Rust on M&P's.

[cfr]

Greetings. Giving some thought to making the switch from a Gen 4 Glock 22 to the M&P .40. I really like the way it feels/ looks. However, googling something like "M&P rust" shows far more hits than I was expecting, even as recently as 2011.

I know I could send back in if needed, and S&W would take care of me. Still not something that sounds like much fun, just like I wouldnt rush out and buy a Gen 4 G19 while they're having lots of erratic ejections/ stovepipes either. Of course I also know that things get blown way out of proportion on the web.

What I cant find on the topic is if S&W knows what the issue is, and have made corrections to remedy the issues? I take pretty good care of my guns, but I have no desire to treat a combat pistol like a Diva in order to keep it from rusting.

Does anyone have the real skinny on this?

 

[oldandfatonaharley]

Seems unlikely, given that as I understand it, the metal parts of the pistol are stainless. Yeah, stainless can rust, too, but it usually has to be in a fairly extreme environment to do so.

 

[Kanewpadle]

I've owned 7 different M&P pistols and seen many more. Never seen rust on any of them.

If a gun gets rusty, that means it's not being taken care of IMO.

 

[twogunjay]

We have had several come back from customers due to rusting/oxidizing. It appears to be a poor batch of metalurgy as even though they are supposedly stainless, we have completely blasted them only to have them begin rusting within 2-3 days again.

 

[cfr]

We have had several come back from customers due to rusting/oxidizing. It appears to be a poor batch of metalurgy as even though they are supposedly stainless, we have completely blasted them only to have them begin rusting within 2-3 days again.

Are these recently produced guns?

 

[walkin' trails]

You should not have to treat your M&P like a diva. Anything made of steel is not completely rust proof, but the M&P should hold up well. As far as the stories about them rusting, I'd like to see where. One thing about them, or Glocks is that the internal parts are not coated with the the manufacters' anti corrosion stuff like the slides. Those parts will rust. Expose a Glock to something really caustic such as blood for an extended period of time and see how much damage it does to the springs and levers. They have to be replaced. I imagine the M&P's the same way. As long as you don't store it in a bucket of sea water and clean it once every couple of years whether it needs it or not, you should be good. A friend of mine who claimed he had exessively caustic sweat to go with his caustic personality swore up and down that any gun he carried in an IWB rusted, including a Glock, but I never saw any evidence of his claims.

 

[cfr]

As far as the stories about them rusting, I'd like to see where.

Do some googling, you'll see/ hear of many slides rusting. To be clear, Im really not trying to freak out any current owners, more hoping for some reassurance in making the switch.

 

[sna0403]

I worked the gate at the jail in a rainstorm. Moron that I am, got distracted and put it on the shelf when I got home. It was dry & I didn't think about it. Three days later (I carry a 1911 off duty) I got it out, took it apart and didn't find anything out of the ordinary. A little Hoppe's and back to work with it. BUT, I won't make that mistake again!

 

[twogunjay]

Are these recently produced guns?

All different dates from 2.5 years ago to around 6 months ago. Some were marked stainless and some where not. We also wondered at first if it was a series of serial numbers but found that there was no commonality. One individual bought theirs new, never fired it, stored it in the safe and pulled it out a year later to find rust bubbles and pitting all over it. This customer has around 120 guns and stores them right. He has a beautiful custom home and no moisture issues. It is important to note that no other blued guns were rusted and after we stripped and bead blasted the gun, it continued to rust. This gun was marked stainless and no matter what we did (bead blast, coat with heavy oil, etc) it would continue to rust. It finally went back to Smith. They acknowledged there was a problem and sent out a new complete upper.

 

[mlk18]

I currently own a half dozen M&P's and have never had issues with them rusting. I have heard of the phenomenon, but I have never seen it in person. My duty M&P has seen rain, snow, heat, humidity, sand, dirt and body sweat and has never rusted. Some days I am able to wipe it down with a CLP coated rag and other days it just lives in a Safariland holster.

 

[turbo38gn]

Rusting is not a problem. Like it's been said, if it rusts, we usually have to do something exotic to it. I ONCE.... noticed a few specs of rust on the side, tip of my slide after wearing it IWB against my sweaty body for months into the summer. When I noticed it, I didn't come online or call S&W and whine about my SS slide rusting. I know what and why it happened, cleaned it, oiled it and haven't seen a spec on any of my M&P's since.

Is it possible a few slides had a problem, bad metal, improper handling... it happens. It doesn't make all M&P junk... really, look somewhere else for problems. The M&P is one of the finest guns in it's class. That's the real SKINNY... So stop acting like a Diva.. There isn't a rust issue, maintain your gun normally and you'll most likely never have a problem..

 

[cfr]

All different dates from 2.5 years ago to around 6 months ago. Some were marked stainless and some where not. We also wondered at first if it was a series of serial numbers but found that there was no commonality. One individual bought theirs new, never fired it, stored it in the safe and pulled it out a year later to find rust bubbles and pitting all over it. This customer has around 120 guns and stores them right. He has a beautiful custom home and no moisture issues. It is important to note that no other blued guns were rusted and after we stripped and bead blasted the gun, it continued to rust. This gun was marked stainless and no matter what we did (bead blast, coat with heavy oil, etc) it would continue to rust. It finally went back to Smith. They acknowledged there was a problem and sent out a new complete upper.

This is a bummer.

 

[cfr]

There isn't a rust issue, maintain your gun normally and you'll most likely never have a problem..

Some Glock fanboys also claim theres no issues with Gen4 G19's erratic ejections/ stovepipes, and that it's all due to limp wristing too.

My guess is that this issue, like in that issue, the web has blown it way out of proportion.

I really like the M&P -- more than my G22. This switch, based on these issues, is a scary proposition. Chances are you're right though, and that Id never likely have an issue.

 

[cshoff]

My M&P40c has developed a couple small spots of rust on the slide several times, and it isn't due to lack of care. It's been because I carry IWB day in and day out, rain, snow, or shine, and the gun is exposed to sweat and the elements on a regular basis. A quick wipe down with an oil-impregnated cloth as soon as it's noticed, removes the rust easy enough. It's a gun. I don't baby it. The thought to send it back or to complain about it never really crossed my mind.

 

[weum817]

My Law Enforcement agency (150 Officers) just switched to Glock Gen 4 from M&P 40..A large number of them including mine rusted easily. We contacted Smith and they gave us all new slides. They said there was a problem with the melonite finish they put on them.

 

[Forsmithers]

I have been carrying an issued M&P40C since April 2008 and even when exposed to rain I have not seen any rusting whatsoever. I have some co-workers that have had some pitting on their night sights but that is from failing to keep those clean and oiled. So far, the barrel and slide are spot free. I also have 3K+ rounds downrange in the M&P and the only noticeable wear is the chamber hood has some rub marks where it locks in and out of the slide when it cycles.

Needless-to-say I have been very impressed with the lack of wear on the pistol and that the melonite coated stainless seems impervious to rust from rain water. Although... I am not in an area that has salt spray or anything like that either.

 

[jaykellogg]

Stainless steel parts can rust due to carbon steel being embedded during the manufacturing process. Carbon steel cutters will leave bits of steel behind. Blasting won't help. Dipping the parts in acid to "passivate" the surface is the solution.

 

[cfr]

My Law Enforcement agency (150 Officers) just switched to Glock Gen 4 from M&P 40..A large number of them including mine rusted easily. We contacted Smith and they gave us all new slides. They said there was a problem with the melonite finish they put on them.

Did S&W indicate if they had resolved the issue?

 

[264BORESTEVE]

Every evening before bed I clear my weapon, inspect in and out with slide locked open, rotate ammo and reload, and wipe down with clp before placing back in carry holster. Also have two holsters in case one gets wet with sweat, rain, etc. so one can be drying out. This takes all of 2 minutes or less and I have never had even a carbon steel pistol rust. Not saying it can't happen! This has just served me well for over 25 years and gives me peace of mind that my equipment is always in good condition and ready should I ever need it.

 

[Capt Crunch]

I've heard leather holster's can promote rust? Has anyone found this to be the case?