Tell me about the M&P40

[23 Blast]

Hello all,

I've owned quite a number of Smith revolvers over the years, and even once owned a Model 645, but am not too familiar with Smith's semi-auto pistols.

I am thinking of acquiring an M&P40, with the plan to also purchase a 9mm conversion barrel so that I can combine two calibers in one gun.

Would there be any issues in doing so, and would you recommend the APEX upgrades (DCAEK and FRE)?

I was originally thinking of getting either a Glock 22 or 23 and going that route, but I've owned several Glocks in the past and wound up selling all of them. They're fantastic guns, no doubt, but they just don't "fit" me too well. I had the chance to handle an M&P in the store not too long ago and I was pleased with how it felt in my hand. The fact that it also has adjustable backstraps helped my decision.

 

[bounty hunter]

I have had both the Glock 23 and M&P 40, and in my opinion there is no comparison. Glock is a good gun, but when I held the M&P 40 it just felt like it was supposed to be in my hand. I am left handed, so the ambi controls are a plus, and the 3 different grip sizes will fit just about anyone. The M&P 40 is the softest recoiling .40 handgun I have ever shot, and I think it is due to the low bore axis and double spring system. I do not have the APEX upgrades yet, but I know that the more you shoot the factory trigger the more it breaks in. Kind of like a baseball glove. You can also get the .357 barrel and have basically three guns in one. It would be an excelletn choice and a tried and true companion for you for many years to come.

 

[oneoff]

The M&P 40 was the first non-1911 "pistol" that I decided I really liked, and was not just a tool. I sold my first one when I got the compact version, and found myself shooting rings around the full-size with it. I have the Storm-Lake conversion; and although it was not touble-free, Storm Lake made it all right. I installed the Apex sear and block (only) on both of these pistols, and cannot say enough good about them. In fact, the install didn't go well on the compact that I've kept, and Apex paid for shipping both ways, and did a full trigger job on it for free. Apparently my pistol was just a shake out of spec, and they chalked it up to a learning experience. That's good business!
I wish you well, I don't think you'll regret it, and if you do, you'll probably get your money back if you buy & sell carefully.

 

[23 Blast]

Great! Thanks for the replies.

Has anyone dropped in a conversion barrel? What were your experiences with it?

 

[bob98366]

I love my 40 Pro 5" barrel. Suggest finding a range that rents pistols and see what you like.

 

[Rastoff]

Great! Thanks for the replies.

Has anyone dropped in a conversion barrel? What were your experiences with it?

I didn't get a "conversion" barrel per say, but I did get a factory 9mm barrel for mine. It works just fine, but the brass ejects kind of weakly. I've only fired about 200 rounds of 9mm with that set up and I had no troubles. However, because of the weak ejection, I could see potential troubles down the road. To do the conversion right, you'll need a barrel, magazines and a slightly lighter recoil spring.

Now, I've done this, but I really don't recommend it. If you want a 9mm, get a 9mm. Historically, machines that handle multiple roles end up not doing any of them really well. While you can convert to a 9mm, it's not the best idea.

There are potential safety issues as well. This didn't happen with an M&P, but it did happen. A guy was shooting a .45 and a .40S&W and alternating between them. I don't know how, but he got a .40 round in one of the .45 magazines. He loaded a new mag, racked the slide and then got a click. Suspecting a feeding failure, he racked the slide again and pulled the trigger. This time he blew up the barrel. What happened was the .40 round had traveled just a little way down the barrel and became an obstruction.

So, if you do the conversion, I highly recommend taking only one caliber to the range. At least separate the ammo and shoot one until your done and then shoot the other.

 

[23 Blast]

Thanks for the advice, Rastoff. Yes, I plan to only shoot one caliber at a time. I just wanted the versatility of having multiple calibers with the same gun. During this latest ammo shortage, I remember that when 9mm and .45 were scarce, .40 was still moderately available.

If I get the .40, I'll just buy an OEM 9mm barrel from S&W.

 

[myndsplyntur]

My husband just recently got his MP40 Pro series, and he did get an Apex trigger kit for it. The trigger that comes with it SUCKS, imo.

As has already been mentioned, the recoil is really low, and it shoots like a dream. He and I have only been shooting for a little over a year now, and the first 50 rounds we put through it were all in the center of the silhouette. I'm going to use this gun when I take my CCL class, instead of my Beretta PX4 Storm Compact 9mm.

I love it.

 

[Rastoff]

If I get the .40, I'll just buy an OEM 9mm barrel from S&W.

I think that is a good plan. However, there is a flaw. S&W no longer sells barrels to the public. So, to get a factory barrel you'll have to buy it from a retailer like Brownells or Midway USA. The problem with that is that they've been out of stock since July 2013.

So, if you're patient, you can get a factory barrel. If you want it sooner, Storm Lake, or some other after market place, is the only choice.

 

[wantmoresmiths]

I bought a used full size M&P 40 about 6 months ago. It came the APEX spring kit (Duty/carry version) already installed, but still has the factory trigger. Like most M&P's it shot low with the factory sights, so I installed a set of Dawson Precision adjustable sights. I'm so hooked on this gun that I have since sold my 9mm 1911. For me there is no need to buy a 9mm barrel for the M&P, I simply load down the 40 to minor power factor. This works great for IDPA, USPSA (production) and steel. I could load it up to make major power factor if I want to shoot USPSA Limited. These old eyes really appreciate the larger diameter holes in the paper targets compared to the 9mm. Helps me to confirm my hits more quickly than with the 9mm. I recommend avoiding the FRE trigger since it affects your ability to use the gun in competition (I never thought I would be involved in competitive shooting, now I'm a competition junkie always looking for my next fix).

 

[bikendan]

Has anyone dropped in a conversion barrel? What were your experiences with it?

i got a Storm Lake conversion barrel because i felt it was worth the extra money to have the correct tolerances.
i've had zero issues with it and it shoots just as accurately as the stock 40 barrel.
i bought the 40 for the same reason. target practice with the 9mm and use the 40 for home defense. i do shoot some practice 40 fmj rounds just to get used to the differences between the two calibers.

 

[Travis15R]

The M&P .40 Full size was the first hand gun I ever bought. The reason I bought it was b/c of how good it felt in my hands. I knew I wanted a .40 but I just didn't know which one. Its a really great gun. A friend of mine errr... ex friend I suppose just recently got a Glock .40 and has had nothing but problems with it, I said from the start.....Should have bought a S&W