S&W M&P .40 compact hand gun

While the S&W M&P 40 is a great piece, (once you correct the shitty MA trigger) I think you need to get a bunch of different things in your own hand and shoot them. Over time, you'll figure out whats best for you!

Attend one of the "Members" shoots, YOU MUST BE GREEN FIRST TO DO THAT, and you'll find two dozen guys letting you shoot their prized posessions with smiles on their faces. It's a great way to learn quickly whats best for you.

and welcome to the board by the way!
 
Would it be good for a first time hand gun and possibly good for concealed weapon?
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Those are two very different things. As a first handgun, I'd suggest a full-size 9mm rather than a compact .40.
 
M1911 said:
Those are two very different things. As a first handgun, I'd suggest a full-size 9mm rather than a compact .40.
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Ideally you will probably carry your first piece especially if you just got a ccw/ltc permit unless you have lots of money.While a full size 9mm is great for accuracy and recoil and in general becoming relatively good on the paper,it is somewhat impractical for concealed carry more so on a small frame individual.If you can comfortably carry this large a weapon then great but I would suggest something along the lines of a Glock 19 or 23.Just an example for size comparison for an auto.While these are compact guns the 19 is very accurate and doesn't kick anymore than a 17 yet considerably shorter pistol grip for carry.My first pistol was a g-23 but I've been shooting for a very long time so I was comfortable with it.I would not recommend buying a super small frame .40 like the g-27 for your first gun(or the m&p .40 subcompact). I do 100% agree to try every gun you can get your hands on and find out what YOU like better.Not trying to start a war or anything...just my opinion.[grin]
 
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I have the full-sized M&P and it's a great gun. For a first time gun though, I'd go with an M&P9, full size. Cheaper to shoot and you can still conceal carry it, especially in the winter.
 
I have an M&P .40 full size and an M&P 9mm compact and have been shooting for several years. For a first gun I would stay away from a compact gun. They are much harder to shoot and will potentially make you dislike shooting. Getting a full size gun for a first gun will help with recoil control and will have less felt recoil. If you have the money you could buy the full size and the compact and switch back and forth. However, if buying one gun I would def. go with the full size. The M&P is an awesome gun and is prob. hands down the best gun for the money.
 
Lots of good things have already been said. I would not recommend this gun for you. For CCW I'd pick a Glock or S&W snubby all day long.... that being said unless you get lots of good practice and teaching... a snubby or a small plastic gun is not wise. Although I shoot the M&Ps quite a bit in competition I don't carry it... that is for the Glock. Glock=deal reliable.... M&P- not yet IMO. Best compromise for you might be a good midsize 9mm... G19 or Sig 229 comes to mind.
 
Lugnut said:
Although I shoot the M&Ps quite a bit in competition I don't carry it... that is for the Glock.
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And I thought IDPA was all about competing with your carry gear. [wink]

Back on topic, The M&P compact, if you look real close, is not much smaller than the full size. It is grip heavy because of the shorter barrel so it will not carry as good as a full size. The full size will carry just fine in a proper holster (I carry the 40 full size in an IWB holster) They are concealable, reliable, and easy to conceal.

As a first gun, the compact may be everything you want. For me, I would not buy a compact anything for a first gun.

If you are really set on a S&W M&P, take a drive to the S&W Sports shooting center and rent one to give it a test drive.

If you want to shoot a full size 40, let me know.
 
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PistolPete said:
I have an M&P .40 full size and an M&P 9mm compact and have been shooting for several years. For a first gun I would stay away from a compact gun. They are much harder to shoot and will potentially make you dislike shooting. Getting a full size gun for a first gun will help with recoil control and will have less felt recoil. If you have the money you could buy the full size and the compact and switch back and forth. However, if buying one gun I would def. go with the full size. The M&P is an awesome gun and is prob. hands down the best gun for the money.
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PistolPete is right. The compact is definitely something you have to master. For a first gun. get a full size. Learn to shoot it, and then go for the compact.

My first gun was a 92FS, and I learned a lot from it. I bought my M&P 9c, and it was tough getting acquainted with it. They shoot totally different, and are tough to get used to.

The cold is coming, so carry with a full size is a lot easier.

My two cents.

Jr
 
thanks guys for the help.

seems like you guys think i'm a newbie or just new to "hand guns" in general.

myself i've shot and handled with several handguns. I've shot few of glocks myself (both full and compact) also have shot ruger, 1911, 9mm berreta. I mostly dislike glocks because of the 2x4 feel and it feels a little wide. Not to mention, glocks are awsome with their field strip and few other things. My cousin has a bunch of glocks, i cant even list em all.

To be quite honest, i'm more comfy with compact hand guns over a full size due to my hand size and the feeling i get when i shoot. I like SOME of the full size ones, but i dont know why.... i'm sort of drooling over for that m&p .40 compact over the full size also over the 9mm's. My personall preference is .40 rather than a .45 or 9mm i dont know why yet lol.



Hmm i like the idea about what you guys said, get hands on em and try em out before actually buying it. The problem is... i dont know where around here in state of maine. I dont know who has m&p .40 compact and full size locally around here who would let me shoot it, to see if it suits me or not. It probly wont be, but it's worth to try it out and its good for my experiences.

Anyways

what's the pros/cons about this 1 pistol?
easy to concealed and is it good for a concealed weapon?

lastly, what did icyclefar mean about attending to member's shoot... and i'd become green. i'm not cleared about that.

thanks allot again.
- nick
 
Well Nick... that's a lot of new information. Sounds like you've got your mind made up. Heck if you don't like it, sell it and try something else.
 
To be quite honest, i'm more comfy with compact hand guns over a full size due to my hand size and the feeling i get when i shoot.
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Compact Glocks and M&Ps have the exact same grip circumference as the full-size models. So if you have smaller hands, the compact models will fit you no better than the full-size models. I have no idea why one of those compact models would feel better in your hands than a full-size, since both have an identical reach distance to the trigger.
I like SOME of the full size ones, but i dont know why.... i'm sort of drooling over for that m&p .40 compact over the full size also over the 9mm's. My personall preference is .40 rather than a .45 or 9mm i dont know why yet lol.
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I know a bit about shooting handguns. I'm an NRA certified firearms instructor. I've had about 200 hours of training at LFI, Sigarms Academy, S&W Academy, Cumberland Tactics, etc. I'm no master class shooter, but I've been around a block or two.

I've got a fair number of handguns, including (off the top of my head):

9mm:

Kahr K9, Kahr MK9, Kahr PM9, Glock 17, Glock 34, CZ-75, Sig P226, Sig P239. I've also fired a friends Glock 26.

.40:

Kahr K40, Glock 23, Sig P239 (since sold), USP Compact .40

.45:

4 full-size 1911s, Kimber Compact (steel frame), Kimber Compact (aluminum frame), USP Compact .45

In general, I've found that the 9mm and .45 handguns are fun to shoot. None of them have objectionable recoil, IMHO. In contrast, I've found the Kahr K40 to be distinctly unpleasant to shoot. The Glock 23 isn't far behind. The USP Compact is similarly uncomfortable. The aluminum-framed Kimber Compact is far more pleasant to shoot than any of my .40 handguns.

Your email stated that you were looking for a first handgun and also a carry gun. As I stated previously, the requirements for the two are somewhat antithetical. For comfortable range use and learning how to accurately and quickly shoot a handgun, bigger is better. A larger, heavier handgun will have less felt recoil. A longer sight radius is much easier to use. Combine the two and you will learn handgun marksmanship more quickly.

Shorter, lighter handguns recoil more. The shorter sight radius is harder to aim accurately. .40S&W has significantly sharper recoil than either 9mm or .45 ACP, in my opinion.

That's why I recommend against a compact gun and against a .40. I suggest that you get a full-size 9mm instead. Once you get comfortable with that, then consider a compact and/or .40.

In addition, 9mm ammo is cheaper than .40.

It's your money. Do what you want. But I strongly suggest that you drive out to Springfield and rent them at the S&W range. Try before you buy. You just might find that a compact .40 is not a lot of fun.
 
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I agree with M1911 completely. There is a lot of solid advice in that post.

Let me ask some a serious question.

"What do you want out of owning a gun and what is its purpose?"

What I mean is:
a.) Are you looking primarily for a self defense gun?
b.) Are you looking for a concealable gun only?
c.) Are you looking for something you are going to shoot often?
d.) Are you looking at becoming accurate with a handgun?
e.) Etc. Etc. Etc.

The reason I ask this is because no one gun will do everything. If you are looking for a gun for personal defense and won't be shooting it much and you plan on carrying then the compact will be OK. If you want to shoot a lot and get more accurate the compact is VERY limited as far as accuracy goes. Having such a short barrel and sight radius will limit the accuracy potential of you and the gun. Most of us on this board have several guns and they all have different uses.

If you want a do-everything type of gun the M&P full size may work. Yes, it's a bit harder to conceal but it will do everything else better than the compact. You really should consider the 9mm compact over the .40 if you do buy the compact gun. The recoil is much more manageable and it makes for a better shooter. Yes, the .40 has more stopping power but that only applies if you can hit your target.

Good luck,
Pete
 
I also agree with M1911. That being said the M&P .40 is a joy to shoot... with the right reloads. [wink] Just listen to what everyone is saying...
 
The best advice has already been posted. It is very important to try a gun for yourself. I went to S & W and used the M&P 9mm. I loved shooting it! However, when drawing from a holster, my grip was just a bit different than it is when I set up for regular target practice. In a stressful training situation, my thumb kept hitting the mag release causing a jam. I realized quickly that although the gun was fun to shoot, it was not the gun for me.
I'm still looking for a nice 9mm that I can shoot recreationally rather than for self defense.
I own a S&W snubby for personal protection. And I love my P22 for simple low cost target shooting.
The M & P gets all the raves but you should test it for yourself before you commit to the purchase.
Best Regards.
 
my house has been broken into several times already and my dogs held up the fort very well. But any time sooner or later i have a feeling that something will happen. (i'm in bad neighborhood).

for my birthday I was in north carolina in april, may and i've been to few gun ranges and i had a chance to SHOOT THE MP! and i have to say, i was quite amazed how well the 9 and .40 full sized were. I've made my mind set on the full sized .40 and yes i tried the compact and i wasnt comfortable. Thanks to you guys, yall really helped me out here. I tried glocks, Beretta again i dont mind the berettas but glocks is something i'm staying away from.

now i'm in the market to get one, but not for carry at the moment since i havnt filled out ccw permit. It'll be mainly for self defense at home, and i've found out few ranges opened up around here which i'll be going there quite often! all tho my ruger will be sitting in my bedroom for a while
 
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Lugnut said:
I also agree with M1911. That being said the M&P .40 is a joy to shoot... with the right reloads. [wink] Just listen to what everyone is saying...
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First handgun should be a Ruger MK II/III or similar 22 LR target pistol. That being said, I have the M&P 9c, and let me tell you, it has the most god awful, heavy, creepy trigger that was ever made. Its so horrible it made my finger hurt after shooting about 30 rounds. However, I also found it to be a fairly accurate shooter, so maybe its OK. It has no manual safety, so you wouldn't want a target trigger anyway.
 
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I have the M&P 40 service size. It's a great gun. Obviously the trigger is going to have to be worked over by a smith. It's expensive to shoot. So if you want to shoot a lot go 9mm. (or press your own) I find that the full size is concealable with a IWB holster and making sure to dress around it a bit. I wear it at 5 oclock and always wear a tailed shirt or jacket. I am looking for a good tuckable holster. Any suggestions? I don't think that the compact is greatly more concealable than the full size. So if you plan on shooting and carrying I would go with a full size nine mm. Good luck
 
KDK said:
I have the M&P 40 service size. It's a great gun. Obviously the trigger is going to have to be worked over by a smith. It's expensive to shoot. So if you want to shoot a lot go 9mm. (or press your own) I find that the full size is concealable with a IWB holster and making sure to dress around it a bit. I wear it at 5 oclock and always wear a tailed shirt or jacket. I am looking for a good tuckable holster. Any suggestions? I don't think that the compact is greatly more concealable than the full size. So if you plan on shooting and carrying I would go with a full size nine mm. Good luck
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Check out this holster. Seems pretty awesome:

Minotaur MTAC hybrid leather/kydex holster

http://www.comp-tac.com/catalog/pro...id=95&osCsid=cc63e49ca83815c65bab3d1d9a732efa

Looks very comfortable with a soft leather backing, but also with a sturdy kydex retention system. Also has several belt mounting options, including a hidden velcro system. Its also tuckable.
 
I carry that gun and shoot IDPA with it. I would prefer a 9mm if you plan on shooting it alot. The amount I would of saved already in ammo may have already bought me the .40 to carry.

Good gun very dependable
 
I made the mistake of buying a .40 for my first gun. I can shoot it ok but it is more work. Starting with a smaller less flippy caliber is probably the way to go for a first gun. It's easier to get the shooting fundamentals down using a lower recoil and less snappy caliber.

That being said, it would make a great carry gun. I carry the full size MP40 and have no trouble concealing it. The compact I'd imagine would just disappear in a decent IWB holster.
 
i know the ammo will be expensive. However i'm not like those who shoots "alot". Would you consider this alot? Me shoot maybe every 2 months or so with atleast 100 rounds. I dont think that's alot.

I think yall are being lil confused about it being my first hand gun. I'm not a newbie (first timer) handling a gun. I've had my fair share experiances of shooting. I have been taught/trained by several peoples. my gramp who was ex marine (retired), cousin who finished army, uncle retired from army and my step dad who finished with marines. So, i've had plenty of influence and i've had quite a bit of shooting experiences. But not so much with m&p yet all tho i seem to be in love with it after the first time i played with it. BUT this will be my own first handgun and it's def not the first time at shooting it.
 
bvet4dog said:
i know the ammo will be expensive. However i'm not like those who shoots "alot". Would you consider this alot? Me shoot maybe every 2 months or so with atleast 100 rounds. I dont think that's alot.

I think yall are being lil confused about it being my first hand gun. I'm not a newbie (first timer) handling a gun. I've had my fair share experiances of shooting. I have been taught/trained by several peoples. my gramp who was ex marine (retired), cousin who finished army, uncle retired from army and my step dad who finished with marines. So, i've had plenty of influence and i've had quite a bit of shooting experiences. But not so much with m&p yet all tho i seem to be in love with it after the first time i played with it. BUT this will be my own first handgun and it's def not the first time at shooting it.
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I guess I would just price the ammo and make that decision for yourself. .40 runs about $15 for 50 rounds versus $10 for a box of 50 9mm. You can also find 9mm easier and deals on it too. I guess my question to you is: You don't really plan on shooting much so you are looking for a carry gun only? If that's the case, I would recommend a snub nosed revolver. I don't know a whole lot about them but I'm sure there are folks here who can tell you all you need to know.

Good Luck
 
thanks! i'll take a sneak peek into that. yeah i've noticed more deals on 9mm ammo's than bigger cal. i find it kinda odd because around here more people uses larger hand guns than smaller ones.

but, reloading is ALOT cheaper. however you can use the shells so many times tho :(

Also it wont be mainly only for carry but it'll be nice. Not much of a hazard or dangers around here beside my neighborhood (druggies). I'm in the public alot and i do alot of recreation things where carry a handgun wouldnt be feasible. Only time when i carry would be camping, hunting, and places where i wouldnt be so active.
 
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jw, did SW worked out all of the kinks out of the mp's? Are there still any issues or small dislikes (trigger pull or something) that i should hear about?

Honestly myself, i like tad bit heavy pull but not too much.

anyways, anything i should know about? There's a .45acp mp for sale localy and i could pick it up soon. I'm just looking out there before i purchase it.
 

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