Really subjective and hard to guess how someone else might feel about this sort of thing.
I have a M&P 40c and M&P 45 FS, and I've handled and fired the M&P 45c (and M&P 9c).
I think of myself as having medium size hands (despite that most glove makers seem to think I have large hands
).
The M&P 40c, with the Curved butt plate, is a bit tight for space in my grip, although much better than the G26/27's I own, which require that I curl my little finger under the grip.
My M&P 45 FS is a bit tall in my hand, but the overall balance and heft is great. The M&P 45c I tried felt like they designed it with me in mind. It felt even better than a 4513TSW, if that helps.
As soon as I get some other things resolved and have the time, I'd like to order a M&P 45c. I suspect I'd be more inclined to carry it than the full size model.
I do find the FS model to balance and shoot very well in my hands, though, especially with the smallest grip insert, and I actually enjoy shooting it more than my collection of 1911's. It has a bit less snap and muzzle rise than the M&P 45 compact I tried, but that's to be expected, and the difference would likely be perceived differently by each owner/shooter.
I will say that the M&P 40c seems to have less "snap" & muzzle whip than my G27 or 4040PD, but more than my other compact & full-size .40's The .40 S&W is a harder recoiling caliber than the 9/.45 guns, in general.
While I own and shoot 4 other .40's, and I've carried a couple of issued .40's before I retired, I found the M&P 40c to require more time on my part for me to achieve the controllability & recoil management that I prefer to experience. If I had it to do over again, I'd get the M&P 9c ... AND the M&P 45c.
Don't get me wrong. The other instructors are under the impression that I can shoot the M&P 40c very well. It's just that shooting the M&P 40c & M&P 9c side by side, the 9c unanimously gathered better opinions from myself and some other instructors (who are also experienced users of 9's,. 40's & .45's).
Any chance you can arrange to try any of them at a local range? That might answer the question for you.
I'd have to acknowledge that I've come to the opinion that the M&P pistol is an excellent platform for the .45 ACP, though.
