S&W M&P9 Initial impressions...

[Munsterman]

Per Dredly's post a few weeks back, I'm the new owner of a Smith & Wesson M&P9 . I had my first opportunity to fire it today. Initially, I was really disappointed with the trigger. It was gritty and rough with a terrible stack right before it broke. I had resigned to sending it off for a trigger job even before I took it to the range, but when a buddy suggested we punch some paper I thought "what the heck".

I started by running a few rounds through it offhand at 12 yds. After that, I sat down at the bench and fired a five shot group off the bags. The trigger made it tough, but 4 of the five went into a little over an inch (c to c @12 yds) with a fifth flyer that I attribute to the trigger ( trying to stage the trigger). Pretty decent considering the trigger. I was shooting fed. 115gr.fmj American Eagle.

From there I moved on to some rapid fire at a silhouette target. I was very pleased at how quick the pistol recovered between shots(recoil control was excellent). The sights seemed to come back to the same point of aim without me muscling them back. While I didn't have a timer to give you exact split times, I can tell you they were fast. I attribute this to how high a grip you're able to obtain with the M&P. I noticed this when I first handled it - I was able to get a much higher, tighter grip on the pistol than either the Glock or XD's . Ejection was consistent and positive ( if not exactly robust) with the empties piling up about two feet off my right shoulder.

I went on to fire Blazer Brass 115gr., Federal 124 gr. +P HST , 124 gr.Federal Hydroshoks, and 124 gr . +P Speer Gold Dot law enforcement loads - all without a hiccup. There was almost no discernible difference between the practice ammo and the hotter law enforcement stuff as far as felt recoil or recovery times - another thing I attribute to the pistols ergonomics. In all, a bit less than two hundred rounds went through the M&P without a failure or hiccup of any kind.

On a side note, the trigger improved about 300% over this course of fire. The increase in smoothness in just this small amount of shooting was nothing short of incredible. Both myself and my buddy agreed that the trigger was now more than "livable" . That being said, I still intend to send it off to Dave Bowie or Burwell to have the trigger done (shorter stroke, quicker reset), however it's not quite the emergency it was.

[Dredly]

I got to take mine out on Saturday as well and loved it. Great gun, excellent accuracy... I wasn't expecting to enjoy shooting it as its a compact but i gotta admit... its a blast. The recoil isn't bad at all, the accuracy is excellent...

I'm thrilled! Just carried it for the first time tonight in a smart carry (Waiting for my holster) and it carried great.

I also called S&W to see about getting a pinky extension for my second mag, no charge, they are sending me one although after shooting a few mags without it I think I'm going to leave the non-extension one on the gun for daily carry and have the extension mag as my secondary...

[Feddog82]

Sweet! I can't wait to get my M&P9 to the range. I just got one that I pre-paid Bud's for b4 they had them in. Got it for $439 (no tax) and my buddy did the transfer for $5. However I decided to go with the 2 aditional mags in the promotion instead of the $50 rebate. I believe that 17rd mags are gonna be worth more than $25 each real soon.

[Munsterman]

... I believe that 17rd mags are gonna be worth more than $25 each real soon.

Yeah, me too. I bought this pistol to compete in some action pistol matches that local clubs have and I thought the mags would be the way to go.

[P-11 shooter]

For the time being before you can get a trigger job.

My trigger was gritty like that at first, but I polished all the mating surfaces and it made a big difference.

[Suburban]

I gave in and bought a M&P 9 Pro. The contact areas of the trigger bar and sear are nice and smooth. Glock trigger bars, all of them, come as-stamped with rough edges. The feel of the M&P Pro trigger is very Glock-like, with a short and distinct reset, two stages, and a crisp break. The reset is softer than my Glock's though. Much better than the first M&P that I test fired months ago. The M&P Pro trigger breaks at 4 pounds, 14 ounces, which is almost exactly what my Glock does with a polished trigger bar and stock 5 pound connector.

The only thing that kind of bugs me is the slide to frame fit, which is pretty sloppy. Not a big deal with iron sights, as the barrel is locked up pretty solid in the slide, but I wouldn’t go making an Open-class race gun out of it.

Although it shoots pretty good, I went from the M&P back to my G17, and immediately noticed that I was shooting noticably better, even though I was shooting full-power Gold Dot loads rather than the softer practice loads that I was shooting through the M&P.

The M&P was chucking the brass back at me, which is distracting at best. Not a big deal for me because I've got lots of Glock recoil springs that will probably fix this, but it might be an issue to someone who's not used to tinkering.

I'm wondering if I shouldn't have bought this one. I'll give it some more time, but it may get traded for something else.


Oh, and the mags, if you can find them, are going for $30+. I'm not sure if they will send me any, the model number for the Pro wasn't on the rebate card, but I sent it in anyway.

[theSaj]

I checked some out at Cabela's...

I was kind of confused by the fact that the 9mm versions did not have a safety, but the .45ACP did. I found the safety to be very comfortable and easy to move. Sadly, moving downward makes ready to fire and up puts it in safe. And my hands would bump the safety onto safe. Had it been reversed and on the 9mm - S&W would have a new sale.

[CrazyWhiteGuy]

The M&P was chucking the brass back at me, which is distracting at best. Not a big deal for me because I've got lots of Glock recoil springs that will probably fix this, but it might be an issue to someone who's not used to tinkering.

i've noticed that mine will do the same after about 400-500 rounds without a little cleaning. i just pull the slide off and spray a little gunscrubber on it and it goes away.

[BUCKMARK]

I checked some out at Cabela's...

I was kind of confused by the fact that the 9mm versions did not have a safety, but the .45ACP did. I found the safety to be very comfortable and easy to move. Sadly, moving downward makes ready to fire and up puts it in safe. And my hands would bump the safety onto safe. Had it been reversed and on the 9mm - S&W would have a new sale.

The M&P comes in both versions... with and without a manual safety. Any good dealer can get you a M&P in the configuration you want.

I myself like the version without the thumb safety.

BTW: they also make them with or without a internal locking device like a S&W or Taurus revolver....with a key lock. Again....I like the models without the key lock and without the thumb safety.

[JoeWilliams]

The M&P comes in both versions... with and without a manual safety. Any good dealer can get you a M&P in the configuration you want.

I myself like the version without the thumb safety.

BTW: they also make them with or without a internal locking device like a S&W or Taurus revolver....with a key lock. Again....I like the models without the key lock and without the thumb safety.

AND they offer them with and without a magazine safety. I honest to goodness love a company that is actually willing to give it's customers a choice in such matters.