Metal framed M&P pistol?

[Telecaster]

I like metal. Now that Sig is coming out with a metal framed P320, it made me wonder if a metal framed M&P would be good. I’m not convinced it would, but it would be nice to try one out.

SIG Sauer Custom Shop Unveils Alloy-Framed P320 AXG Scorpion - GunsAmerica Digest

[JJEH]

I sure would prefer it. Made the mistake of buying a Kahr P9 instead of a K9 and if the M&P would be available with a metal frame I'd sure as hell get one.... or two...

[Rastoff]

In my opinion the M&P frame is the best of both worlds. It has a metal sub frame encased in the polymer. This gives it most of the stability of a metal frame gun with much less weight.

A metal frame M&P wouldn't be bad, just not necessary.

[murphydog]

The production processes to make an all-metal vs. polymer with steel chassis frame are very different. Sig may have the capability and methods to do this with the 320 but I’m guessing S & W is at 100% capacity with the current gun market. Someone in the aftermarket may try it (isn’t there an alloy Glock grip frame available?)

[swsig]

Originally Posted by murphydog

The production processes to make an all-metal vs. polymer with steel chassis frame are very different. Sig may have the capability and methods to do this with the 320 but I’m guessing S & W is at 100% capacity with the current gun market. Someone in the aftermarket may try it (isn’t there an alloy Glock grip frame available?)

It's unlikely we'll see an aftermarket metal M&P grip frame because the serial number would have to be attached to it. With SIG P320s and P250s, you can swap grips at will because the serial number is attached to the removable fire control unit, not to the grip frame. Until S&W develops a similar system, it's difficult to see how M&Ps will be able to have switchable grip frames.

[Saudade]

Certainly, the modularity of the 320 makes it easier for Sig to release new "configurations". I have 4 slides and 5 grip modules for mine which give me about a dozen usable combinations.

Walther released their SF (Steel frame) variants of the PPQ

Zev makes the OZ9 which is a "chassis" Glock. You can swap out grip modules like on the 320.

However, the Bodyguard has a removable chassis (serial on chassis) but S&W never exploited the modular concept.

So who knows. If the "market" demands it, they may come around.

[cmj8591]

Originally Posted by swsig

It's unlikely we'll see an aftermarket metal M&P grip frame because the serial number would have to be attached to it.

Why wouldn't they just stamp it into the frame like they do with all of their other metal guns?

An aluminum frame M&P would be cool. Make it in 10mm and it would be way cool! Like everything else, we will see it when the market makes it profitable.

[swsig]

Originally Posted by cmj8591

Why wouldn't they just stamp it into the frame like they do with all of their other metal guns?

An aluminum frame M&P would be cool. Make it in 10mm and it would be way cool! Like everything else, we will see it when the market makes it profitable.

I was commenting on aftermarket frames. I don't know all the laws, but I doubt that an aftermarket frame could have a serial number assigned to it. However, I completely agree that a factory M&P version with a metal frame would be great -- double great if it came in 10mm!

[cmj8591]

Originally Posted by swsig

I was commenting on aftermarket frames. I don't know all the laws, but I doubt that an aftermarket frame could have a serial number assigned to it. However, I completely agree that a factory M&P version with a metal frame would be great -- double great if it came in 10mm!

Ahhh..ok! A completely finished aftermarket M&P frame would require a serial number and have to go through an FFL. Not so with the 320 as the frame can not be made to fire without the serialized chassis. I have an x5 Legion and thought about getting the frame and slide so I could build a 320x compact. It is cheaper to buy the whole gun. Sorry for the thread drift!

[Gunhacker]

I know this is the M&P pistol forum... but it begs the question, why should/would S&W tool up to make a metal frame M&P when they could bring back the 3rd Gen pistol family?

It's my opinion that the main reason they killed off the 3rd Gens is because the competing sales were holding back the sales of then new M&P line of pistols....

Geez, I think I just answered my own question.

[Telecaster]

I would guess the 3rd Gens had some hand fitting, using expensive labor, and the tooling may not lend itself to modern computerized production. Would it be a MIM frame, cast, or CNC machined?

[Ktyhawk]

Personally, I don't understand the allure of a metal framed gun for the M&P line. I don't carry metal framed guns except for work and then I'm forced to. I like the weight reduction of the polymer framed guns. I also can't tell any difference in accuracy between a metal framed gun or poly. Wouldn't shifting to a metal frame also raise the price for the guns?

To me, a metal framed M&P wouldn't be a M&P. Instead, it would just be another heavy pistol that I wouldn't carry.

[stansdds]

Interesting. Fans of metal receiver pistols would like to see polymer receiver versions and fans of polymer receiver pistols would like to see metal receiver versions.

[peterGun]

Grass is always greener on the other side.

I suppose if the sole use of a handgun was the range and shooting a lot of ammo the metal gun would be practical, but for daily carry it wouldn’t be my choice under any circumstance.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[1sailor]

If cost was not an issue I suppose they could introduce a Scandium alloy frame. That would be about as light as (or maybe lighter than) the plastic frame. My M&P340 loaded with 5 rounds of 357 Magnum weighs a quarter pound less than an empty 9mm Shield. Of course you'd need to take out a second mortgage to afford an alloy version.

[Rastoff]

Originally Posted by Gunhacker

I know this is the M&P pistol forum... but it begs the question, why should/would S&W tool up to make a metal frame M&P when they could bring back the 3rd Gen pistol family?

No manufacturer of any product would bring back an old, discontinued design. If anything, they would update the design to be a better pistol.

While the 3rd gen guns were good, they had at least one serious flaw; slide mounted safety/decocker.

[Telecaster]

Ruger brought back the SR9, but it was a fairly short hiatus.

[Wdbutcher97]

Originally Posted by stansdds

Interesting. Fans of metal receiver pistols would like to see polymer receiver versions and fans of polymer receiver pistols would like to see metal receiver versions.

I have both. I'm a happy camper!