Smith & Wesson M&P 9mm "Blue Steel" Edition by 1776 Gunsmithing

[Steel and Wood]

We have recently received a lot of interest in custom builds based off of the S&W M&P platform. We have come up with a few concepts, and the first once came to fruition this week. Below are pictures of our "Blue Steel" build, based on an M&P 9mm full size frame, and aptly named after Derrick Zoolander's famous one look. All work and design was performed on site by our professional Gunsmithing team at our Walpole, MA location. A pricing list for custom M&P work will be updated to our Website in the coming days. We have three other designs in the works, and are really interested to see what NES loves/hates. Any and all feedback is much appreciated, especially ideas you guys would like see in the future. As always, shoot often and shoot straight.

- 1776

http://www.1776gunsmithing.com/


- Beaver Tail Reduction
- 10-8 Extended Magazine Well
- Stick Magazine Conversion
- Apex Trigger Kit
- Aluminum AEK Trigger
- Matchless Polished Barrel w/ 11 Degree Crown
- Slide Contouring (Almost all angles re-cut, all S&W logos removed)
- "Rib Cage" Slide Milling Cuts
- Sight Plane "Trench" Milling Cut
- Two Tone "Blue Steel" and Graphite Black Cerakote Finish
- XS Big Dot Tritium Sights

 

[Machete]

Very fine work and a true custom piece! I admire your attention to detail!

 

[Gammon]

What is a "stick magazine" conversion?

 

[Steel and Wood]

What is a "stick magazine" conversion?

Because of Mass law, Full size M&Ps actually use Compact 10 round magazines. A plastic extension is affixed to give the impression that they are the same size as regular standard capacity mags, but this is not the case. Because of this brick of plastic, aftermarket floor plates cannot simply be slipped on, and they will not fit the clearance dimensions of most aftermarket magazine well extensions. We came up with a way to remove the tab on the floor plate of 10 round magazines (As well as removing the S&W logo), so that they will fit the extended mag well pictured above. It makes the magazines lighter, easier to carry, and in our opinion looks a lot cooler!

 

[coyotesdead]

very cool

 

[noxin]

Because of Mass law, Full size M&Ps actually use Compact 10 round magazines. A plastic extension is affixed to give the impression that they are the same size as regular standard capacity mags, but this is not the case. Because of this brick of plastic, aftermarket floor plates cannot simply be slipped on, and they will not fit the clearance dimensions of most aftermarket magazine well extensions. We came up with a way to remove the tab on the floor plate of 10 round magazines (As well as removing the S&W logo), so that they will fit the extended mag well pictured above. It makes the magazines lighter, easier to carry, and in our opinion looks a lot cooler!

Can you post a couple of pictures of the stick magazine?

 

[warwickben]

The color I'm not a fan of but I'm not a blue guy rest looks sick

 

[ColdDayInHell]

Love the rib slide cuts.

 

[Glockfan71]

That is awesome looking!

Fired from my HTC One with high capacity storage

 

[Steel and Wood]

This is an example of what the "Stick Mag" looks like. Come by the shop and check it out sometime!

 

[noxin]

This is an example of what the "Stick Mag" looks like. Come by the shop and check it out sometime!

View attachment 106271

Ahh, great, thanks for posting!

 

[MAD Geary]

Looks great! Any chance the other designs that you are working on have the slide cut for a red dot?

 

[Rate_of_Twist]

What did you change the recoil spring weight to?

What was the before and after weight of the slide?

 

[Steel and Wood]

Looks great! Any chance the other designs that you are working on have the slide cut for a red dot?

We have already installed RMRs, they come out awesome. We will have a picture of our most recent one on our website in a few days. Installing the red dot is substantially easier than any of the milling pictured here.

 

[SJan]

This is an example of what the "Stick Mag" looks like. Come by the shop and check it out sometime!

View attachment 106271

Que the "Neva been done before" meme

The plastic extensions used on the 10 round mags can be ordered from S&W for less than $2 each. I have a set of 6 that I modified, and 10 more unmodified for regular use.

I copied what NES member eisenhow did. He used 9mm basepads on 40 mag bodies for more length, and added some stippling for grip. Extra length is needed to properly seat the mags with a magwell installed (eisenhow and I use a Speed Shooter Specialties magwell, I'm not familiar with the 10-8)

I added 3/8 aluminum to my 9mm basepads and 9mm mag bodies. I shaped everything on a belt sander. Not as pretty as 1776's work -especially my photography- but they perform as needed in my steel blaster.

 

[Gammon]

I see a potential problem with this mod. Since the mag base has been trimmed, there is nothing to stop the mag from being forced past the mag catch in a speed reload with the slide locked back. I have seen this occur with extended 11 round mags in the 1911.

 

[Retired-LEO]

Fantastic Job !! Two thumbs up

 

[eisenhow]

I copied what NES member eisenhow did. He used 9mm basepads on 40 mag bodies for more length, and added some stippling for grip. Extra length is needed to properly seat the mags with a magwell installed (eisenhow and I use a Speed Shooter Specialties magwell, I'm not familiar with the 10-8)

I used this last season for my USPSA L10 gun. It has the SSS brass L10 magwell

]

I see a potential problem with this mod. Since the mag base has been trimmed, there is nothing to stop the mag from being forced past the mag catch in a speed reload with the slide locked back. I have seen this occur with extended 11 round mags in the 1911.

This isn't a 1911/2011. I haven't had any issues with over insertion on my M&P.

 

[Steel and Wood]

I love the feed back, these are great ideas, we will come up with something better based on these recommendations on our next go around. What do you guys think of an extended aluminum base plate with some machined groves or dimples?

 

[SJan]

I you can make one piece aluminum base pad for the 10 round mags that will extend past my magwell, I'll buy 6 of them. Smooth or bead blasted finish is fine in my opinion.

 

[Steel and Wood]

Sooo... we just got back from our proto-type shop, and have designed a replacement base pad for M&P 9/40 magazines from the ground up. It will completely replace the S&W chunk of plastic with a sleeker, much longer, and much more ergonomical extension. Our designs will be in Aluminum AND in plastic (depending on weight preference) and will have a 3/4" - 1" extension past all the different extended mag wells we had to measure. The initial designs will match the S&W stock contours pretty closely(other than length), but we have an idea for a skeletonized aluminum version down the road. They should be out of the machines end of next week, and we will post some pictures and prices. Thanks for the awesome idea guys!

As for the comment above about "over inserting" the magazine on and M&P, if you can replicate this issue please send us some info and pictures. We have certainly seen this problem on 1911s, but we have never been able to replicate it on an M&P platform. It is our opinion that the contour of the frame, location of the trigger bar, and orientation of the slide release controls completely prevent this from happening, even under the worst of conditions. Let us know what you think!

 

[Rate_of_Twist]

Sooo... we just got back from our proto-type shop, and have designed a replacement base pad for M&P 9/40 magazines from the ground up. It will completely replace the S&W chunk of plastic with a sleeker, much longer, and much more ergonomical extension. Our designs will be in Aluminum AND in plastic (depending on weight preference) and will have a 3/4" - 1" extension past all the different extended mag wells we had to measure. The initial designs will match the S&W stock contours pretty closely(other than length), but we have an idea for a skeletonized aluminum version down the road. They should be out of the machines end of next week, and we will post some pictures and prices. Thanks for the awesome idea guys!

As for the comment above about "over inserting" the magazine on and M&P, if you can replicate this issue please send us some info and pictures. We have certainly seen this problem on 1911s, but we have never been able to replicate it on an M&P platform. It is our opinion that the contour of the frame, location of the trigger bar, and orientation of the slide release controls completely prevent this from happening, even under the worst of conditions. Let us know what you think!

how about spring rates and slide weights ( out of curiosity )

 

[Steel and Wood]

how about spring rates and slide weights ( out of curiosity )

If you'd like one made, give us a call and we can talk about specs! Weight reduction on this slide was less than 10%. Every spring in the gun has been re-made, and if told you the weights I'd have to charge ya

 

[Rate_of_Twist]

If you'd like one made, give us a call and we can talk about specs! Weight reduction on this slide was less than 10%. Every spring in the gun has been re-made, and if told you the weights I'd have to charge ya

Your joking, right???

Nice looking build

 

[Steel and Wood]

We will give you exact dimensions once we stress test the dog out of the builds. I don't feel comfortable about giving details on custom builds until I know the fails of it. I don't want to give out information regarding custom builds before I make sure I know everything regarding functionality. Thanks - Don

 

[Rate_of_Twist]

We will give you exact dimensions once we stress test the dog out of the builds. I don't feel comfortable about giving details on custom builds until I know the fails of it. I don't want to give out information regarding custom builds before I make sure I know everything regarding functionality. Thanks - Don

Awesome answer, thank you. Ill be watching your threads

 

[Cloverleaf Firearms Group]

Looking forward to your future builds!

 

[SJan]

Our designs will be in Aluminum AND in plastic (depending on weight preference) and will have a 3/4" - 1" extension past all the different extended mag wells we had to measure

Be sure a M&P pro (5" barrel) with magazine inserted and your basepad fitted will fit inside the USPSA box (8 15/16” x 6” x 1 5/8”)

I would like to use my same mags in production division.
I'm thinking about 1/2 - 5/8 " longer than a S&W standard mag and basepad. Does that sound about right eisenhow ?

 

[AM13]

The color I'm not a fan of but I'm not a blue guy rest looks sick

+1 the work looks awesome, the color not so much

 

[eisenhow]

Be sure a M&P pro (5" barrel) with magazine inserted and your basepad fitted will fit inside the USPSA box (8 15/16” x 6” x 1 5/8”)

I would like to use my same mags in production division.
I'm thinking about 1/2 - 5/8 " longer than a S&W standard mag and basepad. Does that sound about right eisenhow ?

I'd have to check... However, I would care if it fit in the box. I'd use regular basepads for production, I'd only use them for L10 or Open-10