A few questions for you M&P owners....

[CanuckShooter]

Due to the fact that Glocks don't seem to fit my hand very well, I am very seriously considering buying an M&P. It kills me to pass up my Glock discount at Police Ordinance, but there just seem to be WAY too many reasons not to get the M&P (especially for someone with size 7 hands like me).

Can someone fill me in on what exactly the sear deactivation lever on the M&P does and where on the gun it is located? Does this allow the user to lower the hammer before storing the gun without dry-firing?

I read that there are new updated magazines for the M&P. Anyone know anything about this? If so what were the improvements/corrections and how does one identify the new ones (or are all the old ones long gone by now)?

Lastly, does anyone know if S&W has remedied the following issues that were present on earlier models:

- mags spontaneously dropping loose out of gun
- front sights working loose
- ejection pattern problems?

Thanks

 

[Stevo]

It's in the mag well. You still have to pull the trigger to decock it as it's just a disconnecter.

One of our IDPA shooters has (sorta) an M&P 9mm. She bought it because of the "hand size" thing. It's off for warranty work as it has a recurrent failure to eject problem. She bought a G17 and is very happy with it. She's got tiny hands and can run the Glock just fine. Personally, I greatly dislike the M&P trigger with it's spongy feel, long take-up and hard-to-feel reset.

I've heard of more than one M&P with the FTE problem. Another of our shooters has the same gun and has had zero problems with it. YMMV. None of the M&P's I've seen have the 3 problems you listed above.

 

[Colin]

Mine runs great, there is no hammer on the MP.

 

[maka]

Lastly, does anyone know if S&W has remedied the following issues that were present on earlier models:

- mags spontaneously dropping loose out of gun
- front sights working loose
- ejection pattern problems?

Thanks

Take the slide off. Inside of the dust cover it will read "REV N"

I believe this is the latest model with kinks worked out.

My is awsome. I really am impressed with this gun.

 

[CanuckShooter]

Oops, I forgot that these are striker fired guns, with no hammer. What I meant to say is, this deactivation lever, does it eliminate the need to dry-fire the gun causing the striker to slam against the stop?

I do agree on the long, spongy trigger, and the reset. Though I did read a LOT of people saying that a quick trigger job with some Flitz improved it a great deal. Just when I thought my decision process was nearing an end lol :S

 

[Stevo]

No, it doesn't do that. Dry firing won't hurt it though, nor will leaving it cocked.

The only purpose for the lever it to eliminate "and pull the trigger" from the disassembly process, like in the Glock. It's a liability/lack of training feature, not one that serves a real purpose.

 

[ian_in_vic]

The problems you have listed occurred with early production pistols (pre Revision 'N' - stamped inside the dust cover.) Post "Revision" guns have none of those issues - and no letter stamped in the dust cover just a pattern of dots. The magazine redesign was also an early issue, the current followers are grey and work perfectly (they also don't break if you drop them, which is nice ). The sear deactivation lever simply allows you to take down the pistol without pulling the trigger, it makes you open the gun and look into the breech before attempting to strip the pistol. Personally that's the feature of the M&P that I see the least reason for, but apparently people have shot themselves stripping Glocks, so someone decided it was the design's issue, and needed to "fix" it. I had a Rev N which I traded, it was a great pistol no FTF, FTE or other issues in 1600 rounds, but the trade was a great deal too. Shortly after that, I decided that I'd been dumb and I went and got another, which has also been flawless through in excess of 1,000 rounds. I think that they are a great pistol, easy to shoot well, and once you've got the trigger 'grooved in' they are very fast for follow up shots - I've had two hits on top of each other with both casings in the air at the same time. This tells me that it isn't the pistol that's the limiting factor

PS the best trigger job on these pistols (and most others) is trigger time, they smooth out amazingly between round 1 and round 1000.

 

[Thad]

+1 No problems with my M&P .40 love the feel of the grip. Also have a G17 in 9mm and it is a great shooter. Looks like your reasearch will get you the right firearm. Everyone else has already told you everything I would have so...good luck.

 

[CanuckShooter]

So just to clarify, the M&P's that are being sold now (which have all the kinks worked out), will have NO letter markings inside the dustcover, just dots, BUT M&P's that may be a bit older, which have the "revision N" marking inside the dustcover, ALSO have these kinks worked out.

Do you guys feel much of a difference between 9mm and 40 when shooting the M&P (due to it's ergonomics being different than the Glock)? At the club I will be joining, reloads of 9mm and 40 are the same price which is why I am asking.

The M&P barrels are still fully supported right? So shooting reloads is fine?

 

[ian_in_vic]

That's correct, 'Rev N' and newer are good to go, pre 'Rev N' may be OK, but QC was not what it should have been. I've never shot the 40 M&P, but have heard it's pretty soft shooting. As far as the barrel goes, the brass is fine from it and you can shoot lead with no worries. Enjoy.

 

[Mike_R]

A friend of mine recently purchased an M&P in .40 S&W. I put 20 rounds through it and was really impressed with the lack of recoil. The recoil felt more like 9mm, than 40, and makes me wish I had ordered mine in 40.

Which reminds me, I have to call Canada Ammo today and find out what the !@#$ is going on. It has been 2 weeks to the day, and no word of a transfer starting... so much for "in stock"!

Get the .40! It is a nice round, and with the M&P, the recoil is very manageable.

Mike

 

[Six Star]

+1 on the recommendation to buy the .40cal version of the M&P. Although photo's taken of me shooting my M&P40 clearly show that it has as much muzzle flip as any other .40cal pistol, there is very little PERCEPTION of the muzzle flip, unlike a G22/G35 or other .40cal pistols that I've owned and fired.
S&W really did their homework on this fine service pistol.

 

[maka]

Which reminds me, I have to call Canada Ammo today and find out what the !@#$ is going on. It has been 2 weeks to the day, and no word of a transfer starting... so much for "in stock"!

Mike

slow down there cowboy, my latest transfer took 22 days. I guess its 3-5 week wait right now
maka

 

[Mike_R]

slow down there cowboy, my latest transfer took 22 days. I guess its 3-5 week wait right now
maka

I am aware of the wait times for transfers, however they have not even begun the transfer process... which is why I am a little anxious.

I was told they had them in stock, and then a few days after I paid for it I called and asked why/when the transfer was going to be initiated, and I was then told that the pistol was being shipped from their supplier in Ontario, and they would begin the transfer when it got to them in BC. That was June 24th...

Believe me, I am about as slowed down as I get!

 

[CanuckShooter]

I just remembered that my dad has a Dillon XL650 for which he already has the entire .40 kit for (he only reloads .38, and .40), and he has thousands of rounds of .40 brass. I could reload 9mm too, but then I would have to spend over $200 to get the swap out kit for his machine, when he already reloads .40.

Would there be any DISadvantages to getting the M&P .40 over the 9?

MikeR and Sixstar, so would you guys say that the difference in felt recoil and muzzle flip between the 40 and 9 in this platform is negligible (unfortunately I don't know anyone in my area who even owns an M&P for me to try)? Does the 40 lends itself to controlled pairs well or would that be something better suited for 9mm?

Thanks

edit: forgot to ask... there's no size difference between the M&P 40 and M&P 9 frames/grip sizes right?

 

[Mike_R]

There is no frame or grip size difference between the 9mm or the .40 for the M&P. Don't forget, the M&P comes with three different size grips, and they are very comfortable. I shot the .40 with the medium grips, and had excellent comfort and control. I also have stubby fingers, and am looking forward to trying out the small grips.

My experience with the muzzle flip was that I did not notice any more when compared to the 9mm I was shooting right before and after I tried the .40 M&P. I was used to shooting my CZ-75b in .40 and the "felt recoil" with that gun felt like a slap in the face, so comparatively, the recoil with the M&P felt great.

I was bullseye shooting (one handed) fairly fast on my second mag, and had no problems keeping it on target, although I never did try any IPSC style shooting (controlled pairs), but I do not see it being a problem. Of course, the 9mm will likely be easier to keep on target, there is less recoil (less powder and lower bullet weight), but since you can reload .40, I do not think the lesser (felt) recoil of the 9mm is worth the difference.

Enjoy your M&P .40!

Mike

 

[Lawdog905]

Would there be any DISadvantages to getting the M&P .40 over the 9?

Other than the obvious cost of ammo...

Having looked at both quite carefully before finally deciding on the 9mm, I found the slide release on the 9mm a lot more user friendly than the 40 as it protrudes more and doesn't sit flush againt the frame like the 40 does. I shoot with two guys who have the 40 and each keyed on that difference when comparing guns...and both seemed just a tad jealous

I dont know about the "new" magazines, but my M&P9, Ser#MPJ5### is REV N and the mags that came with it have this plastic base that runs about 1/3 up the magazine body, and they do not like abuse. I use my M&P for IPSC and have broken a few of the mag bases.

I experienced some FTE's early on - about 1 every 150 rds for about the first 2k rounds (probably just breaking in). I now have 5000K+ through it and haven't seen so much as a hiccupp in a while. The front sight has a little black dot in the middle from where the marker has cracked a bit - but other than that I would definetly recommend the M&P in either calibre.

FYI - The two guys I shoot with, both have had mag release problems with their 40's where the mag would keep popping out while they were shooting - appearently there is an easy fix for this if you know your way around the guts of these things - but that's beyond my capabilities.

Sorry for the long note - but I hope it was helpful.

Good luck!

 

[Colin]

I just remembered that my dad has a Dillon XL650 for which he already has the entire .40 kit for (he only reloads .38, and .40), and he has thousands of rounds of .40 brass. I could reload 9mm too, but then I would have to spend over $200 to get the swap out kit for his machine, when he already reloads .40.

Would there be any DISadvantages to getting the M&P .40 over the 9?

MikeR and Sixstar, so would you guys say that the difference in felt recoil and muzzle flip between the 40 and 9 in this platform is negligible (unfortunately I don't know anyone in my area who even owns an M&P for me to try)? Does the 40 lends itself to controlled pairs well or would that be something better suited for 9mm?

Thanks

edit: forgot to ask... there's no size difference between the M&P 40 and M&P 9 frames/grip sizes right?

I find .40cal really easy to reload, the straight wall case slides through the dies easily, plus the cost is almost the same as 9mm.

 

[El Cid]

I am aware of the wait times for transfers, however they have not even begun the transfer process... which is why I am a little anxious.

How do you know this? Have you spoken to CanadaAmmo? You do know that when a business has a firearm transferred to you, you don't have to do anything, unlike a private sale.

 

[Mike_R]

How do you know this? Have you spoken to CanadaAmmo? You do know that when a business has a firearm transferred to you, you don't have to do anything, unlike a private sale.

I am aware that I do not have to do anything, unlike a private transfer. I suppose some people might post things without all the facts, but I had spoken with them, a few times.

On a bright note, the transfer was started today, and I now have the serial number. I am going to send away for my rebate (two free mags) as soon as I get a copy of my sales receipt. That's my next challenge.

Mike