Smith and Wesson M&P .45

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Rittmeister

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Looking for current thoughts on the M&P45, full-size. I am thinking of picking one up for range and HD use (since it can mount a flashlight).

I've long wanted a 1911 with a light rail, as I really like the 1911 platform and shoot very well with it, but I can't justify the price of most of the quality railed 1911 pistols (Kimber, Springfield, Colt, etc). What I REALLY want is a Rock Island Armory/Firestorm/Citadel etc with a rail, but there are no signs that those manufacturers are going to bring out railed pistols.

So - I branched out a bit in my research, considering things like the XD45, Sig P220R, and now the M&P45. I fired an M&PC in 9mm back-to-back with a full-size XD 9mm, and I was shocked at how much less felt recoil the M&P had, despite the shorter barrel and lighter weight. I assume it's due to ergonomics and the lower bore axis. This leads me to think that the full-size .45 ACP version might have similar characteristics, and for a HD gun the extra few rounds in the mag over a standard 1911 can't hurt.

Finally, I like the fact that the M&P is available with a thumb safety. Say what you want but I prefer to have one. At first I was turned away by all striker-fired guns, since (as far as I knew) they all required a springy trigger pull to finish the cocking of the striker before release, but I understand that the M&P is fully cocked when ready to go and has a crisper trigger pull as a result.

Sorry for the rambling above. Any current thoughts would be appreciated - trigger pull, ergos, ease of disassembly for cleaning, etc. I'm also curious about the magazine safety - apparently the gun can be had with or without? True/false?
 
I purchased the M&P45 without the thumb safety. In my testing it was reliable with a wide variety of handloads using anything from 185 gr. LSWC's to 230 gr. FMJ's. I obtained nice tight 2 inch or slightly less groups at 50 ft. I think it's a real winner.
 
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I really love my M&P-45 but mine is equipped with an Apex Tactical sear and striker block. All of the .45 versions of the M&P I've fondled have had crappy stock triggers.

Yes they can be had with or without a mag safety. None of mine have one.
 
After shooting a buddy's M&P45 I had to get a M&P of my own. I already had 3 45ACPs at the time and I was looking for a cc gun so I went with the M&P9c. I carry that gun daily and shoot it monthly. The M&P line is good stuff.
 
Noted gun guy Hilton Yam has some good words for the M&P .45. Give him a Google search.
 
S&W makes two railed 1911s if you're interested, one in SS, the other in scandium frame/ stainless slide with melonite (black) coating. Both under $900 from discount retailers.

I've got 3 M&Ps, 9L, 9c and 40 full size. Nearly 1500 trouble free rounds through the 40, the others have about 400 rounds apiece with only the occasional jam from the wife (new shooter) weak wristing them.

Check out Burwell Gunsmithing, Bowie Tactical and speed shooter specialties for M&P mods and aftermarket support.
 
Skyler et al - thanks for the info.

New question - is the 4.5" barrel M&P .45 available with a thumb safety? It doesn't look like it, which is unfortunate.

Follow-on question: if you get an M&P without the safety, can a safety be retrofitted?
 
You might consider the new Stoeger Cougar 8045 F .45 ACP. It has a thumb safety/decocker, rail for a light/laser, alloy frame, good ergonomics and a accurate shooter. I own the Stoeger Cougar in 9mm and .45. Both are probably the most pistol for the money going today. The .45 sells for $449 at Bass Pro Shops. Got mine from my local gun shop for the same price. http://www.stoegerindustries.com/firearms/stoeger_cougar.php
 
The 4.5" can be had with thumb safety in Flat Earth, not sure about black. As far as a retrofit, I doubt it's possible unless an armorer is involved. The slides should be the same but I don't think you can order the requisite parts.

S&W also has their Born in the USA promo going on again with a $50 rebate OR 2 free magazines.

While the M&Ps are truly reliable and fun to shoot my next purchase will be an SW1911. At worst I've noted they have a bit of vertical travel to the trigger (not a big deal) and heard from owners they're boring (nothing needs changing or fixing, absolutely reliable from day 1).

I know it's more money but there's something about a 1911...$865 for the SS rail series at my local shop.
 
I have an M&P .45 that I won a couple-three years ago. Honestly, it was one of the better things to happen to me because I likely would never have paid any attention to the M&P line otherwise. I figured I had the plastic gun base covered with a full-sized USP (still a great gun that I'd never part with) and the .45 thing all done up by owning a pair of 1911's (ditto). The M&P has become a favorite. The trigger could be improved, no doubt, but the trigger on both 1911's required improvement as they came from the box too. The M&P will run right alongside the HK or the 1911's for reliability and accuracy. Great piece. I like it a lot.
 
labhound - I'd consider the Cougar but for the short barrel.

Skylerbone - I did see the Dark Earth color with the safety. I am flummoxed as to why S&W wouldn't offer the black gun in the same options. One would think that it's simply a matter of which dye to add to the polymer vat on a given week... I like a black gun, or a silver gun, or some combination thereof. I have a hard time with tan/green/etc. but maybe this time that's what I'll have to get, if I move forward with a purchase.
 
If you want a tactical 45, don't forget about H&K, FN and the Sig Sauers. I prefer Sigs due to the steel construction. If you like polymers don't forget about the Beretta PX4 45.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I can't say enough about my full sized .45 M&P. Accurate, reliable shooter, easy to clean, modestly priced mags, and easy to do a trigger job on (which it will probably need).
 
Don't have an M&P yet, but I do like them. With the thumb safety they're very close in feel to my beloved 1911s. As far as the mag safety I don't believe you can get both the mag safety & thumb safety on the same gun. I think it's an either or deal, but I may be wrong. You can definitely get them without both though.
 
I love my M&P 45c. I also installed the apex hard sear, firing pin block and duty spring kit and the change to the trigger was phenomenal.

My compact has the thumb safeties and the frame and sear housing are different between the one with and the one without the thumb safeties. You'd need a new frame and sear housing/ejector to retrofit a thumb safety.

I've yet to meet a compact 45 that shoots as soft as my M&P, the recoil is comparable to a full sized steel 1911.
 
I wont argue the guns as im a 1911 lover.
But have you ever considered some training while holding a gun and light at the same time like most LEO's do?
That way you get the exact gun you want, Save money on a brighter light. And most likley be more effective using both.
Plus a good flashlight is a very effective weapon in itself.
 
DasFriek, not a bad idea at all - however, for a home defense gun, I much prefer a light-equipped pistol for the nightstand. That way I only have one thing to grab.
 
The 4.5" can be had with thumb safety in Flat Earth, not sure about black.
Click to expand...
As far as the mag safety I don't believe you can get both the mag safety & thumb safety on the same gun. I think it's an either or deal, but I may be wrong. You can definitely get them without both though.
Click to expand...
I got my CA approved 4.5" Black M&P45 with mag safety and thumb safety. S&W rep was at the range for the sales event and confirmed that thumb safety can be removed without affecting the function of the pistol. New model M&P45s come with or without thumb safety and models without thumb safety has a square notch you can take out to add the thumb safety later.
 
I recently purchased an M&P 45c with thumb safety (after 24 years in the military I'm just more comfortable with them). I've put about 150 rounds through it (Remington 230g FMJ) and I've been just delighted with it. No problems and spot-on accurate. I bought it as a trail gun for backpacking as much as for CCW, due to the light weight and small size but larger caliber. With the high cap mag in I don't notice any grip issues. As an aside - the Horseshoe IWB holster I ordered for it has been smooth as silk on the draw and surprisingly comfortable.

I also just received a Kimber Custom II TLE/RLE with rails (it was a commemorative piece from our recent deployment to Iraq, so I just HAD to get one). I haven't fired it yet, but I ordered the rail version for the same reason as Rittmeister mentioned above. I've been thinking about the Streamlight TLR-3 for it.
 
I removed my M&P 45 safety.
http://www.burwellgunsmithing.com/M&P2.htm
I bought a multi pack of springs from Home Depot for $4.79 and there is 5 of each in there, one spring in the pack is the perfect size and just needs to be cut to perfect length. Only purpose for the spring after safety is removed is to keep take down lever snug against sear block and under sear.

Takes about 10 minutes.
 
Being a long time owner & shooter of 1911's, as well as S&W 3rd gen .45's, I wasn't terribly interested in the M&P 45 when it was released ... until I held one and talked to a couple folks from the factory who are 1911 enthusiasts and yet who spoke very highly of the M&P 45. I picked up a full-size one with thumb safeties in '08.

My gun originally had a trigger pull on the heavier end of the normal tolerance range (mine averaged 8 1/2 - 9+lbs using a digital gauge at different times), but the trigger break was consistently predictable and the inherent accuracy was very, very good with some assorted JHP duty loads. It quickly became my favorite .45 to grab when working range sessions.

I didn't bother checking the trigger pull with the gauge again until after I'd replaced my striker with one of the new ones last year (just to see if the new one felt any different). MY trigger had become very smooth and seemed much lighter from regular use (I was approaching 3,000 rounds fired). When I did check the trigger pull after installing the new striker assembly (which had a new spring, presumably stiffer than the one I'd been using), I got some averaged weight readings of 5 1/2 - 6lbs. Not bad for a stock gun.

When I recently had the chance to try a 2010 production M&P 45c on the range, the trigger felt lighter NIB than mine had originally felt. Almost as smooth and light as mine is presently. While there's a +/- 2lb tolerance in trigger weight accepted with the standard M&P pistols, I wouldn't be surprised if S&W hasn't been tightening up on tolerances in the newer production guns.

I'd like to get another M&P 45, this time a compact (probably also with thumb safeties, simply because of being a 1911 shooter) at some point.

I've handled and shot a good cross section of plastic guns on the market over the years of working as a LE firearms instructor & armorer. There are some good ones out there from which to choose. (I even carried a HK P9S .45 for a while as an off-duty weapon. Good gun with few holster choices. Not easy to find parts for it.)

The M&P 45 is the first plastic .45 which interested me enough to spend my own money on one, though. I really like the M&P pistol platform chambered in .45 ACP. I think S&W has a real winner on it's hands.

I know a handful of other instructors who are also 1911 owners and enthusiasts, with some S&W 3rd gen .45 and Glock .45 owners sprinkled among them, who also bought M&P 45's. ;)

Just my thoughts.
 
Sorry for the rambling above. Any current thoughts would be appreciated - trigger pull, ergos, ease of disassembly for cleaning, etc. I'm also curious about the magazine safety - apparently the gun can be had with or without? True/false?
Click to expand...

I have owned an m&p9c and sold it because I accidentally bought one with the mag safety. I didn't even know they had them. They noticeably degrade the quality of the trigger pull, and I don't like the mag safety in general. I do miss the gun, might get another one.

The trigger pull was good. Not to long, or heavy, but a little spongy. The break was a little vague. It definitely got better the more it was shot and lent itself well to accuracy. The ergos are top notch, my wife even liked it which says a lot. Disassembly was very easy. The only thing I didn't like was how the mag safety prevented the sear deactivation lever from going back into place once a mag was re-inserted like it was supposed to, so I had to take my pinky finger or other tool and make sure it was back up. Don't get the mag safety and you won't have that problem.
 
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