the 230 grain hardball load.

I have several options: Reload with some softer shooting .45. I can do this easily and I know the accuracy and follow ups will be there. While this is great for the range it doesn't help in finding .45 self defense ammo that will mimic my softball rounds. The softest recoiling self defense round that I'd feel okay about seems to be the factory 185 grain Hornady XTP, but I have little experience with light weight .45 loads.

Second option would be to get a M&P 9mm. Recoil will certainly be less but I am concerned with the overall dimensions of the pistol compared to the .45c. The .45c carries perfect for me (with the magazine pinky extension installed) and I am concerned that the 9mm would have too long of a grip to carry effectively IWB under a Tee-shirt. This route also has me taking a loss on the .45c on trade in and magazines. On the positive side I gain more rounds and faster follow up shots on a platform that has a larger parts market then its larger bore brother.

I know this is a classic argument and I know the virtues of each side. What I would love the know is a overall height of a fullsize M&P 9mm (from the top of the rear site to the bottom of the magazine butt)? Any suggestions for .45 ammo that I may have missed along with some opinion of the recoil of those light loadings vs higher powered self defense 9mm loads?

 

[NG VI]

What about the 9c? EVen smaller than the 45c you've got, and I know that'll drop it out of the sweet spot of biggest gun you can comfortably carry, but still you'll gain some capacity and it'll be even more comfortable to carry.

I'm with you on 9/40/45, I think they're all close enough if you aren't juicing up the .45 to 230/950 or higher powers.

 

[FullEffect1911]

What about the 9c?

I thought about that 9c and my only real concern is that it might be a bit small for my larger hand size to comfortably shoot at the range. The .45c is a perfect blend of size (for me) to make it a good range and carry weapon.

And I know this is dumb, but I don't care for the way the 9c looks. Still I think it's another option.

 

[Al Thompson]

hurting due to the recoil

Not meaning to be critical, but perhaps an adjustment in your shooting technique would mitigate that issue? FWIW, IME a strong Weaver stance sucks a lot of the recoil out of the heavier kicking calibers...

 

[FullEffect1911]

The follow up shots were slower due to recoil... I was not physically injured in any way.

It is also pretty much factual that all else being equal a lighter recoiling round should equate to faster follow up shots. I also understand that a good stance and grip will mitigate recoil but there is still no free lunch.

One thing I do know is that I am considerably more accurate with a lighter recoiling firearm. I know that can be trained away, but I think I will always be more accurate with less mental effort when I know there is less recoil coming.

 

[MK11]

You answered your own question in terms of caliber.

I've got the full M&P size 9. It conceals decently (I'm using a Bladetech Nano) if you dress around it but I find the length of grip is an issue for full-time carry (mine tends to snag on seats). It's become my house gun rather than dedicated carry.

 

[FullEffect1911]

You answered your own question in terms of caliber.

You might be right, sometimes just getting things written down helps iron out the ideas.

I've got the full M&P size 9. It conceals decently (I'm using a Bladetech Nano) if you dress around it but I find the length of grip is an issue for full-time carry (mine tends to snag on seats). It's become my house gun rather than dedicated carry.

If I may ask how tall are you and your approx weight? Also do you find that it's the heel of the grip that causes the most problem? The .45c (with pinky extension) I think has a similar overall length to the 9mm FS, but it has the heel "notched" out like a bob tail 1911.

 

[Manco]

What I would love the know is a overall height of a fullsize M&P 9mm (from the top of the rear site to the bottom of the magazine butt)?

The M&P9's height is 5.5 inches, just like the full-size M&P45.

 

[FullEffect1911]

The M&P9's height is 5.5 inches, just like the full-size M&P45.

Thank you.

After looking at some pictures of people shooting/holding the 9c I think it has too small of a grip for me.

So it's either going to be lower powered .45 ammo or a 9mm FS.

 

[MK11]

Sure, I'm 5'11, 180 pounds. It is the heel that's hanging up on seats. Don't get me wrong, for a 17-shot handgun it's very manageable but I've found it does print pretty easily, even with bulkier clothes. Others may have better experiences.

 

[redbeardsong]

Have you tried a Glock 19? I prefer M&P's, but the G19 is about the same size of the M&P45c, and is the perfect balance of size and capacity for a 9mm, in my opinion. It's bigger than the M&P9c, with a shorter grip than the FS. I wish more companies would make a gun that size.

 

[FullEffect1911]

Have you tried a Glock 19? I prefer M&P's, but the G19 is about the same size of the M&P45c, and is the perfect balance of size and capacity for a 9mm, in my opinion. It's bigger than the M&P9c, with a shorter grip than the FS. I wish more companies would make a gun that size.

While I agree that the G19 size would be excellent, Glocks just don't point right for me. Every time I go to aim I am always pointing high. The M&P just fits me very well.

Even so I will take a look at the G19 just to be sure.

ETA: Wow, the G19 is the same dimensions as the M&P 45c with the flat magazine butt. That certainly is worth a better look.

 

[NG VI]

What about something like a CZ PCR? It's alloy, but it's basically the exact same as the 19 in size, also the FNP-9M is that size, great gun.

How about one of the P99c pistols?

 

[DAdams]

Here is an option and one with a great deal of flexibility.

I bought a .40c and a Storm Lake 9mm barrel. You can run full sized 9 or .40 magazines with the appropriate barrel and an X grip. The grip essentially then is full sized and if the desire hits you also have a compact in two calibers.

FWIW you can also run 357 SIG rounds in the 40 mags with a barrel retro on a .40.

 

[FullEffect1911]

I ended up going to my LGS and getting an M&P 9mm. They happened to have a near new one used. So all told I only lost 30 bucks on the trade in which is way better then I expected to do.

I also got to handle a gen 4 G19. I'm not sure there is a better sized pistol made! However as I expected it pointed high for me and just didn't have the ergonomics that the M&P does. The real deal breaker was that it was a NIB price as opposed to used M&P 9 price.