Possibly trading for an "as new" one tomorrow. What has been updated besides the detent spring in the SHB since then? Where the barrels fine in '09?

Gun is M&P9 full size with no lock or safeties

Anyone have input?

I'm not an armorer or close to being an expert but as far as I know there were no MAJOR changes until the 2.0 came out and those were mainly stippling and trigger. I installed the Apex Reset Assist in mine and it greatly improved the trigger reset. Gave it a consistent reset and noticable "click" where I could feel it.


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As far as the barrel. Mine is the .357 Sig and I've never had any issues so I think you should be fine. You may want to give the trigger some attention.


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The main thing I didn't like about the '09 M&Pc was the factory trigger (as did most people). I could not see buying a new pistol and immediately needing to spend another $100 - $150 on an aftermarket trigger system, so I passed.

If you're getting it for a very good price and are planning on getting an Apex system anyway, go for it.

If you're buying from an individual (as opposed to Used in a store), ask to meet at a range, so you can try it 1st. You may not like how it feels to shoot it YOUR hands.

There were some changes to the barrel, sear, and slide lock over the years of production to address accuracy issues and the trigger reset.

Articles- M&P PRODUCTION UPDATES: Slide stops,barrels,sear

New M&Ps can be bought fairly inexpensivley online. Add in the $50 rebate and I’d have a hard time buying an early production gun. It would have to be awfully cheap.

Given the availablity of current production guns, often with rebates and priced very competitively, a used M&P would have to be priced very,very low to be an attractive purchase.

The only exception would be if the 2009 model had a desirable feature or features not available on current production guns. An example of this state of affairs is the pinned and recessed features of M29-2 compared to newer M29’s.

I can’t think of such a feature in the gun you’re looking at.

I owned a series of older M&P9's that I really liked, but I had persistent problems with accuracy from their barrels. I would get wide groups, perhaps twice the group size I am able to achieve with other pistols -- say 6" groups at 21 feet instead of 2-3" groupings. That's just a personal benchmark, but I struggled a long time with those earlier M&Ps, added Apex triggers, tried different ammo, handloaded different bullets, etc., and never could find a specific ammo loading that really worked well.

Those pistols all came before 2012, which is when I believe the M&P switched to the 1:10 twist rate.

I would not buy a 2009 unless I had a spare Apex barrel to fit to the gun.

__________________
S&W Rover

You read some of these off the wall and totally unsubstantiated comments and it makes you wonder how Smith & Wesson ever stayed in business all these years. Amazing!

Just ponder this, can anyone tell me how many S&W guns were successfully fired yesterday in the world? I didn't think so! So much for the forum, experts!

If the '09 Compacts were so great, why were there some many threads about tweaking them and people looking for better triggers/barrels?
(yes... Some just NEED to tinker, but stil...)

Better yet... If they were that good, why did S&W feel the need to do a Mod2?

Yes, they were 'okay', but the new ones are so much better, that unless this one were a steal, the OP could get a new one for just a little bit more. ...Unless he's looking for a 'Tinker' toy.

BTW: I almost didn't buy my Shield (in '12) because of hw bad the M&P triggers felt (to me anyway). The Shield's trigger surprised me and so many others, that S&W eventually integrated it into the rest of the M&P line.

As others have already stated, early models had grouping problems, S&W changed the twist rate to address this problem.

I have an early M&P Pro 9 (different than FS trigger) that still shoots IDPA just fine.
However, the point made above that bad press has reduced the resale price of "1.0" M&Ps, especially compared to 2.0s, Pros, and custom shops, is valid. Think half price.

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Science plus Art

never buy a 2009 M&P that was made on a Thursday after 3:35PM....anything thing before that ...no problem!
Randy

PS
I have a 2006 that still stacks them up and just keeps on running in USPSA and IDPA....it has over 100k downrange....how do I know that you ask? I keep the master box that they came in...Montana Golds all the way.

The average gun fight lasts about 3 seconds, 2 to 3 rounds will be fired, you will never get to use your useless night sights, besides bad guys don't glow in the dark to see either, you will be lucky to get your gun out of your holster and the trigger pull can be 40 pounds and you will be able to pull it no problem! Adrenalin works wonders in times of high stress.

Been there done that, twice in fact! The first time, I shot the guy in the foot and he gave up the fight. 158 grain lead ball ammo worked just fine both times also! Just saying!

I decided that an M&P that old and outdated had too much against it to do the trade. Plus, new ones are $299@CDNN right now

you did the right thing. With the rebate and low prices on Gen 1 M&P's (nothing wrong with gen 1 btw, still good guns) you'd have to get it SUPER cheap to make it worthwhile