My M&P 40 Project

[GaSwamper]

So who wants to take an old beater PD trade in and put a little magic in her? I know, almost doesn't sound worth it does it? Well she's got a lot goin for her starting with condition, for the mere investment of $300 the gun is in great shape, it was toted a lot more than it was shot. Finish only has minor wear, the barrel looks good, and there was barely even a ring around the firing pin. So I thought perfect candidate for some sprucing up and my first attempt at doing more with a handgun other than clean shoot repeat. I have a lot of ideas I'm tossing around for this piece and have already dug in with one of the most challenging to me parts, litening the slide..... myself. Other than the slide work, more cosmetic really with the little I've done, I'm going to do some work on the plastic undercutting the guard and work around the beavertail and have an Apex duty kit in the mail as we speak. I have considered a Storm Lake barrel upgrade but not set in stone and would love to get the serrations cut on the upper back half in front of the rear sight but costly and just not ready to refinish yet. If anyone has any recommendations please chime in and lets see what we can milk out of this rig.
Here she is before any mods.

http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b623/gaswamper1/DSC01136_zpsd1d3110f.jpg (http://s1295.photobucket.com/user/gaswamper1/media/DSC01136_zpsd1d3110f.jpg.html)

[GaSwamper]

Another virgin pic.

http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b623/gaswamper1/DSC01139_zps4ab890c5.jpg (http://s1295.photobucket.com/user/gaswamper1/media/DSC01139_zps4ab890c5.jpg.html)

[GaSwamper]

A look at some of my amateur slide work done by hand.

http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b623/gaswamper1/2b10c41b-89ea-462d-a0a1-4c8b6012f9fc_zps575db89f.jpg (http://s1295.photobucket.com/user/gaswamper1/media/2b10c41b-89ea-462d-a0a1-4c8b6012f9fc_zps575db89f.jpg.html)
http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b623/gaswamper1/15a97f24-8e4b-4c93-b851-992f317254c4_zpsa711cf97.jpg (http://s1295.photobucket.com/user/gaswamper1/media/15a97f24-8e4b-4c93-b851-992f317254c4_zpsa711cf97.jpg.html)

[CK 187]

A look at some of my amateur slide work done by hand.

http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b623/gaswamper1/2b10c41b-89ea-462d-a0a1-4c8b6012f9fc_zps575db89f.jpg (http://s1295.photobucket.com/user/gaswamper1/media/2b10c41b-89ea-462d-a0a1-4c8b6012f9fc_zps575db89f.jpg.html)
http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b623/gaswamper1/15a97f24-8e4b-4c93-b851-992f317254c4_zpsa711cf97.jpg (http://s1295.photobucket.com/user/gaswamper1/media/15a97f24-8e4b-4c93-b851-992f317254c4_zpsa711cf97.jpg.html)


Milled, drilled, ????

[UWone77]

Interested to see the transformation.

Because of all of Pyzik's pics of his Shield, I'm thinking about a Shield, and customizing it for CCW to place my Kahr.

How much was the trade in?

[GaSwamper]

Milled, drilled, ????

Step drilled to a 1/4 then went to work with the air pencil and file.

[GaSwamper]

How much was the trade in?[/QUOTE]
Not sure I follow. I gave $300 out the door.

[UWone77]

How much was the trade in?
Not sure I follow. I gave $300 out the door.[/QUOTE]

$300 OTD is a pretty good price.

I'm thinking next year I need another LE M&P9.

[GaSwamper]

I'm also going to be in the market for a OWB holster for the range. Also does anyone have any carry time with one of Comp's targa tops?

[JHoward]

I have been considering getting a G22 trade-in and doing something similar to this. I'll be watching. Very nice job on the slide work so far.

[FortTom]

I have 2 M&P's, a .40 full size and a .45 full size. I may have a 9mm soon. I use APEX triggers (FSS, not duty carry) in both, stippled back straps and TFO sights. I've used Storm Lake barrels in Glocks , but not in a M&P. I'd put my money somewhere else, I really couldn't see any appreciable difference other than looking cool. If I do get the 9mm I'm just going to make the same mods to it, just so I can pick up any one of them and they "act" the same. I was going to mill a slot length way down the slide, but decided that I wouldn't see any improvement in function, just a "tacticool" look. I do like the looks of yours though, and you did a pretty good job, with the tools you had to do it. Looks good. Keep us posted.

FT

[GaSwamper]

Thanks guys it took me probly about an hour to get the ports cleaned up like I wanted and I may still go back and polish the outer edges just to give that nice polished machined look. FT reminds me that another thing that I was happy with was the Trijicon sights, don't know how old they are but still very bright in the dark.

[GaSwamper]

For Christmas the wife ordered me the Apex duty/carry kit which I know find out the minx got it for $40 off of Amazon, didn't even ask how just responded wow that's a deal. Anyway while her and the boy went to stock back up at the grocery store this afternoon I decided to swap out the stock parts with the Apex. The trigger is great now, very smooth and after checking before I changed the trigger return spring the pull is pretty short and light. I may replace the spring at some point but just feels so good right now and mostly plan for a range gun I think I'll leave the stock spring in for now. I have to agree with others that this may be one of the best and easiest improvements for the M&P.

[Ride4frnt]

For Christmas the wife ordered me the Apex duty/carry kit which I know find out the minx got it for $40 off of Amazon, didn't even ask how just responded wow that's a deal. Anyway while her and the boy went to stock back up at the grocery store this afternoon I decided to swap out the stock parts with the Apex. The trigger is great now, very smooth and after checking before I changed the trigger return spring the pull is pretty short and light. I may replace the spring at some point but just feels so good right now and mostly plan for a range gun I think I'll leave the stock spring in for now. I have to agree with others that this may be one of the best and easiest improvements for the M&P.

Nice! Plans to add the glock style trigger?

[DutyUse]

Looks like a cool project. I'm doing a similar one but in 9 and the flat apex instead of the competition

[GaSwamper]

Nice! Plans to add the glock style trigger?

Still thinking about it. To be honest the more I shoot with it the more I think I like the factory hinged trigger. I've never felt the APEX but I know in the past bladed triggers even in rifles have felt a little strange to me. Not ruling it out but for now I'm very impressed with it sits right now.

[GOST]

Have you done anything else to it yet?

[GaSwamper]

Have you done anything else to it yet?

In process of working on the polymer a little, undercutting the trigger guard. Taking my time and a little at the time, I'll take some material then set it down pick it back up next time I walk by it till I'm happy which it's getting close to that point. I didn't realize how little it would take to change the feel of the grip so some of the other shaping will probly not happen now because it feels really good with just that little bit of undercutting on the guard. Plus been spending as much time with the youngin as a can while we're all at home for Christmas so all my projects have gottin pushed aside.

[GOST]

Looking forwards to seeing the finished product, contemplating doing a 9 myself.

[GaSwamper]

For Christmas I ended up with $75 in Midway gift certificates from my Mom and a friend of the family so after browsing a bit tonight I have a question for you guys. Does anyone have any thoughts on the Storm Lake extended ported barrels? In theory I like the idea of getting a nearly 5" barrel into my 4.25'' frame plus the ports for muzzle control but I also wonder will the blast interfere with aiming and shower me and my gun with residue being that close to me. I looked at the threaded barrels as well which opens up further options down the road but the $200 price tag is a bit steep to me. Any input is greatly appreciated.

[FortTom]

For Christmas I ended up with $75 in Midway gift certificates from my Mom and a friend of the family so after browsing a bit tonight I have a question for you guys. Does anyone have any thoughts on the Storm Lake extended ported barrels? In theory I like the idea of getting a nearly 5" barrel into my 4.25'' frame plus the ports for muzzle control but I also wonder will the blast interfere with aiming and shower me and my gun with residue being that close to me. I looked at the threaded barrels as well which opens up further options down the road but the $200 price tag is a bit steep to me. Any input is greatly appreciated.
I've actually tried that. For me it was a bad idea. More for your pistol to hang up on, doesn't play that well with most holsters, and the ports, well at least in a .40 S&W don't really do that much for muzzle flip. The Storm Lake and Wolf Barrels that I have tried, especially in Glocks, gave me very little if any difference in accuracy. I'd just wait until I got ready for a suppressor and then purchase a barrel. The barrels that come in the M&P's are just fine. I do think that they had some problems with the very early versions, but I really don't recall what this issue was, but the designs were changed, and problems solved.

FT.

[GaSwamper]

Thanks FT, good points. The flip aint that bad and the factory barrel is certainly accurate enough you know how it is though, always tryin to build the better mouse trap. Hadn't thought about the holster catching.

[GaSwamper]

I'm calling the polymer work done for now. Ran about 50 rnds through her today and the fit is awesome, all shots for me were center mass at at 20yds. Let the wife and her friend have some turns and for never shooting pistols they did very well actually. With the performance so far other than cosmetic I really don't the k there is much more I can do here. I'll get some pics up later for u guys.

[Dstrbdmedic167]

I'm calling the polymer work done for now. Ran about 50 rnds through her today and the fit is awesome, all shots for me were center mass at at 20yds. Let the wife and her friend have some turns and for never shooting pistols they did very well actually. With the performance so far other than cosmetic I really don't the k there is much more I can do here. I'll get some pics up later for u guys.

Pics or it didn't happens.. Gun and target...

[GaSwamper]

Pics or it didn't happens.. Gun and target...

Phhhhh.

[mustangfreek]

For $40 the apex poly AEK trigger is well worth it...This coming from experience..