M&P 45 vs. 1911 Accuracy & reliability

[Ken NC]

Been thinking about a new 1911, perhaps a Ruger sr1911 or the basic S&W e-series (the one that lists for under 1K). Primarily for range shooting or home defense. But I have been reading good things about the M&P 45, and the price, availability, and warranty are all attractive. I have the M&P 9 compact and think highly of that. If you have an opinion on the accuracy & reliability of the M&P 45 as compared to 1911s in the 700 to 1K price range, I would sure be interested. Thank you!

 

[Rangel]

With the 1911, you're holding a piece of history, albiet one that's evolved over the 100 years its been around. It feels great--like a double walled brick house in a windstorm, but in your hand. Its just a very special sidearm--it just screams 'real deal'. They once were not known for accuracy--they were orginally pretty much for close quarters warfare only and if you missed or ran out of ammo, the weight of a 1911 thrown at the head of an enemy was probably gonna kill him just as well. With time and better (closer) build tolerances, they've become very accurate and their considerable weight manages recoil nicely. But, as with most quality guns built to close tolerances, a piece of sand or grit can hang you up. It's not as easy, especially as an M&P for a novice, to break down a 1911. They're both great guns, and it'd be great to have both, but if I only could have one, I'd give the nod to the M&P. Get yourself a Gerber LMF knife to go with it. If you get the 1911, get a Kabar.
You also save a considerable amount of money. In fact with what you save, you could buy an M&P 45, then with the money left over, almost buy a 40, and then interchange 40 and 9mm barrels, giving you three excellent guns for the price of a mid range 1911. All of the above guns are very reliable and accurate although as indicated, the 1911 needs to treated a bit more carefully.

 

[S. Kelly]

I picked up a used M&P45 to try out. I ran 75, old, turned in, chewed up duty ammo (Gold Dot 230 Gr HP) thru the gun. It chewed them up and spit them out, no problem. I then shot 50 rounds of reloads that looked like they'd been in a fire. Again, the gun didn't choke at all. I was impressed greatly. And all my friends were shocked at it's accuracy. Other than a suck trigger and a terrible finish (lots of factory milling marks and divots that were melonited over), it's a great gun. I'd go M&P45 over a 1911 any day.

 

[OKFC05]

All else being equal, the 1911 for accuracy; the M&P for reliability.
BUT, (and this is a big BUT) it depends on what kind of shooting you do, your skill, and how you maintain the guns which better serves your purpose.

The difference between a 2 inch gun and a 3 inch gun is NONE in the hands of a 4 inch shooter!

 

[thomasinaz]

I've been a 1911 shooter for 20 years or so and always keep at least one in the work/carry rotation. I got into the M&P thing a couple of months ago, when our range guys had a couple of samples for us to try out. I was immediately impressed with the M&P 45 and went out and got one with the thumb safety. I got the thumb safety model because it was similar in operation to the 1911; safety down to make it go bang, safety up when holstered. To me the M&P seems to lock on target naturally with quick doubles almost easy. The factory night sights are almost perfect with just the right amount of light on each side of the front blade. I haven't put a lot of rounds through it yet, but it seems like a very well made pistol. No malfunctions at all, with several hundred FMJ and HP rounds so far. I got to go to the M&P armorer's course and was impressed with the engineering that went into them. The accuracy between the M&P and a good 1911 are similar. Sometimes you have to tweak a 1911 to make it 100% reliable, depending on brand or era of manufacture. I'm sure a high dollar 1911 can be more accurate. The different grip inserts on the M&P make it easy to fit whatever size hand you have. I think the only thing that would make the M&P 45 better would be a 5" model.

 

[shotslow]

Remember you are posting on the M&P forum. Most are here because they like the M&P. I am that way. A lot of people on this forum have 1911s & like them. I am that way. You have a tough choice to make. I would favor the M&P 45.

 

[Ken NC]

Thank you all for the many helpful insights! I do have a 1911, so I have to say I am now leaning substantially towards the M&P (with thumb safety) for the next purchase

 

[turbo38gn]

Thank you all for the many helpful insights! I do have a 1911, so I have to say I am now leaning substantially towards the M&P (with thumb safety) for the next purchase

Wow, if this thread doesn't say it all... with facts.. nothing does. I echo everything said here. I have both, in fact, several different 1911's and PC945.... I would take my M&P45 over all of them without a second thought... I go to the range weekly and tend to shoot what ever the topics I've been reading that week... just a couple weeks ago, lots of 45 cal and 1911 threads... I brought my 3" 945, my 1911SC and my M&P45. They all shot great... but once again... I just shake my head in disbelief when I shoot my M&P... that says it all for me! It is absolutely my favorite 45acp, it does it all.

 

[robocop]

I have paras,kimbers and S&W 1911s,like them a lot.Two months ago got me a M&P 45 with 4.5" barrell,put a fiber optic front sight,crimson trace laser sight and apex 3.5 lb competition trigger.Fell in love with the gun,eats everything I feed her with gusto.very little recoil,no safeties to bother with,as accurate as a kimber,and very low maintenance.like it so much I got me another identical,will sell most of my 1911s.The M&P is a shooter's gun,

 

[Brass Nuggets]

E-Series I also own SA 1911 in 9MM and is sweet...

My M&P is nice as well... but 1911 is in a different space, experience.

So, own both!

 

[Tangsoo]

I traded a Kimber I could not get to perform reliably for a M&P 45. Could not be happier. I still have 2 Kimbers I will not part with, but because of the M&P 45 I now own .40 and 9mm as well. 1911's are in a class unto themselves and when they work they are wonderful. My M&P's have all worked from the start. As Brass Nuggets said, if you can, own both.

 

[Bicky Robby]

Everyone should own at least 1 1911 . A fellow instructor has a M&P 45c and I have had several opportunities to shoot it. It is accurate, but his apears to be a "jam-a-matic". I suspect the issues are casued by his reloads. That being said, I would buy one in a heart beat. I like the way it feels in my hand and the way it shoots.

 

[tstrenuous10]

1911.

The new Rugar is pretty nice looking. $700 around my neighborhood. I'd take the 1911 over the M&P 45 any day and I have an M&P with serial number MPB9xxx in 40.

 

[turbo38gn]

1911.

The new Rugar is pretty nice looking. $700 around my neighborhood. I'd take the 1911 over the M&P 45 any day and I have an M&P with serial number MPB9xxx in 40.

Have you shot or own either gun, the MP45 or the Ruger...

 

[Rangel]

I agree that the Ruger looks pretty good and comes in at an attractive price, but with Ruger, as with pretty much all gun manufacturers, I'm hesitant to buy something that hasn't been out a while.

Almost inevitably, they have to fix or at least alter something they didn't catch the first time around.

That and me wondering if they (Ruger) were in a hurry to get in on the 100th anniversary hoopla surrounding the 1911, gives me pause.

Of course the magazines gush over it, but that doesn't impress me much either.

 

[Mazdajoe]

I own both the Ruger SR1911 and an M&P .45 with 4.5" barrel and manual safety. The M&P is overall a superior weapon. Everyone should own a 1911 but I'd choose my M&P over any 1911, even a Brown, Baer or Wilson when the SHTF. About the only benefit of an entry level 1911 like the Ruger is the trigger. Step up to a custom or semi-custom 1911 and accuracy becomes another benefit. However, the M&P will keep banging crappy ammo in the dirtiest environments long after a 1911's extractor went limp. The M&P is more reliable, holds more rounds, is lighter, is more corrosion resistant, is safer (with manual safety), is easier to work on, has adjustable ergos with the different grip sizes and points as naturally as a 1911. It's trigger really isn't that bad. The take up is a little gritty as you pull through the firing pin safety but smooths over time and the sear breaks like glass despite being a little heavy. It's also accurate enough for 25 yard head shots off-hand. Get the M&P.

 

[TSQUARED]

Been thinking about a new 1911, perhaps a Ruger sr1911 or the basic S&W e-series (the one that lists for under 1K). Primarily for range shooting or home defense. But I have been reading good things about the M&P 45, and the price, availability, and warranty are all attractive. I have the M&P 9 compact and think highly of that. If you have an opinion on the accuracy & reliability of the M&P 45 as compared to 1911s in the 700 to 1K price range, I would sure be interested. Thank you!

I purchased a full size M&P45 and am impressed with it's reliability and accuracy. It feeds 185 gr. LSWC, 185 to 230 gr. JHP and 230 gr FMJ bullets without any feeding issues. My unit provides nice tight 10 shot groups at 50 ft which measure 1 1/4 to 2 inches. Few 1911's will match it's reliability.
The only comparison I can provide with a 1911 in 45 ACP is a Dan Wesson Pointman and SA Trophy Match - both will group at the low end of the M&P45's grouping capability.

 

[walkin' trails]

I've carried a number of .45s over the years to include worn-out Ithica and Remington Rand military issue, personally owned Spingfield and Colt, Glock 21s, and the M&P 45 full sized. For every day carry, I am most happy with the M&P. Its not a great concealed carry gun, but its smaller than a Glock and fits my hand well. Considering that a comparable 1911 that has been proven reliable costs a lot more, I'm happy with the M&P and will probably add a 45C to the collection one of these days to replace my Glock 23. I played with one featuring a thumb safety at a gun store and was not impressed. It just didn't have the solid, positive feel of a 1911 safety, and since the M&P was first designed for safe carry without, I could not see any need for it. My 45 has just over 4K rounds through it - all 230 grain factory - FMJ, Hydra Shok, Golden Saber and has never malfunctioned. I simply keep it lightly lubed, which is a smart thing for any pistol regardless of manufacture. The closest thing to a malfunction was recently when a very dirty magazine in a very dirty pistol failed to lock back after the last round a couple of times. After I wiped it down, it seemed to work again without a hint of problem. In terms of accuracy, its as good as any service grade pistol out there. I've got over 20 years of experience shooting Glocks and know their strengths and shortcomings. I've only got about three with the M&P, but so far I am comfortable with this platform. A well-tuned 1911 is a great pistol, but its not for everyone. Furthermore, consider a pistol used during a lawful self-defense shooting will be confinscated as evidence until the case clears. I'll cry less having to hand over and possibly never seeing my $500 M&P than my $1,200 - up 1911 again.

 

[TAROMAN]

I'm the contrarian here. Have owned and shot many .45s over the years. 3-gun bullseye shooter in the Army.
I bought an M&P 45 on an impulse, after handling it in the shop. It felt great. My normal breakin routine is a couple hundred rounds of WWB.
After that, I compared the M&P to my 1911, Glock 30 and S&W 645. With factory loads and a variety of my handloads, the M&P was the least accurate of the group IN MY HANDS. Not by much, but consistently last place. Put in the Apex kit, which improved it a bit.
Never had a function problem, nor have any of the others, for that matter.
In the end, I swapped the M&P for a nice Model 681.
So, all's well that ends well.

Now, If I could just find a PC Model 845!

My $0.03, YMMV.

 

[Hammerdown77]

A well tuned, professionally built 1911 is a thing of beauty and a sublime shooting experience. That said, it usually costs a lot of money. I have one. It is amazing.

However, my M&P 45 shoots right there with it. It is just as accurate. It NEVER fails to shoot or feed or eject. No matter what ammo I run, no matter how I'm holding it. If something breaks on my M&P, I just take the replacement part and drop it in. No fitting, no tuning like you have to do on some 1911 parts (like the extractor).

That said, it will never feel like a 1911. The trigger will never be like a 1911 (Apex's forward set sear and trigger may get you real close), and to me the 1911 trigger is the best in the combat semi-auto handgun world, bar none.

When people are interested in a first .45 and they want a 1911, and they are intending to carry it and use it for HD, I tell them to get an M&P 45 first because I'm pretty sure it will run right out of the box and feed any type of ammo they try to stuff in it. That will get them into the .45 world without a lot of headaches and the potential for getting a gun that has to be sent back to the manufacturer, or a pistolsmith, to get running. Then, after shooting that for a while, if they still want a 1911, I help them choose a 1911