If you were an S&W engineer...

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You're an S&W engineer and the higher ups come to you with the instructions to design a new carry pistol. You are specifically told not to worry about marketing, caliber statics, or what the new fads are. You are given free rein to design basically what you would consider the ultimate carry gun to be. What would you do?

I was thinking about my new Shield 45. I never gave any thought to this pistol. My first thought after hearing about it was "why would I want a bigger Shield with less ammunition?"

Then, when one caught my eye at the gun shop next to a 9mm Shield, I thought "that's barely bigger than my 9mm Shield but is chambered in 45. I need it."

I have always liked the 9mm Shield, but always thought it may be too skinny for my hands. In fact every time I've gotten caught up in the single stack fad, I usually eventually go back to my double stacks. Yes, capacity is one factor, but not the main reason. Double stack handguns just feel better, and are usually more accurate, in my hands. I have no problem concealing a 2.0 4", but have to admit the comfort difference with a Shield IWB is amazing.

After feeling the pleasant difference in just a small profile size increase from the 9mm to 45 Shield, I got to thinking that my dream IWB gun would be somewhere in thickness between a 2.0 Compact and a 45 Shield. I'm wondering how many rounds of 40/357 Sig one could cram into a magazine the size of the 45 Shield magazine, or one even slightly wider.

I think if I was that engineer, I would try my best to make a pistol with the same grip length and width (maybe slightly thicker?) as a 45 Shield, with a four inch barrel, that could hold 8-9 rounds of 40/357 Sig and 10-11 rounds of 9mm in a flush magazine. Maybe even a 10mm version?:cool:

What would be your ideas?
 
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An EZ 9 form factor with 20 rd capacity, built in laser and light. And a built in silencer to reduce noise. And a flip-up red dot optic
 
An EZ 9 form factor with 20 rd capacity, built in laser and light. And a built in silencer to reduce noise. And a flip-up red dot optic

:D and a holster from hip to ankle... just need a fancy design to bend at knee level ;)
 
Copy the Glock 48 or 43X. I think there are aftermarket double stack mags for these if 11 isn't enough.
 
The subcompact doublestack M&P really isn't that thick. I've always thought they were pretty concealable.
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The subcompact doublestack M&P really isn't that thick. I've always thought they were pretty concealable.
I have an M&P 2.0 compact, a Glock 43 and a Sig P365. I find the Glock and Sig much easier to carry.

The biggest problem with the M&P is the weight, not the size. I usually carry IWB at 4:00 and the M&P doesn't print too much carried that way but I have to use a thick, stiff and uncomfortable belt when I tried carrying the M&P but not when carrying the G43. The Sig is still on probation after coming back from the factory last year for FTE problems but is also noticeably lighter than the M&P. The subcompact is a couple of ounces lighter than the compact but would probably still be heavier than I am willing to carry.

Which brings me to the OP's question.

What I would like is a lighter, 9mm only, version of the subcompact. About 4 ounces lighter than the current version which weighs in at 25 ounces. I say 9mm only because I think the reason 9mm M&Ps weigh more than similar sized Glocks is they are designed to properly handle the extra pressure and recoil of the 40. A 10 round flush fitting magazine instead of 12 would be fine as long as I still had the option of using the 15 and 17 round magazines I already have.

It would be a few ounces heavier and bulkier than my Sig P365 but would probably be easier to shoot and more reliable. I know everyone says all the early problems with the 365 were solved but I bought mine in early 2020 and after 500 rounds it started leaving empty shells in the chamber. Mine has worked fine after it came back but I still don't trust it the way I do my M&P. When you push the limits of how small and light a gun can be it is not going to be as reliable and durable as a slightly heavier gun.
 
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Lighter 9 mm pistol?

The cz75 / 9 mm is tough to beat it comes in a compact model I believe.
 
(Re) introduction of a K frame with a scandium And/or aluminum frame, night sights that are setup similar to the 640 pro Or kimber, steel and/or titanium cylinders, ball detent, two piece barrel for the scandium frame, one piece barrel for the aluminum one, newer forcing cone design like on the newest 19/66, addition of the flame cutting guard ala 340m&p and Kin....

Versions chambered in .327 fed mag (7 shot) and .357/38 (6 shot) plus 9mm (6) and .40 (6)

2, 2.5” and 3” Offerings.

Make it feel like a more modern version of a 64 or 15 or 19/66 snub with less weight.


Later Reintroduction Of a 4” and 5” 646 in .40 With updates...

Alternate: introduction of a new small frame in between the k and j to go up against the k6...
 
I would design an EZ 22mag , 4” match barrel , apex trigger, adjustable night sights and optics ready . Marketing as concealed carry and backpacker kit/ survival gun . Than follow up with same in 22lr.
 
.45 Super Tuned Performance Center 3" Combat Master Revolver

.45 Super Tuned Performance Center 3" Combat Master Revolver

Now you have to understand I am an OLD Elmer Keith throwback kind of guy that thinks in evil ways! I would make a Super Tuned Performance Center N-frame 3" revolver designed to handle .45 Super cut for Full Moon clips with Chamfered Chambers, unfluted cylinder with indexing cuts off the chambers to give max strength to the cylinder, a short bobbed hammer, Hogue Round Butt Rubber Tamer Conversion Monogrips.

I would design a revolver for Concealed Carry and yet maximum stopping power. I would try to co-ordinate with some ammo maker like Federal to co-ordinate its release with a new loading of super high performance near full hollow jacketed wadcutter bullets specifically designed for use in the revolver to give massive stopping power but stopping within the perpetrator. It would look similar to Federal's HST Micro 38 Special +P loading only on a much larger scale. It would be ideal for police detectives, off duty carry, and civilian concealed carry for maximum self-defense of life and limb! It would be fast to reload due to the full moon clips and in a gunfight it would be more reliable if contact shots are necessary in a life and death struggle unlike a semi-auto which can be shoved out of battery and fail to fire. That is as far as I have gotten in my thinking so far. What do you think of my ideas?

Rocky :)
 
I’d remove the the lock, put the firing pin on the hammer, put a pin type cylinder stop in place of the current, integral eyesore, banish the homely two-piece barrel and eliminate all plastic autos and replace them with handsome steel versions.
 
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One thing I would do, without a doubt, is to "melt" the edges. When you look at a Ruger LCP/LC9/EC9, you know it is designed to be tucked in easily and quickly, and not snag on anything, or gouge you with a sharp corner.
 
(Re) introduction of a K frame with a scandium And/or aluminum frame, night sights that are setup similar to the 640 pro Or kimber, steel and/or titanium cylinders, ball detent, two piece barrel for the scandium frame, one piece barrel for the aluminum one, newer forcing cone design like on the newest 19/66, addition of the flame cutting guard ala 340m&p and Kin....

Versions chambered in .327 fed mag (7 shot) and .357/38 (6 shot) plus 9mm (6) and .40 (6)

2, 2.5” and 3” Offerings.

Make it feel like a more modern version of a 64 or 15 or 19/66 snub with less weight.


Later Reintroduction Of a 4” and 5” 646 in .40 With updates...

Alternate: introduction of a new small frame in between the k and j to go up against the k6...

Scandium is an alloy they put in aluminum to make it stronger. A Scandium frame is an aluminum frame.
 
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