Your Thoughts on the M&P 45 and/or 45c

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Bongo Boy

Bongo Boy

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I've not found more than a review or two on this gun, and haven't fired one yet myself, but the plan is to do that tomorrow. I have some questions.

For those who own either gun and have broken it in with say 5 or 10,000 rounds, how would you say it's holding up (especially the plastic parts)?

Have you had to replace any parts, and if so were you able to find the parts you needed with relative ease?

If you've worked on the gun yourself, say to do trigger work for example, were any special tools needed for that level of disassembly?

What is your impression of reliability, in the sense of failure to feed, failure to eject, etc? About how many rounds have you put through it?

Have you found the gun (either one) to be especially sensitive to choice of ammo?

If you're familiar with the FNP-45 (as in, have fired it, opened it up, etc) how would you compare the two--any preferences in one over the other, any clear quality differences or complexity of design differences, for example?

Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
 
Well...I'll be honest. I've had trouble with my full sized 45...coyote brown model.

I had to send it back to S&W twice with trigger problems...pulled the trigger and no BANG :what: Also, my trigger was cracked where it was articulated.

The second time they replaced the entire trigger group including the transfer bar and that fixed that.

Today, still needs some work. When I push home a full mag with the slide locked back, it almost always releases automatically, chambering a round and locking into battery. I mean that could be considered a feature I guess...but it is not supposed to do that. That worries me much less than the trigger thing did. I believe the fix for that is simply a stronger slide catch spring.

The trigger has a very indistinct reset...not the sharp click one is wanting...but it is a pretty short reset. I also have a 9c which has a much crisper trigger reset and shorter too.

Now, for what it is worth, in terms of semi-automatic operation, the thing never once failed to feed, extract, or eject on any type of ammunition...period. Very very accurate, low recoil, and handles like a dream in the hand...very low bore axis.

I got mine back in the spring of 2007. I like it but it has been buggy for me and I am considering sending it back to S&W for a third time to address the slide stop issue...maybe they'll send me a new one:). Their customer service has been very good and I must give them credit. I really want to love this pistol and there is some love there but I don't love the bugs I've had.

The 9c has had none of these problem or quirks...rock solid from the get go and also feeds everything right out of the box. I may just have gotten one too soon.
 
You might also want to look for someone who has a newer M&P. The ones from way back when the models were first introduced have tended to be much more problematic than the ones made in the last two years or so.
 
I got an M&P45 a year or so ago. Probably only about 100 rounds through it with both WWB and Blazer ammo and no FTE, FTF issues. I'm just not a fan of how it fits in my hand, so I'll probably end up getting rid of it. I've tried just about all 3 backstraps and it just doesn't feel nearly as comfortable in my hand as my G19. I need to get a little more range time with it before I make a final assessment though. It might end up as the primary home defender gun if I keep it (replacing the 9mm).
 
I have a M&P45c that I bought first quarter of '09. It has 793 rounds through it, mostly reloads and some self defense ammo (Hydrashock and HST) all 230 grain. The pistol has been flawless and feeds very smoothly. For the relatively few rounds I've fired I have noticed no part failures or cracks etc. I have disassembled the striker assembly a couple times and have noticed no problems. The design seems like a pretty good one.

Brass doesn't land in nice neat piles, which is annoying, but the pistol shoots very nice and carries just as good.

Parts seem to be unobtainable for the 45 c, at least from what I've seen, including recoil springs. Hopefully this will change in the near future.

ETA: weird that this is also my 793rd post...
 
What, no M&P love so far? I've had 2 full size 45's and I still have a 9mm and 40 now. 45 ammo is scarce so I,ve thinned out the 45's. I had one of the first M&P 45 produced and then a 2009 model. I loved them and never had any problems. I had over 2000 rounds through 1 and about 600 rounds through the other.

A lot of people directly compare the box stock M&P that is fairly new to the 20 year old Glock design that has aftermarket companies that make every part on the Glock in many different configurations. The M&P trigger is not the greatest out of the box and there is no Glock like strong reset. You can do a trigger job on the M&P yourself that greatly improves the trigger or have it sent out for custom trigger work. I never had a problem with the factory trigger and Apex has come out with a sear for $30 that is pretty sweet.

I've owned 5 different Glock's and 3 XD's and have since gone over to the M&P. The M&P in a natural pointer for me and fits my hand as well as a CZ. I also like owning a polymer American made pistol.

Here is a long read but Hilton Yam has a lot more experience in the gun world than I do. David
http://www.10-8forums.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=72516&an=0&page=2#72516
 
Well I pumped a few rounds through a new MP45c today, and while it was only 50 rds, I'm sold and will likely buy it tomorrow. I was impressed, and that's expecting the worst going in. I'd already dry fired it once or twice and thought the trigger was awful...but today I had no issues with the trigger at all and in fact felt it had a very, very crisp break. I shot factory PMC Bronze (I think it was PMC) 230gr hardball, so I'll take a box of Gold Dots in for a feed test.

I wasn't keen on the idea of polymer (weight, mostly) and not keen on the idea of the safe action thing (new to me), so I was skeptical. By magazine #3 I had a good smile on my face and was happy with the group, especially for 15 yds. I can see that 2nd round on target isn't going to be that tough at all, and getting the sights to move straight up on recoil seemed to be effortless (as opposed to moving left or right & wacky). I also did't really buy in to the 'low recoil' comments (sorry); it is truly a surprise to me how nice this baby feels. This one has no manual (external) safety, and my understanding is that it has the 'new style' sights, although I don't know what that means.

I certainly don't mind polishing some trigger parts to sweeten things up a bit--but I could live with it the way it is. The last thing I ever notice when shooting IDPA or USPSA is how the trigger feels, so I imagine that in a real street hassle, it's not going to be on my mind much either.

It may not be a fine custom-fitted piece or work, but that's actually not what I'm looking for in this case. I suppose it's made in Mauritania or something...I didn't even check.
 
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I'm at work so I can't give a full comprehensive review for you, but I can say my 45c has been utterly flawless and it shoots like a charm.
 
Walked out of the clubhouse today with a big smile on my face. Was able to get the 45c and had time to put about 50 rds through it again at 10 yds:

Target02.jpg

This is very good shooting for me...I have to wear a reading lens over my strong eye and that lens is attached to a pair of ESS glasses. Nothing is ever quite in focus correctly. Anyway, I shot 5 groups and of course you're looking at the very best one, naturally. The others were from 1/2 again as big to about twice as big...still not bad for 10 yds freestyle by my standards.

I LOVE this handgun. While waiting for the paper to come back to take possession, I did 10 targets of 10 rds each with my P220. None of the groups were this good (and no, I'm not suggesting anything about the guns--just the shooter).

Anyway, I am positively thrilled with this one and can't wait to slap her into some nice gunleather...or Kydex. I can't believe this little plastic popgun shoots like she does, and I've got 2,000 rds of ammo sitting on the loading bench just waiting to show how it handles reacquisition of the target and some sustained rapid fire. Today's exercise was simply "please let me get hits on target" so I took my time, but certainly didn't fuss bullseye style.
 
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I have 2. A full size .45 and a Subcompact .40.

The Full size has just shy of 3k through it. The .40 has in the ballpark of 4500 (have it on a spreadsheet but not looking at it right now).

I have had 3 FTF's and 1 FTE on the .45... It was in the 300rd count and it was reloaded ammo from the Range i was shooting it. I don't usually shoot reloads but that was about the same time as the Obama craziness and .45 was hard to find.

The .40 has had no problems at all.

All my guns get new recoil springs between 1,000-1,500 and are ran pretty dry with Militec

JOe
 
One drawback: the barrel leade is almost nonexistant and very abrupt, making it even more likely to fail to go into battery with my lead bulleted reloads. In addition, the bore itself isn't well-polished, and I just spent about 20 min getting the leading out. After nearly 10,000 rounds of this same ammo thru the Sig barrel with NO leading whatsover, just 50 rnds in the MP has caused some grief. Until I can find a more well-finished barrel I'll have to buy plated or jacketed bullets, looks like.
 
I've had my M&P45c for over a year now and only had one issue. The pin holding the sear disconnect in the sear block was missing. The first time I took it down the lever fell out the bottom! Of course S&W fixed it no problem, but I did not get to shoot my new for 2 weeks after buying it. I was a little disappointed, but it was worth the wait! :D It has been 100% reliable with all my reloads (I don't reload lead) and SD rounds. I'm very pleased with the pistol so much so I picked up an M&P9c as well. ;)
 
I love my M&P40. I sold my Glocks. I am would buy an M&P.45 but i have an older 1911 springer double stack .45 that i am in love with
 
Bongo Boy,

I have ~3000 rounds through my 45c.

Mine was new back in Nov 2008 (basically the first time I could find one locally). Overall great experience. No feed/ejection/or any other issues at all. Only real work I've done was to press out the stock sights for some 2-dot Warren night sights. The trigger gets better with time.

It's happily eaten every kind of ammo I've fed it (HST+P, WWB, my reloads)

It carries nicely in a CCC Looper or CrossBreed SuperTuck.

Only gripe is that the roll pins like to migrate a bit during long range sessions. After a few hundred rounds I push them back into place. Total movement is maybe .030-.040". Not a big deal to me.

I trust you've seen mp-pistol . com.
 
Thanks for the top re: Warren sights...I just posted at the S&W Forums asking if there was something besides Trijicons available. Thanks also for the tip re: mp-pistol; no I had not found that site.

Another question: in an ad online (Brownell's) they off Heine straight eight night sights which the ad says "fits S&W M&P Ledge". Ledge? What the heck's that?

Also, does Warren may a 3-dot sight? The Warren web site seems designed to keep their product line a deep mystery.
 
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Bongo, you could also try using harder lead, that might solve the leading problem for you.
 
I don't really "need" a 10th .45 ACP pistol ... but a M&P 45c is only my list of guns to buy sometime.

I have a full-size M&P 45 (tan, night sights, thumb safeties) which has given me excellent service for approx 3K+ rounds. The ammunition has been an assortment of 3 different duty-style JHP's and an odd box of FMJ thrown in.

While my gun came with a trigger on the heavier end of the normal stock range, it quickly smoothed itself out and I didn't need to unduly think about it in order to wring some surprisingly good practical accuracy out of it. If I work at it I can see 1" groups at 15 yards and some of my 50 yard groupings have been easily covered by a handspan (shooting 2-handed, unsupported). Not bad for a service-type pistol in my hands. I imagine a target shooter could really do well.

It easily rivals my favorite 1911-style guns (of which I own 5), and I actually enjoy shooting it more than my various 1911's. I had to make myself leave it in the safe a while back in order to take my Colt XSE Government out to run a few hundred rounds through it.

Since my M&P 45 does service as an occasional retirement CCW weapon I plan to leave it equipped with stock parts.

Nice .45 pistol. A number of other instructors I know have ordered M&P 45's after trying mine, or are in the process of ordering them. It was interesting to watch the owner of a fairly new G21SF shoot my M&P 45 noticeably better than his G21SF ... and he owns a number of other Glocks, so it's not like he's inexperienced with them. He's in the process of ordering his own M&P 45. ;)

FWIW, I also own a M&P 40c, but I much prefer the M&P pistol chambered in .45 ACP.

I think S&W has a winner on its hand with this one.
 
I've got a full size .45. Pushed a lot of bullets downrange. Easy to shoot, accurate, well fitting backstraps. Only 2 items - my thumbsafety is quite easy to move to "off", and if you oil your stuff alot, pay attention to keeping the striker clean and dry.
b-
 
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