Third party slides for Sprindfield and S&W

[colorsman]

As it would seem that neither S&W nor Springfield have any interest in marketing a 10mm pistol, I was wondering why a third party company has not come out with a 10mm slide for the M&P or XDM. If companies like Lone Wolf and Glockmaster can do this for the Glock. I would think it would fairly easy to develope a slide for the .45 ACP frame and there certainly would be a market for it.

What say you?

 

[1911Tuner]

The supply side of the market is driven by demand. If there's sufficient demand, somebody will step up to the plate. The fact that nobody has so far is indication that there's not enough demand.

 

[colorsman]

S&W and Springfield will not consider it as they cannot keep up with demand of what they make. That does not mean there isn't a market. 10mm pistols are hard to find as they are snapped up as so as they are listed for sale. I would think it more of a licensing issue more than any thing else.

 

[tarosean]

That does not mean there isn't a market. 10mm pistols are hard to find as they are snapped up as so as they are listed for sale.

You would think ammo would be easier to find then....

 

[1911Tuner]

You would think ammo would be easier to find then....

One would think.

There's a demand for 10mm 1911 pistols. It's just that demand isn't nearly as great as for .45 caliber 1911 pistols, and the demand that is there is being met by other manufacturers. No sense in dropping capital into a market that's not only limited, but already covered. That's a very good way to lose money.

As far as marketing a top-end for use on an existing .45 caliber pistol...it won't likely be as easy as a simple swap. If the frame ramp angle is different...and I don't know if it is or not...it could present a few problems that would be hard to overcome, if not impossible without major surgery.

Not that it can't be done. A good pistol mechanic could address it by fitting two barrels with integral ramps. All it takes is money.

Or...like the local speed shop owner answered the kid who asked him how fast he could make his car go:

"Speed costs money, son. How fast can you afford to go?"

 

[9mmepiphany]

S&W and Springfield will not consider it as they cannot keep up with demand of what they make. That does not mean there isn't a market. 10mm pistols are hard to find as they are snapped up as so as they are listed for sale. I would think it more of a licensing issue more than any thing else.

That is the very definition of a demand driven market. If they capacity is already taken up trying to keep up with current demand without additional investment in capital assets, why would they reduce their capacity to meet that demand when it would require them to spend additional monies?

No one has said there isn't a market. What we're saying is that the demand (market) isn't high (large) enough to justify the investment.

I'll agree that there is a market for 10mm pistols. I know someone who is producing 10mm conversions for stainless framed SIG 220s. He is selling every one he can produce and there is a waiting list...he could reduce that list by simply rising the price above $3k, but it wouldn't really have much impact until it got above $4k

As to your additional question about aftermarket uppers. There really isn't a licensing issue, it is the same as providing aftermarket grips. A larger issue would be trying to find a source of reliable magazines that would work with the platform you want. I just don't see many owners of XDms or M&Ps wanting to spend twice as much as they have invested in their gun just to shoot 10mm

 

[colorsman]

As I stated S&W and Springfield have no interest in bringing to market a 10mm version of their polymer frame pistols. If Glock can interchange slide to fire different calibers why do you think a after market company has not done so. It is not always about total market volume. What amount of sales do you think Guncrafters company has with the .50 GI? They have their own slides , barrels, and magazines. This fits on the Glock 20/21 frame. I am just curious as why no one has done so on a after sales on a .45 XDm or a M&P. I am fully aware as to the difficulty converting 1911s.

 

[1911Tuner]

I am just curious as why no one has done so on a after sales on a .45 XDm or a M&P.

I assume that you mean an aftermarket entity separate from Smith & Wesson.

The reason goes back to simple supply and demand. If there's enough demand, somebody will fill it. That nobody has thus far suggests that there's no demand.

Or, it could be that the slide design isn't sufficiently robust to handle the recoil forces of the Big Ten. Maybe it's a matter of the grip frame/maq well dimensions not being able to accommodate the length of the cartridge.

 

[tarosean]

I am just curious as why no one has done so on a after sales on a .45 XDm or a M&P.

S&W and Springfield are relatively new designs... Glocks been basically unchanged for 30yrs now. That might have something to do with it?