My son and I had an opportunity to shoot a guys Kimber (awesome gun) at the range this weekend (you meet the nicest people at the shooting range), and we let him shoot our M&P. I have to say that there is something about shooting a 1911 that just makes you feel like you are using a piece of history. That being said, my son and I agreed that the M&P was a little easier to handle (less muzzle jump on same ammo) than the 1911. What was funny was that the experience made me want to get a 1911 (a S&W E Series perhaps), and our new friend was really grooving on the M&P.