Sidearms & Scatterguns Sorting through the S&W M&P options

[gjantzer]

I am ready to order my first M&P but am still pondering some of the options. Not all M&P pistols are created equal.
Standard, Compact or Long Barrel?
Thumb safety or not?
Standard rear sight with white dot front sight?
Tritium front and rear sights?
VTEC fiber optic/tritium combo sights?
Range kit or just the gun and then buying an UPLULA?
Combine in with an M&P22 for cheaper practice?

I do need to buy an UPLULA so the the extra $40 to buy the range kit seems like a no brainer. However, I think I want to go with the tritium night sights. Basically this model:
http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/s...playErrorView_Y

After all this I still have a few questions:

Are the range kits available with the optional tritium sights?

Do all of the M&P's come with the 3 interchangeable grip swells?

Is the Pro model simply an upgrade to a 5" barrel instead of the standard 4.25" barrel? Is a longer sight radius the only advantage of the longer barrel?

If you can help with some of my questions to get me dialed in on the right model for me I would appreciate it.

 

[Fried Chicken Blowout]

Re: Sorting through the S&W M&P options

You ability to find the models with the night sights in stock will be hit and miss. They are not available in all configurations and even less are actually available in stock. The price they are charging for the night sight upgrade is pretty good and worth the extra money.

They all come with the small, med and large back straps. Even the compact versions do.

The pro is now made in both the 5" and 4.25" models. It is mostly a trigger upgrade from the S&W custom shop. The Pro trigger is pretty good out of the box. Unfortunately I think the Pro trigger should have come on all the M&P pistols because the basic trigger generally sucks. On the 5" it comes with the FO front sight. I think you can get the Pro in 4.25 with either FO front or full night sights.

Personally if I could find one and i was looking for an all round pistol for a friend, I would suggest a 4.25" Pro with night sights. If you're not shooting competitions the 5" really isn't worth the extra length. The Pro trigger is worth the money as is are the factory night sights. I have 4 M&P pistols that I've installed the Bowie night signs on and the Apex trigger parts. I would have likely left the triggers alone if I had to got the Pro models and the factory night sights are good enough, especially since they went to the rear sight that you can work the slide off your belt with.

 

[gjantzer]

Re: Sorting through the S&W M&P options

I had initially planned on going with the apex trigger upgrades.......trigger and forward sear. any idea if the Pro trigger compares to the apex trigger upgrade? The apex kit is getting fantastic reviews. thanks for the info FCB.

 

[Stormshadow]

Re: Sorting through the S&W M&P options

All of the M&P's come with the 3 different grip swells. I have the full size .45 and .357 sig with the factory night sights and the full size 9mm with the VTAC sights. The factory nights sights are good, and will get the job done. The VTAC's are pretty amazing, and do take a bit to get used to. If you have not seen them in person, do not judge the VTAC's by what is shown in pictures. Photo's of the sights make them look very busy. They are not at all like that in your hand. You can get just the VTAC sights, and have them installed, but they run about $260.00.

IMO, I would not get the thumb safety option, unless you have other handguns that you use with the same feature. If you are used to shooting a handgun(s) without a thumb safety, why add another step to the process, especially if this is going to be a carry gun.

 

[Ltdshooter]

Re: Sorting through the S&W M&P options

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: gjantzer</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I had initially planned on going with the apex trigger upgrades.......trigger and forward sear. any idea if the Pro trigger compares to the apex trigger upgrade? The apex kit is getting fantastic reviews. thanks for the info FCB. </div></div>

There is no comparison. The Pro trigger is not much better than a stock trigger in any other model. Go with the Apex FSS. You will not be sorry.

 

[tlsmith22]

Re: Sorting through the S&W M&P options

I agree...the pro trigger is still not as good as the apex...i havent tested the forward sear version but the guys i know that have give it a big thumbs up...i do apex teiggers and rams on my m&ps and its a huge trigger improvement. If ur gettn the gun to carry, the night sights are a good idea. For competition, the fiber front is a must. I put warren tactical plain black rears and fiber fronts on mine comp guns and do a spring job. M&Ps are great pistols and i have found them to be very reliable as well...good choice

 

[Captramrod01]

Re: Sorting through the S&W M&P options

I'm a massive m&p fan. Honestly unless you want the 5" barrel I would skip the pro. The trigger is very mediocre and nothing compared to the drop in apex parts. I however would not go with the FSS apex trigger if this is a carry gun, unless you get a model with the manual safety, that's just my personal preference though.

As far as sights I have found the 10-8 performance sights to be king. I love having a serrated rear sight with no markings on it paired with either their night front sight or fiber front depending on what I'm building the gun for. I love minimalist sights, can't stand those VTAC sights, but to each their own.

My favorite m&p is my production class build which is just a vanilla m&p 9 4.25" with the 10-8 fiber front and serrated rear, all the apex parts except spring kit. Result is an incredible 3.5lb trigger (carry spring kit would bump it to about 5lb) with a glock like reset and a killer sight setup. If I were you I'd buy a bone stock 4.25 or 9l (40l) and throw the parts on as needed.

 

[b7tac]

Re: Sorting through the S&W M&P options

I love mine. I got the full-sized .45. Mine has the APEX sear, a grip job, and a TLR-1s - it makes a pretty sweet home defense gun.

 

[allghilliedup04]

Re: Sorting through the S&W M&P options

definitly go with the night sights though, i have had my M&p 40 for a long time and i still kick myself in the ass for night getting the night sights. Its well worth it.

and IMO go no safety. the trigger is designed well enough thats its plenty of a safety feature especially for carry. you want those few precious second or miliseconds in a bad situation.

 

[shoot4fun]

Re: Sorting through the S&W M&P options

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: gjantzer</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I am ready to order my first M&P but am still pondering some of the options. Not all M&P pistols are created equal.
Standard, Compact or Long Barrel?
<span style="color: #CC0000"> For what purpose, competition or self defense?</span>
Thumb safety or not?
<span style="color: #CC0000">For competition no safety</span>
Standard rear sight with white dot front sight?
<span style="color: #CC0000">This one but replace it with TruGlo</span>
Tritium front and rear sights?
VTEC fiber optic/tritium combo sights?
Range kit or just the gun and then buying an UPLULA?
<span style="color: #CC0000">One helluva bargain for competing. It is more than the UPLULA. Mag pouch, holster and third magazine included </span>
Combine in with an M&P22 for cheaper practice?
<span style="color: #CC0000">Love mine</span>

I do need to buy an UPLULA so the the extra $40 to buy the range kit seems like a no brainer. However, I think I want to go with the tritium night sights. Basically this model:
http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/s...playErrorView_Y

After all this I still have a few questions:

Are the range kits available with the optional tritium sights? <span style="color: #FF0000">No</span>

Do all of the M&P's come with the 3 interchangeable grip swells? <span style="color: #CC0000">YES</span>

Is the Pro model simply an upgrade to a 5" barrel instead of the standard 4.25" barrel? <span style="color: #CC0000">Fiber optic front sight and the Pro Series "hard" sear for improved trigger pull. Also, Pro Series offers a 4.25" gun with night sights and Pro sear.</span> Is a longer sight radius the only advantage of the longer barrel? <span style="color: #CC0000">Mainly, but that is a pretty big consideration</span>

If you can help with some of my questions to get me dialed in on the right model for me I would appreciate it. </div></div>

 

[Sumpter Steve]

Re: Sorting through the S&W M&P options

This will be my next pistol. Thanks for the info.

 

[allghilliedup04]

Re: Sorting through the S&W M&P options

you wont be disapointed i can promise you! best pistol (IMO) for the money!

 

[gjantzer]

Re: Sorting through the S&W M&P options

shoot4fun.....thank you very much. your input will certainly help me and others.

What i am wondering now is:
how do the M&P factory night sights stack up with the Truglo and Trijicon or any other brand of night sights? Cost seems to be about the same. Is there a preferred brand or is this a personal preference thing? I have exactly ZERO guns that have nights sights on them so some input would be appreciated on the sights.

 

[shoot4fun]

Re: Sorting through the S&W M&P options

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: gjantzer</div><div class="ubbcode-body">shoot4fun.....thank you very much. your input will certainly help me and others.

What i am wondering now is:
how do the M&P factory night sights stack up with the Truglo and Trijicon or any other brand of night sights? Cost seems to be about the same. Is there a preferred brand or is this a personal preference thing? I have exactly ZERO guns that have nights sights on them so some input would be appreciated on the sights. </div></div>

The S&W night sights are very good but the Truglo offers both the night sight feature and fiber optic. That way you have great sight visibility any time. I have "mature" eyesight and I get the best "look" at the Truglo.

 

[427Cobra]

Re: Sorting through the S&W M&P options

S&W needs to fix the long reset, the Apex makes it what it should be from the factory, CKA let me barrow his 9 Pro to try out, it has the full Apex treatment and shoots great, I have been a Glock guy since 1990, and I would switch in a heart beat if I didn't have to spend almost 200 bucks to get the trigger the pistol should have came from the factory with.