Frame tool & mag spring questions for a M&P 40c

[SpartanZeroOne]

I was removing the frame tool assembly today to try the medium and large backstraps. I put the small one on there when I bought it 6 months ago and have not changed them once since then. While I was carefully reinserting it, the little plastic "bump" or "nipple" on the side broke off. I had 2 thoughts: 1) Call S&W and maybe they'll be nice enough to send me a new one or 2) Buy one online. I found some on Ebay as well as other sites but I noticed 2 different models...

S w Smith Wesson Fullsize M P 9 40 357 45 Black Grip Frame Tool | eBay

S w Smith Wesson M P45C Compact 45 Black Grip Frame Tool New 45c | eBay

This made me wonder if the frame tool is the same on the M&P 40 FS as on the M&P 40 compact, which is what I own. Does anyone know the answer to this?

Another question I have is, does anyone know if the replacement mag springs for the M&P 40 are the same as for the 40c? I searched online and the only S&W factory spring I found was this one, which seems like it's for the FS M&Ps:
http://www.brownells.com/magazines/...e-springs/m-p-magazine-springs-prod23196.aspx

Wolff Springs lists the "10 round compact magazine" as one that their springs fit, but it seems that on their website, the M&P mag springs are "one size fits all" - there does not seem to be an option to order a separate spring for the compact mags.

Is anyone aware of a good place to order replacement mag springs for the 40c except directly from S&W?

Any advice or experience that any other M&P owners could offer would be much appreciated! Thanks in advance...

 

[ggibson511960]

Sympathize

I sympathize with your dismay at having such a cheap part break. The S&W owner's manual instructs nitwit users to use this "tool" to push down the sear deactivation lever each time one wishes to field strip the pistol. Maybe this is S&W's way of finding the nincompoops in the owner community, or their snide revenge at having to put such a silly, politically correct, contraption on a pistol. I know, I know. Police departments demanded it to keep nitwits from killing themselves when "Glocking" their pistols on disassembly. We should let Darwin natural selection find the weak minded among us instead of protecting everybody from everything. The first time I twisted this fragile piece of junk to replace my grip panel, I vowed never again to use it when I got it back on without breaking it.

 

[Bkreutz]

The full size and compact use different "tools", don't know about the 45 but every thing else on the 45 is different so I suspect the tool would be too. There is only one mag spring from S&W, they use the same spring on the full size mag as well as the compact. I always thought this was stupid because it made the compact hard to load the last few rounds. I ended up cutting 2 loops off the springs in my compact mags.

picture below, compact is on the left

 

[SpartanZeroOne]

Thanks for the advice folks! I appreciate that picture... it confirmed my fear that the M&P FS and Compact had 2 different size frame tools. I called S&W around 3:45 EST today and they're closed until August 7 for "summer re-organizing" or some such thing. I have looked high and low online and I've found the tool for the full size M&P's at quite a few sites but I can't find the tool for the M&P compacts anywhere online. Odd since so many people own the 9c and 40c!!

This is the kinda cr8p that makes me wish I had gone with a Springfield XD40, Shield 40 or the SD40VE that I was considering for $120 less than my M&P 40c. No backstrap worries with those!

 

[Mark40]

I bought my 40c used and the lug on the tool was all but sheared off when I got it. By the time I tried each of the back straps, it was gone. But it fits so tightly that I have not felt the need to replace it. I don't use it for disassembly and I only use the small back strap.

 

[78Staff]

Thanks for the advice folks! I appreciate that picture... it confirmed my fear that the M&P FS and Compact had 2 different size frame tools. I called S&W around 3:45 EST today and they're closed until August 7 for "summer re-organizing" or some such thing. I have looked high and low online and I've found the tool for the full size M&P's at quite a few sites but I can't find the tool for the M&P compacts anywhere online. Odd since so many people own the 9c and 40c!!

Forget ebay - $4 from Speed Shooters Specialties... Always look here first...

M&P Compact Frame Tool [2082] - $3.93 : Welcome to Speed Shooter Specialties

 

[SpartanZeroOne]

Forget ebay - $4 from Speed Shooters Specialties... Always look here first...

M&P Compact Frame Tool [2082] - $3.93 : Welcome to Speed Shooter Specialties

Thanks for the link! I was on that site for the second time late last night and I noticed that tool. I'm going to wait and call S&W after they re-open and see if they'll just send me one. If not, I will have to order a couple of those. Thanks!

 

[speedyquad]

or as another option...and believe when i say this...i am not a stipling kind of guy...you can go the route of A2 stipling. Like I said, I don't like stipling, but the #8 circles made a difference in my 40c. the owner is in the service and is the only employee. he sometimes has to close due to orders, but he is quick to get you your products when he is open for business. A2 STIPPLING - A2 Stippling

 

[MSG Glenn]

Until the time you get a hold of S&W & they send you a new frame tool (I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't charge you for it) get some rubber cement. Add a layer on a portion of the tool. That should keep it from falling out. Let it dry before inserting the tool. Once you get the tool leave it in. Use a pencil or some other similar object to trip that little shepherd's hook safety.

Now that you can take the tool out easily since it's broken determine which palm swell grip is the best for you so you won't have to take the new tool out often if at all. I can't remember when I had mine out last.

 

[ginzo]

My money says they ship it to you gratis, any takers?

Call, talk nice, offer to pay and WHAMO! They send it out on their dime!

I have had several interactions with the mother ship, I ALWAYS call with the intention to pay, because it's something I want to change, or I SCREWED it up.

I have credit card in hand every time, and they always have (so far) said no problem. Slip it back into my wallet. End of story.

BTW, Follow the others advice and leave the tool alone when possible.

 

[BBinFL]

Just bought my first S&W, a 40 Compact. I like it so far after a few hundred rounds.

My frame tool was damned near impossible to pull out. Two of us guys tried to yank it out, following the "turn 90 degrees" instruction to the letter. I had to twist it back and forth beyond the 90 degree point to get it out. Of course the tab broke off from this. I called S&W customer service, and they courteously and promptly sent me a new tool, for free. The new one appears to be shinier on the plastic shank, and possibly a tad smaller in diameter. Interestingly the bag it came in said "Rev C", so maybe it was redesigned to fix this problem. Now it goes in and pulls out easily, but it's snug enough not to rotate or to fall out on it own. Case closed. A good start with S&W customer service, which I see gets accolades on most forums.

 

[SpartanZeroOne]

Good advice! If nothing else this will give me some time to take it down for cleaning and fondle all of the backstraps on the pistol to determine which is best.

What is everyone's opinion on the backstraps affecting your accuracy? I bought my 40c because about 18 months ago a friend of mine bought one. His had the standard tritium night sights since he got the LEO package and I loved the way the gun felt! What sealed the deal was when I shot it... I was lights out with his 40c and I am NOT a very accurate shooter usually. On several different occasions, at several different ranges, I shot his 40c MUCH better than my M&P 9 FS or my Shield 9 (both of which I love dearly!). In fact, I never even though I'd own a .40... I've heard they're "snappy" and all the other trash talk... but after shooting his, I fell in love!

When I received mine, it came with the standard 3 dot white sights and I was not nearly as accurate shooting it as I was with his 40c. I had the gunsmith at our local shop check my sights and he said they look fine. Obviously it's me, not the gun... but my friend suggested trying the medium or large backstrap (the SMALL was on his gun when I shot it, so I put the small on mine as soon as I took delivery and forgot about it until the other day when the tool broke.) He also suggested trying some TRUGLO TFO's.

I LOVE my 40c, but I'm a little disappointed that I don't shoot it as well as I shot his.

I agree with a few people above who said S&W may send the part out to me free of charge. In the few times I've had to deal with them regarding a problem, their customer service was top notch. I even found myself chatting with them and "talking shop" on a few occasions when I called with a random product question. Those folks are great!

 

[jstanfield103]

I also would bet they ship it free of charge.

 

[78Staff]

My new 40c was also very tight, much tigher than my older full size. Much as others have said, once I pick a backstrap, it never comes out, really.

 

[SpartanZeroOne]

Update: I spoke to a S&W customer service rep today and he said that he would be happy to send me a new frame assembly/grip tool free of charge.

Hopefully this new frame tool will arrive and these issues will not resurface, even if I decide to change the backstraps out a few more times. I was very pleased with the willingness of S&W customer service to help one of their customers!

 

[jstanfield103]

Good Deal, on getting that tool and a testimate to S&W

 

[Lee in Quartzsite]

Hopefully this new frame tool will arrive and these issues will not resurface, even if I decide to change the backstraps out a few more times. I was very pleased with the willingness of S&W customer service to help one of their customers!

A little bit of lube on the nub makes it a lot easier. You can see where it goes if you remove the mag and look with a light up the magwell.

S&W CS sent me a free one also, plus they sent a couple of springs for my 22A free as well. Whenever you have a problem with anything S&W they are the first people you should call. Nice people and free is always good.