Trying to love my M&P 9C (again)

[mlk18]

I have more M&P's than I have fingers (and I didn't take shop class so I have all of them), but the one that just never really caught on with me is my 9mm compact. As a Glock 19 convert I still think S&W missed and continues to miss the boat. There's a reason why the G19 is (a) the best selling Glock since the late 90's and (b) the gun every new gun gets compared too. [Are you reading this S&W!] Anyway with my big meat paws I cannot get a good purchase on it, even with their awful pinky extension-like-triangle that S&W ships with the gun. The very bottom edge hits my pinky finger about 1/3 of the way down and is not fun or comfortable to shoot. The flat base pad (compact or full size) and its 2 finger only grip is not my thing. Not at all. Worse yet my 9C has (had) the worst factory trigger I have ever seen in an M&P. I replaced the trigger bar, slide lock, added an Apex hard sear and polished it up only to manage a gritty 6.5lb pull. Put in the entire DCAEK and polished some more, now 5.8lb with a little less grit. Removed the DCAEK and installed the Apex FSS and got it right where I wanted it (finally). Tried shooting it again, but still just couldn't get used to the short grip. Tried to make some mag extension work from other gun makes/models. The XD +2 by Pearce worked pretty well but was not worthy of serious use. Tried stuff from Arredondo and MecGar, no go. Since I didn't shoot it, I didn't fall in love with it, and the 9C got thrown into the safe to live a sad rangeless existence.

A few weeks ago I pulled out one of my old Glock 19's (darn you Gaston and your stupid hump) to see if I could return to the world of Austrian plastic. Then I realized something, actually a couple things. First, man I hate the ergos of Glock. Second, every time I bought a G19 I took it to my local smith and had him undercut the trigger guard. Gave me a bit more grip and improved the overall feel. So I started searching Google and low and behold it seems this is not an uncommon mod the 9C as well. Maybe with some serious undercutting I can actually get a 3 finger hold and my love for the 9C can manifest. We shall see as soon as I can get my gunsmith to give it a go. Anyone else undercut their M&P trigger guard?

 

[cwhy_99]

Well I have the MP 9 FSN and I have heard you can use the larger magazine in the 9c. I have 17+1 magazine. That might give you more room on the grip.

 

[DMSC]

As a long time G19 lover, I agree that the G19 is the right size gun and the 9c has a too short grip. I don't have 'big meat paws' but the 9c still doesn't settle into my hand the way the G19 does.

The G19 is like a long time friend and the 9c is more of a visiting in-law who's stayed longer than originally planned!

Oh, I shoot it fine but even my Shield 9 feels a lot better.

The M&P that feels the most G19-ish size is the 45c. I can tell which one is in my hand blindfolded but size wise they are close.

Sent from my VK810 4G using Tapatalk

 

[motorcyclejoe]

I love my 9c with the extension. And yes, the 9c can use the full size mag with the S&W spacer, giving you a full size grip.

 

[mlk18]

I have the A&G grip adapters with the set screw and am currently giving away my X-grips in the "lounge" sub-forum as a karma. If you like them then more power to you, but making a short barreled gun with a full size grip feels pointless to me for anything other than range fun. Grip length is 75% of concealability (with the other 25% being width). A 9L cut down to a 9C in the grip would still conceal as well as a 9C. I wrote to Pearce and other basepad/extension makers hoping for something better, but apparently not enough of the population is buying the 9C or has large hands. If the undercut doesn't work I am going to move on from the 9C and just stick with my Shield 9mm / LCP 380 combo for concealment.

 

[SickMAK90]

I actually like the size of the 9c over the g19. I don't have the problems you have and if I run the flush mag having a finger completely off the grip doesn't bother me either.

 

[cwhy_99]

I actually have a shield on layaway that I am going get it this week. It will be my edc.

 

[Aahzz]

I adore my 9c, but I agree it'd be nice to have a 15 round mag in a G19 sized M&P. The Glock 19 is the Beige Toyota Camry of the handgun world - reliable and everybody has one, but just so not sexy...S&W needs to give us a Honda Accord .

 

[Arik]

The M&Pc was too small for me. Like you, I couldn't get all my fingers on it, I have the same problem with G26/27. However, for me if it doesn't work I'm not gonna buy it and pay to have mods. It either fits or it doesnt. So I stick with my G19 as the smallest semi auto I own. I actually like that hump. It fits directly into the grove of my thumb

 

[Wee Hooker]

I have the A&G grip adapters with the set screw and am currently giving away my X-grips in the "lounge" sub-forum as a karma. If you like them then more power to you, but making a short barreled gun with a full size grip feels pointless to me for anything other than range fun. Grip length is 75% of concealability (with the other 25% being width). A 9L cut down to a 9C in the grip would still conceal as well as a 9C. I wrote to Pearce and other basepad/extension makers hoping for something better, but apparently not enough of the population is buying the 9C or has large hands. If the undercut doesn't work I am going to move on from the 9C and just stick with my Shield 9mm / LCP 380 combo for concealment.

Would agree with your assessment on what makes for good concealability. Grip length is #1. That said, my shield actually had a longer grip length than my 9c. Personally I think the 9c is the sweetspot for the balance of shotability and concealability . Others mileage may vary though.

 

[DMSC]

The Shield conceals a little better for me than the 9c. Though the Shield grip is a little longer, it's not a problem since it has a narrower grip width.

This is why there are so many different models of guns...rarely is there a once size fits all solution (though I'd still buy more than one if there was!).

 

[mlk18]

I have 3 Shields, one with the safety and two without. I want to love that model too but it makes me feel like Shaq holding onto a Ruger LCP. Since the grip length is long enough I manage okay, but can shoot a gun like the S&W 6906/6946 much better. Ditto that on the Glock 19. Right now I am thinking about just selling off all my tiny little guns and sending a pile of G19's off to Cold Bore Customs for grip reductions. There used to a be place that would cut down the M&P9FS and make it into a 15 round mid-size gun. I wonder if I can figure out who they were and if they're still in business.

 

[Brucenterry]

MLK18 you may look at Bowie tactical concepts. He does a lot of pistol mods. he can chop grips and do reduction and his work is A-1.
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