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Stainless steel chassis on all M&P pistols?
- Thread starter Rebiker1
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BobRowe
Member
I'm not sure what you mean by the use of the term "chassis". If you're talking about the slide, then, yes, the compacts also have a stainless steel slide.
If you're talking about the polymer frame, please describe what part of the frame you're calling the "chassis".
If you're talking about the polymer frame, please describe what part of the frame you're calling the "chassis".
Frame chassis
According to S&W ads and also according to a few other sources on the net: :"The pistol frame is made out of Zytel polymer reinforced with a stainless steel chassis". I was wondering if this applies to the Compact Models as I don't really see it in my pistol (unless the chassis itself is embedded in the polymer). Does anyone know for sure? Thanks.
According to S&W ads and also according to a few other sources on the net: :"The pistol frame is made out of Zytel polymer reinforced with a stainless steel chassis". I was wondering if this applies to the Compact Models as I don't really see it in my pistol (unless the chassis itself is embedded in the polymer). Does anyone know for sure? Thanks.
chuck s
Member
It's imbedded. And they're probably all the same parts. And probably all are stainless steel. It's imbedded anyway...
-- Chuck
-- Chuck
The term "chassis" refers to the locking block and sear block that also have the frame rails that engage the slide. These are retained in the polymer frame with roll pins, although the frame is shaped to support them. The advantage of this system is that it allows replacement of worn parts without having to replace the entire serial numbered frame.
And yes, all the M&P variants share the same chassis...with the possible exception of the .45s. The locking block for the .45 shows as a different part number (ie, that would be a different chassis part). Information on the sear block wasn't available to me at the source I checked.
And yes, all the M&P variants share the same chassis...with the possible exception of the .45s. The locking block for the .45 shows as a different part number (ie, that would be a different chassis part). Information on the sear block wasn't available to me at the source I checked.
shadowrider
Member
This is all correct. The .45 is designed the same but is slightly larger in every respect. At least my M&P45 is compared to my 9 Pro and my daughters regular 9. But they assemble and work the exact same way.
bobkarno
Member
If you check out this link to the M&P E-Brochure and go to the second page you will see the "Stainless Steel" chassis.
Smith & Wesson M&P - Fine Tuned Machines - Inside Out
The chassis is molded into the polymer frame of the gun, and it is separate from the locking block and the sear block.
Smith & Wesson M&P - Fine Tuned Machines - Inside Out
The chassis is molded into the polymer frame of the gun, and it is separate from the locking block and the sear block.
Last edited:
bobkarno
Member
I suppose if you think of it in car terms a chassis usually consists of the structural part of the car separate from the body. I was just trying to point out that there is a steel piece molded into the gun which makes a solid sonnection between the locking and sear block and that it is not just metal being held in by plastic as was written above.
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Fastbolt
Member
The blackened stainless steel 'sub-chassis' is molded into the frame, on each side, of the M&P pistol.
The coil pins used to secure the sear housing block and the locking block pass through the steel sub-chassis, and essentially form a 'solid steel chassis' in the assembled M&P pistol. This has been described as helping distribute and mitigate recoil forces, with the forces acting first upon the steel parts, connected together into a rigid 'chassis' by steel pins, and helping spare the plastic (zytel) frame.
The way the steel frame rails are contained in the sear housing and locking block also helps spare the plastic frame, as the running forces during cycling are being directed to the steel blocks connected via the sub-chassis, and not just to frame rails inserts molded into the frame (which also makes rail replacement, if necessary, easily done at the armorer level).
This use of a steel sub-chassis, as it were, is one of the nice refinements offered in the M&P's which I think represents a nice evolution found in the plastic-framed service pistols. I suspect it will lend itself to durability and longevity.
The coil pins used to secure the sear housing block and the locking block pass through the steel sub-chassis, and essentially form a 'solid steel chassis' in the assembled M&P pistol. This has been described as helping distribute and mitigate recoil forces, with the forces acting first upon the steel parts, connected together into a rigid 'chassis' by steel pins, and helping spare the plastic (zytel) frame.
The way the steel frame rails are contained in the sear housing and locking block also helps spare the plastic frame, as the running forces during cycling are being directed to the steel blocks connected via the sub-chassis, and not just to frame rails inserts molded into the frame (which also makes rail replacement, if necessary, easily done at the armorer level).
This use of a steel sub-chassis, as it were, is one of the nice refinements offered in the M&P's which I think represents a nice evolution found in the plastic-framed service pistols. I suspect it will lend itself to durability and longevity.
