.40 M&P Compact or .45 4" "compact"

[MikeM_Indy]

I'm trying to choose a S&W for concealment. Likely IWB.

I have a S&W .45 ACP Full 4.5".
I like the idea of the .45 ACP 4" as it shares the rounds and mags. But it is not that small.

I like the .40 Compact (or .357 SIG), but it has a shorter handle. Basically, my pinky is almost completely off the bottom of the grip.

Any thoughts?

 

[MikeM_Indy]

I'm trying to choose a S&W for concealment. Likely IWB.

I have a S&W .45 ACP Full 4.5".
I like the idea of the .45 ACP 4" as it shares the rounds and mags. But it is not that small.

I like the .40 Compact (or .357 SIG), but it has a shorter handle. Basically, my pinky is almost completely off the bottom of the grip.

Any thoughts?

 

[8th SPS USAF]

Mike,
I owned a 40c and sold it after I got the
45c. I have the 45 FS. You now can make a
service model when you switch parts. I like
the 45c very much. Shoots factory and home-
made great. IMO you can't go wrong. Good
luck

 

[MikeM_Indy]

Thanks for the input. I've not come across a .40c that I can test fire. Local range does not have one. I hope to locate one to help in the decision.
Can you elaborate on how it fired compared to the .45 and if the size of the handle was an issue?
Also, do you conceal the 45c or open carry it?

 

[nucone]

Mike,
This is my first post here. I purchased the M&P 40c about a month ago. It came with 2 magazines of which one had a finger rest. When using the mag with the finger rest, the pinky is on the grip (at least for my hands) and it is comfortable. The good news is that a quick call to S&W got a new finger rest to my doorstep in 3 days at no charge.

I shot a friends Colt Agent 45 (3" barrel I believe) and it had about the same recoil as the 40. It was comfortable to hold but I still prefer the grips on the M&P.
Steve

 

[Colt357]

I find the .45 compact actually fits my hands better than the .40 or 9mm compacts.

I guess that I have medium size hands. Certainly not large.

Dennis.

 

[walkin' trails]

My experience thus far has only been with the full sized M&Ps. I first fired a 40 with the large grip insert and was impressed by the way it handled. I took a chance and purchased a 45 last week, and didn't notice any difference in handling chararistics that I can recall. The 45 with the small isert is very controllable and accurate. The 40 I first fired impressed me because my follow-up shots were faster than with the Glocks I had been carrying, shooting the heck out of, and preaching about for the last 20-some years. From what I've been reading from other posters on this and other sites, the 45c is every bit as comfortable to shoot as the full size.

 

[MikeM_Indy]

Thanks for the input.
I went ahead and got myself a S&W 45 ACP M&P full size. I'm now looking for the .45 ACP M&P Compact 8+1 version. It is a bit smaller than the mid size one I had seen. It should compliment my new full size very well.
Found the gun with the thumb safety, but think I want it without. I do not think the Crimson Trace laser would fit with the safety.

 

[HUGHP]

For those who has shot both. Which of these two compacts has the most kick? The bride likes to shot my guns too.

 

[walkin' trails]

To HUGHP, I have not fired the compact M&Ps in either caliber, but have fired the full sized guns in 40 and 45. Although it has been a number of months between firing each, I cannot say that there was any measurable recoil difference from one over the other. On the other hand, firing a Model 500 a while back was a memorable experience. Anyway, I first fired an M&P 40 full size, which led to my recent acquisition of an M&P 45 (I'm still in the process of learning the ins & outs of that gun). I have a lot of experience shooting Glock 9s, 40s and 45s of all sizes, and cannot say that one has any worse manners than the other. Infact, I would say that a 45 seems be the most "graceful" for lack of a better word. With the M&Ps, ultimately, your girl would have to be the judge.

In regards to the pinky falling below the grip, from my experience with baby Glocks, I have found that curling the pinky under the magazine base plate seemed to help some shooters who had a tendency to "milk" the grip. On an LE qualification course, I've seen a lot of shooters actually score better with the smaller gun. Of course that could be for a number of other reasons.

 

[flowgoode]

Originally posted by nucone:
Mike,
This is my first post here. I purchased the M&P 40c about a month ago. It came with 2 magazines of which one had a finger rest. When using the mag with the finger rest, the pinky is on the grip (at least for my hands) and it is comfortable. The good news is that a quick call to S&W got a new finger rest to my doorstep in 3 days at no charge.

I shot a friends Colt Agent 45 (3" barrel I believe) and it had about the same recoil as the 40. It was comfortable to hold but I still prefer the grips on the M&P.
Steve

I also prefer the mag with the pinky rest. As my pinky can not fit on the grip itself. Can you msg me or post on here what you did to get another pinky rest pleeeeease?

 

[nucone]

Originally posted by flowgoode:
...
I also prefer the mag with the pinky rest. As my pinky can not fit on the grip itself. Can you msg me or post on here what you did to get another pinky rest pleeeeease?

Dustin,
I called S&W at 1-800-331-0852 x2905. I don't recall the fellows name but he hooked me right up.
Steve

 

[flowgoode]

Originally posted by nucone:

Originally posted by flowgoode:
...
I also prefer the mag with the pinky rest. As my pinky can not fit on the grip itself. Can you msg me or post on here what you did to get another pinky rest pleeeeease?

Dustin,
I called S&W at 1-800-331-0852 x2905. I don't recall the fellows name but he hooked me right up.
Steve

Thanks for the number! Did you just tell him that the magazine without the pinkey rest is useless and needed another one with pinkey rest? lol.

I'm just trying to figure out how you managed to get a $40 magazine for free

 

[nucone]

Originally posted by flowgoode:

Originally posted by nucone:

Originally posted by flowgoode:
...
I also prefer the mag with the pinky rest. As my pinky can not fit on the grip itself. Can you msg me or post on here what you did to get another pinky rest pleeeeease?

Dustin,
I called S&W at 1-800-331-0852 x2905. I don't recall the fellows name but he hooked me right up.
Steve

Thanks for the number! Did you just tell him that the magazine without the pinkey rest is useless and needed another one with pinkey rest? lol.

I'm just trying to figure out how you managed to get a $40 magazine for free

They did not send a magazine, just the baseplate for the magazine.
Steve

 

[flowgoode]

Originally posted by nucone:

They did not send a magazine, just the baseplate for the magazine.
Steve

Ooohhh, gotcha. Well that would be what I needed anyway. I'll have to give them a call tomorrow and see if they can help me out. Thanks again!

 

[flowgoode]

Thanks alot Steve, I called them today and they didn't even ask me for a serial number or anything. They even asked how many I wanted haha. I told them I only needed one. No charge or anything. S&W customer service is awesome!

Thanks again!

And sorry for the thread hi-jack! But to add to it. I really like the way my 40c feels with the pinky extension mag in. with out it its a bit "awkward" but still managable. I just feel SO MUCH BETTER with the pinky mag in. I really like the M&P's. I think I may pick up a full size .45 next

 

[HUGHP]

Still can't decide which is better for me but I'm buying one Saturday if I can find one or the other at the gun show here in Atlanta. I do know a lot of local LOE are carrying .40s. Wonder why not the .45s?

 

[MikeM_Indy]

For what it is worth, I have the M&P in the 45 Full size and the compact. I have put about 300-400 rounds through both in the last month.

I can shoot equally well with either one inside 30'. At 75+ I'm a bit better with the Full. With the Crimson Trace on the Full turned on I am much more accurate in most scenarios. I wish they had the grip laser for the compact.

The compact is a nice size for concealed carry.
I think the added size of the mag on the Mid size would make it less concealable.