silversport
Member
I am new to M&P pistols...very new but not to firearms or pistols...I have been a big fan of all the bigs including their entries into the plastic fantastic market as well as being a charter member of the I hate Plastic Pistols when they first came to market...but that was then and this is now...I only mention the previous as I have several examples from G and shot many more examples of offerings in poly from others but those from S&W were always absent...
...I have always liked the feel of the grips on the M&P but had up until now never told the guy behind the counter to bring one out for a better look...until recently...I compared this M&P 9c with a similar offering G26 and came away impressed noting the grip greets my hands much better than the G's ever have, it was a bit heavier and the trigger was different than the G...and the package was priced right too...deciding to "think about it" for a bit...I left the LGS but was happy that I had finally held the M&P compact...it wasn't long before I decided I should buy one...
Later that day, I found a near new, late manufacture M&P 357c with factory night sights, no thumb or magazine safety, three magazines and some extras...the price sounded right...and being a fan of that cartridge...I decided it was time to cave to indulgence and buy it...coincidence???...I think not...
I wanted to share some of my early observations with this recently acquired M&P 357c...
the slide finish is a beautiful, smooth, black matte finish...the S&W logo as well as the M&P and 357c all look nicely engraved and look classy...the script SMITH & WESSON and Address on the other side...not so much...but I've seen far worse...the previous owner filled in the engraving in gold and not only did it perfectly but it appears tastefully so...it has grown on me...
the night sights are strong and green of the 3 dot variety and appear to have Trijicon tubes...their shape seems to have sharp edges rounded over for concealed carry...the ambi slide lock is a nice touch since I'm a southpaw but years of shooting have taught me the slingshot method fastest for me...I like the rear grasping serrations...they look nice and they function great...the chamber loaded indicator (hole atop the barrel) is a nice touch too...
take down is different than what I am familiar with in any other pistol but it is no problem to field stip...it seems I may have the newest variety of parts from S&W as I have the yellow spring and H marked trigger bar...
I tried the large sized grip and it makes the pistol feel larger than it should (for me) and the small would feel too small I believe as the mid size is just there...the grip texture is nice...I would have liked it a bit more aggressive in places and I understand Smith has made changes over the years and there are companies making a living upgrading grip textures with everything from tape to a soldering iron...I'm sure I'll find what I like...this pistol does not feel like a double stack to me...
the trigger will take some getting used to I think but if I can learn to get used to DA/SA, SA, HKP7, Browning Hi Power, Revolvers and even the G pistols, I'm sure I can do it...no real complaints...it's just different...I have also read that it may smooth a bit over time and trips to the range...is IS a crisp trigger just a bit gritty feeling on take up...
the magazine release is nice and positive...I have had a touch of difficulty with seating 10 round magazines with one in the chamber but this pistol still feels pretty new and my experience with other pistols tells me this will settle in nicely...no worries here...
magazines seem to be quality built and have a nice slick coating that appears to be like that on some Mec-Gar made magazines...should do fine...the finger step is just right and the flush mag will also be a favorite for concealed carry...I have no problem with curling my little finger under the mag...we'll see how this feels once I get to the range and try some full power 357 SIG ammunition however...
I haven't had the greatest luck with my purchases or attempts to purchase S&W products through the years and this is probably partially to blame for why I had waited all this time to try their polyguns but maybe I was just waiting for the right one to come along...
...I also like that this is built in the USA...just a conceit...
I would like to hear any comments or criticisms as well as any experiences you'd care to share...much of what I could find online came from this section of the Forum so for that I'd like to thank (blame
) you all for me picking this one up...
Bill
...I have always liked the feel of the grips on the M&P but had up until now never told the guy behind the counter to bring one out for a better look...until recently...I compared this M&P 9c with a similar offering G26 and came away impressed noting the grip greets my hands much better than the G's ever have, it was a bit heavier and the trigger was different than the G...and the package was priced right too...deciding to "think about it" for a bit...I left the LGS but was happy that I had finally held the M&P compact...it wasn't long before I decided I should buy one...
Later that day, I found a near new, late manufacture M&P 357c with factory night sights, no thumb or magazine safety, three magazines and some extras...the price sounded right...and being a fan of that cartridge...I decided it was time to cave to indulgence and buy it...coincidence???...I think not...
I wanted to share some of my early observations with this recently acquired M&P 357c...
the slide finish is a beautiful, smooth, black matte finish...the S&W logo as well as the M&P and 357c all look nicely engraved and look classy...the script SMITH & WESSON and Address on the other side...not so much...but I've seen far worse...the previous owner filled in the engraving in gold and not only did it perfectly but it appears tastefully so...it has grown on me...
the night sights are strong and green of the 3 dot variety and appear to have Trijicon tubes...their shape seems to have sharp edges rounded over for concealed carry...the ambi slide lock is a nice touch since I'm a southpaw but years of shooting have taught me the slingshot method fastest for me...I like the rear grasping serrations...they look nice and they function great...the chamber loaded indicator (hole atop the barrel) is a nice touch too...
take down is different than what I am familiar with in any other pistol but it is no problem to field stip...it seems I may have the newest variety of parts from S&W as I have the yellow spring and H marked trigger bar...
I tried the large sized grip and it makes the pistol feel larger than it should (for me) and the small would feel too small I believe as the mid size is just there...the grip texture is nice...I would have liked it a bit more aggressive in places and I understand Smith has made changes over the years and there are companies making a living upgrading grip textures with everything from tape to a soldering iron...I'm sure I'll find what I like...this pistol does not feel like a double stack to me...
the trigger will take some getting used to I think but if I can learn to get used to DA/SA, SA, HKP7, Browning Hi Power, Revolvers and even the G pistols, I'm sure I can do it...no real complaints...it's just different...I have also read that it may smooth a bit over time and trips to the range...is IS a crisp trigger just a bit gritty feeling on take up...
the magazine release is nice and positive...I have had a touch of difficulty with seating 10 round magazines with one in the chamber but this pistol still feels pretty new and my experience with other pistols tells me this will settle in nicely...no worries here...
magazines seem to be quality built and have a nice slick coating that appears to be like that on some Mec-Gar made magazines...should do fine...the finger step is just right and the flush mag will also be a favorite for concealed carry...I have no problem with curling my little finger under the mag...we'll see how this feels once I get to the range and try some full power 357 SIG ammunition however...
I haven't had the greatest luck with my purchases or attempts to purchase S&W products through the years and this is probably partially to blame for why I had waited all this time to try their polyguns but maybe I was just waiting for the right one to come along...
...I also like that this is built in the USA...just a conceit...I would like to hear any comments or criticisms as well as any experiences you'd care to share...much of what I could find online came from this section of the Forum so for that I'd like to thank (blame
) you all for me picking this one up...Bill
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