m&p pistol. Why not get a long slide?

[Dmn0166]

I've been looking into getting a full sized pistol. Primarily something to shoot at the range accurately, no more only having my compact m&p and snubby, and something for home defense.

I like the M&P line, especially after doing trigger work to my mp9c. So i was looking into a full sizes M&P 9mm. I'm curious if you guys have any reasons I should avoid the long slide model?

I don't see a reason not too, and the longer barrel and sight radius will only make it more accurate, correct?

Derek

 

[TheRoland]

Slightly harder to find. Seems to be some QC issues with the front sight in some percentage of models. I love mine.

 

[skol]

because its heug

 

[Skald]

Long slide is nice, but if you were going the Long Slide route, I'd just grab a M&P 9 Pro. I was thinking about a Pro when I turned my 9c in, but ended up with the regular FS 9 w/ Apex upgrade.

 

[Gammon]

M&P longslides are hard to come by in MA because S&W has not seen fit to have them certified for sale in MA. I bought a used Pro model from an MA resident and have found it to be the worst POS I have ever owned. The trigger had a horrible creep that I thought an Apex sear would cure. Wrong! To get a decent trigger on this supposed "competiton" gun I had to replace the trigger bar, sear assembly block, and the striker.

I took a vacation day today, 6/25, to wring out the Pro Model in hopes of shooting the Foxboro match. The gun was shooting pretty well, no FTFs (this gun does not like Wolf primers) and the trigger was OK. Then the accuracy went down hill fast. Close examination revealed a loose front sight which moved the groups around.

Disassembly revealed that the front sight was a loose fit in the dovetail. This gun should have never left the factory. I have been an S&W fan for years, but these QC problems have eroded my faith in this venerable old firm. I doubt I will be buying any S&Ws in the future.

 

[TheRoland]

M&P longslides are hard to come by in MA because S&W has not seen fit to have them certified for sale in MA. I bought a used Pro model from an MA resident and have found it to be the worst POS I have ever owned. The trigger had a horrible creep that I thought an Apex sear would cure. Wrong! To get a decent trigger on this supposed "competiton" gun I had to replace the trigger bar, sear assembly block, and the striker.

I took a vacation day today, 6/25, to wring out the Pro Model in hopes of shooting the Foxboro match. The gun was shooting pretty well, no FTFs (this gun does not like Wolf primers) and the trigger was OK. Then the accuracy went down hill fast. Close examination revealed a loose front sight which moved the groups around.

Disassembly revealed that the front sight was a loose fit in the dovetail. This gun should have never left the factory. I have been an S&W fan for years, but these QC problems have eroded my faith in this venerable old firm. I doubt I will be buying any S&Ws in the future.

For a striker fired gun, I think the pro trigger is great. But I seem to be the only one that thinks so.

The front-sight issue has seemed pervasive (I havn't seen this, but most people I know who have one have). It took them three attempts to fix one that a friend of mine shoots.

But I love mine.

 

[drgrant]

Uhh, cause the Glock 34 and 35 are better? (and probably actually easier to get than a 9L is in MA...)

-Mike

 

[Dmn0166]

Is the MP9L not MA compliant?

Whats the difference between the standard MP9L and the pro series.

 

[jar]

Is the MP9L not MA compliant?

Whats the difference between the standard MP9L and the pro series.

the pro has different sigts, better trigger,and a sligly different slide contour. The pro sigts are fiber front with plain black rear. Neither the 9L nor the pro are ma dealer compliant.

 

[zerodown]

For a striker fired gun, I think the pro trigger is great. But I seem to be the only one that thinks so.

The front-sight issue has seemed pervasive (I havn't seen this, but most people I know who have one have). It took them three attempts to fix one that a friend of mine shoots.

But I love mine.

I'm with you. Probably close to 6k rounds through my Pro and have never had 1 issue. I did do some trigger work to it and now it has 0 grit in the pre-travel and a clean 3lb break with a very short reset. I got mine when they were first available in 2008 so I guess I missed the QA issues.

 

[Greg Derr]

The 9L and Pro have the same trigger group as any other M&P free state or not. I have had a few in with the threaded barrel for a suppressor. They shoot nice. the longer sight radius will provide more accuracy at longer distance, and dampen recoil due to heavier slide mass.

 

[Dmn0166]

I can totally understand why a longer slide should prevent a pistol from making it into this state. NOT.

Stupid Massachusetts. I imagine if I do even find a 9L for sale it will have a stupidly high price on it. Similar to Glocks here.

 

[Gammon]

For a striker fired gun, I think the pro trigger is great. But I seem to be the only one that thinks so.

The front-sight issue has seemed pervasive (I havn't seen this, but most people I know who have one have). It took them three attempts to fix one that a friend of mine shoots.

But I love mine.

I agree that the M&P can have a great trigger. The POS that I bought didn't and it was very difficult to improve.

 

[Gammon]

The 9L and Pro have the same trigger group as any other M&P free state or not. I have had a few in with the threaded barrel for a suppressor. They shoot nice. the longer sight radius will provide more accuracy at longer distance, and dampen recoil due to heavier slide mass.

It has been my experience that increasing the weight of reciprocating masses actually increases muzzle flip, while adding weight to to non moving parts will reduce same.

 

[Gammon]

I contacted S&W customer service about the loose front sight. The response I got was not encouraging. The rep I spoke with said that they would disrupt the metal on the bottom of the sight with a punch for an interference fit in the dovetail and re install it. This is a bush league, half ass solution. I suggested that they use an oversized (dovetail) front sight and the rep claimed that such a part was not available. I then suggested that they buy a few of these oversized front sights from Brownells so that they could fix the problem properly. The rep had no answer. The fix is relatively simple, but I am not happy that I had to spend $30 for a front sight that the MFR should have replaced free of charge.

 

[WeedWhacker]

Agreed, I wonder how many times they will pay shipping to/from before they realize hey lets fix the problem.... On a side note.. not really S&W "bashing".... HOWEVER as of late it seems more and more people I meet have sent brand new S&W guns in for service from mild-wild reasons...

This is a bush league, half ass solution.

 

[Gammon]

Agreed, I wonder how many times they will pay shipping to/from before they realize hey lets fix the problem.... On a side note.. not really S&W "bashing".... HOWEVER as of late it seems more and more people I meet have sent brand new S&W guns in for service from mild-wild reasons...

It seems like S&W's legendary customer service has gone downhill a bit lately. The thing that bothers me is that they know that several hundred long slides left the factory with oversized front sight dovetails. The least they could do is stock the appropriate sized replacement sight. The money saved on returns would easily cover the cost of the new sights.

 

[WeedWhacker]

The money saved on returns would easily cover the cost of the new sights.

As I continue on with things in general... The word "G34" has been coming out of my mouth as of late...... I have been soured overall as I have personally sent 3 S&W guns that were NIB back for mild-wild issues..... the S&W line is becoming less and less appealing to me....

 

[Steve_P]

As I continue on with things in general... The word "G34" has been coming out of my mouth as of late...... I have been soured overall as I have personally sent 3 S&W guns that were NIB back for mild-wild issues..... the S&W line is becoming less and less appealing to me....

Excellent....another convert.

 

[Dan S]

Excellent....another convert.

Steve,
I've never seen you shoot a Glock at a USPSA match... Unless they make a STI Open clone..