1st Handgun: Which M&P 9mm variation to get? Pro, Core, Shield, Compact?

[Dlister70]

There are so many different variations of this line that I'm having trouble settling on one.

You can get full size in a standard, pro, or core with a 4.25 or a 5 inch barrel and with or without various safeties.

Or go smaller and get a compact or a shield.

I am buying this primarily to shoot holes in paper at the range, or perhaps get into IDPA shooting which looks like a lot of fun. It may also serve as a nightstand home defense weapon, but I also have a 12 gauge to use for that. There is a very small chance that I may want to get my conceal carry license, but I consider the possibility to be pretty remote.

Given this data, I think I want a full size 5 inch barrel for a better sight picture but I'm not sure. Would you buy a shield or compact if you weren't planning to carry it? Am I unfairly crossing them off the list?

Even if the 5 inch full size is the choice, I don't know which way to go between the core or regular pro.

I've got a couple weeks to go before tax return money comes in, so I'm trying to settle in on a model so I can start looking for deals on it.

Any input on any of these models would be appreciated.

 

[MSG Glenn]

If you're just going to use it for shooting at the range then a full size M&P is fine. It's up to you whether you want to spend the extra money for a CORE or Pro. Many, myself included have commented that there isn't much of a difference between shooting the full size & the compact. I have both in .40 cal. I carry concealed & carry both but the compact has a slight edge on concealment. The Shield isn't a whole lot smaller than the compact but it has less rounds in it. I also carry & shoot the compact with the full size magazine in it, something you can't do with a Shield.

 

[Brucenterry]

If you're just going to the range, get the regular M&P unless you have extra money for the higher end models. You'll do just fine with the standard 4 1/4" barrel and have money leftover for ammo. If you think you might want to carry, I'd consider the compact model, as mentioned, you can insert the full size mags for the range, and a flush fit mag for carry. With a little practice, you'll shot the compact as well as the FS.

Once you get more comfortable w/ your gun, you'll probably consider carrying, so the compact will work just fine. The benefit of the Shield is lighter weight and a slimmer profile.

I have all three in 9mm, but carry the Shield because of the reduced weight/width.

Good luck in your search, you won't go wrong w/ either gun.

 

[bobelk99]

Go 5".

If you can do so, rent/shot Pro and Core. Pro trigger is usually a little better than standard. Core is a personal choice.

I am a lot like you. I have fired many thousands of rounds over time. I personally would choose Pro in your situation. I have a Pro of some size in bedroom, office and vehicle.

 

[MP40cMN]

Just remember, once you have one M&P, more will follow. LOL

 

[Bkreutz]

If you think there is even the slightest possibility that you will want to put an optic on it, get the Core, it's not that much more than the standard Pro but mounting a reflex sight is sooooo much easier, and it works better than the mounts that attach via the rear sight dovetail. It's the same as having the slide milled by a gunsmith (which is what people did before S&W did it at the factory) and gunsmith machine work gets expensive very fast.

 

[Hokie Jeeper]

I bought my first handgun last March, a few days after I turned 21. Because that was at the peak of the gun scare, my choices were limited. Especially because I am in SW Virginia.

I really wanted a 9mm shield. But they were no where to been seen. They didn't really come back until the end of the summer. So I went ahead and found a full size standard 9mm with the 4.25 inch barrel. And I couldn't be happier. The 17 rounds are awesome for the range. And carrying it really isn't that bad for me, concealing it without a good IWB is hard, but you don't plan on carrying that much so that's ok.

I think if I could buy again in today's environment I would probably still go for the FS 9 after knowing what I know now. Its just an overall good gun to shoot for a longer period of time at the range and its small enough to wear all day as well.

 

[Rastoff]

If there is very little chance you'll carry the gun, then the Shield would be a poor choice and the compact would be only marginal. Why? Because the larger models give you a larger grip and longer sight radius. Thus, they will be easier to handle and ultimately more accurate.

The 5" Pro C.O.R.E. would be my choice if I had the money. The sights are a little tall, but, like Bkreutz said, if there's any chance you want an optic, and you might, the C.O.R.E. is much easier to mount one on.

 

[Wee Hooker]

Guns are like golf clubs, it's unreasonable to thing one can do it all. It's also unreasonable to think that you will only own one for long if you enjoy the sport.

That said, given your dialog, the full sized M&P , or the 5" ( Pro , CORE or 9l) will come the closest to doing 90% of what you want. You are right to shelve the shield and to a lesser extent, the 9C. I'd bet you go through a half dozen guns before you want optics but I wouldn't rule out the CORE either.

Couple of thoughts between the the FS, Pro, Core and 9L.

Trigger: The pro comes with a factory trigger job that is a pretty good improvement over out of the box on the other two. However, It's an easy $40 drop in fix of the other versions to remedy that.

Sights: The pro comes with fiber optic front sights fro competition. Nice for the range (assuming you like FO) but a little fragile and they don't stand out that well in low light (.ie, not the best choice for home defense.) The other three have "do all" sights. Of course, sights can be changed for cheap $ too. My favorites are TruGlo TFO's which glow day or night.

Sight radius: Yes the longer barrels do give you a slight sight radius advantage but in my experience ( in owning all length M&Ps), it's not much
and hard to measure. ( I do admit, I like the look and balance of the longer barrel though.)

Bottom line: It's hard to go too wrong with any of these and they are all fairly easy to upgrade/personalize if you decide you want too.

If it were me, I'd hunt up a used one and enjoy the sight/trigger/ extra Mag/holster upgrades that somebody else already footed.

 

[RonS]

Having experienced adding a red dot sight to a quality handgun I have to advocate the CORE. Shoot it till you are good with the iron sights then add a red dot if you want. I would sure want the option myself now that I have one. I see red dots as becoming more capable, more durable and more affordable going forward.

 

[alphabrace]

Learn to shoot a full size before compact. Easier and more fun.

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

 

[Llando88]

There are so many different variations of this line that I'm having trouble settling on one.

You can get full size in a standard, pro, or core with a 4.25 or a 5 inch barrel and with or without various safeties.

Or go smaller and get a compact or a shield.

I am buying this primarily to shoot holes in paper at the range, or perhaps get into IDPA shooting which looks like a lot of fun. It may also serve as a nightstand home defense weapon, but I also have a 12 gauge to use for that. There is a very small chance that I may want to get my conceal carry license, but I consider the possibility to be pretty remote.

Given this data, I think I want a full size 5 inch barrel for a better sight picture but I'm not sure. Would you buy a shield or compact if you weren't planning to carry it? Am I unfairly crossing them off the list?

Even if the 5 inch full size is the choice, I don't know which way to go between the core or regular pro.

I've got a couple weeks to go before tax return money comes in, so I'm trying to settle in on a model so I can start looking for deals on it.

Any input on any of these models would be appreciated.

Welcome.

Was in your shoes this time last year, with exactly the same criteria.

I suggest NOT buying anything until you go to a range and rent/shoot a variety of pistols in a variety of calibers. Try 0.45, 9mm, revolvers, autos, and different makes and models. Glock, S&W, HK, Sig, etc. etc.

For me, I wanted a 'does it all pretty well" firearm.

Based on price, reliability, accuracy, ease of maintenance, effectivity, capacity, and above all ergonomics, I ended up with a FS M&P in 9 mm, stock no. 209301, fitted with an Apex poly trigger and DCAEK, and set of Trijicon HD sights.

Good luck.

 

[Blue9]

Based on your intended uses I would absolutely choose the Core 5 inch in your caliber of choice (assuming you want a 9mm or 40)

The regulate pro is great as are the other pistols, but why not have the option to mount an optic later on if you decided to go that route. If you decide not to, you could always install some nice high speed, low drag iron sights for idpa. Changing sights is a lot less work than milling the slide for a red dot.

Just my 2 cents

 

[Dlister70]

Thank you everyone for your input!

Watching videos of people shooting with the optics does look really cool, but when I think about it, I've always shot iron sights and probably will stick with irons until my eyes are too bad to do it.

I learned to squirrel hunt with irons on my Marlin 795 while my cousin always had a scoped .22 and then when we started deer hunting, I used irons on a rifled barrel Mossberg 500 while he used a scope on a Remington 870. Whenever I used his guns, it felt weird and I wanted to go back to mine. It seemed more natural. I'm sure I could get used to anything, but the more I think about it, even though it looks cool, I probably wouldn't get optics.

I think I'm going to go for a 9mm Pro with a 5 inch barrel. Now to find the best price and hope it stays in stock until the tax return gets deposited.

 

[Dlister70]

Guns are like golf clubs, it's unreasonable to thing one can do it all. it's also unreasonable to think that you will only one for long if you enjoy the sport.

You make a good point!

Truth be told, I'm planning on buying the M&P .22 as well, but since it doesn't come in multiple variations, there wasn't much debate on that one. It just looks like a great fun handgun to shoot, and if ammo ever stays on the shelf again, I'll be able to shoot a lot more frequently at 5 cents a shot instead of 25 cents a shot for 9mm.

Speaking of which, how much was 9mm ammo before the price hikes?

I remember getting .22lr ten years ago, so I know that the 15 cents per round stuff is ridiculous (I was able to get a couple wwb 333 for 4.6 cents/round recently) but I've never shot 9mm before so I don't know if the 23-25 cents per round stuff on ammoseek or gunbot (mostly reloads) are reasonable normal prices or shortage prices.

 

[shawn mccarver]

For what you want, the closest to doing everything you want to do is the full size M&P in 9mm.

Big enough to shoot well (Shield and Compact too small for what you want), not too big so as to prevent concealed carry (FBI issues carry pistols this big - Glock 22 or 23), ammo less costly, recoil not terrible, stopping power good with correct ammo, etc.

 

[Blue9]

Thank you everyone for your input!

Watching videos of people shooting with the optics does look really cool, but when I think about it, I've always shot iron sights and probably will stick with irons until my eyes are too bad to do it.

I learned to squirrel hunt with irons on my Marlin 795 while my cousin always had a scoped .22 and then when we started deer hunting, I used irons on a rifled barrel Mossberg 500 while he used a scope on a Remington 870. Whenever I used his guns, it felt weird and I wanted to go back to mine. It seemed more natural. I'm sure I could get used to anything, but the more I think about it, even though it looks cool, I probably wouldn't get optics.

I think I'm going to go for a 9mm Pro with a 5 inch barrel. Now to find the best price and hope it stays in stock until the tax return gets deposited.

I think you've made a really good choice given your preference and experience. The pro 5inch comes with really nice iron sights, and is a real shooter. I recommend the 1000 round trigger job before thinking about making any other changes. Especially since you mentioned the fact that the M&P pro may be your "do-it-all" pistol. If that is the case, you'll probably be better off keeping the internals and trigger bone stock. Great gun, great choice.

 

[NavalOps]

The CORE or Pro series would be my recommendation if you plan on doing competitive shooting. The compact and shield are designed more for concealed carry. The CORE and pro series handguns come with additional add-ons, such as a different trigger and sights , designed specifically for competitive shooting.

If you just want to shoot at the range; the full size M&P would be more than adequate, and cheaper.

 

[bob98366]

I think I'm going to go for a 9mm Pro with a 5 inch barrel. Now to find the best price and hope it stays in stock until the tax return gets deposited.

Great choice. I love my completely stock Pro 5" in 40. It is a tack driver. Also, shop around the internet. Can save a bunch of $$$ over a local gun shop.