Newcomer from Montana.

bhemp7 · #1 07-24-2013, 12:02 AM

Greetings.

I'm 21 years old and am looking to purchase my first handgun (currently own two rifles: .22 CZ & .270 Winchester). I have my eye on the S&W M&P .40...but I some unanswered questions.

First off my main use for this weapon would be for the range and personal/close range protection while bear hunting. So my question is: will the .40 caliber be adequate for what I intend to use it for or should I consider the .45 ACP. (I've read a number of forums discussing the pros and cons between the two, specifically regarding the elusive term: "knockdown power", and to be honest its only left me with more confusion.) Right now I'm leaning more towards the .40 because it seems to me its almost as "powerful" as the .45 and has a larger magazine capacity.

Secondly, while I currently only have the funds to buy the gun, I would like to purchase a suppressor later on. I have multiple questions about this.

1) If I were to buy a 4.5" barrel length S&W M&P .40 could I in the future buy a separate threaded barrel and switch it in and out with the original as I so desire, or should I look into just getting a gun that is pre-threaded and buy a thread protector and save up for the suppressor.

2) While researching online it looks like that there is a S&W spec ops 9mm, but there's hardly any info on it. Does S&W manufacture this in a .40 or .45? Have they stopped making it? Is it worth looking into at all?

3) I haven't really researched this at all; however, in the future when I look to purchase a suppressor, what are quality and reasonably priced brands to look into? And do I have to file mounds of paper work to acquire one?

Finally, are safety triggers the norm these days? Can you special order a S&W with a standard trigger, or order one and switch it out. Or is it just a matter of getting used to it and the reset associated with the release?

I know that I have alot of questions and that the subjects are ranging and could be applied across a number of different forums and threads (not sure if that violates forum policy or not), but any and all help is much appreciated.

Thanks!

srings · #2 07-24-2013, 02:36 AM

Howdy from Ohio...good to have you in the house! You may want to ask your question in M&P section of the forum. You'll get better traffic and better insight that will help you on your journey. You are mostly going to get hi, hey and howdy in here. Good luck.

S&W Oldtimer · #3 07-24-2013, 08:15 AM

Welcome from Va.

gdnagle · #4 07-24-2013, 08:30 AM

And a warm welcome from “wild and wonderful “ West Virginia at least that’s what they tell us.

snubbyfan · #5 07-24-2013, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by srings

Howdy from Ohio...good to have you in the house! You may want to ask your question in M&P section of the forum. You'll get better traffic and better insight that will help you on your journey. You are mostly going to get hi, hey and howdy in here. Good luck.

What he said.
Welcome from the panhandle of West Virginia.

MSG Glenn · #6 07-24-2013, 12:40 PM

Welcome from Wisconsin!

I have an M&P 40 with a 40C on order. I don't hunt with a handgun but use it for HD & concealed carry SD. Nor do I have any particular use for a suppressor. I'm not sure but I think they come standard with a thread protector.

I've heard that 10MM is a good hunting round. It's basically nothing more than .40 cal magnum.

I'm sure that most of your questions will be answered by the many knowledgeable members on this site.

deralte · #7 07-24-2013, 05:53 PM

bhemp7, welcome from North Carolina.

sophie · #8 07-24-2013, 06:10 PM

Welcome to the forum from Texas.

tekarra · #9 07-24-2013, 06:37 PM

Hello and welcome aboard.

BCDWYO · #10 07-24-2013, 06:40 PM

Welcome from AZ!

I'm not an M&P expert either, but I'll throw my two cents in on part of your questions: You didn't specify what kind of bears you will be hunting or if the handgun is for defense against bears or mainly 2 legged predators? If grizz, I probably would not choose either .40 or .45 acp as I'm not sure either one would be adequate. For black bears and homo sapiens, either .40 or 45 would probably suffice with good shot placement. By the way, the subject of bear defense guns has been covered on a few past posts if you use the "Search" option up top by the way.

Most of the "recommended" dangerous predator handgun calibers are going to be chambered in revolvers (.44 mag and up). If you are set on a semiauto, you might want to consider a 10 mm as it has about the closest to magnum potential of any semiauto caliber. Unfortunately S&W M&P doesn't come in 10 mm (which I and others here lament).