[Mike1956]

I just received my M&P back from Lou Biondo at Custom 1911-Glock- M&P's
I talked to him a couple weeks ago about doing some work on it, and decided to let him have a go at it. He told me to give him two, maybe three weeks to get it done. He had it back in the mail to me six days after he received it. He did a beaver tail removal, carry trigger re-work and tree bark grip texturing for me, and I could not be more pleased. The trigger is nothing short of sweet. The gravel is entirely out of the pre-travel, and the break is a nice, crisp five-pound pleasure. Follow-through, reset, and subsequent shots have been greatly enhanced. The beaver tail is gone without a trace, never to poke me in the ribs again. The texturing is, well, hard to describe. It improves noticeably on S&W's already-outstanding ergonomics. If you want great, timely work done at a reasonable price, Lou is the guy. Yes, he is in Massachusetts. I quickly got over it.

 

[Harryball]

Very Nice Mike...

 

[Mike1956]

Very Nice Mike...

Thanks, I am very, very happy with it.

 

[Harryball]

Thanks, I am very, very happy with it.

Im looking at the M&P 9c. I might have to give this guy a try....

 

[Mike1956]

Im looking at the M&P 9c. I might have to give this guy a try....

I looked at and considered the 9c, but opted for the full-sized. I don't think you can go wrong either way.

 

[lsbbigdog]

Thanks again Mike... Glad you are digging it!

 

[lsbbigdog]

Im looking at the M&P 9c. I might have to give this guy a try....

I would recommend going full size with a chop.. You will get 2 guns in one plus the bonus of heavier slide for recoil management for better follow up shots and longer sight radius ..

 

[matthew03]

I have long admired Lou's work and think his grip texture looks better than most out there, if not best.

 

[Mike1956]

Hey again, Lou. I went with the full-size and stayed with it because of how nicely it all fits in my hands. Concealment of a full-sized compared to a compact is a bit tougher, but do-able. I got the texturing for for the look rather than for any real practicality, and so was surprised at the genuine improvement it adds to my grip. I would strongly recommend all three modifications you did for mine to anyone with an M&P. How much different is your competition trigger from your carry version?

 

[Mike1956]

I have long admired Lou's work and think his grip texture looks better than most out there, if not best.

No arguments from me. He does great work at a great price, and his turnaround times are awesome.

 

[sixgun]

I would recommend going full size with a chop.. You will get 2 guns in one plus the bonus of heavier slide for recoil management for better follow up shots and longer sight radius ..

Now these look good. Ive seen a lot of custom work on m&ps and this just wets my appetite to do some on my 9c. Good work.

 

[Mike1956]

Now these look good. Ive seen a lot of custom work on m&ps and this just wets my appetite to do some on my 9c. Good work.

Yeah, here is the one which got this thread started:
http://www.defensivecarry.com/forum/defensive-carry-guns/161871-chopped-barked-m-p.html
Looking over it, I realized there is another comment to be made.

 

[deadguy]

Mike that looks great. Nice work Lou. Very nice work.

 

[Remy]

Mike, no need of a grip chop like you had done to your G17?

 

[lsbbigdog]

Hey again, Lou. I went with the full-size and stayed with it because of how nicely it all fits in my hands. Concealment of a full-sized compared to a compact is a bit tougher, but do-able. I got the texturing for for the look rather than for any real practicality, and so was surprised at the genuine improvement it adds to my grip. I would strongly recommend all three modifications you did for mine to anyone with an M&P. How much different is your competition trigger from your carry version?

Competition trigger-Removes all pre-travel , smooths all the grit out and gives it and audible tactile reset . Trigger pull is right at 4lbs..

 

[Mike1956]

Mike, no need of a grip chop like you had done to your G17?

No, for a couple reasons. On a Glock, the difference between a 17 and 19 grip is 1/2", and two rounds off the magazine capacity. As someone who started with a 19, the chop on the 17 made all my mags interchangeable, and gave me the grip with which I had already become very familiar. My bigger issue at the time was with concealment. I was having real issues trying to find a holster I could make work. The AIWB holsters available simply do not work for me. I hate hybrids and have never been able to do anything with them. The Sparks VMII will fit a rear-mounted DeltaPoint, but it is wider than I like and has a steel band across the mouth which I do not care for. The Watch Six lacks the firmness I need. The Brommeland Max-Con V simply won't allow for a reflexive sight. Other holsters I tried all came with issues which rendered concealment difficult due to printing/ride height, so I wound up getting the grip chop. I am very happy with it, but still couldn't find a holster I was satisfied with. I knew exactly what I wanted, but nobody made it.
Through this forum, I was able to connect with Mark at Midworld Holsters. I told him exactly what I was looking for, and he made the prototype for what has become a production model he offers, the Ohio Special: Ohio Special IWB - MidWorld Holster It is absolutely everything I need in a concealment holster, with a design which allows the carrying and concealment of even large, full-sized semis like the S&W M&P. He also offers a cutaway version to accommodate reflexive sight-equipped guns.
The other difference in chopping a 19 to a 17 compared to an M&P and M&Pc is obviously the grip length and capacity. 17 rounds to 15 is a mere 1/2" off the grip. From 17 to 12 is more like an inch and a quarter, which is simply shorter than I am comfortable with in my primary carries. I now have the right gear to haul a full-sized semi, so haul it I shall. This isn't to say that I would recommend against a chop to anyone considering it, because as we can all see, Lou will do a great job with both function and appearance.

 

[Remy]

No, for a couple reasons. On a Glock, the difference between a 17 and 19 grip is 1/2", and two rounds off the magazine capacity. As someone who started with a 19, the chop on the 17 made all my mags interchangeable, and gave me the grip with which I had already become very familiar. My bigger issue at the time was with concealment. I was having real issues trying to find a holster I could make work. The AIWB holsters available simply do not work for me. I hate hybrids and have never been able to do anything with them. The Sparks VMII will fit a rear-mounted DeltaPoint, but it is wider than I like and has a steel band across the mouth which I do not care for. The Watch Six lacks the firmness I need. The Brommeland Max-Con V simply won't allow for a reflexive sight. Other holsters I tried all came with issues which rendered concealment difficult due to printing/ride height, so I wound up getting the grip chop. I am very happy with it, but still couldn't find a holster I was satisfied with. I knew exactly what I wanted, but nobody made it.
Through this forum, I was able to connect with Mark at Midworld Holsters. I told him exactly what I was looking for, and he made the prototype for what has become a production model he offers, the Ohio Special: Ohio Special IWB - MidWorld Holster It is absolutely everything I need in a concealment holster, with a design which allows the carrying and concealment of even large, full-sized semis like the S&W M&P. He also offers a cutaway version to accommodate reflexive sight-equipped guns.
The other difference in chopping a 19 to a 17 compared to an M&P and M&Pc is obviously the grip length and capacity. 17 rounds to 15 is a mere 1/2" off the grip. From 17 to 12 is more like an inch and a quarter, which is simply shorter than I am comfortable with in my primary carries. I now have the right gear to haul a full-sized semi, so haul it I shall. This isn't to say that I would recommend against a chop to anyone considering it, because as we can all see, Lou will do a great job with both function and appearance.

Understood.

Speaking of Mark...I have a modified version of the Ohio Special on order for my G17.

 

[Mike1956]

Understood.

Speaking of Mark...I have a modified version of the Ohio Special on order for my G17.

Excellent. I recommend wearing it as close to 3:00 as you can. If it still prints, Lou has fast, fast turnarounds on grip chops.

 

[Remy]

Excellent. I recommend wearing it as close to 3:00 as you can. If it still prints, Lou has fast, fast turnarounds on grip chops.

3:00 is also my preferred position (when I've tried carrying in a Remora).

With the cant I've specified and my body size, hiding the grip shouldn't be a problem.

 

[Mike1956]

3:00 is also my preferred position (when I've tried carrying in a Remora).

With the cant I've specified and my body size, hiding the grip shouldn't be a problem.

Interesting. What cant did you specify? Twenty degrees is where I am most comfortable.