Opinions on recent Smith and Wesson M&P 9c

[chanroc]

Any recent buyers of a S&W M&P 9c out there? Thinking about picking one up. I have the full size 9mm and I'm considering the compact model, due to commonality between the two and how it feels in my hand. I know a bad batch of their full sized models got out, but I haven't had any issues with mine. So has there been a bad batch of 9pc's or is this a relatively safe move? (And yes, I will be using this as a CCW piece.) Thanks!

 

[JWH321]

I have two. One two years old, one Jan 14 of this year. They are both perfect although I think the trigger is better on the new one. Both have the Apex USB. The old one has had about 7 or 8 thousand rounds through it, the new one just broke one thousand.

Very nice guns. I shoot mostly reloads, 124Grn FMJ RN. I carry Federal hollow points. Both handle hollow points perfectly.

I can't find a thing negative to say about them.

 

[BknB]

Great gun. I've got a 9c and the 40c. Don't rule out the new Shield 9mm. Many of the great features of the M&P line, but in a size that disappears.

 

[wally]

IMHO best feature of the M&P Compact is buy the 40c and a replacement 9mm barrel. The extra 1mm at the barrel hood had little to no effect on accuracy shooting steel plates at 10-20 yards. I had a red dot on mine for a while and never bothered adjusting the dot when changing barrels. If the gap at the barrel hood bothers you, you can get a Storm Lake conversion barrel for ~2-3X the cost of the 9mm replacement.

You may or may not need 9mm mags for the conversion, my 40c mags weren't as reliable as I'd like at the range, YMMV. Its a nice setup to have cheap 9mm for practice and .40S&W for carry.


It appears you can do the same with the Shield 40, although spare Shield barrels are pretty hard to find.

 

[moxie]

I've got a 9c about 2 years old. Love it. Haven't felt the need to do anything with the trigger. I've used it in several long "tactical" style courses and it's shot lots of ammo without a burble. Gobbles up my lead reloads. Great carry piece.

 

[chanroc]

Thanks everyone for your feedback. It looks like my wallet is about to get a little thinner.

 

[skoro]

Is 2008 recent?

Probably not, but that's when I got my M&P9c. Man, what a nice handgun. I'd imagine that it's only gotten more refined since I got mine 6 years ago.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Is 2007 recent enough? The one I had functioned absolutely 100% perfectly from the very first round. (The use of past tense is for another topic.) I have no reason to think they would get worse with time.

 

[wild cat mccane]

I *think* among people who own multiple handguns, the M&P is consistently rated as having the worst characteristics of all the major handguns...(ie, glock 19, walther ppq/p99, ruger sr9, beretta px9, sig 2022, fn fnx, taurus g24, etc.) Spongy trigger, vague reset, known accuracy issues with random assignment, etc.

You will find, after dropping 100+ dollars, people start to like their M&P. At that point, you may have gotten a more refined or cheaper gun with equal or better triggers.

Gospel Always ask for the list of other handguns owned by a promoter.

 

[ATLDave]

I *think* among people who own multiple handguns, the M&P is consistently rated as having the worst characteristics of all the major handguns...(ie, glock 19, walther ppq/p99, ruger sr9, beretta px9, sig 2022, fn fnx, taurus g24, etc.) Spongy trigger, vague reset, known accuracy issues with random assignment, etc.

You will find, after dropping 100+ dollars, people start to like their M&P. At that point, you may have gotten a more refined or cheaper gun with equal or better triggers.

Gospel Always ask for the list of other handguns owned by a promoter.

Well, that's just not been my experience at all. I own quite a few handguns, and have certainly spent substantial time with many of the "major" handguns you list (which seems like an odd mix, frankly). And I like my M&P a lot.

Now, everyone has their own preferences. But the implication that the only people who like M&Ps are those who don't have a valid comparison basis is rather obviously wrong.

 

[peacebutready]

M&P 9c and accuracy

Years ago Gun Tests magazine gave the compact model a bad rating. There were accuracy problems. It may have had other issues but I don't remember. It was a new model back then when it was tested. I too am curious how the latest examples have been to owners.

 

[wally]

I *think* among people who own multiple handguns, the M&P is consistently rated as having the worst characteristics of all the major handguns...

You could think that, but you'd be wrong.

I've had a fair number of people looking to buy their first handgun try a variety of mine shooting A/B to compare -- Glock, SIG, HK, Taurus, M&P, 1911, CZ, XD, Walther. The HK and SIG usually get eliminated after the first round when prices are mentioned, the "superior quality" generally just ain't noticeable to a new shooter. The Taurus gets a closer look because of price. Most have settled on M&P or Glock and been very happy with the choice.

The only thing I enjoy shooting more than my M&P pistols are my 1911s I've three of each type in 9mm, .40S&W & .45ACP. The XD was my favorite polymer pistol until the M&P came out. Glocks just never quite fit me well enough to shoot very well until Gen4. Don't underestimate the utility of the three grip options with the M&P.

 

[atomd]

Some of the bad stuff you hear about the M&P is involving issues they seem to have resolved. I had one of the bad ones (it's been a while). My full size M&P 9mm had accuracy issues and the mags did not drop free. I wasn't too happy but I'd be willing to give them another shot at some point. I recently picked up a Shield 9mm and I'm very happy with that. It makes me more receptive to trying more of the M&P line again.

 

[Hangingrock]

My experience with the MP9c is that I obtained one with the magazine disconnect and (10) round capacity magazines. The trigger-press was in excess of 10lbs. MP series pistols with the magazine disconnect are special order item in this area. When I found one at a dealer I bought it.

(Yes I know that people don't like the magazine disconnect but I like continuity of purpose which matched my other MP series pistol)

With that said I disposed of the (10) round magazine thru selling and acquired (12) round magazines with a finger rest. Also replaced the OEM sights with a 10-8 sight set and went with the Apex Duty-Carry system that brought the trigger press down to 4.5lbs.

I like the pistol, the trigger system and sights match my example of the full size MP pistol.

I have no complaints, no functionality problems, and the accuracy is within acceptable standards.

 

[Havok7416]

I bought one several years back. The trigger was less than fantastic, but I had that fixed as well as adding night sights.

 

[skoro]

I *think* among people who own multiple handguns, the M&P is consistently rated as having the worst characteristics of all the major handguns...(ie, glock 19, walther ppq/p99, ruger sr9, beretta px9, sig 2022, fn fnx, taurus g24, etc.) Spongy trigger, vague reset, known accuracy issues with random assignment, etc.

You will find, after dropping 100+ dollars, people start to like their M&P. At that point, you may have gotten a more refined or cheaper gun with equal or better triggers.

Not my experience, at all.

I've read internet complaints about the M&P9c trigger, but mine's a-ok. Slightly stiff brand new, but a few boxes of shells and some dry firing took care of that years ago. Haven't done a thing to mine, it's bone stock.

It's what I use to qualify when renewing my CHL and it make me look like a better shot than I truly am.

 

[benzy2]

I like my M&P9c, though I have swapped in an Apex sear. For the $45 or so the sear costs, it has made the gun a very good carry weapon. I figure about everything I buy has some small feature I'd want to change. The stock sights on the Glock are something I'd replace, even if only for a basic metal version. Just causes a little concern for hard use. The XD would also get trigger work. The Walther runs $100-$150 more than a Glock/M&P locally. The Sig 2022 is arguably a better buy, but for some reason it's the black sheep of the Sig world (along with the P250) and it doesn't pop up locally very often. After shipping and transfer fees, it isn't any better of a buy. The beretta PX4 isn't a bad pistol, but you're out of the striker fired world (like you are with the 2022) and DA/SA is a love it or hate it type feature.

Honestly, I wouldn't dislike carrying most anything mentioned in the thread so far. I bought an M&P9c at a great price used and had no issue spending a little more for the sear. After that, it's been a great gun with no issues. I'm not sure it does anything necessarily better than many of the other options listed, but I can't say it does anything worse either. It's a saturated market and the M&P9c competes well in that market for its price. You tend to be down to the small preferences being a real deciding factor in that market.

 

[ritepath]

I loved my 9c but it was just too thick for CC, so I ended up with the 9mm Shield. The trigger was just fine, just like I'd rank my g20 or SR45. Of course it'll never be a sig or CZ.

For the money you'll get a great pistol that's dead solid reliable and accurate, my only gripe is getting parts. I'm really wanting a CORE now to go along with my shield.

 

[SIGLBER]

Had mine for awhile. Never given me a bit of grief. In fact I'm wearing it now. I did put the APEX defense/carry set up in it. Made a good gun a great gun. Accurate, great ergonomics, totally reliable. Win-win all the way.