Is the M&P carried by the military?

[VTHokiesDuckHunter]

Am I the only one who thinks the stock trigger is actually decent? The M9 is a great gun, but after 20 years they wear out. The one I qualified on had 15% of the finish (if that much), failed to fire at least once per mag, and the gun was hitting a full foot low at 25 feet. The M&P trigger is the least of the issues for a military weapon.

You also have to realize the changeable backstraps would be eliminated for a military weapon, and the rust issues have been dealt with.

After only 20 years they wear out?. Jeez, that's one of the best reasons to stick with the Beretta M9/92 that I've heard yet. How long do you think an M&P would last in Military service?

The M&P's a decent gun for the price point but does not compare to the Beretta or a Sig. (or for that matter a 3rd gen S&W!!!)

If I wanted a new polymer framed gun it would be the FNH. I mentioned this to my son, who has a Walther PPS, and after a lot of research he just bought a FN in 9mm.

I think the FN's are real sleeper handguns. Excellent build quality and ergonomics, hammer fired, DA/SA with decocker/safeties or variations of same, lanyard loops, etc.

FNH products are used worldwide by a lot of military and law enforcement agencies, and now many are produced here in South Carolina.

I'm a S&W guy when it comes to 3rd gens and 1911's, but for a polymer framed gun it would have to be a cousin (Walther) or my top choices would be an FN or an H&K.

And I'd take an M&P any day over a Glock.

 

[MLeake]

18DAI, first, I was paraphrasing, not quoting. Second, if I had been quoting, the quote from this thread would have been "no way the M&P would make it through the trials.". Just check your own post.

Thanks for the amplifying details in the follow-on, though. You raise some interesting points.

 

[WR Moore]

On the other hand, the M&P recently won the DEA contract trials. By extension, any other Federal agency is able to buy on this contract.

I'll also note that we bought several hundred M&P40's of the "B" series in 2006 and have had no issues.

I strongly doubt the interchangable backstraps would be eliminated for a GI weapon. The inabiity to accomodate varying hand sizes is one of the M9's weak points.

 

[Mack]

The 75th Rangers procured some Glock 19s and 26s. Both have NSNs and can be seen in various photos of deployed Rangers.

Small scale procurement by SOCOM units is not the same as widespread military issue and NSN's do not just apply to the military. Bottom line is the Glock does not meet the military specification as currently written which calls for a manual safety or decocker. I believe that is the reason why S&W developed the M&P with these features for the .45 trials that fizzled out.

 

[AllAces]

Times, they are a changin'

Not in the US but it has been adopted by Iraq or Afghanistan (my mind is blanking on which but I seem to recall Iraq). Give it time, the military is just slow in adopting new weapons if it doesn't have to. Heck I qualified on a M9 that was 25 years old and the M16s we used were older than that. They sure could use the M&P though, amazing platform!

Airman, I qualified with a 1911 that was far older than me, and an M16 that was brand new. Heck, that M16 could be the same one you qualified with, and as for that 1911, with good maintenance, it could still be in active service, or in the hands of some old retired Army dude.

Some of the weapons under development today are just as amazing to me as that M16 was in the 60's.

Heck, I'm still amazed at the 1911.

Things change, but some how, the things soldiers experience and remember remain the same, generation after generation.

 

[22lr]

Things change, but some how, the things soldiers experience and remember remain the same, generation after generation.

Aint that the truth.


As per the durability of plastic frames. Anyone know of examples of military's who went the way of plastic and it let them down? Personally I like steel frame guns, and still carry my 3rd gen 5926. I guess I was saying that if the military is going the way of plastic I like the M&P option.

 

[remat457]

Am I the only one who thinks the stock trigger is actually decent?

Nope!

They also have been slowly improving it. My more recent 9c's trigger is actually better than my broken in, much older, full size.

 

[Avery11]

ONCE, I made the mistake of taking a bare-handed grip on my M-9 during a hot day in a Bahrain on my 3rd sandy deployment.

OUCH!

Polymer has its place

 

[enidpd804]

Nope!

They also have been slowly improving it. My more recent 9c's trigger is actually better than my broken in, much older, full size.

I've had mine since 2007. My scores are the same as they were with my G22. I've put several thousand rounds through the three M&P's I have with no drama. Our dept. T&E'd one in 2006 with positive results. I moved from Glock to M&P for several reasons. One is the bad runs of G22's that Indiana SP and Topeka PD got and eventually had to return for G17's. Another is all of the different variations of magazines for Glock 40's. Mine came with follower #5 magazines and would work perfectly with them and #7's, but not #3's. We are all the victim of our own experience.

 

[stiab]

Current US military sidearms are the M9 (Beretta 92FS), M11 (SIG P228), SIG P226 Navy (Navy SEALS), HK MK23 (SOCOM), and the MEU(SOC) M-45 (M1911).

Don't forget the Ruger, there was a blurb about it in the NRA mag. Not huge numbers relatively speaking, but still a US Military contract. You can Google it..."In December 2004, Ruger was awarded a contract for 5,000 KP95D pistols by the U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command, Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois."

 

[OceanOne]

Don't forget the Ruger, there was a blurb about it in the NRA mag. Not huge numbers relatively speaking, but still a US Military contract. You can Google it..."In December 2004, Ruger was awarded a contract for 5,000 KP95D pistols by the U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command, Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois."

I believe those Rugers were destined for a foreign military with the US Army acting as the purchasing agent.

 

[LeMans]

Am I the only one who thinks the stock trigger is actually decent?

Lack of consistency and spotty QC are the biggest problems with the M&P. You can pick up a gun of the shelf and it will have a very decent trigger right out of the box, then pick up the next one and it will have a horrible gritty trigger like you've never seen... Same goes with accuracy with some of the 9mm models and their barrel problems.

 

[turbo38gn]

Lack of consistency and spotty QC are the biggest problems with the M&P. You can pick up a gun of the shelf and it will have a very decent trigger right out of the box, then pick up the next one and it will have a horrible gritty trigger like you've never seen... Same goes with accuracy with some of the 9mm models and their barrel problems.

Not sure how you qualify this, but I haven't seen anything near this. Own 4 of them, have seen many at the range and played with many out of the showcase. I'm in Mass, so the triggers are potentially the worst.. I never had a problem shooting my M&P's accurately with the stock triggers, but no doubt, after installing the Apex kits, hugh improvements in the feel were evident. Accuracy is one of their strengths and I know of no widespread or even local problems with barrels. Can you back up these statements? Not trying to start a war, just haven't seen it as you stated

 

[Loco Weed]

During my Military Police career in the Army I carried 1911s that were left over from WWII and had been arsenal rebuilt. I'm sure the Department of Defense has a mechanism in place to service the M-9 as needed. With massive budget cutbacks threatening the Department of Defense I can't see them replacing the M-9 which is, after all, not a main battle weapon. If DoD has any spare cash I think they will use it to upgrade the M-4 platform. I think the M-9 is here to stay for a good long time.

 

[Dragon88]

The M9 is fine for today's Army. The level of pistol proficiency amongst troops is so low, that most soldiers drawing their pistols would just end up shooting themselves or other soldiers. Better to leave it on safe with three safety straps across the pistol in a holster and with a dummy lanyard. I wish every soldier could be a skilled shooter and carry a better pistol, but it just isn't feasible.

Most soldiers that might need to do something serious with their pistols are in units that can purchase Glocks, Sigs, etc and use them instead. It all works out in the end.

 

[zac_ereman]

Mack is correct on the current sidearm of the US Military. However, the US Army is currently looking into replacing the M9 due to various reasons, small caliber, safety on slide, no mod rail, etc. According to the ArmyTimes, the following are being consider as a replacement:
Glock 22 .40 cal
Glock 37 .45 GAP
Glock 17 9mm
S&W M&P 9mm
S&W M&P .40 S&W
S&W M&P .45
Sig Sauer P229 9mm
Sig sauer P226 9mm
HK P2000 9mm or .40 S&W
Beretta 96A1 .40
Beretta 92A1 9mm
Beretta PX4 Storm .40

And from the looks of it, they are seriously leaning toward the M&P's. I sure do hop so, as I love my M&P. They definetly need a replacement, as the M9 Beretta is useless.

 

[Dragon88]

Yeah, and also according to the Army Times, I should be expecting my piston-driven .30 caliber M4 replacement soon as well.

 

[stiab]

I believe those Rugers were destined for a foreign military with the US Army acting as the purchasing agent.

Maybe so. I remember that Ruger made a big deal out of it and included references in some of their catalogs.