S&W M&P 45

54rndball · May 23, 2015

Just have been thinking about one of these high capacity pistols, and yes, I guess a 10 round mag is high capacity for 45 ACP. I thought, hmm, how to get more rounds on target fast. I love my 1911s, but am thinking about giving the M&P a try. Jeff Quinn at Gunblast.com seems to like them. What is so good about them? I guess they are legal in MD with a 10 round mag. Tell me about them!

BradMacc82 · May 23, 2015

Love mine, have the full-size with a 4" barrel.

2 parts from Apex, boom, 3.5# trigger. Only failures I've had have been due to lead semi-wadcutters that I had the COL too long on, and a worn recoil spring around 4k rounds.

If nothing else, go try one out at a range that rents guns out - I find even the 4" .45 to very easy to manage and shoot quickly, accurately.

Johnthetoolguy · May 23, 2015

I've got 1911's and M&P's.
I love them all to death but the M&P's have a different feel. Just before SB281 took effect I bought a bunch of extra mags for several guns. I had found the extended magazines for the M&P 45. Bought a few of those. The M&P looks cool with those mags.

501st · May 23, 2015

54rndball said:
Just have been thinking about one of these high capacity pistols, and yes, I guess a 10 round mag is high capacity for 45 ACP. I thought, hmm, how to get more rounds on target fast. I love my 1911s, but am thinking about giving the M&P a try. Jeff Quinn at Gunblast.com seems to like them. What is so good about them? I guess they are legal in MD with a 10 round mag. Tell me about them!

There are several other handguns I would consider as well in .45acp

FN FNX

Sig P320

HK 45

Twofer · May 23, 2015

The M&P45 is a great gun. The stock trigger isn't great, but throw in a DCAEK from Apex Tactical, and it's good to go. The M&P's been my go-to gun for a while. The polymer frame makes for a lighter gun, which great if you're carrying it on your hip, but also gives more recoil. I like the "small" back-strap for mine. (I have pretty average size hands, wear "medium" mechanics gloves.) I've got the manual safety model, which works ok, just very easy to engage/disengage. I also removed the magazine disconnect safety from mine.

I bought mine as a beater gun, but then it turned out to be exceptional. Very accurate and has been totally reliable. The slide and barrel are melonite case-hardened, which prevents corrosion and scratching. When I was working at the black rifle shop in CA, I accidentally slammed the M&P's slide into a dumpster. It didn't leave a mark.

I had a M&P9 for a bit, but the accuracy wasn't there. I don't know if my 45 is special, or if the 9 was "special".

Although, you don't have to give up on your 1911, there's plenty of good 10 round mags out there. I like the Chip McCormick Power Mags.

jimbobborg · May 24, 2015

If you can find one in decent shape, a Canadian made ParaOrdnance double-stack 1911 in .45 ACP should work for you. 14 rounds per mag, get a bumper for the mags and increase the capacity by two or three rounds.

Yoshi · May 24, 2015

The FN 45 carries 15.

smokey · May 24, 2015

The apex trigger is basically mandatory, as the factory m&p trigger is horrible. After the apex kit, the trigger will be pretty good, although there won't really be a noticeable reset feel or sound. My m&p 45 is an absolute tacdriver and I can shoot it better than my p99(which is another phenominal gun accuracy wise). I've not had a malfunction out of my m&p45 yet after thousands of rounds through it.

I got the threaded barrel kit with both the normal 4.5" barrel and also the threaded barrel. I was pleasantly surprised to find out the lone wolf comp works damned good at eliminating muzzle rise and recoil. It's already has quick recovery time between shots making for a fast 45, but the lone wolf comp takes it to a new level for 45.

I have an extended mag for it, and need to send it back for a new spring. The spring has collapsed in on itself towards the top, looking like a bad heat treat on it or something. The factory 10 rounders have been great.

alucard0822 · May 24, 2015

It's a really comfortable pistol that is easy to shoot well, some of that comes from the relatively narrow grip that reduces the mag width and capacity. The M&P 45 is one of the few that can shoot in all 3 pistol classes in IDPA too. If you intend on carrying it, then the 30% greater capacity of a similarly sized G21 or the same capacity in the smaller G30 gives them a significant edge. M&P triggers are crap out of the box, although that is easily remedied.

miles71 · May 24, 2015

http://www.mdshooters.com/showthread.php?t=174957

Mine has a stock trigger, guess I need to get used to it

I am very happy with mine, shots well and one of the better feeling 45s I've shot. I recommend it highly.

TD

md_rick_o · May 24, 2015

Absolutely love my M&P Mid size (4" barrel). I've not done the trigger upgrade and it shoots well for me.

54rndball · May 24, 2015

smokey0118 said:
The apex trigger is basically mandatory, as the factory m&p trigger is horrible. After the apex kit, the trigger will be pretty good, although there won't really be a noticeable reset feel or sound. My m&p 45 is an absolute tacdriver and I can shoot it better than my p99(which is another phenominal gun accuracy wise). I've not had a malfunction out of my m&p45 yet after thousands of rounds through it.

I got the threaded barrel kit with both the normal 4.5" barrel and also the threaded barrel. I was pleasantly surprised to find out the lone wolf comp works damned good at eliminating muzzle rise and recoil. It's already has quick recovery time between shots making for a fast 45, but the lone wolf comp takes it to a new level for 45.

I have an extended mag for it, and need to send it back for a new spring. The spring has collapsed in on itself towards the top, looking like a bad heat treat on it or something. The factory 10 rounders have been great.

View attachment 151120

Kool photos! I like the bayonet mount. What is the deal with the Apex trigger? Are they easy to install? Is it a sort of modular drop in arrangement?

501st · May 24, 2015

S&W does offer an in house trigger upgrade from the performance center.

md_rick_o · May 24, 2015

501st said:
S&W does offer an in house trigger upgrade from the performance center.

How involved is the APEX modification, too much for a normal shooter.

Twofer · May 24, 2015

The sear is easy. I used the stock spring and it gets me about 4.5 lbs. (Other options are lighter or heavier.) It's a good time to ditch the magazine disconnect safety, if your gun is so equipped. (Where you can't fire with the magazine removed.)

The RAM (Reset Assist Mechanism) takes a bit of doing. The USB (Ultimate Striker Block) requires you to drift the rear sight off, which is a bit involved. I didn't notice any different with the RAM. The USB cleans up the trigger pre-travel a little bit.

I haven't worked with the forward set sear, or any of their other products yet.

Magnumite · May 25, 2015

"I had a M&P9 for a bit, but the accuracy wasn't there. I don't know if my 45 is special, or if the 9 was "special". "

The 9 is special. S&W is on their third barrel with M&P9. Competitive shooters at large area matches have said the accuracy is atrocious, as it is with my 5" Pro9.

BigT5g · May 25, 2015

501st said:
There are several other handguns I would consider as well in .45acp

FN FNX

Sig P320

HK 45

+1 for the above recommendations, but I have to also toss the Glock 21 SF into the ring. 13+1 and perfectly reliable with every load put through it in my experience.

501st · May 25, 2015

BigT5g said:
+1 for the above recommendations, but I have to also toss the Glock 21 SF into the ring. 13+1 and perfectly reliable with every load put through it in my experience.

Well the glock is the default polymer option.....

alucard0822 · May 25, 2015

Magnumite said:
"I had a M&P9 for a bit, but the accuracy wasn't there. I don't know if my 45 is special, or if the 9 was "special". "

The 9 is special. S&W is on their third barrel with M&P9. Competitive shooters at large area matches have said the accuracy is atrocious, as it is with my 5" Pro9.

My pro came with a barrel that looked like it was machined with a cheese grater, couldn't shoot under 10" at 25 yards, compared around 3" from my M&P 9c. I was on a list and ordered the pistol when it first came out, and it was one of the first in PA, so I bought it anyway, was kinda PO'ed about the barrel. I could have sent it back, but was told it could take a month or more till S&W made enough to have the part available. Ended up with a SS storm lake barrel, lapped it and fit it, and it shot like a laser, can get under 2" at 25 yds from a rest, stays clean, shoots plated well. I've seen other M&Ps that shoot that well from the factory, so probably an issue they already corrected, or possibly bad QC at the time.

BradMacc82 · May 25, 2015

md_rick_o said:
How involved is the APEX modification, too much for a normal shooter.

The Sear and the AEK trigger are easy to do at home, the USB (ultimate striker block) requires removing the rear sight, so you need a sight tool for that.

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