Anyone Heard about an update to the M&P?

[spearcrow]

I heard some interesting news the other day from my brother-in-law, who is a LEO in the adjoining city to mine, just wondering if anyone else has heard anything...

He said that his department was contacted by Smith and Wesson, asking if they would have any interest in being one of their test locations for a new duty weapon. They currently use the M&P 40.

He said he didn't hear any information on what this gun is/was. Said he wasn't sure if it was an M&P with some updated parts or an entire new gun, but that their armorer indicated to them that it sounded more like a whole new platform.

I asked him how well the M&P was received at his department, and he said that although they have had a few complaints and some bad parts (mostly early on in the change), most really liked the m&p 40, and had chosen to purchase a compact model as well to use as a bug/off duty weapon. They changed to the M&P 40 almost 3 years ago from the S&W 99 .40 cal.

I was just wondering if maybe someone else on here had heard any whispers coming from smith and wesson...

 

[Capt_Destro]

Am I wrong to hope for a 10mm M&P?

 

[MSG Glenn]

Yeah, the 10MM would fit in very nicely although I heard that they no longer make the .357sig. I know of several local small town PDs that use that caliber & was hoping to get a .357sig barrel for both my M&P 40 & when I get my 40C that, too.

I'd be interested to see what sort of platform they come up with if that's going to be the new type.

 

[RPeacock1128]

Don't know if this means anything... My department was looking to get new guns since our Sigs were 10-12 years old. The range staff conducted research and reviewed just about every model available. They were looking to actually get a slightly smaller frame / barrel and looked to go no larger than 3.9 - 4 inches. The M&P is 4.25 inches - not a huge difference but those were the specs my department looked at. In the end there was a rumor that S&W was going to make a smaller M&P (larger than the compact but smaller than the full size). My department was also looking at going back to 9mm rather than .40 due to capacity (and also price of ammo). I guess when you have 3000 officers everything adds up. In the end my department went with the FNS 9mm. Delivery is expected soon and transition to the new gun is suppose to start by the end of the year.

RP

 

[WilsonFlyer]

Don't know if this means anything... My department was looking to get new guns since our Sigs were 10-12 years old. The range staff conducted research and reviewed just about every model available. They were looking to actually get a slightly smaller frame / barrel and looked to go no larger than 3.9 - 4 inches. The M&P is 4.25 inches - not a huge difference but those were the specs my department looked at. In the end there was a rumor that S&W was going to make a smaller M&P (larger than the compact but smaller than the full size). My department was also looking at going back to 9mm rather than .40 due to capacity (and also price of ammo). I guess when you have 3000 officers everything adds up. In the end my department went with the FNS 9mm. Delivery is expected soon and transition to the new gun is suppose to start by the end of the year.

RP

Interesting. I've read a lot of scuttlebutt lately that the .40 is on the way out with law enforcement and that many are going back to 9's. Just kinda emphasizes the possible truth to the rumors.

 

[Enzo]

I'd love to see the M&P in a 10mm but S&W been there and done that. Besides when is the last time you've found 10mm since December?
The M&P has been hugely successful for S&W and I don't see them doing anything that may hurt that line.
Unlike Glock that has standard, compact and subcompact caliber families, Ex. 17/19/26, 22/23/27, S&W with the M&P left themselves with no where in between since the compact is between a 19/26 and the full is between a 17/19. But I'm open to surprises!

 

[shawn mccarver]

It seems that the pendulum always swings back and forth. In the late 1800s, we had a perfectly good 45 caliber. We then went to a 38 which proved unsatisfactory.

We then went back to a 45 in 1911 and law enforcement then used a 38 through most of the 20th century. 38 and 9 mm traditionally have just not gotten the job done.

Better ammo may be making the 9mm perform more like the .40 or .45, but not better.

All of the 9mm cartridges want to be like the .40 or .45, not vice versa.

Often, there are other issues driving agencies to change calibers. Budgetary issues and officers who are not strong enough to manage bigger calibers seem to be more relevant considerations these days than in the past.

One thing is for sure. Agency demand for medium-size calibers that perform more like large calibers is driving research and development of more effective cartridges. We all benefit from that.