Making a mid size M&P 45?

[jsbsmarine]

Unfortunately my happy state does not allow the midsize M&P45 for non LEO sales, so I have been looking at possibly assembling a mid size.

Does anyone know if its technically feasible to take the frame from a full size and the slide off a compact to make a functional midsize M&P45?
Or will I run into issues?

Thanks!@

 

[GJH77]

Unfortunately my happy state does not allow the midsize M&P45 for non LEO sales,

Now this may be a silly question but which state and why would they prohibit the midsize, while from your post, presumably allowing the compact and full size?

 

[mlk18]

Because everyone knows that mid-sized guns cause rampant public shootings. Come on man, haven't you watched CNN or MSNBC before?

Sorry to the OP for not being able to answer your question. However it seems reasonable that the mid-size is simply a full size frame and compact slide.

 

[samurai]

I've put a 45c slide on a fs frame and it shot ok. I didn't compare it to a picture of the midsize to see if it looked the same.

 

[jsbsmarine]

Gents,
Sorry for not clarifying. It is the lovely state of California.
We have a certified "SAFE for sale" roster, and unfortunately the mid size isn't safe!!

Samurai, your post gives me hope. So you were actually able to fire with the two combined?
How did it shoot, no issues?

I plan on getting the slide milled for a leupold deltapoint regardless, so maybe i'll just purchase a full size pistol and see if i can pick up a compact slide somewhere and have that milled and modified.

 

[samurai]

I did it to answer the same question on another forum. I'll be going to the range in a couple days and I'll try it again and do a little bit better job of comparing results. will keep you posted.

 

[jsbsmarine]

Much appreciated sir, do let me know how it works out

 

[GJH77]

Gents,
Sorry for not clarifying. It is the lovely state of California.
We have a certified "SAFE for sale" roster, and unfortunately the mid size isn't safe!!

If a midsize is not allowed into California, if you buy the one or two guns and swap the slides, does that make you subject to some kind of prosecution as a manufacturer or if the gun is seen, at the range for example?

 

[SoCalDep]

If a midsize is not allowed into California, if you buy the one or two guns and swap the slides, does that make you subject to some kind of prosecution as a manufacturer or if the gun is seen, at the range for example?

No...there is nothing illegal about swapping the slides...it's a (dumb) CA law which restricts importation and sales except for law enforcement...In fact, if a law enforcement officer were to purchase a mid-size M&P .45 and decide he/she didn't like it, they can sell it as a private-party-transfer to anyone in the state who is allowed to purchase a handgun.

Manufacturers who want their pistols to be "allowed" to be sold in CA to regular customers must submit the pistol for safety testing. This testing is conducted by a contracted laboratory and it isn't cheap. Once the pistol is approved a fee is paid to the stated Dept. of Justice and the pistol is placed on a roster of handguns approved for sale. The manufacturer or importer must then pay a yearly fee to keep the pistol on the list. While some sight/grip variations are allowed, every single variation of a pistol (barrel length, finish, caliber, capacity, etc.) must be tested independently. With such a wide selection of pistols offered for sale, it's not surprising S&W isn't submitting all it's pistols at once. It would be very expensive.

In addition to all the above, a few years ago a new law was passed requiring loaded-chamber indicators and mag safeties on new models offered for sale. If a pistol was already on the "roster" it could be sold in the same configuration as already approved (ie: a Glock 17 does NOT need a mag safety or LCI) but any new pistol offered (ie: The M&P Pro or SD line) must pass the testing and feature the required configuration per CA law.

 

[jsbsmarine]

The gentleman above me is correct.
They call it a "safe handgun" certified roster, but it doesn't mean jack and diddly for really being safe.
Its just an easy way for California to make it difficult for newer handguns to find their way into the state.

I've taken two of my older glocks and placed lonewolf extended slides on them for competition. perfectly legal.

Another possible way of getting around the roster is through the "single shot" exemption rule. Essentially a handgun that cannot fire more than one shot and has a barrel longer than 7 inches is exempt from the roster. (thompson contender?)

So you can take a non roster handgun such as a wilson combat cqb in all black (only green black on the list), add a 7 inch barrel, and then semi-permanently block the magazine well so that it has a zero round magazine sled. You run the dros as a single shot exempt pistol and then after you take possession, you just pop off the mag block, and put the 5 in. barrel back in.

Really ridiculous and simple for many pistols. Its why you see a boatload of draco AK pistols coming into the state since they already have a long enough barrel and only require a blocked magazine to meet the requirements.

I've looked into possibly doing this for a midsize M&P45, but I haven't found a 7in barrel yet. Unless I can't find one for sell in the state, i'll just resort to buying a full size and buying a compact slide after the fact.

 

[presspics]

It's not just in California. Massachusetts doesn't allow the sale of the Midsize OR Compact .45!!! It's not even the states fault. S&W has not sent the Midsize or Compact .45 to get approved. According to a friend at S&W the company isn't going to submit those guns for approval or even the SD series guns. I think S&W is looking at Massachusetts as a place to help sell off overrun SIGMAs so they don't want to hurt it's sales by making the SD available. SIGMAs sell like hot cakes in Mass because there aren't a lot of other low cost options. As for the M&P 45, I have no idea why they won't submit them for approval with the state.

 

[GJH77]

..it's a (dumb) CA law which restricts importation and sales except for law enforcement...

Once the pistol is approved a fee is paid to the stated Dept. of Justice and the pistol is placed on a roster of handguns approved for sale. The manufacturer or importer must then pay a yearly fee to keep the pistol on the list.

Thanks for the info, I had heard about the list but did not know the ins/out of it like this. It does sound like in addition to trying to limit guns into the state, it is another way for them to try and keep the state out of bankruptcy.