Recently I inquired with a certain holster maker about a holster for the M&P. His response was that Police departments were "diving away" from the M&P (presumably in favor of the Glock) and as a result they were not going to make holsters for M&Ps.

Does anybody have up to date stats on M&P sales? I'd be interested to know about Police and civilian sales.

My gut tells me that the M&P is still gaining. "G" has had some issues lately and I can't see S&W diving into a new line targeted for Police without a very competitive offer. Not to mention all the civies picking up the M&P.

Out
West

I thought the opposite was happening. 4th Gen issues and the 40 Kaboom rumor have harmed the Glock image, though I don't know how much. Also, what is going on with M&Ps to make police agencies "dive away" from them when they having been "diving toward" them in recent years.....? Need more info on this rumor to make it anything more than a rumor.

My info has had m&p's in short supply do to leo/govt. contracts. I havent seen any popular holster co.'s disbanding the m&p lines either.What holster co. do you speak of?

I have always loved my Glocks (and still do) but I certainly see the M&P's appeal. They are a great feeling handgun. Apparantly the Wyoming Highway Patrol feels the same way. The M&P .40 was adopted as standard issue recently.

Most mainstream holsters manufacturers have been making holsters for the M&P for a rather long while now, just look elsewhere.

Sounds like that holster maker is a butt hurt Glock fanboy that isn't seeing the writing on the wall. Glocks are here to stay, but the M&P is eating away at market share for them, both in the LEO and civilian markets. If they were identical in price, I think the M&P would outsell Glock in just a few years.

Local gun shop employee says he sees lots of guys and gals handling the M&P and loving it, but going with the Glock to save $50 or so.

I still like both and fault no one for their choices in either.

My cousin and my brother are with two separate sheriff's departments up in the Northwest. Both departments have dumped their Glocks and gone to S&W. Granted, this is only two out of how many? Still, it's interesting to hear about.

It took Glock a while to rise to the top of LEO sales, civilian as well, but M&P and Glock will likely have to learn how to live with each other at the top in a few years.

Both weapons offer advantages and disadvantages over the other, its just a matter of personal preference which one is actually better.

Where M&P has Glock beat hands down is in the ergonomics. The M&P backstraps fit the gun, and your hand, like its supposed to be there, while the 4th generation Glocks back straps seem like a last minute add on afterthought. The beavertail on the full size is probably what moved me over to the M&P camp. I have large, meaty hands and inevidably always got slide bit when shooting my Glocks. I choke up real high and tight on a pistol and that beavertail is a skin saver.

I also am a big fan of the texture/feel of the M&P over Glock. I don't need a 40 grit sandpaper texture to help me control recoil, and I don't like fingergrooves. My big fingers don't like to be told where they should ride on the grip.

With that said, there's nothing wrong with going Glock, I did for years, and am happy with the M&P.

I don't worry too much about what LE departments go with, their choice is often based on what deal they get from a manufacturer before anything else.
Major problems like the ones experienced by the Oakland PD are about the only thing that would take precedence over financial considerations.

How does he get that, I always see Glocks go for more than M&Ps, even at LE prices

Sounds like he's making up an excuse to make up for his shortsightedness.

Glocks go for $499 locally, unless its a 4th generation, then its $549 usually. M&P's go for $549 and up. To some, $50 extra is a deal breaker.

Closer to $600 and up here.
As a security guard i got LEO pricing from glock last february.
G22 and 3 15 rounders for $398,$450 even with night sights. Yea I'm looking for a good deal on a used Smith,might even buy one new one day,but as long as my securiy guard permit gets me any Glock under $500......and money being as tight as it is now days Well I just had to try one.

Some people view the M&P as 22nd Century Glock.

I like the M&P over the Glock and only really like the Gen 3s with
no real interest in the Gen 4s, even though the Gen 4 357s
seem to run OK.

Nobody has tried out a Gen 4 G32 or G33 quite yet, so the jury is still out on those models.

I think the M&P backstrap advantage had Glock a little concerned so they went with Swappable backstrap also. On the run. I think the M&P cost a bit more to produce than a glock.

One of the largest Sheriff's departments in the country recently started issuing the M&P. Rumor is one of the largest Police departments from the same general area is about to start. If it happens...It would be replacing the Glock.

You can buy a M&P with three mags for $398 as a security guard at Express Police Supply. Free shipping too. I bought three of them so far. My last one was $455 with night sights. Look them up on the web.

I've heard the same. My local S&W LE dealer said they can order something not on the shelf, but it might take six months. As far as holsters are concerned, its probably has more to do with dealers than with the factories. In my metro area, I am the only LE that I personally know carrying an M&P 45. There are a couple of departments carrying 9/40s, but Glock still rules. Because of that, it makes sense for a local business to stock leather for the predominate pistol brands in the area, and handle everything else by order. Thats what I had to do for a holster for my tac belt. I wanted a 6377 w/ light instead of the thigh holsters. I planned on adapting it to a tac belt with the Safariland quick modular attachment accessories. It took a while to get the holster, but it was mainly because the shop took for ever to place the order with Safariland. I don't know if they were afraid of getting stuck with a holster that no one wanted if I didn't pick up. I gave them a polite rebuke that if they wanted to sell S&Ws, they needed to support guys like me who would be seen with S&Ws in their holsters - if I HAD a holster. Incidently, from shopping on the internet for new carry leather, there seems to be no shortage of custom leather makers who offer products for the M&P. It may not be as extensive as for a Glock or 1911, but remember that the Glocks have been on the US market for over 20 years now. The S&Ws haven't been out for even half that time.

Certainly not the case in my area.
LGS told me yesterday that he's handling the transfer of new M&Ps for all three area police departments.
Previously, they all issued the ubiquitous GLOCK 22.
LEOs will get first pick on buying the GLOCKs, then the LGS, with the remainder (if any) to be returned to S&W for (?).

__________________
-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

I had to wait nearly a month for my holster. M&P duty holsters aren't staying on the shelves.

Especially ones that accomodate a weapon mounted light.

I got this info from my cousin when discussing the M&P vs the Glock debate. Most departments all ready have a "Glock Certified Armorer" not too many with S&W folks, yet. As a civilian, I prefer the my Glock 21, I have big hands and for an Ugly, no business defense gun, it works for me.

Now having said that, mostly what I won for handguns are S&W revolvers and have shot a friends M&P in 9MM and .45, they shoot better than me, I just prefer the Glock for carry. I think it is personal thing.

I wonder why most departments mess with the .40 and not just go .45 ACP, I mean, its only been tested in war's around the world for 100 years or so...... and I think a 230 grain JHP would probably work most of the time if the shooter can put lead on target, again, I am not a LEO though so dont know "real life"

Wow, not a lot of LE that actually carry it chiming in. I carry one issued by my agency, and let's just say I am WAY less than impressed. I have commented on the forum extensively about the issues we are having with them. Im sure the fact that S&W is practically trading one for one with many departments helps them out substantially.

__________________
Un-Reconstructed Southerner

Flame suit on.
I've carried a Glock 30 since '97. For me, it remains the benchmark for carry .45s. Bought an M&P when they first came out. Regardless of the load or anything else I could do with it, just could never shoot it as well as the Glock. Installed an Apex trigger kit. Better, but still second place.
Go figure, the M&P felt worlds better in the hand, but the truth is in the performance.

Traded the M&P for a nice Model 681 and never looked back,

__________________
-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

LOVE my 681....... A retired Ohio Highway Patrol gun.

__________________
Un-Reconstructed Southerner

Mine's a retired deputy's gun. Slicker than snot on a brass doorknob..

__________________
-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

Mine too! You just BARELY breathe on the trigger in single action and POW! The double action trigger pull is very smooth and light as well.

__________________
Un-Reconstructed Southerner

The .40 is a very good round with a 20 + year track record of being a good stopper in LE and civilian shootings. The .40 offers a considerable increase in capacity over most .45 Autos. The smaller grip of a 9mm or .40 fits the average hand much better. This and reliability are the most important factors before considering stopping power and capacity. If a large Glock 21 does not fit an officers hand and point naturaly.......the officer will constantly be fighting the gun to keep the sights on target, will be a poor shooter and be at a severe disadvantage when they need to go on Auto-Pilot when the chips are down. You can find many examples of handguns of all calibers failing to stop a threat, including the .45 Auto. I say these things having carried a Glock 21 in a duty holster for 12 years. I have also trained many officers who fought the grip on the large gun, and would have been better served by a gun with a smaller grip. My former department recently changed from Glock 21 Gen 3 to the Gen 4 to help with this problem.

A county agency very near me issues the G21 to ALL deputies. Just perfect for the 5'6 130 lb female with hands that fit a size small glove and doesn't shoot weekly, right? Right?

If holsters, or if a manufacturer said to be no longer manufacuring them for S&W M&P's is true, TacLoc is shipping new, autolock tactical holsters that accomodate the M&P series, except for the 45ACP, with the Veridian green laser/light (C5 & C5L) series.

I have been impressed with TacLoc products and bought one Friday ($49.99) expecting it around Tuesday.

I'd think that S&W M&P holsters being custom made to fit with the C5 series is a bit of a niche market right now and that it's indicative of Tacloc and Veridian feeling rather positive about the M&P's long term prospects.

From what I've heard, apart from a few hiccups early on, S&W M&P sales to police departments are on the rise. Most cops I have been around were either already talking postively about the M&P series or after seeing mine, were interested.

$499 isn't bad at all for new gen 3 Glock but you wouldn't move any M&Ps at $549 in my area.
Around here Glocks always seem to go for a premium over M&Ps wether new, used or even beat up.
The worst part is used M&Ps. They are rather hard to sell for more than $400 to $425, even the compacts.

Interesting. I live close to the only Glock blue label and S&W First Responder participating dealer for many miles. Cops, fireman, military etc guys flock there to buy new Glocks and M&P's for $398 and that reputation brings people from all over. Don't know if I read the price tag wrong a few weeks ago, but this weekend I noticed the M&P's were priced at $519.

Don't know if its like this everywhere, but around here, Glocks still own the LEO share of the market, and that is what hugely determines civilian sales. There is always a fair amount of LEO trade in Glocks, and civilians scoop them up fast at $349-369. I've very seldom seen a used M&P in the display case. A guy nearly crapped his pants in there one day when he paid $425 for a used M&P, and I and another gentleman were paying $398 for brand new ones. His exact words were "Thats not fair of S&W to treat their customers like this, they should be the same price for everyone. Cops shouldn't get a discount just cause they're cops".

There are a few dept's issuing the M&P here, and the State Troopers carry the M&P, but by and large Glock is still on top for now. I keep my ear to the ground and every so often I hear of another dept around the state switching to M&P. When the switch happens, it is usually an M&P that replaces something. I only know of one dept in the last couple years that switched to something else, and that was the Sig P229 in .40.