[paul gilman]

I have not been much of a poster on this sight but I thought I would start. I have a new M&P 40 and am starting to shoot it in limited, and I thought I would post some of my observations.
I am starting out with the pistol stock and thought I would keep people informed with my experice with this gun.
My first observation is that the sights are hard to pick up when shooting steel and the trigger is very heave after my open gun. As I shoot more I will decide on the sights I will use. This is what I have for equipment know, Bladetech DOH several different styles of mag pouches and wilderness instructer belt. I also bought 5 new high cap mags along with the 2 that came with the gun.
My load is 5.2 of 231 with either a 180 grain lead or 180 grain copper wash bullet.
The gun seems to feel soft when I shoot it, but is barely making major with this load. The barrel is showing signs of leading with lead, and I have had s few FTF as I adjust my 1050 primer setting when I changed from Winchester to CCI primers. The CCI would not seat as deep as the Winchesters and are harder to seat much perferr Winchesters. These FTF's would not have happen with a 1911 style gun. Over all I like this gun and am looking forward to this experiment.

[speedy169]

Sounds like you have a good setup in the gear department. As for the trigger a good polish of all the matting surfaces makes a huge difference, but a trigger job from some of the pros is just awesome.

I have not had many problems with leading in my M&P 40 but I shoot it more minor than major at the moment. Until they release a Long Slide model we are at a disadvantage.

I have not had any problems with FTF except for when I went to the lighter striker spring. I have heard the 1050 primer setup is a little tuff to dial in.

[NoSteel]

+1 on the trigger job, very inexpensive (Burwell even has his on the web as DIY) a makes huge diff. Stippling the grips also fairly cheap and makes a good difference in grip on M&P. Are you using the larger capacity Speed Shooter Specialties Talor Freelance base pads on the mags?? Magwell??? I used these on my 9mm Pro model when I ran Limited minor.. HUGE difference... If they ever come out with the .40 in a long version I'll be back into an M&P for limited...... Good luck and keep us posted..

[paul gilman]

This is going to be trail and error approach to this gun.
I am going to try things and then report back on my experience. I have been shooting uspsa sense before if was uspsa. My first matches where in 1980, with browning high power it did not work very well. I then went to a colt series 70 and stated the modifications that it took to be copetive. I then started to build my own single stacks and a few for friends. Enough said this will be a fun experience. I find that I shoot this gun about 40 % slower than my open gun part of that is sights, and very bad trigger compared to my open gun. I relize that the 4.25 inch barrel is a handicap but I have along way to go before I can blame the gun.

The gun also drops the slide when you reload from slide lock and I do not know if this is goig to be a problem or not.

I will do a trigger job on it when I have enough rounds through it, that I won't have to send it back to Smith and Wesson.

[NoSteel]

The slide dropping when mag is inserted is fairly common with the M&P model. You will find a lot of interest and help with your experiment at the M&P website also. short slide / barrel length will only limit you against some of your competitors, it does not inhibit your own improvement with the gun at all....

http://mp-pistol.com/boards/index.php?

[paul gilman]

Well I said that it would be a trail and error posses and here is where I am at this time.
I have pulled the trigger apart and polished the trigger bar and sear this made the trigger lighter and much smother, know I will order the titanium safety plunger and new sear.

I have found that you have to be much more careful when reloading, both overall length and primer seating are more critical then for a 1911 style gun.
Also when shooting groups with both 189 grain copper washed and lead bullets I can not get it to group as well as my P16.