Sidearms & Scatterguns Leaning hard towards a SW M&P 9mm.

[shooterman_zero17]

I've googled around, seen some youtube reviews, etcetc. I keep coming back to the M&P for a first real handgun. I just went to the local FFL and they have a couple package deals in stock; handgun, 3 mags, Bladetech weapon and mag holsters and mag loader (whatever, not really gonna probably use it..) for around $510. This looks like it will happen in the next couple of weeks. I haven't handled one prior to 40 minutes ago, and fell in love with the ergos...the interchangeable swells instead of just straps...the scalloped serrations on the slide. I really like the feel of this handgun.

What's your take on the M&P? I hear some people really like them, others don't and say just get a Glock or whatever...I've shot Glocks. I've shot XDMs. I've shot the Beretta 92. Frankly I like the ergos of the M&P more than the others. I guess what I'm looking for is shooting impressions versus those I've listed above, as I haven't shot an M&P yet. Do you like it versus x, y or z? Etc, etc.


Thanks guys.

 

[Strangedays]

Re: Leaning hard towards a SW M&P 9mm.

I have shot and use both Glocks and M&Ps I still always go for the M&P as being my gun of choice. I think the M&P is by far a better built gun for the money. Easy to upgrade and work on like the glocks. Buy it, you will like it.

 

[callen3615]

Re: Leaning hard towards a SW M&P 9mm.

Ive shot a friends. I would recommend changing out the sear asap. He replaced the pos sear with an apex and now its very 1911esque.

Ive been wanting a handgun for a long time and ive finally decided to start looking around and saving for one. I have been set on a 1911 for months but after dry firing his m&p im very conflicted.

 

[shoot4fun]

Re: Leaning hard towards a SW M&P 9mm.

M&P is a great pistol. If you're looking for a personal defense pistol I would not recommend the Apex parts. The M&P has, what some feel, a mushy trigger with no audible reset. Reset is very short and triggers on most guns I have played with hit the 5.5 to 6 pound mark. The reset is short and can me easily mastered with only a little practice. The ergos win over everything I have tried in poly guns. I own a couple of M&Ps and they serve me well.
If you really want an audible, short and positive reset on your trigger along with great ergos (very similar to M&P) you should look at the new Walther PPQ. Super short reset trigger with a very distinct audible reset. Very smooth, consistent pull and the damn thing is super accurate right out of the box.

 

[aloreman]

Re: Leaning hard towards a SW M&P 9mm.

Love my m&p. loaned it to 3 freinds for idpa shoots and they all own one now. Gota put the apex trigger kit in.

 

[bigmerv]

Re: Leaning hard towards a SW M&P 9mm.

I have both the compact and full size 9mm M&P, they are great guns. Mine are both a few years old, so they had shitty triggers from the factory, but I put the Apex DCAEK in both and the triggers are fantastic. I hear they are shipping with better triggers now. I have about 3k rounds through each gun and love em, can't go wrong with an M&P 9mm.

 

[mattj]

Re: Leaning hard towards a SW M&P 9mm.

I have and really like my M&P 9mm compact (upgraded with Apex bits) that I've had for several years.

However, I'm also aware of concern in certain circles with the accuracy (especially with the 9mm FS, iirc) due to apparent recent manufacturing changes S&W has made, especially with regards to the barrel. Just something to be aware of and look into for yourself before you drop the scratch on one.

Apex is working with Bar-Sto to manufacture an aftermarket barrel to address this...

Personally I had planned on picking up an M&P 9mm FS at some point to compliment my 9c -- but adding up the cost of the pistol itself, plus Apex parts, plus likely a barrel at some point, something like a HK P30 with V2 LEM starts looking more and more attractive.

 

[Ltdshooter]

Re: Leaning hard towards a SW M&P 9mm.

Lean harder and get the M&P!

 

[pdogsbeware]

Re: Leaning hard towards a SW M&P 9mm.


So you asked for shooting impressions...Ergonomics is personal preference, and that influences your impression of the pistol. Take glocks, fantastically reliable firearms. They just don't feel good in my hand, so I don't like shooting them. But other people feel the same way about Sigs, or Smiths, or whatever.

If it feels good in your hand, then you will enjoy shooting it. I did, the only reason I sold it was because I got sick of paying for .357 sig ammo haha And even in that cal it was fun to shoot.

 

[plong]

Re: Leaning hard towards a SW M&P 9mm.

I EDC an M&P9c and have a full size M&P9 as well, it was by-far the easiest pistol I've owned to learn to shoot well and it still does a great job putting holes where I point it, very "shootable". I've also spoken to a couple of LE armorers and they love the M&P for its reliability and the great S&W support if you need it. You can't go wrong with a Smith M&P IMHO.

 

[Captramrod01]

Re: Leaning hard towards a SW M&P 9mm.

I absolutely love my M&P's. I put the apex carry kit in my full size 9 and it really made it a completely new gun. Go for it!

 

[gunslotreaper308]

Re: Leaning hard towards a SW M&P 9mm.

+1 for apex kit

 

[Jellybean]

Re: Leaning hard towards a SW M&P 9mm.

Go for it!

As far as the OP, I had a pretty similar experience- started out looking to get an M&P. Then the XDm came out- supposed to be the best thing since sliced bread, so I changed my mind and got one. Hated it. Traded it for a Glock- even though I didn't like them to start with I was going to try to MAKE myself like them because they're great pistols. Didn't work- still hated it.In between those I ran around to a couple ranges and shot about every handgun I could get my hands on- still kept coming back to the M&P (or a 1911, but I don't have the patience to tinker with one).

So ironically after a massive loss of money I came full circle back to where I started in the first place, and got an M&P 9C with the Apex DCAEK and RAM. I guess sometimes your gut knows better than your brain....
So far so good- very comfortable overall ergonomically.
If you're planning to CCW your M&P, I don't think you'll have any problems with the DCAEK- as some folks say, it kind of feels like a bad Glock trigger. Not a super light pull or anything.

 

[y2kc5oh]

Re: Leaning hard towards a SW M&P 9mm.

+2 for Apex Kit

 

[mattj]

Re: Leaning hard towards a SW M&P 9mm.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mattj</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have and really like my M&P 9mm compact (upgraded with Apex bits) that I've had for several years.

However, I'm also aware of concern in certain circles with the accuracy (especially with the 9mm FS, iirc) due to apparent recent manufacturing changes S&W has made, especially with regards to the barrel. Just something to be aware of and look into for yourself before you drop the scratch on one.

Apex is working with Bar-Sto to manufacture an aftermarket barrel to address this...

Personally I had planned on picking up an M&P 9mm FS at some point to compliment my 9c -- but adding up the cost of the pistol itself, plus Apex parts, plus likely a barrel at some point, something like a HK P30 with V2 LEM starts looking more and more attractive.</div></div>

fwiw, here's the sort of thing I was referring to above:
http://m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=97829

 

[Briggs]

Re: Leaning hard towards a SW M&P 9mm.

I have all glocks but if I was starting from scratch I might just go m&p. I like the way they feel. I don't think you can go wrong with one.

 

[shooterman_zero17]

Re: Leaning hard towards a SW M&P 9mm.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: pdogsbeware</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
So you asked for shooting impressions...Ergonomics is personal preference, and that influences your impression of the pistol. Take glocks, fantastically reliable firearms. They just don't feel good in my hand, so I don't like shooting them. But other people feel the same way about Sigs, or Smiths, or whatever.

If it feels good in your hand, then you will enjoy shooting it. I did, the only reason I sold it was because I got sick of paying for .357 sig ammo haha And even in that cal it was fun to shoot.</div></div>

I understand it's largely personal preference....I was looking for something close to a consensus. And I believe I've got just that. Acceptably comfy shooting when compared to x, y and z handguns.

And thank you for bringing up the accuracy issues that I was totally unaware of. My intent was to have a threaded barrel (think the Storm Lake barrel shown in another thread on here) as well that would probably stay installed. I'm also interested in the PPQ. I just haven't seen one or had a chance to handle it yet. I was discussing it with my FFL guys right after Christmas and they still have none in. Unless I'm missing the memo and they arent out in FFL hands yet??

Thanks for your input thusfar Hide.

 

[Sumpter Steve]

Re: Leaning hard towards a SW M&P 9mm.

A M&P will be the next pistol I own. I love the way they fit my hands and have found them to be very accurate/reliable as well.

 

[tactic-als]

Re: Leaning hard towards a SW M&P 9mm.

Just in case no one mentioned it, you might need to look at APEX for trigger upgrades, lol. Shame they got the ergos right and put such a shitty trigger in it. Hopefully as someone stated, they are putting a better trigger in? I have both Glock and M&P and maybe because I started with a Glock, I actually like the feel in my hand, the M&P w/ APEX is better.

 

[wPAShooter1]

Re: Leaning hard towards a SW M&P 9mm.

i have a M&P 45 and i love it. I use it for my carry gun most of the time if not my USP 45.