Smith & Wesson M & P

[marksman13]

Anybody have any experience with Smith and Wesson's new M&P? How's the accuracy? Overall quality? Any bad experiences? Thinking about buying one in .40 cal.

 

[MrPoker]

Well I just bought one about 2 weeks ago in 9mm. I really like the way it feels in my hand and the replaceable grip inserts makes for a nice touch. It shoot fine. Zero problems so far. It's apparently more accurate than me

One thing I did notice is that the trigger is a bit 'rough'. I am guessing a good trigger job will cure that but just before firing the trigger feels a bit like it's dragging across sandpaper. Sights are great and it recovers fast. I am used to shooting my 45's exclusivly so this is light compared to my usuals.

 

[Standing Wolf]

We have them at the gun shop where I work. They fit the hand better than Glocks, to be sure, but the triggers are @#$%^&*!, and disassembly is moronic.

 

[rbernie]

My experience has been that the trigger is actually pretty good in use, accuracy is surprisingly good, and that disassembly is pretty darn straightforward.

 

[cbsbyte]

They look like an interesting pistol. I have yet to see one in person in any gun store in the area. I was thinking of getting one in 9mm when the Massachusetts compliant version is released for sale sometime in January. Though I doubt I will because of the mandatory 10lb trigger pull. I have heard some good and bad reports about them on the net, mostly reliablity problems. It is a new design so there bound to be some teething problems.

 

[Kruzr]

We've had one for a range rental for about a month now. It's a very popular gun and most who shoot it like it. With three backstraps, you can tailor the grip to your hand. There is a big difference between the big grip and the smallest one so the gun should fit just about anyone.

It's a decent shooter and I find the accuracy like a Glock or XD, combat accurate but not a gun for bullseye shooting. I think it will give the Glocks a run for the money in the LEO market.

The only thing I really dislike is the takedown procedure where you have to push down a "sear disconnect lever" next to the ejector in the ejection port and physically hold back the takedown lever when you remove the slide. They have a "tool" built into the butt of the gun to push the lever down but it's just a straight rod so anything can be used. The little lever you push down is made of thin steel and it does look breakable.

It hasn't broke yet and I haven't heard of one breaking yet but it's something to be aware of.

 

[EdLaver]

the M&P is a great piece in .40, though I have heard bad things in 9mm. They are EXTREMELY accurate (I own one) and the only thing I had to adjust to was using the sling shot method instead of using the slide release to chamber a round. But I heard S&W offers them now with the slide release active for chambering. I am consistantly able to group 1.5"to2" groups at 15 yards with corbon 165gr JHP and never had a single problem after about 500 rounds now. Can't wait til S&W release the compact version of the M&P!!!!!

 

[Coronach]

but the triggers are @#$%^&*!

...you're kidding, right?

OK, this is a case of:

1. Comparing apples to oranges. Are you putting them up against another duty gun trigger, like a Glock, or are you comparing them to a 1911? I'll be the first to agree that they suck compared to a good SA trigger, but for a duty gun, they're pretty darned good, and able to be made a lot better with a minimum of work.

2. Bad examples. How many have you seen? I've played with a bunch and they've all been pretty decent. Also, the ones I've handled have been live- and dry-fired about a bazillion times, so they've smoothed out a lot. No "trigger jobs", though, besides mere use.

-or-

3. A case of tastes differing. I cannot imagine anyone liking a (for example) Glock trigger more than this, but those people might, in theory, exist.

Mike

 

[Shipwreck]

I would imagine that the trigger may get better w/ use. The P99 is like that.

 

[Coronach]

Also, after finally getting a chance to tear one apart, I'll disagree that the disassembly is moronic. It is actually quite simple and straightforward. It does, however, require a tool. You can use the supplied one, or you can use a field expedient one, like a pen, cleaning rod, or anything else long and thin.

It is a much better disassembly procedure than Glock. I cannot speak for XD.

Mike

 

[mattf7184]

Haven't got my M&P in yet to try, but some people have had success using their pinky with the sear deactivation lever inside the gun. Personally, I do not mind one minor step to disassemble it.

 

[Oregongundude]

It's another Glock knock off let's be honest with some minor changes.

The SW M&P handguns are another Glock knock off like alot of the plastic handguns on the market today. Every one is trying to get a piece of the Glock pie. It's not a bad handgun at all I have looked at one a couple of times. However, I went with the XD's instead, being left handed the Glocks and XD work better for me. No handgun is easier to break down the than the Springfield XD's. I always have a good time at the gun shops asking the sales people to break down the various handguns, some are a breeze other lower end models take these guys forever to figure out how to break them down. The S&W M&P is a good handgun and I hope you enjoy it for many years.

 

[Spackler]

If you're a lefty, the M&P should work well for you. The mag release is reversible and the slide stop is ambi.

I understand that the sear deactivation lever is there so that disassembly doesn't require pulling the trigger, but is it possible to just press the trigger, rather than using the tool, prior to disassembly?

 

[mattf7184]

I hear it is possible to pull the trigger, but some gunsmiths warned that it could damage some internal parts.

 

[Shrike360]

I think the deactivation lever is actually there so that you can tell that there is no round in the chamber when disassembling.

 

[creitzel]

My wife just got a M&P 9mm

My wife just got a M&P in 9mm, back in September, and she loves it.

I have taken it to the range a couple times myself, and I enjoy shooting it as well. Very accurate gun.

The adjustable backstraps make it one of the only guns that she and I can both shoot with a comfortable grip.

The 17 round capacity on the mags is nice too.

We've put about 1000 rounds through it now, of various types of ammo, and have had absolutely no problems at all.

It's actually very easy to disassemble (easy enough that my wife can do it ), and the smith at our local shop said that pulling the trigger, rather than using the little tool was fine.

Now I just need to find her a good holster for it, and she's planning on making it her daily carry piece.

Chris

 

[proctorman]

The M&P is a good gun. I just got mine back from Smith & Wesson and they installed the new extended slide release. I was never too fond of the slingshot method to release the slide.

The new release looks almost the same but it sticks out a little more on both sides so you can just use your thumb.

They also threw in an extra magazine.

 

[Spartacus451]

Also, after finally getting a chance to tear one apart, I'll disagree that the disassembly is moronic. It is actually quite simple and straightforward. It does, however, require a tool. You can use the supplied one, or you can use a field expedient one, like a pen, cleaning rod, or anything else long and thin.

I have heard that you can just pull the trigger like on a glock and then proceed with takedown. The release is just there for safety? Don't know, don't own one.

 

[snscott]

The sear deactivation lever is there purely as a safety measure. The idea is to MAKE you look into the chamber area during disassembly. I have big hands and fingers and am able to just poke my pinky in and lower the metal lever. It does not feel fragile to me and takes very very little force to move down. It takes you maybe a couple of seconds longer to disassemble an MP than an XD because of this step.

The only thing I really dislike is the takedown procedure where you have to push down a "sear disconnect lever" next to the ejector in the ejection port and physically hold back the takedown lever when you remove the slide

No, actually you do not have to hold back the takedown lever. At least I don't have to on mine.

 

[10-Ring]

I have very little trigger time w/ the M&Pm but it does seem like a good shooter. I wouldn't mind if someone wanted to give me one

 

[RON in PA]

Thumbs up on the MP40. The adjustable grip is great, the trigger does smooth up a bit and the various safety features which are often denounced by gun nuts may save a few lives especially when issued in large numbers to less than well trained police. The gun also handles the 40 S&W cartridge snappy recoil well.

 

[Coronach]

The SW M&P handguns are another Glock knock off like alot of the plastic handguns on the market today.

I dunno about that. The Sigma certainly was a Glock knockoff- S&W even got dinged in court for it. The M&P has made some significant advances on the original polymer pistol, the most notable (and least noticible) being the steel chassis present in the polymer frame. One of the things people gripe about in reference to Glocks is how they behave under recoil. The M&P handles like a steel autopistol because it has a steel core to the frame.

I hate sounding like ad copy or a bad gunwriter, but the pistol is good. Not perfect (I think the magazines are a weak link), but pretty good. And I agree, it is aimed at Glock's LE marketshare.

Mike

 

[jlh26oo]

The M&P has made some significant advances on the original polymer pistol, the most notable (and least noticible) being the steel chassis present in the polymer frame. One of the things people gripe about in reference to Glocks is how they behave under recoil. The M&P handles like a steel autopistol because it has a steel core to the frame.

Steyr does this too I think (steel "frame" infrastructure).

I can see how one would prefer that. I think that there might be advantages to the purely polymer frame too though. Weight? Flex? (bad or good thing depending on your preference- I think a little flex can absorb recoil- but adding weight accomplishes this too, and a steel chassis is probably less likely to crack in the long run)>

 

[RON in PA]

One of the major advantages of the steel chassie in the M&P is that they are replaceble, as they are held in the plastic frame with roll pins. In the Glock, if the slide guides get buggered-up, the whole frame needs replacing.

 

[Kruzr]

No, actually you do not have to hold back the takedown lever. At least I don't have to on mine.

On ours you do just like it says on page 21 of the manual. If I try to remove the slide without holding it back, it springs back up. After I've moved the slide forward a little, I can then let it go.