M&P .45 reliability?

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prickett

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I'm trying to decide whether to get a Glock 21 or an M&P .45. Having poked around the forums, I've seen some people complaining about the M&P .45 mags. Have those issues been worked out?

I've also seen someone complaining the M&P doesn't like SWC. Is that true? Are there other bullet shapes that it does or does not prefer?

Are there any other known problems that would make the M&P less reliable than the Glock?

TIA
 
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My experience is this. I have an M&P 45 mid size. I did have one mag spring collapse but S&W replaced it. There are new mag springs (blue paint on coils) and I have not heard of anybody having problems with them. I've had no further problems with mine.

The M&P has conventional rifling in the barrel and shoots SWC just fine. I shoot 200 grain lead SWC through mine on a regular basis and never had an issue.

The Glock on the other hand has polygonal type rifling which is not recommended with lead bullets. I had a 2nd generation Glock 21 years ago. Felt like I was holding a 2x4 and I did have some feeding problems with the SWC.

My only complaint about the M&P .45 is the **** triggers. I put the Apex duty kit in my present M&P and it made a whole new gun out of it. That said, even with the crummy trigger I would take the M&P .45 over a Glock 21 every day.
 
I've had an M&P 45 for several years now, the one with the full size grip and 4" barrel. 100% reliable with every type of ammo I've tried to include my 200 grain SWC (Laser Cast) loads with 5 grains of 231. I had the Performance Center put in a Pro trigger and it really improved it. I then had Bowie install a Trijicon RMR RM02 and texture the grip. I love this gun!!!!

Keith
 
cb4017 said:
My only complaint about the M&P .45 is the **** triggers. I put the Apex duty kit in my present M&P and it made a whole new gun out of it. That said, even with the crummy trigger I would take the M&P .45 over a Glock 21 every day.
Click to expand...

Ah, that reminds me of the other question I forgot to ask: has the trigger been improved by Smith in newer M&Ps?
 
I have a full-size M&P 45 and a compact. No problems at all with either one. I've shot them lightly over the past several years with factory ammo and handloads -- HP, FMJ, RNL, and SWC.

Although I have large hands, I like the small backstrap best for the .45, while I like the medium size on my M&P 9s. The M&P 45 feels much better in my hand than any Glock, though I realize that's a subjective assessment.

Cheers,
Whisper
 
I've shot just about everything you can shoot through a 45 with my 45fs and have yet to have a single hiccup. I've done absolutely no mods to mine at all other than grip mods and such. It's my daily carry and I shoot it as often as I can. I do plan on getting a 9c very soon though.
 
I have the full sized M&P .45 and love it. The department I retired from issues Glocks and I have no complaints about them either, but I like my M&P better. I am a firearms instructor and have out plenty of rounds through it with no problems. I did send it back to S&W for a trigger job that cost $125. It's now smoother and lighter that my Glocks and since it was done by the factory it's still warrantied and there would be no issues should I ever have to "use it". I also put TFO sights on it. One big ragged hole on the target is common. As a retires cop I would not hesitate to carry it should I be headed for trouble. As far as the Glock I hate the 21's grip, even the 21sf.
 
I have over 2K rounds through my .45 M&P. I had a feeding issue early on, but S&W sent me a new extractor and the problem went away.

Since then I have used cast SWC, cast and plated RNFP and plated RN all in 200 and 230 grain weights with no issues.

I replaced my trigger with the Apex FSS. As far as I know, there isn't a comparable trigger for the Glock.
 
I have a FS and a MS. Both are tack drivers.

As for the magazine issues, I had two mags that came with bad springs in them, and it cost me a trophy at the first match where I used them. After that, I replaced springs in all of my mags and haven't had any similar issues. The only issue I have now is sometimes the mags only will accept 9 rounds instead of 10. Usually stripping the rounds out and reloading them fixes the issue.
 
I have around 2K rounds through my FS45. An occasional failure to feed, but since I've been trying various combinations of powders and bullets, I chalk it up to that, since I can't tie it to any one magazine. I'm now settling into several loads which feed without fail. I shoot JHP and plated RN, mostly 185gn and to a lesser degree 230gn.

The white dot fell out of the front sight. S&W wanted me to send it in, however, I decided to use some Glow-On paint, and haven't taken it to the range yet. Should be fine, from what I can see.

Also installed the Apex FSS/poly trigger, which transformed it.
 
I have a little over 8k rounds thru my FS which I bought new in March 2009. It came with the black colored striker. In addition to the round count, it has had at least an equal number of dry fire trigger presses. This pistol has never malfunctioned with 230grain ball or HP . I had some feeding problems with 185 grain ball, but that was at 6k rounds and trying a drill requiring one-round mags loading from slide lock. A trip back to S&W for spring replacement cured that. You should change the recoil spring every 5K rounds on just about any semi auto pistol. I've had problems with mag springs kinking, and don't think that problem has quite been fixed. At 800 rounds, a rolled pin started working out. I sent it back and it got fixed and hasn't been a problem. In defense if S&W, I had dropped it on concrete - may or may not have had anything to do with it. At 7500, the aforementioned black striker broke. Another warranty repair.

I've had two Glock 21s over the years, and in all fairness never put miore than 2-3K rounds thru either. The M&P, by contrast has been shot a lot. I like the feel of this gun, and it is decently accurate. It wears a set of Heinie Ledge tritium sights. The trigger is stock, was never that bad to begin with, but has smoothes out.

I have no complaints about the M&P.
 
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My 45c is about 3 months old. Trigger was the worst of any of my M&P's and I couldn't live with it.

A few minutes with a stone on the trigger bar and removing a burr in the striker blocker hole made the trigger fabulous.

.
 
I've had my full size for several years and also have experienced 100% reliability, with many different types of factory and hand loads.
 
Hard choice to make. I have an M&P 45 but do not shoot it often. I also have a 45acp Glock 21 Gen 4. Mine came with a great trigger and is one of the softest shooting 45s I have ever shot. Considering the Glock carries more ammo in the mag and is a great gun, as much as I like my MPs, I would go with the Glock.
But it is a matter of individual preference.
 
Hard choice to make. I have an M&P 45 but do not shoot it often. I also have a 45acp Glock 21 Gen 4. Mine came with a great trigger and is one of the softest shooting 45s I have ever shot. Considering the Glock carries more ammo in the mag and is a great gun, as much as I like my MPs, I would go with the Glock.
But it is a matter of individual preference.
 
Glock 21SF I prefer the Glock trigger over the MP and parts for the Glock are everywhere!
 
Had a Glock 21 not the FS frame but it was a hand full, now have the M&P .45 FS with the small back strap and it fits me great, I shoot lead RN and different HPs with not a problem with the mags or FTF.
 
I think the mag spring problem has long been solved, but M&P45 vs. G21 is a tough one even for a self proclaimed M&P fanboy. 13+1 is hard to argue with, gen4 grip texture is sweet no need to stipple like I've done to my M&Ps. Rumor is the Glock 41 has a slide with the same width as the 30s and will be a longslide, not a bad nightstand gun if that is what it really is.
 
Glock 21 gen 4, any reported problems? - Glock Talk
Found this thread on anther forum. It may shed some light. I once read an article by a SWAT police officer, who fired the M&P 45 for 5,000 rounds without cleaning it and without any problems. He then dropped off the top of a van several times without damaging its functioning.
Still a tough choice though.
 
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