S&W M&P > Review & Range Report
Well guys, after the Sigma episode I had with S&W, I promised myself that I will never buy another S&W polymer striker fired pistol. It was December 2009, I went to my dealer because he told me that he had the new Taurus 1911 in, while I was inspecting the Taurus, he told me that he has this new S&W called the M&P, and I told him that I have heard about it but also told him about the promise I made to myself. He said, atleast I should have a look at it. So, he showed me the box, and as soon as I opened it, I got this gut feeling that today I am going to spend more than what I had planned to.
In the box the first thing I noticed was the checkering on the slide, it kind of reminded me of the Kimber Raptor series.
As soon as I took it out I noticed and felt the very nice size, weight and the ergonomics of the gun, but still I said to myself, similar was the case with the sigma, let’s check the trigger, and as soon as I cocked it and took aim and squeezed the trigger, I was very surprised, it was nothing like the sigma, completely different, smooth pull, crisp break. But many of the characteristics did remind me of the sigma. Anyways I did buy it.
The M&P pistol has been scrutinized extensively in the gun press and various forums, so I don't feel it is necessary to repeat the technical nitty-gritty here. Suffice it to say that the M&P is unique among polymer-frame pistols in that it uses internal steel rails to provide rigidity that strengthens the frame for enhanced accuracy and reliability. It is a striker-fired design with a long-stroke trigger, multiple internal safety devices and is available in 9mm, .357 SIG, .40 S&W and .45 ACP in compact, standard and long-slide versions.
You've got two M&Ps in 9mm. One is the M&P 9 (4.25" barrel) and the other M&P 9L model (a 5” barrel).
Basic Specs (for M&P9):
• Model: M&P9
• Caliber: 9mm
• Capacity: 17+1 Rounds
•Action:StrikerFire
(Double Action Only)
• Barrel Length: 4.25" / 10.8 cm
• Sights: Novak Sights
• Trigger Pull: 4 - 5 1/2 lb.
• Frame Size: Large
• Overall Length: 7.5" / 19.1 cm
• Weight: 24 oz / 680.4 g
•Grip:3-InterchangeablePalmswell Grip Sizes
Polymer
• Frame Material: Polymer
• Material: Polymer Frame
Stainless Steel Slide
• Slide Material: Stainless Steel
• Barrel Material: Stainless Steel
• Finish: Black Melonite®, 68 HRc
Packing:
Comes in a similar box as Glocks, good for carry, comes with three back straps and three mags. However the mags I got, one was a 17 rounder, and the two were 10 rounder, I guess mine came from a state which has a restriction on mag capacity. A manual and wire lock was with it also. All in all a pretty descent package.
Finish, Looks and Manufacturing Quality:
In this aspect the M&P comes out quite good. Finnish and manufacturing quality was very nice, as I mentioned the pattern on the slide I really liked. Nothing much to say in this aspect except this that it’s as good as its competition out there.
Slide, Frame and Grip:
The slide frame and the grip represents how much attention Smith and Wesson actually gave to this weapon this time, the ergonomics are really good, the slide feels very solid and no play in it. The frame is well constructed , especially with the interchangeable back straps, gives it an enhancement for users with different size hands to fit em properly.
The materials and the checkering are very good so even without gloves the gun will not slip during rapid fire. Overall the gun is very light and concealable for all day carry. The frame has a built in standard picatinny rails for mounting various accessories. Both the slide and the frame had no machining marks whatsoever on them, very well finished. Inside the frame of the M&P is a forward and rear steel block which contains the fire control mechanism, and also serves as the guides upon which the slide reciprocates. The slide only contacts the frame at four points, instead of the full-length rails on most pistols. This makes for a very good self-cleaning rail system, leaving plenty of room for any dirt, grit, or sand to fall out of the weapon instead of binding the slide.
The recoil spring is of the captive design, and contains a stainless steel guide rod, which should be much more reliable than the plastic rods used by some other pistols. The barrel locks up securely in the slide, and the chamber supports the cartridge case head adequately to prevent a blowout.
Barrel:
The quality of the barrel is exactly what one would expect from S&W, inside and outside both finished and crafted very well with no tooling marks of any kind.
Trigger:
The trigger guard on the M&P has ample room for a gloved finger to operate the trigger, which is of the Smith & Wesson articulated variety. The trigger pull on the t gun released at about 4 pounds, five and one-half ounces, and was very smooth to operate, much like a short-stroke double action pull. The trigger must be reset by the slide after each pull, hence the weapon has no double-strike capability, which is touted by some to be desirable in the event of a bad primer.
One thing I liked about the trigger was that the pull was consistent and the break was smooth always. The things I disliked were, that for me the trigger pull was a bit long, and you really have to get used to it, especially in rapid fire mode, I was struggling to keep the shots in one place because of this, secondly during dry fire practice, when you pull the trigger there was this metallic ting sound that always makes me uncomfortable, I feel as if something is breaking inside the weapon, same is the case with me and Glocks. Also the reset is longer than Glocks, which again I don’t like in my handgun. But most of the friends who have tried it were quite satisfied with the trigger.
TO READ THE COMPLETE REVIEW INCLUDING REVIEWER'S COMMENTS OF RECOIL, MAGAZINES, RELIABILITY, MAINTENANCE AND ACCURACY, VISIT http://thegunforum.net/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=906
Well guys, after the Sigma episode I had with S&W, I promised myself that I will never buy another S&W polymer striker fired pistol. It was December 2009, I went to my dealer because he told me that he had the new Taurus 1911 in, while I was inspecting the Taurus, he told me that he has this new S&W called the M&P, and I told him that I have heard about it but also told him about the promise I made to myself. He said, atleast I should have a look at it. So, he showed me the box, and as soon as I opened it, I got this gut feeling that today I am going to spend more than what I had planned to.
In the box the first thing I noticed was the checkering on the slide, it kind of reminded me of the Kimber Raptor series.
As soon as I took it out I noticed and felt the very nice size, weight and the ergonomics of the gun, but still I said to myself, similar was the case with the sigma, let’s check the trigger, and as soon as I cocked it and took aim and squeezed the trigger, I was very surprised, it was nothing like the sigma, completely different, smooth pull, crisp break. But many of the characteristics did remind me of the sigma. Anyways I did buy it.
The M&P pistol has been scrutinized extensively in the gun press and various forums, so I don't feel it is necessary to repeat the technical nitty-gritty here. Suffice it to say that the M&P is unique among polymer-frame pistols in that it uses internal steel rails to provide rigidity that strengthens the frame for enhanced accuracy and reliability. It is a striker-fired design with a long-stroke trigger, multiple internal safety devices and is available in 9mm, .357 SIG, .40 S&W and .45 ACP in compact, standard and long-slide versions.
You've got two M&Ps in 9mm. One is the M&P 9 (4.25" barrel) and the other M&P 9L model (a 5” barrel).
Basic Specs (for M&P9):
• Model: M&P9
• Caliber: 9mm
• Capacity: 17+1 Rounds
•Action:StrikerFire
(Double Action Only)
• Barrel Length: 4.25" / 10.8 cm
• Sights: Novak Sights
• Trigger Pull: 4 - 5 1/2 lb.
• Frame Size: Large
• Overall Length: 7.5" / 19.1 cm
• Weight: 24 oz / 680.4 g
•Grip:3-InterchangeablePalmswell Grip Sizes
Polymer
• Frame Material: Polymer
• Material: Polymer Frame
Stainless Steel Slide
• Slide Material: Stainless Steel
• Barrel Material: Stainless Steel
• Finish: Black Melonite®, 68 HRc
Packing:
Comes in a similar box as Glocks, good for carry, comes with three back straps and three mags. However the mags I got, one was a 17 rounder, and the two were 10 rounder, I guess mine came from a state which has a restriction on mag capacity. A manual and wire lock was with it also. All in all a pretty descent package.
Finish, Looks and Manufacturing Quality:
In this aspect the M&P comes out quite good. Finnish and manufacturing quality was very nice, as I mentioned the pattern on the slide I really liked. Nothing much to say in this aspect except this that it’s as good as its competition out there.
Slide, Frame and Grip:
The slide frame and the grip represents how much attention Smith and Wesson actually gave to this weapon this time, the ergonomics are really good, the slide feels very solid and no play in it. The frame is well constructed , especially with the interchangeable back straps, gives it an enhancement for users with different size hands to fit em properly.
The materials and the checkering are very good so even without gloves the gun will not slip during rapid fire. Overall the gun is very light and concealable for all day carry. The frame has a built in standard picatinny rails for mounting various accessories. Both the slide and the frame had no machining marks whatsoever on them, very well finished. Inside the frame of the M&P is a forward and rear steel block which contains the fire control mechanism, and also serves as the guides upon which the slide reciprocates. The slide only contacts the frame at four points, instead of the full-length rails on most pistols. This makes for a very good self-cleaning rail system, leaving plenty of room for any dirt, grit, or sand to fall out of the weapon instead of binding the slide.
The recoil spring is of the captive design, and contains a stainless steel guide rod, which should be much more reliable than the plastic rods used by some other pistols. The barrel locks up securely in the slide, and the chamber supports the cartridge case head adequately to prevent a blowout.
Barrel:
The quality of the barrel is exactly what one would expect from S&W, inside and outside both finished and crafted very well with no tooling marks of any kind.
Trigger:
The trigger guard on the M&P has ample room for a gloved finger to operate the trigger, which is of the Smith & Wesson articulated variety. The trigger pull on the t gun released at about 4 pounds, five and one-half ounces, and was very smooth to operate, much like a short-stroke double action pull. The trigger must be reset by the slide after each pull, hence the weapon has no double-strike capability, which is touted by some to be desirable in the event of a bad primer.
One thing I liked about the trigger was that the pull was consistent and the break was smooth always. The things I disliked were, that for me the trigger pull was a bit long, and you really have to get used to it, especially in rapid fire mode, I was struggling to keep the shots in one place because of this, secondly during dry fire practice, when you pull the trigger there was this metallic ting sound that always makes me uncomfortable, I feel as if something is breaking inside the weapon, same is the case with me and Glocks. Also the reset is longer than Glocks, which again I don’t like in my handgun. But most of the friends who have tried it were quite satisfied with the trigger.
TO READ THE COMPLETE REVIEW INCLUDING REVIEWER'S COMMENTS OF RECOIL, MAGAZINES, RELIABILITY, MAINTENANCE AND ACCURACY, VISIT http://thegunforum.net/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=906
