After reading up on the Smith and Wesson M&P9, I felt as though I was really missing some breakthrough in handguns. I tried the rental gun at Shore Shot last night. It was nice and broken in, so the trigger was about as good as it could be short of an APEX kit or a Dan Burwell trigger job. I have to admit I was a bit nonplussed. The ergonomics were WAY better than a Glock. The trigger was better than a Glock in terms of having much less pre-travel. The break was about the same as a Glock. The reset may have been a little better, but pretty close to a Gaston. I was told the M&P9 Long is nicer, but a little more length doesn't make that much difference in my book. All in all, I kind of felt like the M&P is what a Glock should aspire to, but nothing Earth shattering. If I were looking for some SHTF tactical tupperware, the M&P has supplanted the Glock in my book (and XD isn't even on the radar). But it definitely lost ground to CZ on my short list of 9mm pistols to purchase.

The trigger was better than a Glock in terms of having much less pre-travel. The break was about the same as a Glock. The reset may have been a little better, but pretty close to a Gaston.

Funny you should say that, cuz my experience has been the exact opposite of what you described. The reset on my M&P feels almost non-existant compared to the very positive reset on my 19. I find the break to be a bit mushy on my M&P and the over travel on the M&P seems just a smidge longer than that of my 19.

 

I either have the world's best stock triggered G19 or the world's worst stock triggered M&P

 

In all seriousness tho, it just goes to show you how subjective trigger feel is.

Nice review Chris.

Funny you should say that, cuz my experience has been the exact opposite of what you described. The reset on my M&P feels almost non-existant compared to the very positive reset on my 19. I find the break to be a bit mushy on my M&P and the over travel on the M&P seems just a smidge longer than that of my 19.

 

I either have the world's best stock triggered G19 or the world's worst stock triggered M&P

 

In all seriousness tho, it just goes to show you how subjective trigger feel is.

 

Have you seen the new APEX ram kit. It supposedly give you and audible and tactile response when you hit the reset point without effecting your trigger pul weight. I have one on oder to try out. Hell if it doesn't work it was only 22 bucks. Ive spent more money on stupider things.

Funny you should say that, cuz my experience has been the exact opposite of what you described. The reset on my M&P feels almost non-existant compared to the very positive reset on my 19. I find the break to be a bit mushy on my M&P and the over travel on the M&P seems just a smidge longer than that of my 19.

 

I either have the world's best stock triggered G19 or the world's worst stock triggered M&P

 

In all seriousness tho, it just goes to show you how subjective trigger feel is.

 

Caine, you are right about the positive reset. The reset was shorter on the M&P, but I was only able to tell while dry firing exactly where the reset was (i.e. it is "mushy" like you described). On a Glock, the reset is a nice "click" that you feel. To be fair, the trigger reset spring may have been stretched and worn on that M&P rental gun. Anecdotally, the Shore Shot employee I spoke with said they never have a problem with the M&P despite it having tons of rounds fired through it all the time. That is the closest thing to a real world endurance test and speaks well of it's durability.

Nice review. The M&P Pro is on my list to get. Now that they have it in 40 Cal the mag capacity will not be an issue.

Have you seen the new APEX ram kit. It supposedly give you and audible and tactile response when you hit the reset point without effecting your trigger pul weight. I have one on oder to try out. Hell if it doesn't work it was only 22 bucks. Ive spent more money on stupider things.

A full APEX kit is in my M&P's future. It's just a matter of finding the time, money, and desire. Even tho the M&P was the first gun I ever bought, it hasn't exactly been a love affair, and as a result, it spends an inordinate amount of time in the safe.

 

 

Caine, you are right about the positive reset. The reset was shorter on the M&P, but I was only able to tell while dry firing exactly where the reset was (i.e. it is "mushy" like you described). On a Glock, the reset is a nice "click" that you feel. To be fair, the trigger reset spring may have been stretched and worn on that M&P rental gun. Anecdotally, the Shore Shot employee I spoke with said they never have a problem with the M&P despite it having tons of rounds fired through it all the time. That is the closest thing to a real world endurance test and speaks well of it's durability.

My M&P has been relatively trouble free, so I'm not surprised to see Shore Shot say that. A few malfunctions with crappy ammo (that also caused other guns to malfunction) and some issues with 10 round mags that I no longer use since the 15 rounders are more readily available now. The biggest issue I've had is one of the pins that's a bit forward of the take down lever likes to sometimes partially walk out of its hole. Usually happens after a few hundred rounds, and nothing a quick tap with a solid object won't fix. As far as I know, this problem is unique to my M&P as I've never heard anyone else complain about it. So, overall, I'd say it's a good gun. I just don't love it like some other M&P owners on here seem to.

Not sure what you were expecting but i don't know of any stock, striker fired, tupperware that would take me aback with excitement like that either. Maybe a HK P30 or CZ phantom but now you're talking hammer fired, SA triggers on top of nice ergonomic frames. The plastic/striker guns are just... well... cheap. lol! Simple to make, simple inside, crude mechanisms... not exactly the pinnacle to firearm refinement, but still good tools and fortunately can be improved on.

 

I didn't particularly like the trigger of my M&P9 stock (6lbs, mushy, gritty, Glocky, whats to love?) but i never intended to keep it that way. I did however love the ergo's and so the trigger was nothing that a gunsmith couldn't rectify to polish off the package. You can fix the trigger on a Glock too but you;re plum stuck with the stock 2x4 grip. Great if that works for you, tough luck if it doesn't. But this gun was a tool for me for a specific purpose and if i had to choose between it and a CZ for casual use, i'd probably choose the CZ too since its just markedly better all around.

Nice review. The M&P Pro is on my list to get. Now that they have it in 40 Cal the mag capacity will not be an issue.

 

There's no issue with mag capacity in 9mm either. 15 round mags are very available these days for the M&P 9.

 

See: http://njgunforums.com/forum/index.php?/topic/27176-where-can-i-get-nj-compliant-15-round-mags-for-my/

I had the M&P 9mm (bought after shooting Caine's). I initially did like the gun a lot. I was not a fan of the trigger at all. Having shot Caine's G19 side by side, BIUG difference in the trigger. I ultimately sold the M&P after the striker broke after about 250 rounds. Replaced with new and sold.

I enjoyed the ergo's, but felt I shot my 92fs (which I no longer have) far better then the M&P and now my Sig 226 Jst as well as the M&P.

 

I am really liking my XDM 3.8 .40 and def prefer it over the M&P so far.

 

M&P is a nice gun, great ergo's, but def not the be all end all of modern polymer pistols.

I have an M&P45. It fits my smallish hands better than a Glock 45, XD or Sig. Pull trigger it goes bang. The M&P9 lacks the cachet of a Beretta.

I can understand about the M&P being an "almost". I have an M&P40 w/ M&P9 barrel and mags. I've installed the Apex sear and polished the internals and relieved the area under the trigger guard (this made a bigger difference than I would have thought in handling). I've also got an M&P45 that I picked up used recently and did the polish and Apex sear install.

 

I view the M&P as a platform that begs for customization, more'so than a Glock. Out of the box, I don't find the M&P that great. It's good, but not great. The trigger is nothing to write home about and the ergo's are an "almost" for me. If you're willing to twiddle w/ the pistol, it can be evolved into a very capable platform though. The following is purely subjective, but in my view, aside from changing out the crappy stock sights, the Glock doesn't need anything else done to it, whereas for me, the M&P does. I hear the Gen4 crowd getting riled up here, but that's another story. I have no doubt any Gen4 issues will be resolved by Glock in the very near future. The TWO things I think the M&P does outstanding, at least my M&P, is put rounds down range rapidly and accurately and come to line of sight effortlessly. I think it competes very well with and possibly edges out some competing Glock models in fast combat shooting. I think it also depends on the models compared. I will say this though, since starting to do my daily dry fires w/ the M&P, my Glock performance has dropped a smidge. To me, Glocks are a platform that you have to be very faithful to in order to be "on" with. Having said all this, I still shoot for accuracy better w/ a Glock.

I have an M&P 9mm and like it enough that I decided to standardize on the platform for most of my competitive and defensive needs. The ergonomics fit me perfectly especially with a high thumbs grip, it's proven totally reliable and parts are readily available. Plus, there are 15 round 9mm magazines available from the factory. The trigger and accuracy are good enough. All this combined with a sub $500 price before Apex parts adds up to a total package for me. This allows me to get a few identical duplicates for training, home defense etc and then focus on my skill development and consistent training.

 

But to be realistic, this IS a $500 gun and is not going to compare in feel, elegance or refinement to more expensive guns. It's strength is in boring reliability and practicality not anything to make you go "wow, this gives me a boner." I'll probably get myself a high end 1911 to fondle and go gaga over the awesome trigger, and will always keep my trusty P229 for sentimental reasons, but as a practical tool the M&P fits all my needs.

OK, so I have to recant somewhat. I shot JonF's M&P9L last night at Shore Shot. I came darn close to putting the first round through the ceiling because the trigger was so light and smooth (2.5 lbs). He had a Dan Burwell trigger job and it beats the hell out of a well broken-in stock M&P they use for rentals. Jon's gun isn't a CZ Custom, but it's pretty darn good for plastic.

OK, so I have to recant somewhat. I shot JonF's M&P9L last night at Shore Shot. I came darn close to putting the first round through the ceiling because the trigger was so light and smooth (2.5 lbs). He had a Dan Burwell trigger job and it beats the hell out of a well broken-in stock M&P they use for rentals. Jon's gun isn't a CZ Custom, but it's pretty darn good for plastic.

 

 

Come on Chris, finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot the target. =P

Come on Chris, finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot the target. =P

 

Hey - even Cliff Walsh is capable of a ND.