don't let me go to the S&W darkside

Congratulations on getting quite the bargain, tahunua001! Given the price that you paid, if you find that you well and truly hate it, you should do alright if you turn around and sell it.

I, for one, would like to hear how you feel after a couple of trips to the range with the new gun, though.
 
Actually, a lot of modern pistols will allow daylight between the slide and the frame. Glocks are well known for this. While disconcerting, it's not actually an issue.
 
buddy just got a MP45 compact, have admit I like it a lot. They make after market triggers for it if you don't like the one that comes with it.
 
Good luck with the purchase. The pistol does respond to trigger mods well, so if you like it, but long for a better trigger, that can be addressed.

Your hand will decide!!

Good luck

Rich
 
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The gritty feel, that is most likely the striker block.

While it will smooth out a bit over time... Much or most of the grittiness can be eliminated quickly, with a little polish of the striker block tab on the trigger bar.

The tab has a very pronounced corner, and the block is a bit squarish as well. Just radius the corner on the tab and polish the surfaces, That will remove a lot of the gritty feel. You can also give the block itself a bit more radius and polish, but that requires more effort.


The hinged trigger... The Apex replacement poly trigger is very nice.


A little polish of the striker block tab and the Apex trigger does a lot to transform the trigger to something better. Total cost if you already have the polishing tools... about $40...
 
well. I've made the decision to sell it. the gun is much better than earlier production models but simply put, it's the lowest value handgun in my collection and I really see no practical use for it. I have had the chance to shoot it side by side with a Ruger SR9 compact, LC9s, and 9E, a Springfield XD-s 9mm, and a Canik TP9. here are my opinions on it.

1. the fit is horrible, the slop in the slide, especially when dissassembling and reassembling is the worst of any handgun I have ever owned.

2. the trigger is heavy, even when compared to single stacks like the XD-s and LC9S. it's not the heaviest I've ever had, but for a service pistol I would like a lighter trigger, especially in a gun that has a manual safety.

3. the manual safety lever is plastic, and is made of multiple pieces so I would likely not use it as a truck gun for fear of damaging it. this is kindof regretable because I do like the size, shape and location of the safety.

4. of all of the handguns listed, the M&P is the least accurate. this was tested by multiple shooters with multiple types of ammo, the M&P just is not accurate which when considering the loose fit of the slide is in no way surprising.

5. the palm swell is the easiest I've ever had to change out, I wish all manufacturers would adopt this style of replacement/retention, although much like the safety, it is part metal and part plastic, I would prefer one piece of one or the other.

6. the sights are not the clearest. I've had worse, but I've also had better.

7. it is plenty reliable, no failures to date.

all in all it is a decent duty pistol. it'll do the job, but that's about it. I will never buy another unless there are some serious changes to quality control, tolerances, and design of smaller misc components. my opinion on them is not as negative as it used to be, but when comparing other equivalently priced handguns, I would not choose, or recommend the M&P over just about any of them. I guess I will not fall to the dark side after all.
 
the fit is horrible, the slop in the slide, especially when dissassembling and reassembling is the worst of any handgun I have ever owned.
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the M&P just is not accurate which when considering the loose fit of the slide is in no way surprising.
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In my experience in 70+ pistols the fit of the slide to the frame is pretty far down the list of contributing factors to accuracy. Barrel to slide fit is far more relevant, IMO. All that said I don't find the M&P line to be overly accurate either, I just disagree with the diagnosis of why.
 
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I suppose that is very true, and the barrel seemed to be fitted to the slide just as well as any other service piece I own. I guess I'm just grasping at straws for an explanation. :D
 
You're far from alone. Were you to do a search you'd find plenty of threads online debating the accuracy of M&Ps across many forums. The rifling has changed over time, as well as the geometry of the locking block as it related to the slide in efforts by S&W to address this. APEX, who saw a massive boost in business from that pistol line, tooled up to make barrels just for that same pistol line in an attempt to remedy the issue their way. They claim some pretty impressive accuracy, but I've never seen their barrels in person.

I think the M&P is decent. I don't own them anymore as my experience was the QC at S&W leaves a lot to be desired and frankly I prefer other striker fired pistols. If I was issued one I'd be okay with it, but it's not something I choose to spend my money on.
 
I would personally avoid the pistol. I had a M&P40 made in i believe 2012, the trigger was an absolute joke, and caused the tip of my trigger finger to get rubbed raw. After about 400-500rds, it never got better, i had to get rid of it.

A buddy just a few months ago bought an M&P CORE which is a fancier almost competition ready model, and he said it never would work properly since he got it, i think it was something wrong with the striker, but he sent it to S&W and they returned it in good working order. He says since then it has worked perfectlt, and the trigger on his is pretty nice. All i am sayingnis that i personally know of 2 bad ones or lemons, and those and the only two anyone i know has ever had and they where made several years with between each other. I think S&W isnt what it used to be, and although thousands of people have good luck with them, i tried it breifly and wont be going back
 
I think S&W isnt what it used to be, and although thousands of people have good luck with them, i tried it breifly and wont be going back
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I'd argue a number of companies aren't what they used to be. Or maybe we remember them better than they actually were. Or maybe both.
 
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