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Smith & Wesson M&P Pistols All Variants of the Smith & Wesson M&P Auto Pistols


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  #1  
Old 07-24-2011, 11:36 PM
jpbellis jpbellis is offline
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Default Size difference between .45 Full & Compact

I have a full size M&P .45 with the 4.5" barrel and am now thinking that I should have maybe bought the compact version. I want to carry "in pants" and there don't seem to be any holster options out there for the full size, but plenty for the compact. Has anyone used or has both? Am I giving anything up if I get a compact .45 and move away from my full size. I love the firearm and have put in a full Apex trigger kit and RAM... but from a pure portability perspective I'm wondering if its a little large compared to the compact.

Please note, with ALL the respect in the world for folks opinions, I'm going to stay with .45 and not go to 9mm or .40, so recommendations to purchase those cal. won't be helpful.

Thanks to you all!

John

Last edited by jpbellis; 07-24-2011 at 11:53 PM.
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Old 07-25-2011, 06:49 AM
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When I won that S&W contest last year I was after my first and only semi-auto. Never even shot one before. I emailed a LGS and asked if they had the M&P 45 109307. They said yes, they had one M&P left, so I drove down, tried it on and liked it a lot, so I bought it. When I got home, after a quick side trip to the range, the paperwork showed it was the 109306! I called the GS right away and they said very reluctantly I could return it for a swap, if I hadn't shot it. Well krap!!

What you give up between the M&P45 regular/FS and the compact is grip length (and 2 rounds with the compact). Based on handling a few of my BIL compacts, the compact grip for me was too short, my little finger was hanging out. You can get longer mags that hold more, but then you are in regular size. The compact and regular have the same 4" bbl length.

There is a dearth of M&P 45 FS holster listings, not sure why. In my limited experience, I tried the Blackhawk Serpa Concealment "#13 Glock 20/21/37, M&P 45 9/40." Retention fit was perfect without adjustment, and works fine. I also have the Bianchi "#7 Glock 20/21" that I bought from Midway based on a comment made by someone who purchased it and said it fit his 45 FS "like a glove." Well it didn't, I needed to swell the bbl end a little and trimmed 1/2 of the thumb strap to clear the beavertail, now it fits fine, retains fine, draws fine. I prefer the Bianchi 7 to the Sherpa, holds closer to my body.

The M&P45 FS is not a CCW for me in summer. It is too big to carry in the summer, but hides fine under several of my coats and sweat shirts late fall, winter, early spring.

Since this gun was 'free' I am considering trying a swap for a regular size.

HTH
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Old 07-25-2011, 11:52 PM
Dos Cylindros Dos Cylindros is offline
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I have both the full size M&P 45 and the M&P 45 compact. As far a size relation, the full size is nearly identical to a Glock 17 or Glock 22 (though the slide is a hair longer on the M&P). The compact is the same roughly as the Glock 19 or Glock 23 and in my opinion is the perfect size for every day concealed carry.

I do not think the full size is too big for concealed carry, but that being said, the full size is my night stand gun and the compact is my off duty carry gun. I carry both IWB, but have largely relegated the full size to the night stand with X300 attached and 14 round mags with 10-8 baseplates.

The full size has a 4.5" barrel and the compact has a 4" barrel. The compact does not have a beavertail, and for me is more comfortable to carry. Weight wise they are only about 1.5 ounces appart, so for me it is a size thing and not a weight thing. My advice would be to keep your full size and also get a compact so you can have a CC and HD weapon that operate the same, and take each others magazines.
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Old 07-30-2011, 09:52 AM
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I have the intermediate size M&P45. 4" barrel with full size grip frame and like it very much.
SKU: 109307

Last edited by SNH S&W; 07-30-2011 at 09:55 AM. Reason: added sku
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Old 08-01-2011, 02:12 AM
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I have a couple of IWBs for the FS 45, my 45C doesn't mind a bit.
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Old 08-01-2011, 05:13 PM
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I have two 45c models, one black no safety and night sights, one Dark Earth with manual safety, love them both immensely. Can shoot the compact better than full size, might be due to better positioning of off hand, not sure.
Used to have one of each, full and compact, then just swapped the full for another compact. No regrets, both carry well and are flawless performers.
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Old 08-02-2011, 04:18 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bronco45 View Post
I have a couple of IWBs for the FS 45, my 45C doesn't mind a bit.
Which IWB for your FS, if you don't mind my asking?
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Old 08-04-2011, 12:40 PM
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Blade Tech, thin but stiff and secure. Got it with the straps rather than the belt hook.

The other is made by High Noon but it is bulky and servicable. I like plastic on plastic.
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