M&P guys get in here

[AR-10]

Brought this home today, I am liking it a lot so far:

http://img850.imageshack.us/img850/6116/img1239.jpg

I didn't even know it had an ambi slide stop when I ordered it, but I am not complaining about that feature one bit.

I read lots of reports of these things dropping the slide on their own when you slam a full mag into the magazine well, so I played around with this and actually got it to happen.

Here's why, this is what the slide stop looks like if you manually operate it while pulling back the slide:

http://img852.imageshack.us/img852/8697/img1240.jpg

As you can see, it is fully engaged but this is not how it always looks when the slide stop is relying on magazine spring pressure.

Check out this picture:

http://img862.imageshack.us/img862/7562/img1241.jpg

This is what happens (sometimes) when the slide comes back on an empty mag.

It's not always as dramatic, but the point is it isn't always fully engaged as in the first pic.

The result: if you slam a fully-loaded magazine in hard enough, the inertia and force will cause the slide stop to disengage on it's own and you end up chambering a round.

I don't really care about this, in fact I kind of like it.

Now for the only thing that I don't care for:

http://img862.imageshack.us/img862/3980/img1242.jpg

I don't like the beavertail, and I'm seriously thinking about shaving it off.

The trigger feels decent, and I say decent because I've been shooting 1911's exclusively for a long time and even a crappy 1911 trigger feels better than most of the polymer pistols I've shot.

If any of you M&P guys know of a good smith who can do a trigger job, I would be open to that info.

Overall I am happy with it, if I feel brave and chop off the beavertail I will post some pics.

[Wondering Beard]

Bowie Tactical Concepts (http://www.bowietacticalconcepts.com/) can take care of everything (http://www.bowietacticalconcepts.com/mandpprices.html) you mentioned.

For the trigger pull, you could get hold of an Apex sear (http://apextactical.com/store/product-list.php?pg1-cid11.html) to replace the stock one. I don't know how difficult they are to put in but the resulting trigger pull is very smooth with a nice short reset. The modification is perfectly reliable.

Now that I looked, it seems that Apex can do the job (http://www.apextactical.com/services.php) for you

[Paulo_Santos]

Our duty M&P's do the same thing with the slide stop. I also like it. I just slam the magazine everytime so the slide will automatically go forward.

[hwaya]

The only part of the M&P that gave me problems was the lack of grip the frame has, but this is easily fixed with some grip tape or stippling.

The apex hard sear is a very good investment and is a pretty easy installation, all you really need is a mallet and punches. The hardest part is getting the roll pin out.

Here's a video to help:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAJKLHNRF04

[AR-10]

Great info, thanks!

Couple of questions though, manual says not to shoot +P in the revolvers but says nothing about this model.

I don't plan on shooting a lot of +P but I do have a few boxes of RA45TP and I would like to test some out.

Also it doesn't say anything about dry firing, is this cool in a striker gun or no?

[Uglyduck]

I use snap caps when dry firing my 9L, just to alleviate any potential problems. Apex is also coming out with a new trigger for the M&P's.



Here are Randy Lee's comments on it from an M4C thread:

" I just wanted to update those interested in our FSS project.

We had 3 prototype Aluminum trigger halves fabricated and I was able to install one in a test M&P9 FS.

The upper half of the trigger eliminates 90% of the trigger take up while maintaining the safe mode of the striker block when the trigger is fully forward. The rear of the trigger was also extended to eliminate excess over travel when coupled with our new sear.

The result is a trigger on the M&P that truly mimics the trigger of the venerable 1911. Here is some preliminary tech data:

Overall trigger travel from trigger fully forward to trigger pinned to rear- 0.100"

Overall trigger travel measured on a stock Kimber 1911- 0.098"


We expect to have the sear and trigger kits available sometime in late April/early May."

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii318/uglyfireduck/Screenshot2011-03-06at82814PM.png

[Aragorn]

I installed an APEX DCAEK kit and RAM on mine. I also polished the contact surfaces. I DID leave my original trigger spring, as the heavier supplied one felt... squishy. I know squishy isn't exactly a technical term, but thats exactly how it felt. Almost as if a sponge was behind the trigger. However, the kit in combination with my original spring yielded a trigger that was (in the plastic pistol world) second only to triggers found in FN's line of service pistols. At least IMHO. It still has a little bit of over travel, but the reset is WAY better and the over travel was eliminated (resulting in no more sight bounce). The RAM also makes the reset very detectable as now it "clicks" like a glock.

I would REALLY like to try it with the FSS.
Installation is easy so long as you have the proper punch and a pair of tweezers. I know the "punch" that hold on the grip panels is supposed to work, but due to the slanted plastic head I wouldn't recommend it.
Overall improvement was enough that I would do it again.

As for the slide slamming home upon magazine insertion, mine does this as well. I also like it. I will add though that there have been two occasions where a hollow point has caught the feed ramp and prevented the slide from closing. Both times simply sling shotting the slide resulted in successful chambering, and neither time was enough force imparted on the bullet to push it back into the case.

[Wondering Beard]

Great info, thanks!

Couple of questions though, manual says not to shoot +P in the revolvers but says nothing about this model.

I don't plan on shooting a lot of +P but I do have a few boxes of RA45TP and I would like to test some out.

Also it doesn't say anything about dry firing, is this cool in a striker gun or no?

+P ammo doesn't make the gun explode or fall apart, it only uses it up faster.

I know you already know that, AR10, but I thought it bore repeating.

Revolvers are a "different breed of cat" so to speak. What is being battered is more than the recoil shield and thus it is easier to have a revolver go out of time or sustain damage to the lockwork than it is for a semi auto.

Shooting your few boxes should be fine. Also, the RA45TP is harder on guns than other +ps in 45 as it is a 230 gr bullet. I'm not sure why it should but that seems to be the pattern.

As to dry firing, go right ahead and don't worry. Snap caps help but mostly I see them as a help getting practice in malfunction reduction. Still, they are cheap, last nearly forever and don't hurt anything.

[Optimus Prime]

The Apex kits are pretty simple to put in, the most difficult part is drifting the rear sight out. I put a DCAEK kit in my 9 in about a half hour using the videos on their site.

[Stubb]

I can't recommend the DCAEK and RAM from Apex Tactical (https://apextactical.com/) highly enough. The stock M&P trigger has a long take-up, mushy break, excessive overtravel, and indistinct reset. The Apex parts give it a clean break and positive reset.

Note that permanent modifications to the pistol like cutting off the beavertail will bump you from SSP to ESP if you shoot IDPA. I'm not sure about USPSA. This is why I opted for grip tape on my M&Ps instead of stippling with a soldering iron.

—Andreas

[AR-10]

Thanks guys, I am definitely doing something with the trigger because it needs work.

I got around to shaving the beavertail off:

http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/8633/img1245ww.jpg

http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/3961/img1246m.jpg

Took me a whole 20 minutes with a Dremel, a file, and some sandpaper. The finish is a little rough, but I don't really care.

I am having second thoughts about the thumb safety, and I think I'm going to remove the sear block and yank the safety out.

I don't like how easily it engages/disengages and I would prefer to not have it at all.

I realize there will be holes in the frame, but I don't care about that either.

I'm definitely buying one without a thumb safety when I pick up another one of these.

[Wondering Beard]

Your mileage may vary but I find the thumb safety on the M&P to actually help me hold the gun as high as possible and thus reducing, for me at least, muzzle flip.

Sure, it's not as click positive as it would be on a 1911 but considering that the M&P is more like a Glock than a 1911, that safety serves more as a thumb rest than a safety.

[Aragorn]

Looks good AR-10.

[Optimus Prime]

Your mileage may vary but I find the thumb safety on the M&P to actually help me hold the gun as high as possible and thus reducing, for me at least, muzzle flip.

Sure, it's not as click positive as it would be on a 1911 but considering that the M&P is more like a Glock than a 1911, that safety serves more as a thumb rest than a safety.

+1 to that. I like the thumb rest on my M&P9.

[AR-10]

I am leaving the thumb safety...sort of.

I'm going to pull it out and cut off the right side, in an effort to make it a little more carry-friendly.

I have also decided on the DCAEK .45 kit and I'm going to ditch the rear sight for a blacked out Burwell sight - I don't really care for the factory white dots.

[Flork]

Hi guys,

I'd like to introduce myself, I'm Scott Folk, one of the co-owners at Apex Tactical Specialties. I'm the guy running the camera while Randy is talking and showing you how he does his magic in the install videos.

I'm here to answer any questions you guys may have about our products and offer any information I can to this community.

If you have any questions please feel free to ask by posting here or emailing me at Scott@apextactical.com

I'm glad to be a part of this organization.

Thanks.

Scott

[HeavyDuty]

Hi, Scott - welcome aboard! We talked on the phone last week or the week before, I don't remember which. (I'm the guy that was born down in Santa Maria.)

My older 40c's sear block is inbound to you guys right now for drilling and purchase of a DCAEK/RAM; my new 9FS turned out to be old enough that it'll need to be drilled before I Apex it, too.

Thanks for offering to be a resource here!

Ken

[AR-10]

Good to see you here Scott, I have a couple of questions.

I'm going to send you my .45 for the DCAEK, and I was curious if you could replace my rear sight while you have the pistol.

Also, I would like to cut off the right side of the thumb safety and I was wondering if this is something you can do since you will have the sear block out already.

[Flork]

@Heavy, Thank you. It's always nice to be welcome to new forums.

I drill blocks 2-3 times a week, so send it over and it'll get out as soon as possible.


@AR-10, Yep we can do sights while it's here. We stock Warren Tactical Sights, but if you want something else, just let me know.

I can cut off the right side of the release or I can reduce it like I did for a local Army Reserve Sgt. Email me and we can discuss pricing.

Scott @ Apex

[HeavyDuty]

Scott, USPS delivered my block to you today. Thanks!

[Flork]

I've got 6 of them on the work list for tomorrow morning, so yours will be done and ready to ship in a day or so.

Scott

[HeavyDuty]

Great - thanks!

[HeavyDuty]

Update - Scott and the rest of the APEX crew turned and burned my sear block and parts order right away. I reinstalled it along with the rest of the DCAEK and RAM tonight, what an improvement! The pull is cleaned up, minimal overtravel (none, really) and a great tactile and audible reset, just like Brand G. Thanks, Scott!

[AR-10]

I can't wait to get the trigger job done, I'm still waiting for something to arrive before I can send it off.

I attacked my frontstrap with a soldering iron last night:

http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/5336/img1253q.jpg

She ain't the prettiest, but now it feels like I'm grabbing onto a lava rock and that's exactly what I wanted.

Still not sure what I'm going to do on the rear, the interchangeable grips are super thin so there isn't much to work with.

[Optimus Prime]

I've been debating dropping an order in with these guys... (http://www.caneandderby.com/gatorskin-textured-s-w-m-p-backstrap.html) Not a bad price, and if I don't like it, still have the factory ones to go back to.

[AR-10]

Cool, I've never seen those before.

Let me know if you get one please, I may have to try one if the texture is aggressive enough.

[Flork]

Have you checked out the Speed Shooter Specialties V-Grips? The pic on their page doesn't look that great, but the grip feels amazing.

We've been playing with new ideas for grip stippling that gives you better grip but doesn't bite into your hand too much. We're stippling grips with soldering irons and spraying them with grip rubberizer used to coat the grips on tools like pliers. It takes 3-4 coats to get the holes filled in, but it makes for a wicked cool grip that feels great in the hands.

[AR-10]

I ended up stippling the back of my grip and I'm pretty happy with the result.

Scott, here is the sight I mentioned in my e-mail:

http://burwellguns.com/sights.htm

It's supposed to be a drop in unit but may require some minor fitting.

I'm taking it to the range again next week and by then I'll be finished tweaking it - I'll contact you when ready to ship it.

[Uglyduck]

We've been playing with new ideas for grip stippling that gives you better grip but doesn't bite into your hand too much. We're stippling grips with soldering irons and spraying them with grip rubberizer used to coat the grips on tools like pliers. It takes 3-4 coats to get the holes filled in, but it makes for a wicked cool grip that feels great in the hands.

Any photos?

[Flork]

I'll see if I can get a few pics on Monday when I'm back in town. Remind me next week if I don't post them right away.

Scott

[BravoHotel]

Been eyeballing an M&P45 for a while now and finally pulled the trigger. [:D]

Had been debating between this and the FNP-45 Tactical but those are highly overpriced right now. I picked this babe up for a song in comparison and I will still have money left over to send her to Bowie Tactical to have the slide milled for my MRD. Best part is is that for the price it came w/ both a threaded and non-threaded barrel for when I don't want to draw any attention to myself.

Can't wait to get her home and shoot her...oh and order an APEX trigger kit.

http://www.smith-wesson.com/wcsstore/SmWesson2/upload/images/firearms/detail_md/150923_01_md.jpg