Local Sheriff Explains why Department Switched from Glock to S&W M&P -- Video
One of our local Sheriff's Departments just announced that they are switching from Glocks to S&W M&P pistols. Smith and Wesson continues to offer police agencies sweetheart deals on the M&P handguns. The only payment that the department has to make for the guns is to turn in their old used Glocks in trade.
The department is paying for accessories such as belts and holsters, that they are also getting from S&W to use with their new M&P handguns, as well as for some training. But the guns themselves are coming at no cost to the department. How is it that S&W can afford to do this with so many agencies???
Here is a link to a full news report about the switchover, including a video interview with the Sheriff:
Maybe those give-away guns are programmed to whisper "Smith and Wesson" whenever they're handled, or the S&W logo glows in the dark or reflects in sunlight, or they have a special pheromone impregnated plastic that makes guys just HAVE to get one.
I think Glock is feeling the pressure of being the leader for a long time. They really haven't changed much with their guns until recently and have found some issues with their attempt at gadgeting up their guns. The other manufacturers have been working to catch Glock with inovative designs and the like, and now S&W is putting them in the hands of LEO's at deals that are hard to refuse.
S&W is not loosing much money on these deals if they are taking the Glock trades and reselling them. (Sorry Glockman10mm, I don't buy your using them for research. :tongue The departments are buying accessories with non taxpayer money, drug busts ect. but S&W is definately making money on the accesories to cover more of the loss on putting guns out at no cost.
The folks that I know that have them, and the ones I have shot have been good guns. The only arguments I have found against them is that they aren't Glocks. If the departments are happy, the guns work, and S&W gets to pick up some of the market share by doing it, it seems like a win/win all the way around unless your Glock.
The Sheriff probably agreed to advertise the fact as part of the deal with S&W. Thats what S&W did here with the Guilford County Sheriffs dept. Also had the M&P logo on some of the Crown Vics too.
When it costs so little to pop plastic guns out of the mold, you are desperate for market share and you are reselling the Glocks you traded for, its easy to do it and turn a profit. Maybe if their product was better, S&W could make a big profit and their stock price would not keep tanking.
im just glad there supporting a US gun manufacturer. I personally am sick of all the talk about glocks, yeah dont get me wrong there good guns. but ugly as dirt and foreign.
Here is the part that cracks me up. Every time Glock does not win something, all the fan boys start getting defensive. Guys! There is room at the top! You don't hear all the Sig fans whining about M&P's and Glocks all the time do you? Heck they have been taking beatings with regards to contracts lately! J/K
I can think of many other wastes of taxpayer money before I am going to gripe about LEO's not having adequate equipment and guns that work for them. They are out looking for the BG's and helping keep the rest of society safe. The tools they need to be what they need and even want in some cases.
Government "Use it or loose it" philosophy on budgets (been there, done that). If'n they don't be spendin' the money by the end of the quarter/year, then the following year their budget is reduced the same amount of the surplus.
:danceban:Thank you... and for my next trick, i will take for free all the GLocks that the police dept turned in... and then i will sell them for $5 to all members of this forum
It's the Chevy/Ford thing all over. I don't have a dog in this hunt--I own several M&Ps and Glocks also, but don't EDC either. I like to slip a 9mm barrel in a G 2d2 or 31 and practice at the range. But I also love to shoot my M&P 9 or 9C as they just feel good. Wife lady sometimes carries the 9C.
My son works for a state agency who changed from M&P 40s to Glock 22s about 1 1/2 years ago. His comment was that in his opinion, he preferred the Smith, but felt like the Glock was just as good and was confident in its reliability.
BTW, I own Ford, Chevy and Dodge trucks and have praised and cursed all in the past.
If I was the head of police agency, I'd issue 1911's, or Hk USP's. Or, you could supply your own, out of your own pocket as long as you can qualify with it and it's reliable.
M&P's aren't bad. Glock can only stay ahead for so long. And I think they are still ahead. I wouldn't mind owning an M&P some day.
I am going to contact this department, I will offer him 6 ea really sharp sticks for every M&P he turns in... And 4 Bikes for every car etc..... What a great way to make decisions...
Actually I was working on our department range during a period of time when our Glock 22s were having major issues. Long story short many of them experienced Failure to Extracts with about 4-5 rounds left in the magazine. It affected about 10% of our guns. We utilized high speed stop motion cameras and were able to actually film the guns malfunctioning. We tried every known fix, and determined that Gen 3 Glocks 40 cal would not run correctly with a fully loaded magazine and without a light attached. This culminated with one of our officers being involved in a shooting and having his gun jam before being able to fire all his rounds, after having been struck by the suspect's rounds. We were not the only large agency to experience this problem. Long story short, Smith and Wesson offered us this same deal, which we took. The armorer's class, the new Safariland holsters, etc were all paid for by Smith and Wesson. So there are reasons for departments to switch equipment, on occasion.
Well, if its about economics and value for the taxpayers then I get it. As for reliability and I suppose that could be argued. Around theses parts I see many agencies with SIG’s so go figure.
I work for a PD that authorizes several .40 primary duty pistols, made by four makers: S&W, Glock, SIG, and SAI. (I think it is an abomination for a PD to limit officers to one model of pistol! Glocks do not fit me, and my accuracy results show it; I would hate to be limited to a Glock.) One model dominates, being chosen by half or more of each cadet class, that being the S&W M&P40. The ones I am able to ask, usually cite ergonomics. Some of these say they preferred the SIG P229 or P226, but we buy our weapons, and SIG is just too expensive for many on cadet pay. The P226/P229 are seen as the prestige pistols, with not just price, but accuracy being cited as the reasons.
Before the M&P40 was introduced by S&W, and then authorized as a choice, the Glock was the most popular choice, with price being the main motivator, among those I asked.
Glock has lost a huge market share among my PD's cadets and officers, between the M&P40 and the XD. I cannot specify my PD on social media, by policy. We are 5000+ officers; not a small PD.
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
Defensive Carry
5.4M posts
117.5K members
Since 2004
A forum community dedicated to defensive firearm owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about everyday carry, optics, holsters, gunsmithing, styles, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more!