Does it have a manual safety or the internal lock? I know you said you think the trigger will be OK as is, but as long as the pistol doesn't have either of those features, the RAM from Apex will give you a tactile, audible reset if you really want that.
M&P 9c review
Haven't ever posted a review before. But I had fun with the latest plunder, my first M&P compact. So here goes.
Got lucky on the classifieds around the internet. Found a like new TT Gunleather OWB with shark trim from one guy, and a pair of 12 round mags with the rests from another. 160 bucks got all that to the house. Very lucky. So I have a worthy holster and four mags. Off to the range.
WWB and Federal Champion were the hardball meals of the day. Accuracy wasn't so hot. That was me, not the gun. Shaking hands with the trigger. After about 200 rounds, things started to snug up a bit. As expected, the gun ran both breeds of hardball perfect, no hangups of any kind. I will have to learn to spread my bottom fingers a bit more when dumping an empty mag. That short mag can get hung up on a finger very easily, and did until I got used to it.
Federal HST, Gold Dots, and Ranger T were then up to bat. Before the insanity, I loaded up on carry ammo, and figured I could spare a few boxes. All were 124 grain, with the Rangers being +P. Like the ball ammo, all ran through it with boring perfection. The gun wasn't shooting any better with the carry ammo than it was with hardball, but I sure was. By the time I grabbed the good stuff, I had warmed up and was loose. Tight groups. I was happy. Went back to ball, and the groups stayed tight, proving that the initial poor shooting was me and not the gun, as expected.
Put about 400 rounds through it. Ran as good as you could ask with all ammo. Lousy groups were all operator error, although.......
The trigger takes some getting used to, but this is common knowledge. Gritty as hell. It is said that this will smooth out, and 400 rounds has helped. I expect another 400 will help even more. The real trouble is in the reset. Again, common knowledge. No positive reset. No feel, no audible click like a SIG or a Glock. All BS aside, for a carry gun, who cares? When used as a race gun, a guy rides the reset. But for a carry gun, it does not seem as critical. If a guy wants to Apex it out, that smooths the pull but I have not heard about enhancing the reset. But this is strictly a carry gun. And as such, I think the trigger will be OK as is.
Sights gotta go. If I knew that the dots would stay on, I wouldn't condemn them so vehemently. But have witnessed several runs at shoots where the front sight (in particular) followed the brass into the weeds. That won't do. Trijicon HDs are in the near future.
All in all, I can't say anything bad about the compact. The short grip (even with the rest) isn't likely to poke out the back of your shirt, yet still holds 12 rounds of 9mm. Not too shabby. Ergos are excellent, capacity is very good for a grip this small, and the quality is excellent. A very simple gun to run. Other than the sight upgrade (SOP for all my guns except SIGs, which come with night sights) and some getting used to the trigger, it's a honey. Just about a perfect summer gun.
Got lucky on the classifieds around the internet. Found a like new TT Gunleather OWB with shark trim from one guy, and a pair of 12 round mags with the rests from another. 160 bucks got all that to the house. Very lucky. So I have a worthy holster and four mags. Off to the range.
WWB and Federal Champion were the hardball meals of the day. Accuracy wasn't so hot. That was me, not the gun. Shaking hands with the trigger. After about 200 rounds, things started to snug up a bit. As expected, the gun ran both breeds of hardball perfect, no hangups of any kind. I will have to learn to spread my bottom fingers a bit more when dumping an empty mag. That short mag can get hung up on a finger very easily, and did until I got used to it.
Federal HST, Gold Dots, and Ranger T were then up to bat. Before the insanity, I loaded up on carry ammo, and figured I could spare a few boxes. All were 124 grain, with the Rangers being +P. Like the ball ammo, all ran through it with boring perfection. The gun wasn't shooting any better with the carry ammo than it was with hardball, but I sure was. By the time I grabbed the good stuff, I had warmed up and was loose. Tight groups. I was happy. Went back to ball, and the groups stayed tight, proving that the initial poor shooting was me and not the gun, as expected.
Put about 400 rounds through it. Ran as good as you could ask with all ammo. Lousy groups were all operator error, although.......
The trigger takes some getting used to, but this is common knowledge. Gritty as hell. It is said that this will smooth out, and 400 rounds has helped. I expect another 400 will help even more. The real trouble is in the reset. Again, common knowledge. No positive reset. No feel, no audible click like a SIG or a Glock. All BS aside, for a carry gun, who cares? When used as a race gun, a guy rides the reset. But for a carry gun, it does not seem as critical. If a guy wants to Apex it out, that smooths the pull but I have not heard about enhancing the reset. But this is strictly a carry gun. And as such, I think the trigger will be OK as is.
Sights gotta go. If I knew that the dots would stay on, I wouldn't condemn them so vehemently. But have witnessed several runs at shoots where the front sight (in particular) followed the brass into the weeds. That won't do. Trijicon HDs are in the near future.
All in all, I can't say anything bad about the compact. The short grip (even with the rest) isn't likely to poke out the back of your shirt, yet still holds 12 rounds of 9mm. Not too shabby. Ergos are excellent, capacity is very good for a grip this small, and the quality is excellent. A very simple gun to run. Other than the sight upgrade (SOP for all my guns except SIGs, which come with night sights) and some getting used to the trigger, it's a honey. Just about a perfect summer gun.
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Oddly enough, I own a Pro Series M&P but my 9c is much more accurate than it is. As far as the trigger, depending on when yours was produced, many of the newest ones of a trigger that feels identical to the Shield (like mine), it has an audible click reset and a clean break. Mine had no internal lock or manual safety and I have shot several hundred +P+ rounds through it;I do agree on the sights though, very mediocre. Get some full size mags and X grips and it will feel like a totally different gun.
I'm glad to hear that your 9C ran flawlessly. I'm still waiting for my 40C to get delivered to the gun shop. My ammo choice is the same as yours except .40 cal of course. I thought S&W had a trigger change added recently. Not that it matters to me too much because at this time I use a Sigma & they're known for having heavy triggers. I smoothed mine out real good by doing lots of dry firing when not actually shooting & never had a problem with it right out of the box.
My 40C will come with Trijicon HDs as well as 3 mags, a deal I couldn't turn down along with the LEO/Security/Military discount. Each time my patience starts to run out I think of that deal, lol.
My 40C will come with Trijicon HDs as well as 3 mags, a deal I couldn't turn down along with the LEO/Security/Military discount. Each time my patience starts to run out I think of that deal, lol.
I hate you, but I guess that is payback for the gen4 G27 I got for $400. Let us know how the sights are and also what mag combos (flat base or finger grip) they give you.My 40C will come with Trijicon HDs as well as 3 mags, a deal I couldn't turn down along with the LEO/Security/Military discount. Each time my patience starts to run out I think of that deal, lol.
Very good report that was easy to read and follow! I have a M&P Shield and am very happy with the trigger on it. Although, IMO it is not quite up to par with a Glock. To me it does not break quite as clean and the reset is not as positive but still a very good trigger for what I will be using the pistol for.
It's a compromise. Glocks have far and away a better trigger. M&Ps have much better ergos.
My M&P has a born on date of November 2012. The trigger is no better than the full size models I have owned.
The Shield is a whole different animal. Very positive reset.
My M&P has a born on date of November 2012. The trigger is no better than the full size models I have owned.
The Shield is a whole different animal. Very positive reset.
I own a S&W M&P 9c and use it as my EDC. I also take it to the range regularly to stay proficient. I've never had a failure, misfeed, of failure to cycle in the 1,000 rounds plus that I've put through it. I like the magazine with the longer "pinky" grip. The width of the backstrap is perfect for me and I love the ease of take-down for cleaning and maintenance. At the range, I fire whatever ammo I can find (read --> cheapest) and again, no problems. The weight is good for EDC and printing is negligible for CCW. The overall ergonomics of the pistol are perfect for me, but that doesn't mean they're perfect for others. I agree with multistage that the Glocks have a better trigger, and I did have the trigger changed on my M&P 9c. However, that was mostly due to Mass. regulations so I dropped the trigger substantially.
I've fired a lot of semi-auto pistols (too many to count), and now that I have the M&P9c configured the way I like it, I absolutely love this pistol. It simply fits all of my EDC needs in terms of stopping power (although I may like the .40c a bit better in retrospect), comfort when shooting, ease of concealment, reliability, quality of manufacture, ease of maintenance, and ease of operation (slide lock, magazine release, etc.)
I've fired a lot of semi-auto pistols (too many to count), and now that I have the M&P9c configured the way I like it, I absolutely love this pistol. It simply fits all of my EDC needs in terms of stopping power (although I may like the .40c a bit better in retrospect), comfort when shooting, ease of concealment, reliability, quality of manufacture, ease of maintenance, and ease of operation (slide lock, magazine release, etc.)
The M&P 9c is my choice for a Carry pistol. I spent a lot of time choosing, since in the current climate, it was one and done on my budget. It fits my large hands reasonably well with the stock 12 rd mags, but fits better with the 17 rd one that came with my TALO version.
I have about 300 rounds through it at the range, and the only problem I had was that the front sight was not in the dovetail correctly, but the range gunsmith fixed it easily. I am surprised that it left the factory like that.
This is my first "large caliber" pistol, and I have not shot in about 10 years, so the learning curve was pretty steep, but my groupings are tightening up nicely. The trigger is beginning to smooth out, but it was not that bad to begin with. I do not notice the trigger reset quirk that others do, I guess because I never had it, and therefore don't miss it.
All in all, I am pleased with my choice. I have carried it only around the house, and practiced drawing from concealment. as I JUST got my CCP today in the mail, and will be carrying it for the first time tomorrow. I sincerely hope to never need to use it as intended, however I am prepared to do what is necessary. It is far better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.
I have about 300 rounds through it at the range, and the only problem I had was that the front sight was not in the dovetail correctly, but the range gunsmith fixed it easily. I am surprised that it left the factory like that.
This is my first "large caliber" pistol, and I have not shot in about 10 years, so the learning curve was pretty steep, but my groupings are tightening up nicely. The trigger is beginning to smooth out, but it was not that bad to begin with. I do not notice the trigger reset quirk that others do, I guess because I never had it, and therefore don't miss it.
All in all, I am pleased with my choice. I have carried it only around the house, and practiced drawing from concealment. as I JUST got my CCP today in the mail, and will be carrying it for the first time tomorrow. I sincerely hope to never need to use it as intended, however I am prepared to do what is necessary. It is far better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.
Hmm that is interesting, mine is dated in August 2012. I almost want to call S&W and ask them what the story is. It seems like some new ones are getting a Shield style trigger but others aren't, which is odd.It's a compromise. Glocks have far and away a better trigger. M&Ps have much better ergos.
My M&P has a born on date of November 2012. The trigger is no better than the full size models I have owned.
The Shield is a whole different animal. Very positive reset.
I agree 100% about the ergonomics on the M&P line. Glocks don't feel nearly as good in my hands as the M&P's do.It's a compromise. Glocks have far and away a better trigger. M&Ps have much better ergos.
My M&P has a born on date of November 2012. The trigger is no better than the full size models I have owned.
The Shield is a whole different animal. Very positive reset.
1 - 12 of 12 Posts
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