LE only M&P...what's the difference?

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I could be totally wrong here...but I heard a couple different things. One being that the LE only comes with an extra mag and night sights for the same price....and then I heard its for LE only because they discount it. Not sure whats the truth...tried researching it and didn't really get much of any answer...but I will keep digging lol
 
There are LE editions of firearms which traditionally come with three magazines. One for your firearm and two for your belt pouch. These often have night sights. However these are NOT LE Only. Anyone can own them.

There are firearm manufacturers that give special pricing to first responders. Usually when you submit your order for for these the form has a statement saying something like "you will not resell the firearm for a minimum of one year." Obviously manufactures do not want to undermine their dealer network with discounted firearms. Traditionally these purchaser are limited to a portion of the production, for example a sporting clays O/U would probably not be on the discout program but a pump would be. Also the first responder can only buy a couple of firearms each year under these programs.

Then there are also firearms intended to be sold ONLY to departments or individual Officers for duty use. These are less money because the 11% Federal excise tax on firearms has not been paid to the Government on these firearms. These pistols (even if officer purchased) must be shipped directly to the Department.
 
I have an LEO M&P 40C on order from Streicher's Police HQ. It'll come with 3 mags & Trijicon Night sights & costs $455, the same price for FS M&Ps .40 s&w & 9MM. calibers. The.45 cal is $499 for FS & compact. The wait for delivery might/will be longer.

This deal is for LEO, Security & Military but my retired Army ID card & Security license was just glanced at. I think I could have bought it without either.
 
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Lower price and an extra mag. That's the only difference. You can get regular or night sights.
 
The range and carry "kits" (9/40) come with 3 magazines too but no night sights. I don't know if the .45 is available as a range and carry kit.
 
colt_saa said:
There are LE editions of firearms which traditionally come with three magazines.

Then there are also firearms intended to be sold ONLY to departments or individual Officers for duty use. These are less money because the 11% Federal excise tax on firearms has not been paid to the Government on these firearms. These pistols (even if officer purchased) must be shipped directly to the Department.
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This is the reason why LE guns are cheaper. No excise tax. We have some LE guns in the store for sale only to LE. We need to make a photo copy of their police ID to send it to the mfr to verify it was a LE sale. There is nothing different about these guns from the ones sold to the public, except the lack of excise tax paid. GARY
 
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vista461 said:
Lower price and an extra mag. That's the only difference. You can get regular or night sights.
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Exactly. M&Ps sell for $398 without night sights at Streicher's. I may never need night sights on any firearm I own, at least I haven't so far, but at $67 for $150 sights I couldn't pass it up. My son has them equipped on his PD M&P 40 & likes them better than factory sights even for daytime. He has Trijicons on both Glocks that I gave him so he's well used to them.
 
S&W has the Nations Finest program with provides a $50 rebate for Military and Police. (even buying for personal use).
 
lhump1961 said:
Can anyone please educate me on the LE only versions of the M&P's?:confused:
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The SKU number on the full size duty guns usually begins with a 3 on LE guns (3 magazines), a 2 on standard capacity guns and a 1 on guns with mags of 10 rounds or less. Beyond that, the features are the same as the commercial guns with the same remaining SKU number.

Example: 209300 is commercial; 309300 is LE. The 309300 has three magazines, but is otherwise identical.

Night sights are still optional on LE guns in the sense that they have their own SKU numbers. What a dealer may have in stock is simply what the dealer chose to order from the distributor.
 
Kaliman said:
S&W has the Nations Finest program with provides a $50 rebate for Military and Police. (even buying for personal use).
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I'm sincerely hoping that my M&P ships before June so I can take advantage of the deal. Any military - Active, Reserve, Guard or Retired is eligible. I can put that $50 to either a new holster, spare mags, a .357sig barrel or ammo as I see fit all of which I intend to buy eventually.
 
LE guns come with three mags instead of two (two for the compacts), and night sights are an option. As someone else posted, the main advantage is the LE price, which is fixed at lower than normal retail. While it may not seem fair, and certainly doesn't likely add much to the company's profit margin, it puts S&W pistols back in the holsters of American police officers - which is good advertising - Glock did it with much success.
 
I buy pistols from Buds Gun shop but go through Buds Law Enforcment Supply. My MP9 / MP40 and MP45 all came with 3 mags and night sights for a LOWER price than what everyone else was paying for the regular MP's...usually about 25 to 50$ cheaper. To buy through Buds you have to send in Military ID or proof your a LEO to buy through their Law Enforcement shop. I dont know what other places require though?
 
TheMaineEvent said:
If a non-LEO person were willing to pay the excise tax could they buy one?
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No, as the store doesn't collect the excise tax. It a manufacturing tax that S&W would directly pay to the Feds. But it makes no difference, as the exact same gun with only 2 mags is available everywhere. It's not marked "LE" or anything, & it's of no better quality. It's just the same gun us civilians get that is tax exempt to LE. GARY
 
My question is, does anyone know of a shop with LEO shields in stock? I qualify for LEO pricing but I'm on 2 wait lists for my 9mm Shield. Any help would be appreciated.
 
Sorry old post but i thought the LE version means it has no safety. anyone concur?
 
lhump1961 said:
Can anyone please educate me on the LE only versions of the M&P's?:confused:
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Having a heavy background in production processes, I'm guessing it's to have a single dedicated line of manufacturing just for LEO.
Many advantages to that.
 
Could it be that the LE only guns don't comply with the regulations in a state like Mass? The LE guns have magazines that hold more than 10 rounds and other features that make them prohibited to anyone other than a cop.
 
Every gun the public buys has a $80 excise tax added to the price. The LE guns do not have the $80 excise price added. That's why they cost less. GARY.
 
Because the tax is dropped, the gun is either for purchase by a department or if it's bought by an individual cop, he (in my experience in CO) has to have a department letterhead signed by a chief or designated signer stating the gun is for duty use.
 
In addition to a lower price, the actual guns with LE SKUs can have different configuration from regular retail guns. The obvious differences are the included tritium night sights and third magazine. Sometimes, the actual pistol isn't yet available for retail sale, such as the Aimpoint ACRO slide or the 5" optic-ready with front cocking serrations.

The LE SKUs may also have different trigger components for heavier trigger pull as compared to the retail guns.
 
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I've often wondered about a M&P FS40 I picked up a few years ago. It has the Trijicon night sights and 3 mags and was ANIB. The price was under $400 and I thought I got a good deal. The blue box it came in was the wrong one so I don't know the SKU number.
Now I know "the rest of the story"
 
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