Your experience with the Smith and Wesson M&P series

[jon_in_wv]

I have a M&P 9mm and a M&P 9C. Both are great weapons. I LOVE my 9C. Well over 5000 rounds through it. It is very accurate and a great shooter. It is light, conceals well, and easy to carry. I haven't found a better carry gun.

 

[RiverCity.45]

Bought my first M&P .40 full size not long ago. I love that gun! The ergonomics are fantastic, and it's quite accurate. Nothing but praise for the gun from me.

Forgot to mention: I can drop in a .357 Sig barrel without any mods needed. Can even use the same .40 cal mags!

 

[HSBB]

Former G17 owner with the FS9 here. Love it.

Surprised nobody mentioned the torture test Todd Green of pistoltraining.com did last year.
62,333 rounds before the slide developed a hairline crack. Not a bad service life, eh?

See: http://pistol-training.com/archives/category/range-reports/mp-monday

 

[Kingofthehill]

That's what, 1246 boxes of ammo... roughly $10,000 in ammo if you were to be a normal person buying ammo in today's retail market.

I would say that plenty of life expectancy for me. I'm not gonna own a gun long enough to drop $10,000 of ammo in. I have too many guns to spread the lead around to...

 

[Skylerbone]

M&P .40 full size owner going on 3 weeks now. Grew up on the wheel (dad was an officer) but enjoy shooting this one alot! My intent was to buy a 92FS as Beretta is transitioning away from them. Went to Cabelas and did some soul searching about the 9mm. The M&P caught my eye (I NEVER expected I would own a polymer gun beyond my .22 Neos) and at $550 cost less than the model 92. It fit beautifully, has the hardest slide and barrel on the market- a plus for longevity, points nicely and it's a shooter. I've put 200 rounds through it so far with zero problems, 150 factory and 50 reloads (Hornady 180gr XTP HP). As to trigger complaints, it's double only with no external safety guys, that extra weight is the safety. If you want a precision shooter buy a Nighthawk AND spend the money at a gunsmith. The M&P has it's purpose and performs well at it thusfar.

 

[Ben86]

I had a M&P9c, I sold it just because it had a mag disconnect. I plan to buy another. They are fantastic guns. Every bit as reliable as my glocks and much more comfortable. They are also the most accurate polymer guns I have ever shot.

 

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

Have a M&P fs .45---its accurate enough and function's fine.Took it out for the first time a week ago.

Not sure if these are issues or just me--

1.I don't like how the gun sounds when I'm shootin it---not the boom but I can hear the gun clacking through the ear muffs. I don't hear that with my other autos.

2.The gun seems ill timed or something--the nose and front sight get covered in black soot--the ejected brass are all black as well as the chamber area---my Ruger P95 from the same range trip with just as many shots fired(both started out clean) didn't even need to be wiped down it was still clean--nose and chamber area--ejected brass were still shiney------both using WWB.

Even though there's nothing functionally wrong with it---it just leaves me with that "meh" feeling and I'm really thinking about trading it off----my P95 on the other hand I love to death---go figure.

 

[torrejon224]

I have four a full size 45, full size 357 sig, compact 9 and a compact 357 sig. Love every one of them. For those sick of the "crunchy trigger" check out a company called Apex Tactical, they sell a drop in replacement sear and safety plunger (the round ball towards the rear with the slide off and upside down) that anyone can install in about 30 minutes with no special tools. My triggers are all now in the 4 to 4.5 pound range, very smooth and make the M&P an absolute pleasure to shoot. Cost is about $60 for both parts vs $150 for the PC action/trigger job. Honestly, I bought a M&P 9 when they first came out and traded it after the first range sesion due to the trigger, wish these parts were around then!

 

[LeLynn]

I have the full size in 40. So far no functional problems with it after 700 rounds. I shot it for one outing before I ordered the Apex sear. The sear at made quite a differance in the trigger pull and more importantly for me, it reduced the over travel, but did nothing for the gritty trigger feel. I then recieved my striker block kit (The safety plunger) from Apex, after it came off of back order and it has completly cleaned up the trigger. So in stock form I would say that it is a nice gun, with a couple modiifications (These 2 parts, only cost about $60) it becomes a great gun.

 

[Just One Shot]

M&P .40c and it's a good gun. The only issue I have is with the mag release.

You should have a holster that is specifically designed for the M&P. A universal type may cause problems with the mag releasing when it's carried while you are sitting or moving around doing different activities.

I called and you can't buy an updated or stronger spring from S&W and it's not a coiled spring, it's a straight rod that is pushed sideways by the button.

I have a leather holster that I use with my other Sub Compact (cough XD cough) that I had to trim away from the button.

I even ground the button down to prevent accidently dropping the mag from the gun during normal handling. Just a brush of the button will send it and all your ammo falling to the floor. Other than that it's been great.

Now my son's Full size M&P is another story altogether. He has had numerous FTF, jams and FTE depending on the type of ammo he uses but it seems to be getting a little better the more he shoots it.

I think most of his problem has to do with the lube he was using. It seems to dislike the lubes that go on wet and then turn into a dry lube.

I was using One Lube until I ran out and now I use a full synthetic engine oil (Castrol 5W50) and it has performed flawlessly so far.

I put it on sparingly with a Q-tip and it stays wet until I clean it again. Plus, a one quart bottle will last for a very, very long time.

 

[wilkersk]

I shot my buddy's M&P 9mm and thought I shot better with it than with my XDm 9. I didn't like either as a competition pistol. Although, I think the M&P 9mm would make a better bedside pistol.

 

[Full Metal Jacket]

my mp45c was flawless.

my mp40c had slide lock issues that 3 trips back to s&w could never remedy.

plus, i never got used to their generic, undefined feeling grip that makes it difficult to achieve a high hold. (trigger guard is not undercut enough)

two guns had to be sacrificed for my recent 1911 acquisition. these two were chosen.

still have my glock though

 

[Full Metal Jacket]

62,333 rounds before the slide developed a hairline crack. Not a bad service life, eh?

glocks can go well over a hundred thousand rounds without any significant frame or slide damage.

 

[gglass]

I used to own 2 Glocks... I now own 5 M&P's... End of story.

 

[Sam1911]

A buddy of mine asked me to help him and his brother out by setting up and running the IDPA Classifier with them.

We did so Sunday afternoon and then, just for giggles, he and I swapped guns and ran it again. He shot CDP with my 1911, which he'd never done. I shot in SSP, which I've never shot before, with his M&P 9mm, which, again, I'd never even held before.

That gun was just plain EASY. First time shooting, with a borrowed gun, holster, ammo, etc., I shot the Classifier in 104 sec. which is only a hair over 5 sec. out of Master.

And that was with noticeable "new gun" mistakes and bobbles, including a head-shot miss worth 5 points.

104 is several seconds faster than I've ever shot the Classifier -- even with the xDM, my old familiar 1911, or any other gun.

So they don't suck! As long as you get one that works, I guess.

 

[av8usn]

M&P 9MM Compact

I have a Compact M&P 9mm and the M&P Pro in 9mm. The compact has been flawless and I have been shooting it for over 2 years.

The M&P Pro, however, has had extractor problems leading to double feed malfunctions. I sent it to Smith and Wesson and they have had it for two weeks with no firm return date. Not too happy at this point. I purchased the pistol last July and have put, maybe, 2000 rounds through it. I am not the only one in my shooting circles who has had this problem.

 

[Sam1911]

Ironically, the buddy who's M&P I borrowed owned the Pro before and after it's second trip back to S&W he sold it at a loss and swore off of them for a year. I was pretty surprised when he bought the second one, but it is a 4", not the Pro.

I've not made the leap yet.

 

[Ala Dan]

As Fate Would Have It-

I have never shot or owned one; but I sell a lot of 'em~!

 

[RobMoore]

It is the fastest gun I own, but it isn't as accurate my P229 or Dan Wesson .40 for group sizes.

If I were going to a bullseye or PPC match, I'd bring the 1911.
For USPSA, IDPA, and carry, I favor the M&P 9FS.

 

[Full Metal Jacket]

had 2 m&p's. sold them to fund another 1911 purchase.

not bad guns all around. but my mp40c had slide lock issues that s&w couldn't fix after trips back.

i also thought the triggers sucked, and the trigger guard wasn't undercut enough to allow a high grip hold.

neither one ever had a ftf or fte though.

nice first step in an evolutionary path, but needs more refining.

 

[Hangingrock]

MP9 & Related Items

MP9 – Novak Night Sight Front 10-8 Sight Rear

I’ve been utilizing the S&W-MP9 more during range sessions. It’s not my favorite polymer frame pistol but it is acceptable.

The trigger is what it is. I’ve learned to accept the trigger for what it is than rather the way I’d like it to be (this also applies to Glock & SW99 series pistols that I’ve used also) I realize there is a rapidly growing cottage industry that addresses certain issues real or imagined with the MP series pistols.

The one significant change I have made is removal of the OEM sights. A Novak front night sight and a plain “U”-notch 10-8 rear sight are the replacements. In my opinion sight acquisition is much better for me. What I’ve noticed in firing controlled pairs is that I don’t have the stutter step (let us say a more fluid motion) of acquiring the front sight and positioning it with reference to the rear sight alignment. The sight combination appears to align effortlessly. While not to be confused with target sights acceptable results at 50yd and 25yd lines are with in reason.

 

[18DAI]

I've shot a selection of different M&P's, and am not interested in owning one.

Yea, it feels good in the hand....yawn. Lousy gritty triggers with indistinct reset. My S&W 910 value line pistol is more accurate.....and cost way less.

I'll pass on this polymer wonder. TJ

 

[Haifisch]

I've shot a selection of different M&P's, and am not interested in owning one.

Yea, it feels good in the hand....yawn. Lousy gritty triggers with indistinct reset.
I'll pass on this polymer wonder. TJ

I purchased a full sized M&P .45, IMO it sucked. I traded it in for another Glock.

 

[Sam1911]

I purchased a full sized M&P .45, IMO it sucked.

Certainly a case of "to each their own."

At the end of 2008 I watched Dave Olhasso win Division Champion in Custom Defensive Pistol division at the IDPA National Match. He won it with an M&P .45 (downloaded to 8 rds.) which means he beat all the custom 1911s that division was created for.

"It's the "indian," not the "arrows," of course, but there's something to this particular version of the plastic-fantastic that S&W put together.

That said, I still don't own one.

 

[gudel]

I bought the M&P45 just to see what it's all about, maybe, just maybe, there's something better than my USP45. It had a jamming problem on the last round, where it would feed half way.
I sent it back to S&W, they grind the bottom of chamber wall, it looks like it didn't have enough ramp.

I went back to my HK USP45, which runs 100% out of the box.