I recently picked up a new standard size MP45.
I've only had the time to run a little over 200 rounds of 3 different 230gr JHP loads through it after initially cleaning, inspecting and lubricating it. Someone was liberal with the shipping/packing lubricant when assembling it, but I didn't notice anything unusual or requiring any correction. The barrel feed ramp was nicely smooth on my gun.
No feeding/functioning issues of any sort were experienced during my shooting session. The 3 different hollowpoint designs I was using all fed without a bobble. Didn't matter whether I chambered the first round releasing the slide by depressing the slide stop lever or manually retracting the slide and briskly releasing it. Loading 10 rounds in the new magazines was noticeably difficult ... I decided to only load 9 rounds during the beginning of the shooting session ... but it became a bit easier during the course of the 200+ round familiarization session.
The trigger was a bit heavier than I'd normally prefer, but I've been told they improve with use. (My SW99's did the same thing, FWIW.) It's within 'spec' according to what we were told during the armorer class, albeit on the heavy end of the tolerance range. Of course. It figures. It's the gun that I got.
The practical accuracy was really surprising considering the relatively heavy trigger weight. (I've been spoiled by a number of other pistols, though.) At one point I was able to achieve a couple of fairly decent groups of between 5-6 rounds each, shooting 2-handed, unsupported, from 11 yards. One of the groups was pretty much a 'cloverleaf' group, and I was able to cover it with the pad of my thumb. Not too bad (at least for me, with a brand new pistol model). The pistol seems as though it's likely capable of better inherent accuracy than I may be able to wring from it until I become more accustomed to it.
I fired 1 magazine-load with my 'non-dominant' hand (side-stepping the whole 'weak hand' label
) using an unlocked wrist and a less firm grip than I normally use. The pistol functioned normally.
All told, I'm fairly pleased with its initial performance regarding ergonomics, overall balance, accuracy, controllability, the 'liveliness' of its handling when doing some mixed drills and its functioning.
I'll dig around in my ammunition supply and find some other loads to try in it when I get the time.
I think the M&P pistol is the first pistol model which I didn't actually fire until after I'd attended an armorer's class for it. I've usually had the opportunity to do a fair amount of shooting with the various makes/models/platforms of firearms. It's just that whenever T&E or demo M&P pistols have previously been available my work schedule has seemed to get in the way.
So far, so good, though.
I think S&W has done very well with this new design to date, all things considered.
The improperly hardened magazine catches S&W received from a vendor gave them some grief for a bit, and they upped the tension on the slide stop lever spring in the original 9/.40 models (reportedly because of the recoil of the .40 S&W). Some refinements and revisions here and there aren't unexpected, especially on a new design. Glock is still revising and refining parts on its pistols to this day.
