Smith and Wesson M & P

The Smith and Wesson M+P9c. For a new shooter, or anyone, male or female, considering something to carry concealed for the first time, it's a nice alternative to the G-22 and has less recoil due to a low bore axis. Like the G-22 it will stay tight and accurate, but even more so, necessary if you're using it for self defense.

This is a review that's got a lot of attention. Almost as much as my recipe for Guinness cake. There are a couple of features that make it worth a look at for anyone looking for a nice concealed piece. Something going for it that is gaining favor in law enforcement work. It has replaceable backstraps for the grip, and comes with three different sizes. I have pretty big hands, though they're small boned, and the "small" is too small but would be perfect for the average sized female shooter. Get your dealer to let you try all three, see which one works best. If you found the smaller G22 backstrap did NOT fit your smaller hand, this one will.

These can be replaced in moments, and chosen to suit the hand size and comfort of the shooter. Here it is with the backstrap removed to show you how easy it is. Twist and turn one part of the grip base, pull it down and pull off the backstrap and there you go.

Law Enforcement departments like this feature as one model of pistol can be tweaked to fit many hands, and female officers appreciate being able to change grip size to suit their smaller hands.

The weapon is easy to clean as well. The sear must be released before the slide can be taken off. S + W built the M + P so the sear could be deactivated by moving a lever in the magazine well. Other guns of such similir action types including the trusty Glock require you pull the trigger for disassembly. I probably need not remind my readers, that the most basic step before disassembling a gun is to ensure it is completely unloaded INCLUDING A CHAMBER CHECK. In any event, the M+P9c can be disassembled without pulling the trigger, a nice feature. S + W also went ahead and built in a tool to do this, the lock rod for the replaceable backstrap is just right to reach in and move the sear deactivation lever. Release the slide, and it comes right off the frame. Easy as can be.

Like all firearms, the M+P should be cleaned before it's first use. Like all auto pistols, it benefits greatly from an initial cleaning and lubrication. Since much of the trigger mechanism is exposed by a simple field stripping, its a great time to apply a light lubricant.

The compact pistol comes in 9mm, .40, and .357 sig (a fairly hot round).In either case I would suggest the 9mm version for the lighter recoil and less expensive practice.

The trigger is quite workable, cupping the finger nicely, with a manageable 6.5 pounds of trigger pull. Out of the box, the trigger isn't perfect, slightly better than the Glock, but like the Glock, smoothing out even more after about 250 rounds through it.

Like a Glock, the S+W M+P has no external safeties (except some of the full size .45 models).

The concept is simple - if there is a round in the chamber and the trigger is deliberately pulled, it will fire.

Don't want it to go off? Don't pull the trigger.

It's much like a revolver in this way, only easier to shoot well and holds 13 rounds of hot 9mm in its 9c compact form. I wouldn't promote this for a concealed choice someone who had limited or no shooting experience. This is neither a huge power tool or a bucking bronco but I wouldn't recommend it as concealed if you don't have basic shooting safety down cold. If you shoot often enough to develop really solid handling habits, the lack of external safeties and light pull double action should not deter you. All guns you have access to, you need to be practiced with, but this piece requires enough practice to be ready to use it without hesitation. This is a handgun designed with an experienced shooter in mind but frankly, the trigger safety system on the M + P is great and less likely to have an accidental discharge than other smaller weapons you may have looked at.

I had a discussion with someone about the lack of safety and I brought up one point. I'm considered a bit of an expert in human factors engineering (and some forensic things) by trade, and I can tell you this. When all starts going to hell in a handbasket, the first thing to go is fine motor skills. The mental coding repetitive training offers is what keeps one alive.Frankly, I DON'T want to be fumbling for a safety when being rushed by a home invader twice my size. I want to release my weapon aim and pull. Period.

Factory sights are good with a sight length of just less than 6 inches and the weapon unloaded weights a mere 21.7 ounces. My little bag full of assorted flavored lip gloss weighs more than that.


Holster options are comparable with Glocks, in other words... folks -anything goes! Blackhawk does not make a Serpa for the 9mm compact yet. I have one of theirs for my P220 and like it a lot, but almost anything else is available. If you are looking for a concealment purse or bag, there are lots out there, many incredible overpriced. Make sure whatever bag you use for this gun, that it has an internal holster. I would never recommend this pistol for bag carry with a round in the chamber, otherwise. If there is a round in the chamber, the trigger needs to be covered for safety. My carry bag has a minimal holster inside it that wraps around the trigger guard area and protects it.

It's rugged, not just pretty in pink. Stainless construction coupled with Melonite should make for a rugged carry in the long run. Gunsmithing, if ever necessary is readily available and spare parts are available from Brownells and others.


But like chocolate cake - with the calories, there is one drawback to this fine piece, one someone has already commented on.

The magazine has been known to "drop out" when in use. Yes, you get good action going, things are tight and grouped well, and the magazine falls out. Ladies, you know what I'm getting at here. This is NOT someplace you want to be. Preliminary research suggest somewhere over 15% of the older M + P compacts had this issue and Smith and Wesson redesigned it several times without any great joy until this last year. The one I shoot has never done this, but it did drop out while in the holster. Not good for a law enforcement weapon. Not good for self defense. Any semi-auto can have that happen, a good reason to always carry a spare magazine, but this particular magazine had it happen more than others.

The problem appeared to be threefold.

• The catch has a very small engagement area with the magazine.
  
• The metal of the magazine is harder than the catch, and it was a sharp edge that was being engaged.


• The spring which holds the catch engaged is a torsion bar and could be stronger.

Smith and Wesson's answer was to make the new catches with some kind of coating which resists wear. It seems to do the trick. I believe the new design catch has been standard for about a year and all M + P pistols come with it.

Don't let this put you off this fine piece. If you are buying a used one, and can't ascertain if it's been updated Smith and Wesson WILL provide a new magazine catch. (or if you're really handy with tiny elfin type tools and Scottish with the "thrifty" gene as some of us are, you can also make a small nylon spacer tube to strengthen the torsion bar spring and increase tension on the magazine catch).

S + W Customer Support is great, even if they don't get too wordy in their responses. The fix for the Home on the Range weapon was a thin coating of something dark and mysterious. It's pretty thin, the steel shows through. There doesn't seem to be any other change - engagement tension feels the same, release distance still measures a hair over .030".


Hundreds of rounds later, there has been no evidence of any further problem and others I know who had the same fix, report the same. I would not let it scare you off this piece and frankly, it's one of the best concealed weapons out there for the price. If you are looking for a tight, designed for the pro's but simple enough for the average law abiding citizen, weapon - this is it. People that own them, wouldn't trade them.

I'm not really a "pretty in pink" type of gal, but I agree that this is a fine offering in the concealed department.


Be it a piece of paper tacked to a tree 30 feet away, or a bad guy that a .22 is only going to piss off, this is one of several good choices if you are in the market. Not a bad grouping for "from the hip" with a 3 and a half inch barrel. (and no, it shot neither high nor low, there needed to be a blank spot on the paper on one end to pose the gun :)


Self defense with the M+P9c. A Piece of Cake.