40c take down lever & Hollow Point inquiry

[SpartanZeroOne]

I am thoroughly enjoying my new M&P 40c, but I have two questions/issues for any other M&P 40fs or 40c owners out there:

1) When I take the gun down, I usually push the sear deactivator down so that I do not have to pull the trigger and the slide pops off normally. Upon reassembly, when I line the slide back up and slide it back onto the frame, about 70% of the time the take down lever either snaps back into place automatically or starts to partially rotate back and I have to hold it forward with my finger as I put the slide back on. I do not have to do this with my 3 year old M&P 9 FS. I did some research online and found that a few other people had an issue a couple years ago where their take down lever would not stay down at all, even during initial disassembly. Mine only pops back up during reassembly, but it occurs probably 70-75% of the time. ANY THOUGHTS/SUGGESTIONS? Has anyone else dealt with this issue? Is it a big deal or something to be ignored?

2) Since my 40c will be my bedside home defense gun as well as my frequent ccw, I am looking for a good, reliable hollow point round. I bought a box of Critical Defense right after picking the gun up and just 2 days ago I spotted 3 boxes of Sig' V-crown on clearance at my local Cabela's so I picked them up too. Upon getting home, I did some research and found a lot of complaints about the V-crowns online. Most folks who posted online seemed to like Critical Defense - in fact when I called S&W customer service to inquire on their "official" recommendation for an HP round for my 40c, they suggested Hornady's critical defense.

What is YOUR "go to" hollow point round for the M&P 40/40c? Something that you've fired through it quite a bit without any issues. I know, based on my research, that two very reliable performers (in terms of expansion) in any caliber are Speer Gold Dot and Federal HST. I've also seen a lot of good things about Winchester's Ranger ammo, as well as Hornady's Critical Defense/Duty. My experience with my 2 M&P 9mm's is that they have reliably fired ANY round I have put in them... and I know that tends to be the M&P line's reputation in general. But as a new 40c owner, I'm skeptical that I will have the same luck as it seems like (based on what I've read online) .40S&W can be a more finnecky round than 9mm or .45.

Thanks for your thoughts/feedback! I am looking forward to reading your comments.

 

[mccollom405]

Wife's Shield and my Compact, both 40 run Federal Guard Dog while in the home. Not hollow point buy expand as one. Shoot spot on in both guns.

 

[Johnmuratore]

The takedown lever snaps back on my 40c also. I never thought much about it. I can hold it down if I keep my thumb on it when I move the slide back to the slide stop.
I use the Critical Defense rounds and never had a problem with them or any other target or defense round.

 

[ATF]

Hope you know that you can't carry JHP's in NY as a civilian but you can use them for home defense.

 

[MSG Glenn]

I use Speer Gold Dots in my M&P40 & 40C. I also have some Hornady Critical Defense & Critical Duty. They all seem to work just fine in both pistols.

I have a box of Federal HSTs but I haven't shot any yet.

LE agencies in this area shoot Gold Dots for the most part.

I can't help you with the lever. Mine work fine in both of my guns & since I come from using Glocks many times I use the Glock method of taking the slide off. Slowly but surely I'm weaning myself of the habit, lol.

 

[timn8er]

I haven't had any problems with the take down on my 40C either. I also haven't found any ammo that my 40c is "finnecky" about either. I load it with 180gr Federal JHP's, & with a full size magazine & an XGrip Extension it does night stand duty these days, since I carry a Shield 40, also with the same ammo.

 

[cheekychung]

i trust Federal HST(Not the hydrashok or other ones), Speer Gold Dot and Hornady Critical Defense or Duty. HST when it's available, Gold Dots if HSTs aren't, and Hornady if I'm on a super tight budget.

My 45 Compact's take down lever always snaps back.

 

[SWin]

Haven't had any problems with take down. Hornady critical defense 165 for carry/home. Couple hundred rounds of Winchester 165 fmj. Just ran 50 handloads of 155 xtp. No problem at all. Love my little 40 c

 

[Bkreutz]

On my 9c, 4.25", and 5" Core pistols, the takedown lever snaps into the "locked" position when I put the slide on. My newer 5" pistol does not, I wish it did. I've looked and can't see any differences in parts. Curious. Maybe it's the way I hold my tongue?

 

[SpartanZeroOne]

Hope you know that you can't carry JHP's in NY as a civilian but you can use them for home defense.

REALLY?! Can anyone else from New York State verify this or has anyone heard of this? (not NYC because it's a whole different ball game w/ all their wacky laws).

I don't mean to be rude or discredit your information ATF, but I'm in shock... I have never heard that before!!! So... you can use JHP's in home defense or at the range but not actually conceal carry them? Can you ccw a round like Federal Guard Dog (expanding full metal jacket)??

I have spoken with local police about home and personal protection and even have taken a couple of pistol courses at several of our local gun shops where I usually buy my HP ammo and I never heard that mentioned before!

What are residents of New York supposed to CCW if not JHP's? Clearly FMJ's are allowed... what about semi-jacketed hollow points (like for a .38 special?) I'm in shock at this news...

If anyone has any further information, that would be much appreciated! THANKS FOLKS...

 

[Garintheair]

Hope you know that you can't carry JHP's in NY as a civilian but you can use them for home defense.

Is that the entire state of NY?

 

[SpartanZeroOne]

On my 9c, 4.25", and 5" Core pistols, the takedown lever snaps into the "locked" position when I put the slide on. My newer 5" pistol does not, I wish it did. I've looked and can't see any differences in parts. Curious. Maybe it's the way I hold my tongue?

I can't seem to figure it out! I've tried holding it different ways... vertical... angled, etc. Doesn't seem to matter. If I hold my finger in front of it, the lever doesn't snap back into place. But I just feel like I shouldn't have to do that since my M&P FS9 and Shield 9 don't do that. I don't even know if it's a big deal. It just struck me as odd since I've only had the gun for a month or so.

 

[SpartanZeroOne]

Is that the entire state of NY?

That's what I'd like to know! (see my post above) How come I've never heard of this from anyone before? If this is, in fact, the law, why aren't people informing New Yorkers? I've been cc-ing JHP's for several years now.

 

[SpartanZeroOne]

Come to think of it, I would actually be more concerned carrying an FMJ round in my 40c due to possible over-penetration compared to a JHP round if, God forbid, I actually had to draw my weapon in a public place to defend my life or someone else's.

 

[Arik]

My go to is Speer Gold dot

 

[ATF]

That's what I'd like to know! (see my post above) How come I've never heard of this from anyone before? If this is, in fact, the law, why aren't people informing New Yorkers? I've been cc-ing JHP's for several years now.

My mistake someone had told me NY and NJ but I have double checked and JHP's are restricted to home defense and range use in NJ. NY is good

 

[SpartanZeroOne]

OK... I feel a little better. Thanks for double checking. Still a foolish law though for the folks in NJ! Would they prefer to have a FMJ round over-penetrate and hurt an innocent person?

 

[ATF]

OK... I feel a little better. Thanks for double checking. Still a foolish law though for the folks in NJ! Would they prefer to have a FMJ round over-penetrate and hurt an innocent person?

You better ask them

 

[Garintheair]

My mistake someone had told me NY and NJ but I have double checked and JHP's are restricted to home defense and range use in NJ. NY is good

That is correct; as goofy as NY is becoming there is nothing in the PL about hollow point ammo. There is the "standard" armor piercing verbiage, and different possession laws for NY City of course.

A judge in the western district of NY struck down the 7 round maximum for loading magazines due to the specific wording of the even more goofy "SAFE" act. Technically, this ruling only applies to the western district however the NY State Police has issues an internal memo to not enforce that part of the law elsewhere. Many of the Sheriffs around the state have also announced initially that they would not enforce the "SAFE" act when it was passed.

I know that this is a thread hijack but proper information should be disseminated.

Thank you for the correction.

 

[SpartanZeroOne]

That is correct; as goofy as NY is becoming there is nothing in the PL about hollow point ammo. There is the "standard" armor piercing verbiage, and different possession laws for NY City of course.

A judge in the western district of NY struck down the 7 round maximum for loading magazines due to the specific wording of the even more goofy "SAFE" act. Technically, this ruling only applies to the western district however the NY State Police has issues an internal memo to not enforce that part of the law elsewhere. Many of the Sheriffs around the state have also announced initially that they would not enforce the "SAFE" act when it was passed.

I know that this is a thread hijack but proper information should be disseminated.

Thank you for the correction.

Thank you for posting this! You are correct in so far as I have heard the same things. I thought that the "only 7 rounds in your magazine is arbitrary" ruling from December of 2013 extended through all of NYS initially but then I began hearing that it was only for western NY... basically west of Syracuse. In that region apparently now you can carry 10 rounds in your magazine. I have also heard from quite a few sources that Sheriffs and other law enforcement in the western part of the state are not actively enforcing the Safe Act as they feel it is unconstitutional, and does not make anyone "safer"... but, again, this could just be all hear-say. I don't have any way to really verify it. By the way, SAFE actually stands for "secure ammunition and firearms enforcement" but it's kind of cute that it's acronym makes the word safe... makes everyone feel all warm and fuzzy!