The dovetail 3-dot sights will likely suit the majority of shooters, but competitors will benefit from match sights.For all others, the 18-degree grip angle has a familiar feel. The grip angle will feel like “holding a T-square” for Glock shooters, who are used to Glock’s greater grip angle.APEX Tactical is making a small fortune resolving this issue in grand style. The stock trigger, at least in need of improvement.This pistol has proven to be 100% reliable in both 40 S&W and 9mm, Astounding reliability.An optional ambidextrous thumb safety is available.Speaking of left-handed shooters, the slide release is ambidextrous and the magazine release is reversible. Critical for us lefties whom need the slide to go forward when seating a magazine without the use of the slide release. Firmly seating the magazine on reload allows slide to go forward.Slide removal is achieved by the rotation of a takedown lever at the front left side of the receiver. Simple Maintenance and service, with an integral takedown tool (which holds the palmswell grips in place) that is readily available to push the retention pins out, allowing the internal components to be removed with ease from the polymer frame.Smith & Wesson knocked it out of the park in the ergonomics department! From range experience, I can tell little, if any, felt recoil difference between 165gr 40 S&W and 124gr 9mm. By my measurement, the hand placement is 5/8” closer to the barrel’s centerline than the venerable 1911. Maximum recoil management achieved by the close proximity of the shooting hand to the bore-line axis.The fit and feel of the M&P is truly amazing, and more than one of my shooting buddies has looked back over his shoulder at me and proclaimed, “I love this gun!” Interchangeable palmswell grips that will provide an excellent shooter-to-pistol interface for 99%+ of shooters’ hands, including XXL paws like mine.After the conversion, as was the case with 40 S&W, the pistol runs flawlessly. Although never mentioned by S&W, the M&P 40 can be readily converted to 9mm by simply replacing the barrel and magazine.Many features and shortfalls of the previous guns went into the design today as well as watching several years of the competition tweaking their own designs. The M&P is the evolution of S&W Sigma and features from their collaboration with Walther on the SW99. Smith and Wesson decided to market it on the commercial side and it took off. The M&P line is a Browning Type polymer framed gun originally designed and marketed to the Law Enforcement community. Due diligence follow-up searches confirmed that the M&P 40 would become my chosen match blaster. Inquiring of some trusted law enforcement and military shooters, I was guided to the M&P series of striker-fired polymer pistols, introduced by Smith & Wesson in 2005. Approaching retirement, I realized that these self-imposed constraints no longer applied and that I could choose whatever suits me. I followed by a Beretta 92FS that replaced the 1911 in Army inventories. 45 was my match gun of choice for completion in those early days of IPSC. During the beginning of my military career, an Armand Swenson-modified Colt Series 70. During my time in the Army, I always competed with the same pistol that I was issued, to maximize familiarity with the weapon system that I carried while in uniform.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |