S&W MP Opinions 40? 9? Full? Compact?

[mp1290]

I am in the market for a new handgun, and Ive been leaning towards the MandP by Smith. I'm looking for your opinions on size and caliber.

I'm interested in the 40 because the readily available conversion barrels to 357sig, and 9mm are out there.

Cant decide between a compact or fullsize, I do plan on carrying it when I don't have my BodyGuard in my front pocket.

I would love to buy the 9 for how cheaply I can fee it, but feel as though the 40 would be better for carry, and I could buy a replacement barrel to feed it with 9.

Any opinions? Anyone else gone through this predicament.

 

[thesyguy]

My EDC is a 9C. I went with the 9mm because of ammo cost, but this was before I knew about converting the .40 to other calibers. I originally wanted a Shield but once I held one I knew it was not for me. I also have a full size M&P 9 at home but cannot carry it because it is too damn big and I am a small framed thin guy.

 

[vellnueve]

I've got two M&P9s, two M&P40s, and an M&P45. You can solve your problem the same way.

 

[mp1290]

My EDC is a 9C. I went with the 9mm because of ammo cost, but this was before I knew about converting the .40 to other calibers. I originally wanted a Shield but once I held one I knew it was not for me. I also have a full size M&P 9 at home but cannot carry it because it is too damn big and I am a small framed thin guy.

So... Your saying I should pop for the 40c for the versatility?

I've got two M&P9s, two M&P40s, and an M&P45. You can solve your problem the same way.

Hopefully at some point my student loans will go away and that will be an option for me. [sad2]

 

[thesyguy]

So... Your saying I should pop for the 40c for the versatility?


I would have. But just check to be sure about using the 9MM barrel and clips in the .40 as i have seen info saying yes and no in regards to the ability to swap over.

 

[mp1290]

So... Your saying I should pop for the 40c for the versatility?


I would have. But just check to be sure about using the 9MM barrel and clips in the .40 as i have seen info saying yes and no in regards to the ability to swap over.

ya, I would probably buy some 9mm magazines and the lone wolf conversion, I wouldnt want a OEM 9mm barrel floating around in the slide. But I may buy the 357sig barrel right off the bat.

 

[Glou01930]

go for the 40 you can get the 9mm and 357 sig barrels shipped to you from smith for $75 each if you already have a carry gun would go for the full size its a nice shooter in any caliber imo

 

[tacticalpanda]

Bought the m&p9c and love it. It is my carry gun. I went with the 9mm because of cost. I get a lot more range time as a newer shooter. Plus all my other handguns are 9mm and easy to only buy/stock one size of ammo. I'm going to be getting a full size in 9mm soon. It's going to replace my glock 17 and my glock 26.

The only problem is the 10rd magazines. They are difficult to get into the gun when you have 10rds in them. You can modify the magazine to make it easier and will be trying that this weekend.

 

[SSW]

I EDC the M&P 9c and the 9fs I use for IDPA.

Obvious answer is one of each!!

But if I could only get one I would say for me the 9c. Good EDC, range and IDPA. IMHO

I am not gonna start the 9 vs 40 stuff. For me I choose the 9mm for the $$$ cost of ammo.

Either way you can'y go wrong!!

 

[mp1290]

Well I have an update on my decision. I put the full size and compact side by side and ended up going with the Full. The compact with the pinky extension was still just a little too small for my hands, and with the Bodyguard as my summer/pocket carry I believe I can conceal the full size in the winter with bigger clothes. I also ordered the 357sig barrel from midway so there will be a multi caliber range day in the future.

Thanks For your opinions and help,
Max

 

[charlie88]

http://www.northeastshooters.com/vbulletin/threads/180989-S-amp-W-M-amp-P-40c

hell of a deal here

 

[Retired-LEO]

If you go for the full size (9 or 40), get the one that includes the range kit.

So worth the extra $$$...

 

[Dr. CCW]

For every day carry, the 40c. The smallest gun that still fits your hand with a full grip with the most powerful round you can pack in a 10-round mag. It just feels great in the hand. It is a little heavy on the hip vs. compact 9s. If you are concerned about the cost of ammo, the 9c or pick up a 9mm conversion kit. I feel more secure having my 40c with me than any of my compact 9s due to the round ballistics, magazine capacity, and the overall comfort/accuracy shooting it. Note, I do have the Apex kit which makes it the gun that it is. The stock MA trigger makes it a completely different gun out of the box. Crappy to shoot without the Apex kit. So, factor that into your cost.

 

[boxerjake77]

Fix the trigger, and you can't go wrong with any M&P, compact or full. Atleast for me anyway, they fit so good.

 

[bill o]

Pick one and learn how to shoot the shit out of it.

 

[mp1290]

If you go for the full size (9 or 40), get the one that includes the range kit.

So worth the extra $$$...

I bought it last night, for 509 I could have had the 40c, for 550 I could have the FS40 w/ range kit. The 3rd magazine was worth the extra $40 alone.

 

[dcmdon]

Have you ever shot a .40?

The recoil is significantly stronger and sharper than a 9.

What is your experience level?
Have you ever shot anything with any kind of recoil? .357 mag, .44 mag, or even a .45 acp? (I find the recoil of a .45 to be easier to manage than a .40. I own a M&P 45 and it is a total pussycat)

The issue is not that you can't handle the recoil. The issue is that the recovery time and therefore your shot to shot speed may be significantly slower with a .40.

I can without hesitation recommend against the .40 in the compact version. I haven't shot a M&P 40 in full size, so I can only go by my experience with other guns. Specifically, the HK USP40, the Glock 23, the Glock 22Gen3, Glock 22Gen4, and STI Edge.

The Edge and the Gen4G22 were the only guns that I felt I did not shoot significantly slower in .40. The Edge weighs almost a pound more than the M&P and the Glock, I don't quite know what they did, but the Gen 4 is more controllable.

Go on youtube and look up "shooting my XXX" where XXX is the gun of your choice. Watch the videos. If you see the person regripping the gun between shots, then they can't shoot the gun properly, and they don't even know it.

Defensive shooting involves putting the maximum amount of lead downrange with reasonable accuracy as quickly as possible. Shot placement is king. A hit in the heart with a .22 is better than a hit in the gut with a .44 magnum.

It is my opinion after 10 years of giving pistol instruction that most people hit better and hit faster with a 9mm than a .40 and that with modern bullets the .40s advantage in terminal balistics isn't worth the tradeoff.

Don

p.s. I forgot to mention. The 9mm versions of these guns will actually be fun to shoot. If its fun to shoot, you will shoot it more. You will be better with it and your accuracy and speed will benefit.

 

[mp1290]

Have you ever shot a .40?

The recoil is significantly stronger and sharper than a 9.

What is your experience level?
Have you ever shot anything with any kind of recoil? .357 mag, .44 mag, or even a .45 acp?

The issue is not that you can't handle the recoil. The issue is that the recovery time and therefore your shot to shot speed may be significantly slower with a .40.


p.s. I forgot to mention. The 9mm versions of these guns will actually be fun to shoot. If its fun to shoot, you will shoot it more. You will be better with it and your accuracy and speed will benefit.

I have shot many of the higher charged calibers, I own the Govenor and regularly shoot the 410 buck and slugs out of it. All also used to own a p90DC in 45 that i had alot of practice before I sold it. I have shot the mp40c's at the range and feel very comfortable shooting them rapidly with all the shots landing on the paper

 

[dcmdon]

I have shot many of the higher charged calibers, I own the Govenor and regularly shoot the 410 buck and slugs out of it. All also used to own a p90DC in 45 that i had alot of practice before I sold it. I have shot the mp40c's at the range and feel very comfortable shooting them rapidly with all the shots landing on the paper

Well, then you are the exception, and thats great.

Have you shot a M&P9C? It might be interesting to see how much faster you could shoot it.
Years ago I got the chance to shoot the G27 and G26 side by side. I was planning to buy a G27.
I found that my shot to shot times with the G26 were almost half of what they were with the 27.

If you want the 40, then get the .40. But if you are open to input then its worth trying them both.

 

[mp1290]

Well, then you are the exception, and thats great.

Have you shot a M&P9C? It might be interesting to see how much faster you could shoot it.
Years ago I got the chance to shoot the G27 and G26 side by side. I was planning to buy a G27.
I found that my shot to shot times with the G26 were almost half of what they were with the 27.

If you want the 40, then get the .40. But if you are open to input then its worth trying them both.

I have shot the 9c but not extensivly enough to get comfortable with it. I do own the sr9c and like it but with mulitple FTFs it doesnt come out of the safe much. And the reason i got the 40 is so i could buy the 9mm conversion barrel to be proficient in both calibers. If I was to buy the 9mm i would have been limited by the gun to be able to shoot mulitiple calibers without buying a new gun.

 

[dcmdon]

Oh. Since you already got it, then there's not point in discussing the pros and cons. Good luck with it. Have fun and be safe.