My Department has selected the S&W M&P

R1145 · April 30, 2009, 09:14 PM

I just found out we will be getting the S&W M&P in .40. It replaces the Smith 4006, a fine hunk of American metal that has served well but is no longer in production.

I think (hope) we get to choose either the full size or compact.

Of course, if we'd gone Glock in the first place, we'd still be using...Glocks.

I was not in on the selection process, but I believe interchangable grip panels were a major factor.

Overall, I am pleased. I would rather have the Glock because it is the more elegant design solution, but, gimmick or not, the Smith (which is basically a Glock derivative anyway) has the grip panels and that was an important feature for many of my colleagues.

Oh, and the Smith still has those scalloped gripping grooves on the slide: Yuck!

(BH) · April 30, 2009, 09:58 PM

sounds like ya really got ur hopes up for the glock....
they seem to be great service pistols but i never cared for them personally. like many others, the grip just was not for me.

as for the M&P...

i just got the 45c and i have a friend who has the .40 and another who has both the 9mm and the 9mmc. between all us there has not been one hiccup. they are just solid built guns. i know they come after the sigma which doesnt have the best reputation, but IMO S&W really made a solid, tough, reliable, and accurate polymer handgun. i love mine and i dont know anyone who has not loved theirs. im sure plenty of people have different opinions on the M&P and every gun has folks that dont like it. but i dont think many people will argue against it being a well made piece of machinery.

jgcoastie · April 30, 2009, 10:08 PM

M&P is a great gun. Personally, I couldn't get used to the sloppy trigger, but I hear they clean up after a good break-in period, about 400-500 rounds from what I understand...

I like Glocks better, but if I happen upon a great deal, I'd probably pick up an M&P...

brucea4 · April 30, 2009, 10:26 PM

I fired a S & W M & P .40 over the past few days & am impressed with it. I prefer it over my Glock 23.....

supergas452M · April 30, 2009, 10:35 PM

Your dept would have been much better off selecting the M&P in .357 sig. I really dont understand the fascination with the .40 cal. At any rate at least they had the good sense to select a great gun.

supergas452M · April 30, 2009, 10:39 PM

Before any one denigrates my choice of the 357 sig over the 40 cal, be ready for a shoot off that will include wall, glass and steel penetration.

Shadi Khalil · April 30, 2009, 11:19 PM

I agree, the scalloped gripping grooves are hideous. However, the M&P feels great in the hand and seems to function great, not many reports of problems. I have only fired a few rounds out of the M&P but I was impressed.

Ben · April 30, 2009, 11:23 PM

Let's see; you get the capacity of a 40 while shooting a 9mm bullet. What a great idea!!

They are both great rounds. I just prefer to maximize my space.

Ben

supergas452M · April 30, 2009, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Let's see; you get the capacity of a 40 while shooting a 9mm bullet. What a great idea!! They are both great rounds. I just prefer to maximize my space.

I assume you are touting the "bigger is better theory". That's a tired old wife's tale. But hey, if that's what you prefer, who am I to argue?

golfnutrlv · May 1, 2009, 12:26 AM

There are some department here in WA state issuing M&P .40's. I have one as well, and I absolutely love it!! Never had an issue through 10000+ rounds!

Light to carry, great on recoil management, great selection of holsters. Go get em!!

SavageMOA · May 1, 2009, 12:40 AM

deleted.

mrt949 · May 1, 2009, 03:58 PM

I have fulsize and compact M@P 40 SW. I am a happy camper .

On the plus side you can get a 357. sig barrell for it.

RT · May 1, 2009, 05:36 PM

I saw this on M4C. I am just passing along info.....

http://www.policelink.com/news/artic...d-for-lasd-use

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department

April 30, 2009

LASD BULLETIN EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY:

Subject: PLEASE BRIEF YOUR PERSONNEL - Officer Safety - M&P pistols no longer authorized

Importance: High

Quality of Smith & Wesson 9mm M&P pistols has become a concern because of a recent barrel failure on an in-service deputy’s pistol, coupled with additional extraction jams on deputy recruit pistols (46% of recruit class experiencing some degree of malfunctions – mostly phase-2 jam failures to extract spent casings).

A JDIC announcment canceling the authorization of Smith & Wesson 9mm M&P semi-automatic pistol models follows.

Please brief your personnel.

NOTE: Sworn personnel carrying a replacement pistol (instead of a S&W M&P) must shoot pistol qualification ASAP with that replacement on-duty and/or off-duty pistol.

Personnel who were trained to use the M&P pistol during January – April 2009 can contact BC Range for additional information.

SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT BROADCAST ANNOUNCEMENT

TRAINING BUREAU WEAPONS TRAINING

TO: ALL SWORN PERSONNEL

SUBJECT: OFFICER SAFETY ALERT - SMITH & WESSON M&P PISTOLS

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS HAVE FORCED A DEPARTMENTAL RE-EVALUATION OF THE SMITH & WESSON 9MM M&P SEMI-AUTOMATIC PISTOL AS AN AUTHORIZED OPTIONAL HANDGUN FOR SWORN PERSONNEL.

EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, THE SMITH & WESSON 9MM M&P FULL SIZE PISTOL IS NO LONGER AN AUTHORIZED OPTIONAL ON-DUTY PISTOL.

EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, THE SMITH & WESSON 9MM M&P COMPACT PISTOL IS NO LONGER AN AUTHORIZED OPTIONAL OFF-DUTY PISTOL.

SINCE FIRST APPROVAL AS AN OPTIONAL PISTOL ON DECEMBER 10, 2008, THE FULL-SIZED AND/OR COMPACT VERSIONS OF THE 9MM SMITH & WESSON M&P PISTOL HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED BY 49 SWORN PERSONNEL ON AND OFF DUTY. ONE OF THESE PISTOLS WAS DELIVERED NEW WITH AN IMPROPERLY MACHINED BARREL THAT WOULD NOT EJECT SPENT CARTRIDGE CASINGS. ANOTHER OF THESE PISTOLS EXPERIENCED A BARREL FAILURE IN MID-APRIL OF THIS YEAR. AFTER FIRING LESS THAN 10,000 ROUNDS OF TRAINING AMMUNITION. THIS PISTOL BARREL BROKE INTO TWO PIECES JUST AHEAD OF THE FIRING CHAMBER.

ADDITIONALLY, A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF DEPUTY ACADEMY CLASS #377 RECRUITS WITH ISSUED NEW SMITH & WESSON 9MM M&P FULL-SIZE PISTOLS HAVE EXPERIENCED PHASE-2 PISTOL MALFUNCTIONS, CAUSED BY SPENT CASINGS FAILING TO EXTRACT FROM BARREL CHAMBERS, DURING THE PAST TWO WEEKS OF TRAINING. CLASS #377 RECRUITS WILL BE ISSUED BERETTA 92FS PISTOLS ON WEDNESDAY APRIL 29, 2009, AND THEIR M&P PISTOLS REMOVED FROM SERVICE.

PERSONNEL SAFETY AND RELIABLE EQUIPMENT REMAIN OUR PRIMARY CONCERNS.

DIRECT ANY QUESTIONS TO LIEUTENANT MICHAEL C. REYNOLDS MCREYNOL@LASD.ORG OR SERGEANT DAVID NELL DANELL@LASD.ORG AT THE B.C. RANGE.

LEROY D. BACA, SHERIFF KBL/SNDG

Ben · May 1, 2009, 05:44 PM

At least they are going to a Beretta. Just because a lot of folks are transitioning to the M&P doesn't mean that it's a good gun for everybody. S&W is really shooting themselves in the foot by no longer making their metal-framed guns.

Ben

comn-cents · May 1, 2009, 05:45 PM

Rt
That is an interesting article except that Los Angeles Sheriff Dept is LASO not LASD. My best friend is one and my brother is a CHiP.

Wondering who typed that up.

comn-cents · May 1, 2009, 05:48 PM

Guess they changed to LASD...

goldfacade · May 1, 2009, 06:02 PM

LASD http://www.lasd.org/

ritepath · May 1, 2009, 08:34 PM

don't forget to check out the M&P forum.

brewster · May 2, 2009, 03:28 PM

Great choice on the department's part. If you do get a choice, get the full-sized, the balance is outstanding. Then compliment it with a small backup gun if you don't already have one.

trucker john · May 2, 2009, 09:00 PM

Milwaukee (WI) PD is also making a switch to the S&W M&P .40 from Glocks after first replacing their Glock magazines and not being satisfied with that solution.

KyJim · May 2, 2009, 10:05 PM

Quote:

I would rather have the Glock because it is the more elegant design solution

I believe that's the first time I've ever seen the words "Glock" and "elegant" in the same sentence.

As far as the LASD is concerned, don't get too concerned about it. There may or may not have been QC issues. All manufacturers, including Glock, have them. I think the M&Ps have been out long enough and with enough agencies that you can count them as being reliable pistols.

jmr40 · May 3, 2009, 12:05 AM

Our local PD got several M&P's to evaluate and had quite a few major problems. I'm not exactly sure what the problems were, but they sent them back to Smith and decided to keep their 5906's a little while longer. The Chief hates Glock so they will not even consider them.

I had a M&P in 45 briefly and had zero problems with mine. I liked it well enough and thought I might like it better than my Glock 21. After shooting them side by side I just liked the Glock better and sold the Smith. It was just a personal thing and I would recommend the Smith.

vox rationis · May 3, 2009, 12:49 AM

I agree with KyJim about all manufacturers having warts.

Glock went through a whole slew of recalls, err I mean "upgrades" and there have been quite a few PD's that dumped their Glocks for various problems; most of these have been resolved but there are still ongoing problems with G22's.

Sigs have had problems with broken frame rails in the past, HK had problems with firing pin breakage in early USPs with dryfiring, Beretta had locking block breakage issues..

If you consider the full picture, many more PD's are adopting M&P's, and Glocks than dumping them, so it is a mistake to draw a conclusion solely based on what one given department does at any one given point in time.

Not to mention the fact that even when considering one manufacturer, suppliers of various parts will change over the years, and any gun manufacturer can suffer a rash of sub par parts at times.

B.N.Real · May 3, 2009, 07:24 AM

Man,reading those auto feed problems makes a guy wonder why they are'nt all using revolvers anymore.

Or at least packing the revolvers as a back up constantly.

Nothing like toting seven pounds of gun stuff on your belt all day.

Makes running down a bad guy a slinging fun fest.

Bionicrooster · May 3, 2009, 01:03 PM

I looked at a M&P in 40, it was nice and i really liked the balance in my hand (full size) but I ended up liking the EEA EZ40 even more. In any case at least they picked a great caliber, alot of PD's in my area have been moving from the 9mm to the 40.

April 30, 2009, 09:14 PM	#1
R1145 Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 196	My Department has selected the S&W M&P I just found out we will be getting the S&W M&P in .40. It replaces the Smith 4006, a fine hunk of American metal that has served well but is no longer in production. I think (hope) we get to choose either the full size or compact. Of course, if we'd gone Glock in the first place, we'd still be using...Glocks. I was not in on the selection process, but I believe interchangable grip panels were a major factor. Overall, I am pleased. I would rather have the Glock because it is the more elegant design solution, but, gimmick or not, the Smith (which is basically a Glock derivative anyway) has the grip panels and that was an important feature for many of my colleagues. Oh, and the Smith still has those scalloped gripping grooves on the slide: Yuck!

April 30, 2009, 11:19 PM	#7
Shadi Khalil Senior Member Join Date: September 23, 2006 Location: Alexandria, VA Posts: 2,763	I agree, the scalloped gripping grooves are hideous. However, the M&P feels great in the hand and seems to function great, not many reports of problems. I have only fired a few rounds out of the M&P but I was impressed. __________________ "People say, oh it's dangerous to keep weapons in the home, or the workplace. Well I say, it's better to be hurt by someone you know, accidentally, than by a stranger, on purpose." -Dwight Schrute

May 1, 2009, 12:26 AM	#10
golfnutrlv Senior Member Join Date: November 5, 2008 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 770	There are some department here in WA state issuing M&P .40's. I have one as well, and I absolutely love it!! Never had an issue through 10000+ rounds! Light to carry, great on recoil management, great selection of holsters. Go get em!! __________________ You cannot invade the mainland United States, there would be a rifle behind every blade of grass. --Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, WWII

May 1, 2009, 05:36 PM	#13
RT Senior Member Join Date: September 9, 2000 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 956	I saw this today I saw this on M4C. I am just passing along info..... http://www.policelink.com/news/artic...d-for-lasd-use Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department April 30, 2009 LASD BULLETIN EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY: Subject: PLEASE BRIEF YOUR PERSONNEL - Officer Safety - M&P pistols no longer authorized Importance: High Quality of Smith & Wesson 9mm M&P pistols has become a concern because of a recent barrel failure on an in-service deputy’s pistol, coupled with additional extraction jams on deputy recruit pistols (46% of recruit class experiencing some degree of malfunctions – mostly phase-2 jam failures to extract spent casings). A JDIC announcment canceling the authorization of Smith & Wesson 9mm M&P semi-automatic pistol models follows. Please brief your personnel. NOTE: Sworn personnel carrying a replacement pistol (instead of a S&W M&P) must shoot pistol qualification ASAP with that replacement on-duty and/or off-duty pistol. Personnel who were trained to use the M&P pistol during January – April 2009 can contact BC Range for additional information. SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT BROADCAST ANNOUNCEMENT TRAINING BUREAU WEAPONS TRAINING TO: ALL SWORN PERSONNEL SUBJECT: OFFICER SAFETY ALERT - SMITH & WESSON M&P PISTOLS RECENT DEVELOPMENTS HAVE FORCED A DEPARTMENTAL RE-EVALUATION OF THE SMITH & WESSON 9MM M&P SEMI-AUTOMATIC PISTOL AS AN AUTHORIZED OPTIONAL HANDGUN FOR SWORN PERSONNEL. EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, THE SMITH & WESSON 9MM M&P FULL SIZE PISTOL IS NO LONGER AN AUTHORIZED OPTIONAL ON-DUTY PISTOL. EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, THE SMITH & WESSON 9MM M&P COMPACT PISTOL IS NO LONGER AN AUTHORIZED OPTIONAL OFF-DUTY PISTOL. SINCE FIRST APPROVAL AS AN OPTIONAL PISTOL ON DECEMBER 10, 2008, THE FULL-SIZED AND/OR COMPACT VERSIONS OF THE 9MM SMITH & WESSON M&P PISTOL HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED BY 49 SWORN PERSONNEL ON AND OFF DUTY. ONE OF THESE PISTOLS WAS DELIVERED NEW WITH AN IMPROPERLY MACHINED BARREL THAT WOULD NOT EJECT SPENT CARTRIDGE CASINGS. ANOTHER OF THESE PISTOLS EXPERIENCED A BARREL FAILURE IN MID-APRIL OF THIS YEAR. AFTER FIRING LESS THAN 10,000 ROUNDS OF TRAINING AMMUNITION. THIS PISTOL BARREL BROKE INTO TWO PIECES JUST AHEAD OF THE FIRING CHAMBER. ADDITIONALLY, A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF DEPUTY ACADEMY CLASS #377 RECRUITS WITH ISSUED NEW SMITH & WESSON 9MM M&P FULL-SIZE PISTOLS HAVE EXPERIENCED PHASE-2 PISTOL MALFUNCTIONS, CAUSED BY SPENT CASINGS FAILING TO EXTRACT FROM BARREL CHAMBERS, DURING THE PAST TWO WEEKS OF TRAINING. CLASS #377 RECRUITS WILL BE ISSUED BERETTA 92FS PISTOLS ON WEDNESDAY APRIL 29, 2009, AND THEIR M&P PISTOLS REMOVED FROM SERVICE. PERSONNEL SAFETY AND RELIABLE EQUIPMENT REMAIN OUR PRIMARY CONCERNS. DIRECT ANY QUESTIONS TO LIEUTENANT MICHAEL C. REYNOLDS MCREYNOL@LASD.ORG OR SERGEANT DAVID NELL DANELL@LASD.ORG AT THE B.C. RANGE. LEROY D. BACA, SHERIFF KBL/SNDG

May 1, 2009, 05:45 PM	#15
comn-cents Senior Member Join Date: June 18, 2008 Location: Pac.N.W. Posts: 1,100	Rt That is an interesting article except that Los Angeles Sheriff Dept is LASO not LASD. My best friend is one and my brother is a CHiP. Wondering who typed that up. __________________ Be Smarter Than A Bore-Snake!

April 30, 2009, 09:58 PM	#2
(BH) Senior Member Join Date: April 15, 2009 Location: East TN Posts: 486	sounds like ya really got ur hopes up for the glock.... they seem to be great service pistols but i never cared for them personally. like many others, the grip just was not for me. as for the M&P... i just got the 45c and i have a friend who has the .40 and another who has both the 9mm and the 9mmc. between all us there has not been one hiccup. they are just solid built guns. i know they come after the sigma which doesnt have the best reputation, but IMO S&W really made a solid, tough, reliable, and accurate polymer handgun. i love mine and i dont know anyone who has not loved theirs. im sure plenty of people have different opinions on the M&P and every gun has folks that dont like it. but i dont think many people will argue against it being a well made piece of machinery.

April 30, 2009, 10:08 PM	#3
jgcoastie Senior Member Join Date: February 15, 2009 Location: Kodiak, Alaska Posts: 1,016	M&P is a great gun. Personally, I couldn't get used to the sloppy trigger, but I hear they clean up after a good break-in period, about 400-500 rounds from what I understand... I like Glocks better, but if I happen upon a great deal, I'd probably pick up an M&P... __________________ "To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms, and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them." -Richard Henry Lee, Virginia delegate to the Continental Congress, initiator of the Declaration of Independence, and member of the first Senate, which passed the Bill of Rights.

April 30, 2009, 10:26 PM	#4
brucea4 Senior Member Join Date: January 2, 2009 Posts: 107	I fired a S & W M & P .40 over the past few days & am impressed with it. I prefer it over my Glock 23.....

April 30, 2009, 10:35 PM	#5
supergas452M Senior Member Join Date: December 7, 2008 Location: New Mexico Posts: 309	Your dept would have been much better off selecting the M&P in .357 sig. I really dont understand the fascination with the .40 cal. At any rate at least they had the good sense to select a great gun.

April 30, 2009, 10:39 PM	#6
supergas452M Senior Member Join Date: December 7, 2008 Location: New Mexico Posts: 309	Before any one denigrates my choice of the 357 sig over the 40 cal, be ready for a shoot off that will include wall, glass and steel penetration.

April 30, 2009, 11:23 PM	#8
Ben Senior Member Join Date: June 20, 1999 Location: Georgia Posts: 1,533	Let's see; you get the capacity of a 40 while shooting a 9mm bullet. What a great idea!! They are both great rounds. I just prefer to maximize my space. Ben

May 1, 2009, 12:40 AM	#11
SavageMOA Senior Member Join Date: March 19, 2008 Posts: 354	deleted.

May 1, 2009, 03:58 PM	#12
mrt949 Senior Member Join Date: November 16, 2008 Location: BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE Posts: 749	I have fulsize and compact M@P 40 SW. I am a happy camper . On the plus side you can get a 357. sig barrell for it.

May 1, 2009, 05:44 PM	#14
Ben Senior Member Join Date: June 20, 1999 Location: Georgia Posts: 1,533	At least they are going to a Beretta. Just because a lot of folks are transitioning to the M&P doesn't mean that it's a good gun for everybody. S&W is really shooting themselves in the foot by no longer making their metal-framed guns. Ben

May 1, 2009, 05:48 PM	#16
comn-cents Senior Member Join Date: June 18, 2008 Location: Pac.N.W. Posts: 1,100	Guess they changed to LASD... __________________ Be Smarter Than A Bore-Snake!

May 1, 2009, 06:02 PM	#17
goldfacade Member Join Date: July 22, 2008 Location: Central, FL Posts: 88	LASD http://www.lasd.org/

May 1, 2009, 08:34 PM	#18
ritepath Senior Member Join Date: February 22, 2009 Location: Virginia Posts: 245	don't forget to check out the M&P forum.

May 2, 2009, 03:28 PM	#19
brewster Member Join Date: April 16, 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 15	Great choice on the department's part. If you do get a choice, get the full-sized, the balance is outstanding. Then compliment it with a small backup gun if you don't already have one.

May 2, 2009, 09:00 PM	#20
trucker john Junior Member Join Date: September 13, 2008 Posts: 8	Milwaukee (WI) PD is also making a switch to the S&W M&P .40 from Glocks after first replacing their Glock magazines and not being satisfied with that solution.

May 3, 2009, 12:05 AM	#22
jmr40 Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 1,061	Our local PD got several M&P's to evaluate and had quite a few major problems. I'm not exactly sure what the problems were, but they sent them back to Smith and decided to keep their 5906's a little while longer. The Chief hates Glock so they will not even consider them. I had a M&P in 45 briefly and had zero problems with mine. I liked it well enough and thought I might like it better than my Glock 21. After shooting them side by side I just liked the Glock better and sold the Smith. It was just a personal thing and I would recommend the Smith.

May 3, 2009, 12:49 AM	#23
vox rationis Senior Member Join Date: April 15, 2007 Posts: 1,852	I agree with KyJim about all manufacturers having warts. Glock went through a whole slew of recalls, err I mean "upgrades" and there have been quite a few PD's that dumped their Glocks for various problems; most of these have been resolved but there are still ongoing problems with G22's. Sigs have had problems with broken frame rails in the past, HK had problems with firing pin breakage in early USPs with dryfiring, Beretta had locking block breakage issues.. If you consider the full picture, many more PD's are adopting M&P's, and Glocks than dumping them, so it is a mistake to draw a conclusion solely based on what one given department does at any one given point in time. Not to mention the fact that even when considering one manufacturer, suppliers of various parts will change over the years, and any gun manufacturer can suffer a rash of sub par parts at times.

May 3, 2009, 07:24 AM	#24
B.N.Real Senior Member Join Date: February 22, 2008 Posts: 3,119	Man,reading those auto feed problems makes a guy wonder why they are'nt all using revolvers anymore. Or at least packing the revolvers as a back up constantly. Nothing like toting seven pounds of gun stuff on your belt all day. Makes running down a bad guy a slinging fun fest.

May 3, 2009, 01:03 PM	#25
Bionicrooster Member Join Date: March 18, 2009 Posts: 34	I looked at a M&P in 40, it was nice and i really liked the balance in my hand (full size) but I ended up liking the EEA EZ40 even more. In any case at least they picked a great caliber, alot of PD's in my area have been moving from the 9mm to the 40.