Thinking about trying M&P9 again

[SW CQB 45]

bought one in 2012 and later sold it. trigger was too soft for my big paws and I did not like the idea of spending more money for Apex parts to make the trigger more crisp with positive feeling reset.

I have been driving a Glock for a while and want to try current issue M&P9 with the 1:10 barrel.

Is there a manufacture date or serial number range when the new 1:10 barrels started so I don't end up buying old stock?

Looks like Quantico Tactical has decent pricing for LEO and I am sure they flush out all out stock…but just want to be sure.

thanks in advance

 

[MiniZ]

I have no knowledge on what serial range you would be looking for to get the 1:10.

But I wanted to throw out that police trade in may not be any newer than the 2012 you were unhappy with.

Also, is the 1:10 barrel enough for you to overlook the trigger you were unhappy with?

 

[moose1953us]

you should probably visit a pistol range that rents them, try it out, and decide for yourself before buying one again.

 

[SW CQB 45]

My buddy has a 5" he will let me borrow.

I have been behind a Glock since 1993 (dept issue) and very in tune with the Glock trigger. In 2012, comparing Glock trigger to M&P trigger, my thoughts were not to spend any extra on Apex parts to get the M&P trigger to feel better in my big paws.

Accuracy was ok but never put it to a real test as I recall every time I went to the range…..conditions were less than ideal. I don't think I gave it enough time to smooth into as I was into Glock.

I am actually having an argument with myself over where to spend my hard earned dollar first…..M&P9 or CZ P09.

I actually want both….but leaning toward SW first. I am fully prepared to spend extra on trigger parts for the best duty type trigger using Apex parts. I am not looking for light, looking for crisp 6 lbs break with a positive felt reset. (Like Glock)

If 1:10 barrels are a huge improvement over the original twist….I am all in. I have no range in my area that rents guns. If I find one used at a good price, just wanting to know when 1:10 started so I don't buy an old one.

TIA

 

[marine6680]

I bought a compact a few months ago, and just replaced the stock trigger with an apex poly unit.

The trigger was improved a good deal with that... The mushy feel went away.

The break was still lacking though, so I did some polishing and stoning and it's very good now.

Not as good as my full size with the full apex kit though...

S&W customer service may be able to help with the date range for the barrel switch.

 

[Bkreutz]

If 1:10 barrels are a huge improvement over the original twist….I am all in. I have no range in my area that rents guns. If I find one used at a good price, just wanting to know when 1:10 started so I don't buy an old one.

TIA

The reason for the 1:10 barrel switch was to help stabilize heavier bullets (147 and up). I use KKM barrels in my competition guns but I shoot 124gr bullets. I haven't noticed any accuracy difference between the 1:18 KKM and the 1:10 S&W barrels. Maybe I would if I used heavier bullets. I use the KKM because I wanted more chamber support than the factory barrels because I shoot 9 Major loads in addition the slower twist rate is (IMO) a bit better with the speed that I'm running my bullets (1400 fps). IIRC the change to the faster twist happened in spring 2013. So I guess my recommendation is that unless you plan to shoot the heavier bullets, don't worry about the rifling. (and the dots on the barrel don't have any relation to the twist rate, contrary to internet rumors )

 

[SW CQB 45]

Hilton Yam posted this on Modern Service Weapons in June 2013.

The S&W M&P barrels have been one of the main weak points of the gun, as the original barrels with the 1:18.75″ twist were often quite ammunition sensitive, shooting some bullet weights better than others. The second generation of barrels (above, top) changed the transition geometry between the chamber and barrel for improved durability. This apparent third generation of barrels (above, bottom) now has a faster twist, and appears to be approximately 1:10, similar to what CZ and Glock use. In a limited survey of 10 new production full size 9mm M&Ps from this spring, the guns all included this barrel. Initial test firing with 115, 124, and 147 grain ammunition seems to show that these new barrels now provide Glock-like performance and accuracy with the various weights, not showing a preference for any one weight. It is still too early to provide a sweeping endorsement, but this initial testing is quite positive.[I/]

I would much prefer the 1:10 barrel based on his findings. Since no date has surfaced….I would think any M&P9 manufactured in 2014 and new would be the updated barrel.

thanks for the info

 

[hokiefyd]

I am actually having an argument with myself over where to spend my hard earned dollar first…..M&P9 or CZ P09.

I've owned both, and can offer my opinion. The P-09 was the first full-sized 9mm I bought...a few years ago. It shot very straight -- I really shot that gun well. Some of the positives were the 19+1 capacity and the very good CZ build quality. It's not a custom-tuned gun or anything, but you can really tell that it's a quality gun. That said, there were a number of things I disliked about it, enough to sell it, and I'll outline those below:

(1) The internal slide rails left a lot of the metal slide contacting the plastic frame. It *sounded* like a plastic gun when you racked the slide. I just couldn't get passed that. I know the material quality of the gun was good, but it just didn't give off a precision sound. Dumb, I know. But it was a factor.

(2) The trigger was weird. It was a DA/SA trigger, and the DA pull was stiff and a bit gritty, and the SA pull was lighter and somewhat mushy. CZ shooters raved about it. I just didn't care for it.

(3) It was harder to manipulate in a hurry, such as during malfunction drills. You only have about half the slide sticking up out of the frame (due to the internal rails), so you don't have much to grab to begin with. And then too, unlike a Glock or an M&P, the CZ has big fat controls on the sides of the gun, so you catch your hand on those.

I sold it and almost bought an M&P or G17. I bought a metal CZ 75 instead. Didn't like THAT, either. In the end, I sold that and bought what I should have to begin with: an M&P 9 that I just adore. Plus...it has that very nice metal "snick snick" sound when you rack the slide.

Different guns fit different folks differently. The P-09 may indeed be right for you. I would recommend paying attention to some of the negatives above, though, and make sure you can work around those if they bother you as well.

 

[SW CQB 45]

I've owned both, and can offer my opinion. The P-09 was the first full-sized 9mm I bought...a few years ago. It shot very straight -- I really shot that gun well. Some of the positives were the 19+1 capacity and the very good CZ build quality. It's not a custom-tuned gun or anything, but you can really tell that it's a quality gun. That said, there were a number of things I disliked about it, enough to sell it, and I'll outline those below:

(1) The internal slide rails left a lot of the metal slide contacting the plastic frame. It *sounded* like a plastic gun when you racked the slide. I just couldn't get passed that. I know the material quality of the gun was good, but it just didn't give off a precision sound. Dumb, I know. But it was a factor.

(2) The trigger was weird. It was a DA/SA trigger, and the DA pull was stiff and a bit gritty, and the SA pull was lighter and somewhat mushy. CZ shooters raved about it. I just didn't care for it.

(3) It was harder to manipulate in a hurry, such as during malfunction drills. You only have about half the slide sticking up out of the frame (due to the internal rails), so you don't have much to grab to begin with. And then too, unlike a Glock or an M&P, the CZ has big fat controls on the sides of the gun, so you catch your hand on those.

I sold it and almost bought an M&P or G17. I bought a metal CZ 75 instead. Didn't like THAT, either. In the end, I sold that and bought what I should have to begin with: an M&P 9 that I just adore. Plus...it has that very nice metal "snick snick" sound when you rack the slide.

Different guns fit different folks differently. The P-09 may indeed be right for you. I would recommend paying attention to some of the negatives above, though, and make sure you can work around those if they bother you as well.

hokiefyd……EXCELLANT POST!!!!

you have made my mind up between the two. I have unusually large hands and did not think the short exposed slide serrations might be ideal for my hand size.

I also think my Glocks need some treatment as the older I get, the more slippery my grip feels. I would like to try an ATEi modified slide serrations for more positive grip.

I will just stick with M&P for my next 9mil.

thanks

 

[Fastbolt]

One of the other guys (younger instructor, still in his "acquisition"stage of life ) picked up a M&P9 Pro 5" sometime last Fall. He's owns a few M&P's and Glocks, and just trd off an older M&9 VTAC before getting another standard M&P9 & the Pro 5".

Anyway, I tried his new Pro 5" with our standard 124gr +P duty ammo, and it not only was a tack-driver, but the trigger was smooth, light-feeling and had a clean break. I didn't pay any attention to the loudness of the mechanical reset, as I'm a longtime trigger recovery shooter for defensive application. I save the shoot-to-reset for leisurely, unhurried target shooting.

I didn't have a gauge with me, but the way his trigger felt it could've easily been at the lighter end of the normal range for the 5" 9Pro, which is listed at 4 - 5 1/2 lbs on their website (never got the engineering specs for other than the standard models).

It felt better to me (and him) than one of his other M&9's (that he only uses for range enjoyment) in which he'd previously installed the popular aftermarket parts.

The newer stock M&P 9/40's have been feeling good, though,as I've randomly sampled new ones we've received for duty issue. I let them grab me a boxed M&P40 off the top of a stack of new ones for my new duty weapon.

It was virtually bone dry (which struck me as odd, considering the guns saturated with packaging oil I've seen over the years ), as were the mags. I gave it a quick visual inspection and took it downrange, where Ir an 160-odd rounds through it (mix of 180gr ball & one of the current duty loads), and then took it back the next day to run another 100-odd rounds of some more ball and this time some mixed JHP's we've used.

The M&P40 fed fired everything with equal aplomb and monotony, and it produced fast, tight groupings. No sight adjustments. I finished the second day by making a few called hits on staggered wooden clothespins pinned to the target cardboards out at 5-7+ yds.

Good enough for gov work, I'd think.

I actually like the overall grip (using small insert) better than either my M&P40c or my M&P45 FS w/manual safeties. Significantly better grip ergos than my SW9940, too.

Not bad.

I'd have taken a M&P9, but they've become more popular than expected as the 9's, .40's & .45's were rolled out for issuance. I thought it'd be more appropriate if I left what remains of them for any guys or gals who are working full time and who want/need a 9 instead of a .40/.45

FWIW, the M&P40 is one of the softest shooting .40's I've ever used, owned or tried. The M&P9 Pro 5" reminded me of shooting a K-frame competition gun firing something between target wadcutters, and the standard M&P9 using 130gr ball. Very nice.

 

[SW CQB 45]

Fastbolt, good to hear from you. I thought your were retired

Sounds like your dept transitioned to M&Ps and is going well?

I plan to borrow my buddies 5" MP9 and test it out, but I will be going down the MP road.

Now to just find some $$$ laying around.

 

[Fastbolt]

Still retired, but they kept me on in a reserve capacity. I help out with firearms & other training, armorer support and some odds and ends. Still gives me a chance to pick some classes to attend or teach now and again.

The roll-out of the M&P's has gone fine. The usual little hiccup here & there you always expect, but they've been very well received.

No way I'd want to be doing any of this full time again, though.

 

[JJEH]

I had a regular .40 and didn't like the trigger pull. But on the 9 Pro I have it's excellent. Very crisp, breaks clean, short reset.