9mm Core at 60K

[Bkreutz]

There have been recent discussions about how long an M&P will last, what parts wear out, and how reliable are they so I thought I'd post up my experiences.

I bought this 9mm Pro Core (5") June of 2013, I have shot over 60K rounds through it since then. I have other M&P's but they don't get shot much anymore. I shoot USPSA and Steel Challenge Open class with it.

I have replaced the striker assembly (getting light strikes at 40K), trigger return spring (broke at around 50K) and the spring pins for the trigger and sear blocks (the front pin was coming apart when I took it out to replace the trigger spring so I replaced both with new ones).

I've also replaced the barrel with a KKM (no reason, just curious, didn't notice any difference) and I put Apex FSS, polymer trigger, and extractor. I've also added a magwell from Speed Shooters and trimmed off the shroud around the mag release button. Other than those parts I have had no gun related problems. I had 2 failures with factory ammo (primers in backwards). I shoot practice 4-5 days a week and 1-3 matches a week. (only 1 in the wintertime, I refuse to stand out in the rain ) Shooting is my retirement activity. Just finished my weekly cleaning so I took some pictures.

 

[AVG]

Good post............... At going on 74 it's good to see that my CORE will last longer than me

 

[Osprey]

Excellent report!

...sprey

 

[marine6680]

What about the recoil spring assembly? Did you replace it on a schedule?

 

[Rastoff]

Plastic guns are garbage. There's no way it will stand up to regular competition use. You need to toss that thing and get a real gun like a RIA 1911.


Seriously, good report and I'm not surprised.

 

[Bkreutz]

What about the recoil spring assembly? Did you replace it on a schedule?

Original spring, I asked S&W how long it would last, they said they didn't know because they didn't test it to destruction. (I have a hard time believing that) They did say that the flat wound springs don't have a replacement schedule like the old round profile springs. I guess I'm the guinea pig I carry a spare in my range bag.

 

[marine6680]

Original spring, I asked S&W how long it would last, they said they didn't know because they didn't test it to destruction. (I have a hard time believing that) They did say that the flat wound springs don't have a replacement schedule like the old round profile springs. I guess I'm the guinea pig I carry a spare in my range bag.

Interesting... thanks.


I know most recommend a schedule. Sig uses a twisted strand wound spring and say 5000 rounds.

Which is about the average for other's recommendations as well.


Makes me want flat wound in all my pistols if they last that long.

 

[AGoyette]

Bkreutz,

Why did you add the Apex Extractor? I bought some for my M&P's but I have not put them in yet. I bought them because the guns don't have a lot of umph when ejecting the brass on our 9mm's. How do you like them? I already have either the FSS kits in (the 2 Pro's and the CORE) and the DCAEK kit plus the polymer trigger in our 9c's.

 

[Bkreutz]

Bkreutz,

Why did you add the Apex Extractor? I bought some for my M&P's but I have not put them in yet. I bought them because the guns don't have a lot of umph when ejecting the brass on our 9mm's. How do you like them? I already have either the FSS kits in (the 2 Pro's and the CORE) and the DCAEK kit plus the polymer trigger in our 9c's.

Kinda like the KKM barrel, I was curious if there was any difference, I didn't notice any but maybe my original one wouldn't have lasted as long?? I changed it around 20K (or so, I don't keep an exact count, I quickly run out of fingers and toes ) I have the original one in my range bag as a spare.

 

[Nick B]

Springs are cheap. I would replace that recoil spring assembly if my gun had that many rounds on it.

 

[Bkreutz]

Springs are cheap. I would replace that recoil spring assembly if my gun had that many rounds on it.

Since I have a spare in my bag, I've obviously considered that. But after what Smith told me I wasn't as sure, now it's kind of a curiosity thing to see how long it will last. Since it's not any kind of personal protection pistol, the worst that could happen is that it would fail in the middle of a stage and my score would suck (but there are other things that cause my score to suck so that doesn't worry me much either ) And if it happens during practice (which is 80% of my shooting, it wouldn't make any difference).

 

[CatSnipah]

Holy cow. 60 k!

Good report, and good for you!!

 

[Pef]

Wow. Smith & Wesson may make you a poster boy in a year or two! Be sure to give us the 120k report!

 

[shawn mccarver]

You have either exceeded, or are about to exceed, the number of rounds fired through the pistol in the long term test done by Pistol.Training.com.

Keep coming with the reports. This is outstanding!

 

[Arik]

I bought this 9mm Pro Core (5") June of 2013, I have shot over 60K rounds through it since then. shoot practice 4-5 days a week and 1-3 matches a week.

Shooting is my retirement activity.

^ That's an understatement!

[emoji106]

 

[Aircrewman]

Always great to hear about some of our favorite guns that have this kind of longevity. Seems to validate the feelings/theory that proper use and good care will cause a gun to last and last. Thanks for posting this experience for us all to be inspired by.

 

[Bkreutz]

Always great to hear about some of our favorite guns that have this kind of longevity. Seems to validate the feelings/theory that proper use and good care will cause a gun to last and last. Thanks for posting this experience for us all to be inspired by.

The reliability factor gets reinforced every match I shoot. Every match there is at least one of the shooters in my squad who has a malfunction of some sort. I don't know if it's ammo or gun related. I've had a couple of failure to fire instances but racking a new round is all I've ever had to do. I feel kinda bad about the problems others have with their pistols, but I don't recommend that they get a M&P, I don't think it would be appreciated.

 

[Aircrewman]

Yeah, I get it. Sometimes some folk just don't want to open their minds and they get wrapped up in some other platform and won't just stop and listen. I am guilty of it but that was long ago. I went to the M&P platform because I listened and was curious enough to want to try something different. So far, so good.

Your post just helps me realize that I did well in my decision. Could the Glock or some platform perform equally well? Yes, maybe. But I am a Smith and Wesson fan. I tried the Sigma..... Oh my what an awful pistol! A least for me it was. But the M&P seems to be "the one." I am happy with my 9 FS. And I have a 357 on layaway. A FS and acquired a 40 bbl. for it as a second caliber. My hope is that both perform to the standards that S&W have set and you, have found.

 

[Bkreutz]

Well, guess I jinxed myself. , The slide stop button broke off this morning at the range. (and Smith is closed until next week). Not a big deal, I have spare M&P's that I can rob parts off of , I have a match tonight and a big one this weekend. Maybe I can get an updated one? (I really don't care, tactile or audible reset has no meaning to me) Gotta get busy, I have ammo to make and pistols to disassemble (and reassemble, at least one of them).

 

[Rastoff]

The slide stop button broke off this morning at the range.

Interesting. Do you have a pic?

One unique aspect of the M&P is if this breaks, the gun can still function fully. That is, unless it breaks at the actual slide stop projection.