So I am new to the M&P line. I just got an M&P 45 and a 9c. I have been a long time Glock guy and have a 17, 19, 23, 21. So now I am starting to get the M&Ps that I want. I am not a huge 40s&w fan and most of my guns are 9mm and 45. So I want a full size M&P 9mm but have seen many have done the 40-9 conversion. That would allow both but is the 9 conversion with 9mm mags dead nuts reliable or should I just get a 9mm dedicated pistol. Thanks in advance
Help decide between M&P 40 with a 9conversion or just a M&P9
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Smaay
Member
funny you would ask. I have a .40 M&P CORE and I bought the Storm Lake 9mm conversion barrel.Let me tell you that this barrel worked perfectly. you do need to use 9mm magazines.
My suggestion is get the .40 and the conversion barrel. this way you are getting 2 guns for about 600 and a choice on what you want to shoot.
My suggestion is get the .40 and the conversion barrel. this way you are getting 2 guns for about 600 and a choice on what you want to shoot.
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WilsonFlyer
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I bought a 40 with exactly the same intentions. I decided the possible confusion wasn't worth the risk so I bought a 9 as well.
We shoot at my own private range and there may be as many as 50 guns on the tables at any given instant in time.
Just a different perspective.
We shoot at my own private range and there may be as many as 50 guns on the tables at any given instant in time.
Just a different perspective.
Rastoff
US Veteran
If you have no interest in the .40S&W round, why even consider the M&P 40? Just buy the 9mm and save yourself the headache.
Also, the 9mm barrels used to be plentiful, but are impossible to find now. So, you'd be stuck with a .40 unless you plunked down the $150 or so for a Storm Lake or KKM barrel. That's just more expense you could avoid by buying a 9mm.
Also, the 9mm barrels used to be plentiful, but are impossible to find now. So, you'd be stuck with a .40 unless you plunked down the $150 or so for a Storm Lake or KKM barrel. That's just more expense you could avoid by buying a 9mm.
bdickers
Member
I would be hesitant to buy a .40 Shield. It seems that all of the major disasters are with the .40 version.
Smitty357
Member
I hope u dont think the Shield .40 is the only weapon to exist that has had problems. And i surely hope u dont think ALL of them have or had problems.
I've owned several Glocks that have had problems with designs. And i still own a bunch of 1911's that also had a flaw in their designs.
Vinney47
Member
I think the .40 to 9mm conversion looks good on paper and sounds good in theory but isn't that great in reality. Yes, you can shoot both types of ammo, but it's still just one gun. If you want to be able to shoot .40 and 9mm out of an M&P get 2 M&P's.
My .02
My .02
Jayblack9397
Member
Maybe i just dont see the point, i bought 40 shield because i already have a 9mm pistol. Do not regret it at all, very fun to shoot and accurate. Just buy the 9mm shield if you're wanting a 9mm
rsrocket1
Member
I bought an M&P40 and then got the 9mm barrel about 18 months later. So far I have about 8,000 rounds of 40 through it and about 3,000 rounds of 9mm through it. They are both great and I am very glad I went this route because I did not have guns in either caliber.
You can load a 40 to make it feel exactly like a 9, but you can't go the other way. It's good to be able to use the same gun to compare loads, recoil, accuracy, overall "feel" of different rounds.
Yes, this was the stock S&W 9mm barrel in an M&P40 frame. No problems with accuracy, wear, lockup timing or anything else. At the range, when I change calibers, the other ammo, magazines, barrel all go into a separate compartment in my range bag and I never have both 9 and 40 parts or ammo out at the same time.
You can load a 40 to make it feel exactly like a 9, but you can't go the other way. It's good to be able to use the same gun to compare loads, recoil, accuracy, overall "feel" of different rounds.
Yes, this was the stock S&W 9mm barrel in an M&P40 frame. No problems with accuracy, wear, lockup timing or anything else. At the range, when I change calibers, the other ammo, magazines, barrel all go into a separate compartment in my range bag and I never have both 9 and 40 parts or ammo out at the same time.
Most (not all) the 40 to 9 conversions I have seen at the range seem to run fine. The owners seem happy with them. As a professional nerd, it would always bother me to carry a conversion for defense knowing that an extractor set up for .40 is at least .020" loose for 9mm, maybe more.
Another consideration for me is that I want to pick up the correct range bag for my match, take the gun out of the safe, drop it in and go. Worrying about which magazines and barrel would drive me nuts. YMMV...
Some people have an emotional reaction to shooting more than one caliber from the same gun that just does not speak to me, but is very important to them: talk to a Governor fan, for example.
And welcome to the forum!
Another consideration for me is that I want to pick up the correct range bag for my match, take the gun out of the safe, drop it in and go. Worrying about which magazines and barrel would drive me nuts. YMMV...
Some people have an emotional reaction to shooting more than one caliber from the same gun that just does not speak to me, but is very important to them: talk to a Governor fan, for example.
And welcome to the forum!
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Rastoff
US Veteran
This was a concern for me as well. However, from all accounts, the extractor is exactly the same for the .40 as the 9mm. How can this be, you ask? The only thing I can figure is the extractor spring allows the .40 extractor to move a little more in the .40 guns.
In fact, the only dimensions I can find that are different for the 9mm is the width of the barrel hood and of course the chamber itself.
They do put a different recoil spring in them. If I were to use a 9mm barrel regularly I would also replace the recoil spring.
uechikid
Member
I have an M&P40 FS and my wife has an M&P40c. I bought a 9mm factory barrel for hers. This came about because my she didn't like, and had trouble with, the .40 round so I bought the 9mm barrel and mags for her, but I didn't have any trouble finding the 9mm stuff and didn't pay and arm and a leg for them. If I were going to do it all over again, knowing what I know now I'd buy the M&P9c for her and I probably would have bought the FS9 for me. I like the 40 but it would be nice to just have one caliber to buy for. My2¢
If you look at the recoil spring that Midway sells they are the same for 9, 357 and 40. Even in the parts list from S&W the number for the recoil spring is the same. I'm sure there are after market guild rod/spring assemblies available.
Rastoff
US Veteran
Originally the spring was the same. Now they are different. The .40 is painted green and the 9mm is painted blue. It wouldn't be the first time I've been wrong, but I believe they do use different weight springs now.
This would stand to reason. When I put the 9mm barrel in my .40 gun, the ejection is kind of weak. This tells me the recoil spring is just a tad strong. I would probably benefit from a recoil spring that is 2lbs lighter when shooting 9mm.
uechikid
Member
I would have thought that the 9 would have a lighter spring than the 40/357 also. The parts list I got that information from is dated 05/08/2012. Here is a copy.
jimmib
US Veteran
I have the FS40 and have ordered a 9mm barrel for it....that is the reason I bought the 40
Are the barrels still avaliable or backorder?
bikendan
Member
i chose the FS 40 strictly for its ability to convert to 9mm or 357 Sig.
i use 9mm mainly for the range and 40 for SD. if 357 Sig ammo was more reasonable, price-wise, i'd pursue a 357 barrel a little harder.
i use 9mm mainly for the range and 40 for SD. if 357 Sig ammo was more reasonable, price-wise, i'd pursue a 357 barrel a little harder.
