New owner of S&W M&P 40

[jammer45]

I am now a owner of a new S&W M&P 40. I will not go into saying a proud owner or happy owner as of yet I just bought it yesterday and I don't know but I have not had the time or did not do any research or anything on the pistol I was looking at spending alot less for a pistol and had been looking at the Stoeger cougar and xd 40 and maybe a Taurus P840 and I went to gun shop and seemed everyone got there income taxes yesterday. they only had a few 40 cals there I was looking for something around $400 or maybe $500 out the door total. I picked it up and it melted to my hand best fitting since my 4006 S&W from many years ago. My wife surprised me by telling me to go ahead and get it she would pay difference for valentines day. I got it cause I knew the name and S&W's reputation. I paid $575.00+tax of course and I came home to get on net to look at reviews and noticed there is alot of neg. on the weapon and alot of neutral on it also, there is not much on you tube or anything I just hope I didn't get hose to bad on the deal. I am not a patient guy and I didn't want to wait to order and the guy behind me wanted it and told owner he would give him $600.00 for it so I think that is why he stuck to the $575.00 on it but he did give me 200rds of ball ammo with it. Please any vibes on it would be great pro and cons please.

Thanks in advance, Jammer

 

[brucev]

The M&P is an excellent design. In .40 S&W it is a very good combination of power and capacity. There are a number of threads on this site that will give you plenty of information about these pistols. Clean your new M&P, lube it then take your ammo and put some rounds down range.

 

[MyLastRook]

Jammer:

I don't know where you've been hearing the negative reviews. But let me reassure you. Check any of the M&P vs _____ threads on Ar15.com. The M&P is consistently put in the same reliabilty and egonomic class as the H&K's and Sig's.

The M&P is generally recommended over pistols like the Springfield XD.

The M&P was a slow starter. It took a while for people to realize, just how good a new pistol S&W had fielded. This was not just another Sigma or Wather 99 clone. The M&P was the reappearance of S&W as one of the grand old houses of AMERICAN HEAVY METAL.

 

[Yattan]

I've heard nothing but good things about these guns. Be sure to post back here after you shoot it and let us know what you think! Congrats on your new purchase! Maybe I could sell the whole valentines thing to my fiance....hmmm, I'll get back to you on that one, lol.

 

[meh65]

Took my M&P .40c to pistol defense class yesterday. 150 rounds down range zero problems! Accurate, reliable and fun. Looking forward to getting out more with it.

 

[UHSAK88]

I think for a defensive pistol this says it all:

"I picked it up and it melted to my hand best fitting since my 4006 S&W from many years ago."

The most important thing (aside from the workmanship, which I've heard good things about on the M&Ps) when you buy a defensive pistol is exactly that: Will you want to carry it? Does it fit you? How does it feel in your hand?"

If you're going to spend time with it, that's the #2 criterion IHMO. Here in MA I know a lot of people who swear by their M&Ps. 200 rounds of practice/break-in ammo. plus a gun that you feel comfortable with is a great start.

I know of course that this isn't a Ruger forum but that's the main reason I bought an SR-9 in addition to my S&W 4040PD and I haven't been disappointed by either. When I went to make purchases, I tried a lot of pistols "on for size" and out of them all I liked the 4040PD and the SR-9 the best, and it shows, because I *use* them. I carry them, and I enjoy shooting with them, and that's how you get good with them.

Shoot it!

 

[UHSAK88]

Just as an aside, I have a theory: certain handguns are to men of a certain kind what handbags and shoes are to women of a certain kind.

To me this means that if your wife surprised you by helping you purchase this, it means that the best way to reciprocate is to help her purchase a really nice pair of shoes and a clutch or handbag of her choice.

Life works better that way, I find.

 

[thedr15]

Don't be mis-led by any neg. reviews. I own an M&P 40cal myself.
As you state, it fits my hand better than any of the polymer guns.
It shoots like a dream and it is as accurate as my Browning Hipower.
I've owned mine for about 6 months and it shoots any ammo I put in it.
I put an Insight minilite on it and it's my Home defense gun.
Take it from me....You will enjoy your S&W M&P 40.

 

[rremt_p]

I got a new M&P 45 compact yesterday, all I can say is wow. I was in trouble as soon as I picked it up, its sits well in my hand, and has a very natural point of aim. I took it out to the range today, put a 100+ rounds through it with no problems at all, and it shoots great too about an inch low at 10 yds with blazer 230gr ball and a sub 3 inch group. I'm a convert, gonna get the 9mm for my wife next.

 

[Swabby]

I would not worry until you actually shoot it. There are way more positive reviews of the M&P series on here than there are negative ones. Now, over on the Glock forum, that may be a different story. The M&P has many features that put it first in the poly-framed class, in my opinion. The two most noticeable are the grip and the trigger. The ergonomics of the grip are great and the trigger has a shorter stroke, resets quicker, and is not as heavy as most other pistols of this style. The bore's axis is low in the frame, so the entire gun recoils more straight back than flipping upward, making it easier to stay on target between shots. The sights are low-profile but easy to pick up on target. The mag release and slide stop can be reached w/o having to re-adjust your hand. The slide and barrel are stainless steel under the Melonite finish. The frame has an integrated rail, an elongated trigger guard for a gloved finger, and the grip is stippled for a non-slip surface. The slide's edges are contoured which makes it easier to carry and look better than a totally square gun. The magazines are high capacity, steel mags which drop freely from the mag well when empty, full or partially full. The M&P field strips easily w/o having to pull the trigger and is really easy to clean and maintain. Finally, it is an accurate handgun, shooting far better than most practical combat situations demand. All in all, I would say you made the right choice.

 

[shawn mccarver]

Excellent pistol. You will find it fits and performs well.

 

[glen_farmer]

M&P 40

We must be related. I too have a 4006 and a M&P 40 also. The M&P 40 has just over 4000 rounds blasted out of it. In IDPA competition and lots of target shooting not one problem has surfaced.

The M&P 40 has been such a jewel that a M&P 9L and 45 have joined it.

You did good.

 

[Big Bronze Rim]

I love my M&P .40. I did a fair amount of research before purchasing and did see some of the negative comments but all seemed to be related to early production guns. Upon holding it in the store in comparison to a Glock 22, XD40 and a Taurus model (I can't remember which), it was by far the most comfortable and aesthetically pleasing of them all. I have since put about 500 rounds through it and am more impressed than the day I bought it. The decent trigger pull feels even nicer and did not have one problem with the assorted ammo put through the gun. I liked it so much I got my wife the 9mm Julie Goloski edition M&P. She is extremely happy with hers as well. Enjoy your purchase and don't worry about what you have read.

 

[jammer45]

Thanks all for the kind words and leads to other sites and more info on the pistol. I stated I paid $575+7% tax is this a fair price or did I get hosed?

 

[eod354]

Just my opinion, but I think you got a great deal.

Now for the gun...I'm an instructor and I see alot of guns come through the classes. I haven't been impressed with anything new in a long time and tend to strongly favor glocks as a defensive handgun. Rugers, SIGs, HKs, XDs, Berettas, new hot gun of the day, etc.... not impressed, certainly not enough to trade in my glocks. However, I recently shot a friend's M&P full size .357sig and then another in 9mm. I just ordered the .357sig and will be picking up one in 9mm shortly...in other words, I'm impressed. I have quite a few guns but carry Glocks or a S&W J frame almost exclusively, but looks like I might start carrying the M&P .357sig for CCW.

What I like: Reliable, grip erognomics, controllable, accurate.

Would Change: the sights, I prefer the glock sights in steel
or the 24/7 express sights. I haven't had a chance to really work with the trigger, but if that reset could be like my S&W
3rd gen triggers...it'd be perfect.

You did well.

 

[HighStrung]

I actually just ordered my M&P40c today also. I paid $560 + 5% sales tax but that was also thru my wifes uncle who ownes a gun store, you did just fine on this one. I've seen them priced in other local stores in upwards of $750. As for the gun itself, I've been doing research for about a month now, read every forum that I could find, and held both the full size and the compact about 10 different times each. Everything that this past month has lead me to believe that this was exactly what I wanted. Feel in hand, natural pointer, S&W's rep plus warranty, and so much positive feedback from current owners made this a no brainer for me. I should have mine on Friday and I already know that I'm happy with it. Good luck with your new purchase, I'm sure you'll find it better than you even expected.

 

[Bigpoppa]

I have a M&P357Sig but I also have a 40S&Wbarrel which means I also have an M&P40. I love the interchangability of this platform. It has been completely reliable in either caliber. Although I carry the 357Sig but I would not feel at any disadvantage carrying the 40S&W and I do from time to time with 15 + 1 of Federal 165gr HST hollowpoints or Winchester Supreme PDX1 165grain hollowpoints.

 

[Swabby]

I paid $559 plus 6% tax for mine last spring. My friend and I special ordered a pair from one of our local dealers. We both bought M&P40's with no internal lock and no magazine safety. Here in PA the prices have been ranging from $549 - $579.

 

[jammer45]

Well Mine does have the magazine safety which I see as a good and bad thing depending on the situation. for me I see it as a possible problem if I was to get into a situation and a round jam or bad mag spring and would not cycle and had to fire it at a person charging me or if I was to get into a grapple match and the intruder was to grab my shooting hand and maybe dislodge the mag. or something then I would not have that shot to get him or her off me. Maybe it could come down to a magazine catch failure or something where the mag came loose during firing oe something. I just don't like the safety.

 

[leejack]

Congratulations on your new gun!

Lee