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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 05-02-2012, 08:21 PM
tshark tshark is offline
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Default New member, considering my first M&P

Hello everyone, I am new to the forum and I am considering purchasing my first M&P. I am not new to handguns, I own several Glocks and S&W revolvers. Lately, I have been thinking about purchasing something new and different than a Glock. (Still like them, looking to change things up.)

I know this can be very subjective, but I will welcome any suggestions for my first M&P. I own 9mm, .40, and .45 cal Glocks. So, I am open to any caliber. I tend to like the full size frames better. Thanks in advance for your opinions. Frank.
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Old 05-02-2012, 08:27 PM
1sailor 1sailor is offline
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This is just my own opinion based on my limited time with an M&P (not quite 1000 rounds). I would opt for the full size .40 caliber. It will allow you to swap barrels and use either the .357 sig or the 9mm. I have had good luck firing 9mm using the .40 cal magazines but others have had to buy a 9mm mag to make it work. Point of aim doesn't really change and factory barrels are about $65+ when they're in stock.
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Old 05-02-2012, 08:50 PM
FHF FHF is offline
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Welcome to the board! As stated above, the .40 gives you options the other calibers do not. I'm personally a .40 fan so my M&p's are all in this caliber. As far as full size or compact, that's your call. I don't think you will be disappointed with either one. Personally, I like the compact better, but that's just me.
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Old 05-02-2012, 11:05 PM
kentuckyrifle kentuckyrifle is offline
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Welcome friend. I'm going to echo the fellas above. Go with the .40. The ability to change out the barrels is awesome. I just ordered a 9mm barrel for my M&P compact .40.
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Old 05-02-2012, 11:26 PM
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Welcome! I'd suggest starting with the M&P 45. These things shoot great. The 45 has less muzzle flip than the 40s, for me anyways. I really like the 4.5"barrel full size model, as opposed to the shorter one. Of course once you shoot one you'll probably want another..... so whichever one you start with there will be another in your future.
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Old 05-02-2012, 11:30 PM
isaac206 isaac206 is offline
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+1 on the .40 cal I love this gun if i was you i would definitely buy the fs
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Old 05-02-2012, 11:32 PM
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Silversmok3 Silversmok3 is offline
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If you do your part , the gun will too.
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Old 05-02-2012, 11:35 PM
JBradford JBradford is offline
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I don't own an M&P yet either but I plan on buying one in the near future. As a repeat from my research on the net and this forum I'm going with the 40 for the ability to swap barrels. I own a compact Springfield XD so this weapon will be full size, but you can't go wrong either way.
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Old 05-03-2012, 02:03 PM
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This thread was very helpful i had the same question haha looks like ill be buying a M&P .40 soon

Last edited by OliRage; 05-03-2012 at 02:18 PM.
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Old 05-05-2012, 08:35 PM
shutupdata113 shutupdata113 is offline
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ive had my mp40c for over 3 yrs now......M&P FOR LIFE
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Old 05-05-2012, 09:47 PM
stmcelroy stmcelroy is offline
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I've gone from basically 100% Glock for my full size home defense/CCW weapon to more M&P's in the last 2 months.

I'm really loving the M&P platform and wish I had given it a shot years ago.

I also work 1-2 days a week in a friends gun store and am amazed at how many people who come in asking for a Glock end up buying a M&P after holding one for the first time.

Sold M&Pc 9mm's yesterday and today to current/former Glock owners/users.
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Old 05-05-2012, 11:33 PM
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If it is intended for personal protection go with the .40 4.25" barrel. If intended for competition (IDPA, IPSC ect.) go with the 9mm Pro 5" barrel. You cannot not go wrong with the M&P line.
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Old 05-05-2012, 11:47 PM
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This M&P9 full size is one of my favorite range guns.

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Old 05-06-2012, 07:29 AM
YuDanJa YuDanJa is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tshark View Post
Hello everyone, I am new to the forum and I am considering purchasing my first M&P. I am not new to handguns, I own several Glocks and S&W revolvers. Lately, I have been thinking about purchasing something new and different than a Glock. (Still like them, looking to change things up.)

I know this can be very subjective, but I will welcome any suggestions for my first M&P. I own 9mm, .40, and .45 cal Glocks. So, I am open to any caliber. I tend to like the full size frames better. Thanks in advance for your opinions. Frank.
Hi Frank. I'm new, too, with my first ever M&P (Shield), and I was in a similar situation with you as I own several Glocks. I have absolutely no regrets whatsoever. Though the Shield is new, small, and shaped differently from the Glocks we're used to, after the first range session with it, I felt like I've owned this little gun for years. Another way to put it... it felt the same way as the first time you picked up your first Glock, so I'm confident you'll be happy with which ever model M&P you decide to get.
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Old 05-06-2012, 08:58 AM
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Default SHIELD 9mm IS THE GUN OF THE YEAR

Quote:
Originally Posted by tshark View Post
Hello everyone, I am new to the forum and I am considering purchasing my first M&P. I am not new to handguns, I own several Glocks and S&W revolvers. Lately, I have been thinking about purchasing something new and different than a Glock. (Still like them, looking to change things up.)

I know this can be very subjective, but I will welcome any suggestions for my first M&P. I own 9mm, .40, and .45 cal Glocks. So, I am open to any caliber. I tend to like the full size frames better. Thanks in advance for your opinions. Frank.
Frank:

I am in a unique situation.

I received my conceal permit exactly one year ago. I went on a quest to find the all around best ccw. I was not interested in multiple ccws. I just wanted one for all seasons.

I ruled out 380 after studying the ballistics, recoil in a pocket rocket and the cost per round which is about the cost of the 40caliber. I ruled out 40 caliber for the cost to target practice and recoil in a ccw. When the dust settled the 9mm was my overall best choice.

The ammo is very common and the price per round is less than both the 380 and 40 caliber and you can hold one more round over a 40 caliber assuming the same dimension firearm.

The perfect carry ammo in my opinion after much research is the Speer Gold Dot 124 grain JHP +P short barrel.

The bullet penetrates 13 inches in gel, retains its mass, travel just under 1,200 fps which is fast enough to consistently maximize expansion even with tests shooting through denim fabric which has been known to plug the hollow point thus reducing expansion in some bullets and the recoil is manageable for my 16 year old daughter shooting a ccw.

My first ccw purchase May 2011 was the Kahr CM9. The Kahr was great to pocket carry but the gun was not reliable. (See their gun forum if you question my claim) I returned the gun three times for FTF in 4 months and two broken night sights they installed. The third time Kahr sent me a check for what I paid for the firearm and night sights which they installed twice.

Beretta Nano was acquired November 2011 and I fired it 1,334 times and encountered 11 FTE (Failure to extract). I sent it back one time to Beretta and they polished the feed ramp and chamber and when returned I still managed a 2% FTE rate with Federal Champion from Walmart and overall factoring in the cheap ammo and 124 grain Gold Dot I was just under a 1% failure rate. Not good for a ccw.

One week ago Cabela's traded me straight accross for the S&W Shield 9mm and for the first tme in one year I had a complete range session with zero failures. We are talking 2 cases of ammo (2,000 rounds) in one year and the Shield was the first ccw to successfully complete a range session with zero failures.

A plus, I can still pocket carry which is a must in my line of work and I can get 1/2 the thickness of my pinkie on the flush magazine which adds to the accuracy. I am a very average shooter but at 7 yards the Shield was the first ccw I have shot 7 rounds in the same hole at 7 yards which is the range you should practice for conceal. (See my thread Shield is Dead on for pictures)

Frank, I have traveled the ccw road and did more research than most gun magazine writers, owned three conceal firearms in one year, shot 2 cases of shells in one year and in the end the S&W Shield in the 9mm is the gun of the year in the ccw category.

You mentioned you are interested in a full size M&P. If you add the extended Shield magazine you have the grip of a full size plus a better trigger but the flexability to pocket conceal by switching out the magazine for the flush and the accuracy of the Shield for me is just as good as a full size handgun. I can't get any tighter groups than one hole for 7 rounds. Heck, one hole for 7 rounds is tough to do with a rifle.

Personally, I have no need for my full size handgun after shooting the Shield especially with the accuracy, extended magazine, reliability, ergonomics and excellent trigger.

Russ

Last edited by RussC; 05-06-2012 at 09:21 AM.
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  #16  
Old 05-07-2012, 07:30 AM
m&p9mmAG3NT m&p9mmAG3NT is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LedFowl View Post
This M&P9 full size is one of my favorite range guns.

exactly !!!! except mine has the thumb safety- first time owner
im a big dude 6'1 280 so this is great for ccw
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380, ccw, glock, idpa, ipsc, kahr, mp40c, smith & wesson, smith and wesson, springfield

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