Smith & Wesson M&P

The Smith & Wesson M&P (Military and Police) is a polymer-framed, short recoil operated, locked breech semi-automatic pistol introduced in the summer of 2005 by the American company Smith & Wesson. Most variants use a Browning-type locking system, the 5.7×28mm variant uses a rotating barrel with a muzzle booster. While targeted at law enforcement agencies, the M&P is also widely available on the commercial market.

History

The M&P is a hybrid evolution of the Smith & Wesson Sigma and Smith & Wesson SW99 design but does not share parts compatibility with the Sigma. The M&P design has an improved trigger and enhanced ergonomics that allow for end-user customization. An industry standard Picatinny rail and a higher grip has been afforded with an improved grip and beavertail. Many of the ergonomic study elements that had been incorporated into the Sigma and the Smith & Wesson SW99 were brought over to the M&P. The improved trigger weight and feel and the unique takedown method (not requiring a dry-fire pull of the trigger) were meant to set the M&P apart from the popular Glock pistols. The M&P are standard issue for many police services and some armored truck companies.

Design details

The M&P is a striker-fired semi-automatic pistol. This trigger system prevents the firearm from discharging unless the trigger is fully depressed, even if the pistol is dropped. An internal lock and/or magazine disconnect are available as options and an optional external thumb safety became available in 2009.

The pistol frame is made out of Zytel polymer reinforced with a stainless steel chassis. The pistol comes with four removable and interchangeable grip inserts and features a 18° grip angle. The slide and barrel are made of stainless steel, that after hardening is treated with a proprietary nitriding process called Melonite. The Melonite process produces a matte gray non-glare surface with a 68 Rockwell C surface hardness rating. The pistol has a low slide profile which holds the barrel axis close to the shooter's hand and makes the M&P more comfortable to shoot by reducing muzzle rise and allowing faster aim recovery in rapid shooting sequence. The slide has four contact points with the frame. This was done to make the rail system self cleaning, by leaving room for any dirt or small foreign objects to fall out of the weapon.

As the slide of the pistol enters battery, the striker engages the sear. At this point, the striker is held back in a partially cocked condition. When the trigger of the M&P is pulled, the trigger bar first engages the firing pin safety plunger, lifting it upward, and releasing the firing pin safety. At the rearward extreme of the trigger bar's travel, it engages the sear. The sear is rotated downward by the trigger bar, fully cocking, then releasing the striker. The striker makes contact with the primer of the chambered round, which in turn ignites the gunpowder and propels the bullet forward. According to M&P gunsmith Dan Burwell, the angle on the rear face of the sear creates a camming action against the striker. This camming action moves the striker to the rear very slightly during the trigger pull, thus finishing the "cocking". This system is similar to the partially tensioned striker found in the Glock series of pistols. When the pistol cycles for the next shot, the striker will be automatically pre-set in a 98% cocked position. Because the striker is only 98% cocked prior to the trigger being pulled, Smith & Wesson classifies the M&P's action as "striker fired (double action only)".

The M&P factory trigger is of the jointed type and has a trigger travel of 7.6 mm (0.3 in) and is rated at . The M&P45c models have a slightly higher rated trigger pull of . The competition oriented M&P40 Pro Series have a reduced trigger pull of due to the installation of a Smith & Wesson performance center sear. Massachusetts approved models have a trigger pull of . The pistols are delivered with two magazines.

The standard iron sights are of the three dot type and made of steel. Both the front and rear sights are dove-tailed into the slide, and can be horizontally drifted to adjust for windage correction. An integrated Picatinny rail can be found underneath the slide on the front of the frame for attaching tactical lights, lasers and other accessories.

There are ten-round magazine versions of each pistol available for the California, Massachusetts, New York, Washington State, New Jersey, Australian, and Canadian markets. Novak tritium night sights are an available option for both the full-sized and compact versions. Another optional accessory is the stainless steel lanyard pin. The new pin replaces the original solid plastic pin with one that has a stainless steel ring embedded for use with a lanyard.

Variants

File:Smith & Wesson M&P Shield (23643915529).jpg

Smith & Wesson M&P9 Shield with LaserMax centerfire lasers

The M&P is available in 9×19mm Parabellum, .30 Super Carry, .380 ACP, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP, with barrel lengths of Template:Cvt. The .357 SIG chambering has been discontinued.

File:SW-MP45.jpg

Smith & Wesson M&P45 Full Size

The M&P9 JG is a standard size Champion series variant named for Julie Golob and fitted with a Warren Tactical rear sight and a fiber optic front sight. Besides the three standard black grip inserts it comes with two small and medium-sized pink grip inserts. A portion of the proceeds from sale of these models will go to a breast cancer awareness charity and an awareness ribbon is etched on the slide of the pistol.

In 2007 the full-size .45 ACP version of the M&P was introduced sporting a Template:Cvt barrel. This model also won Handgun of the Year in 2007.

In 2008, Smith & Wesson introduced new versions of the M&P: the M&P45 Mid-size, the M&P45 Compact, the M&P9L, and the M&P Pro Series. The M&P45 Mid-size sports a Template:Cvt barrel and a full-sized grip, and the M&P45 Compact targets the concealed carry market with its 4" barrel and shorter grip (with eight or ten-round capacity).

File:S&W M&P9 Shield Performance Center version..jpg

A S&W M&P9 Shield. This is the Performance Center version. This version has a ported barrel.

In 2011, Smith & Wesson released the M&P22, a cosmetically similar handgun chambered in .22 Long Rifle. The internal construction and blowback operation of this rimfire cartridge variant is the same as the Walther P22, which Smith & Wesson used to import into the United States, and completely differs from the centerfire M&P variants. Rather than the three-dot sights found on other models, the M&P22 has a single dot on the front sight and notch rear that is adjustable for elevation and windage. In 2013 the scaled-down M&P22 Compact was released.

In 2012, Smith & Wesson introduced the M&P Shield in 9mm and .40 S&W. The Shield is a subcompact single-stack magazine variant of the M&P line. The Shield has roughly the same silhouette as the M&P Compact but is considerably thinner at less than 1-inch in width. The Shield is the first M&P to incorporate an improved trigger with positive reset. In 2016 a .45 ACP variant Shield was added to Smith and Wesson's product line. The .45 ACP Shield variant has a Template:Cvt longer barrel, measuring in at top length of Template:Cvt, and exhibits larger overall dimensions.

In 2014, Smith & Wesson introduced the M&P Bodyguard 380 in .380 ACP. The M&P Bodyguard is functionally identical to the previous released Bodyguard 380, which it replaces. The M&P-branded Bodyguard removes the integrated laser sight of the previous pistol and brings the aesthetics in line with the rest of the M&P product line. Unlike the rest of the M&P pistols, the M&P Bodyguard is not striker-fired. It is a more traditional double-action-only hammer-fired pistol intended for personal protection, concealed carry or as a law enforcement "back-up" gun.

In 2017, Smith & Wesson introduced the M&P M2.0 series. Changes include a full-length steel chassis, a rough textured grip, and the improved trigger system of the Pro series.

In 2018, Smith & Wesson introduced the M&P 380 Shield EZ. As the name suggests, the Shield EZ has a number of convenience features including an easy-to-rack slide and an easy-to-load magazine. In late 2019, Smith & Wesson added a 9mm offering to the Shield EZ line. Both the .380 and 9mm variants feature an internal hammer.

In spring 2021, Smith & Wesson introduced the M&P Shield Plus in 9mm. An evolution of the M&P Shield, the M&P Shield Plus, among other improvements, utilizes a double-stack magazine to increase capacity at the sacrifice of a slight increase in width.

In November 2021, Smith & Wesson introduced the M&P M2.0 chambered in 10mm Auto to the M&P M2.0 family. Smith & Wesson offers a barrel compact model and a larger barrel model. Both models with have a 15-round magazine capacity and are built on the M&P45 M2.0 frame. The M&P M2.0 10mm Auto features a new M2.0 flat face trigger and comes with an optics ready slide from the factory. An unloaded 15-round 10 mm Auto magazine weighs Template:Cvt.

In January 2023, it was announced that a 5.7x28mm variant, the M&P 5.7, will be released with a new gas-operated, locked-breech, rotating threaded Tempo Barrel System and a 22-round magazine.

Model	Barrel length	Cartridge	CapacityTemplate:Efn	DimensionsTemplate:Efn		WeightTemplate:Efn	Frame color
				mm	inches
M&P22	Template:Cvt	.22 LR	10 or 12	Template:CvtTemplate:Efn	1.6 × 5.5 × 7.5Template:Efn	Template:Cvt	Black
M&P22 Compact	Template:Cvt	.22 LR	10	Template:CvtTemplate:Efn	1.5 × 5.0 × 6.7Template:Efn	Template:Cvt	Black
M&P 22 Magnum	Template:Cvt	.22 WMR	30	Template:Cvt	1.13 x 5.9 x 8.4	Template:Cvt	Black
Compact	89 mm (3.5 in)	9mm	10 or 15	Template:Cvt	1.2 × 4.3 × 6.7	Template:Cvt	Black or Dark Earth
		.40 S&W	10			Template:Cvt
		.357 SIG	10			Template:Cvt
Full Size	Template:Cvt	9mm	10 or 17	Template:Cvt	1.2 × 5.5 × 7.5	Template:Cvt	Black or Dark Earth
		.40 S&W	10 or 15			Template:Cvt	Black or Dark Earth
		.357 SIG	10 or 15			Template:Cvt	Black
M&P9L	Template:Cvt	9mm	10 or 17	Template:Cvt	Template:Cvt	Black
M&P9 Pro Series	Template:Cvt	9mm	10, 15, or 17	Template:Cvt	Template:Cvt	Black
M&P9 Pro Series 5"	Template:Cvt	9mm	10, 15, or 17	Template:Cvt	Template:Cvt	Black
M&P40 Pro Series	Template:Cvt	.40 S&W	15	Template:Cvt	Template:Cvt	Black
M&P40 Pro Series 5"	Template:Cvt	.40 S&W	15	Template:Cvt	Template:Cvt	Black
M&P45c – Compact Size	Template:Cvt	.45 ACP	8	Template:Cvt	Template:Cvt	Black or Dark Earth
M&P45 – Mid-Size	Template:Cvt	.45 ACP	10	Template:Cvt	Template:Cvt	Black or Dark Earth
M&P45 – Full Size	Template:Cvt	.45 ACP	10	Template:Cvt	Template:Cvt	Black or Dark Earth
M&P 10mm M2.0 – Mid-Size	Template:Cvt	10mm Auto	15	Template:Cvt	Template:Cvt	Black
M&P 10mm M2.0 – Full Size	Template:Cvt	10mm Auto	15	Template:Cvt	Template:Cvt	Black
M&P Shield	Template:Cvt	9mm	7 or 8	Template:Cvt	Template:Cvt	Black
	Template:Cvt	.40 S&W	6 or 7	Template:Cvt	Template:Cvt
	Template:Cvt	.45 ACP	6 or 7	165 (length)	6.5 (length)		Template:Cvt
M&P Shield EZ	Template:Cvt	.30 Super Carry	10	173 (length)	6.8 (length)	Template:Cvt	Black
	Template:Cvt	.380 ACP	8	170 (length)	6.7 (length)	Template:Cvt	Black
	Template:Cvt	9mm	8	172 (length)	6.8 (length)	Template:Cvt	Black
M&P 5.7	Template:Cvt	5.7×28mm	22	215.9 (length)	8.5 (length)	Template:Cvt	Black
M&P Bodyguard 380	Template:Cvt	.380 ACP	6	Template:Cvt	Template:Cvt	Black
M&P Shield Plus	Template:Cvt	.30 Super Carry	13 or 16	Template:Cvt	Template:Cvt	Black
	Template:Cvt	9mm	10 or 13	Template:Cvt	Template:Cvt

Users

File:Smith & Wesson M&P Users.png

Map with M&P users in blue

Current users

• Australia – M&P40
  • South Australia Police
  • Victoria Police
• Belgium: M&P9
  • Federal Police, acquired in 2011 and issued with Blackhawk T-Series holsters from 2023.
• Canada
  • Gatineau Police Department
  • St. Thomas Police Service
  • Greater Sudbury Police Service
  • Halton Regional Police
  • Peel Regional Police
  • Windsor Police Service
• India: Mumbai Police
• Iraq: Iraqi Military
• Pakistan: Sindh Police Agency
• Puerto Rico: M&P40; Puerto Rico Police Department in 2009, currently being replaced by the SIG Sauer P320 9mm
• Trinidad and Tobago: Police Service
• United States: M&P9, M&P40, M&P45 and M&P357 pistols have been used by various U.S. police departments
  • Anchorage Police Department (APD, AK)
  • Austin Police Department (APD), M&P40
  • California Highway Patrol (CHP), M&P40
  • Cincinnati Police Department, M&P9
  • Columbus Division of Police (CPD), M&P40 PRO
  • Colorado State Patrol (CSP), M&P40
  • Denver Police Department (DPD)
  • Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD), M&P9
  • Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), M&P9, currently being replaced by the newly-issued FN 509 MRD-LE
  • Maricopa County Sheriff (MCSD)
  • Massachusetts State Police (MSP), M&P45
  • New Hampshire State Police (NHSP) M&P45
  • New Mexico State Police (NMSP) M&P357 & M&P9
  • Oregon State Police (OSP) M&P40
  • Prince George County Police, Maryland (PGCP, MD)
  • San Antonio Police Department (SAPD), M&P40
  • Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
  • Vermont State Police (VSP), M&P40
  • Washington State Patrol (M&P40)
  • NC Dept. of Correction (NCDOC), M&P40

External links

• Official page
• Safety & Instruction Manual M&P Pistols
• Safety & Instruction Manual M&P22 Pistol
• Smith & Wesson M&P: A Semiautomatic Pistol Worthy Of Its Name by Paul Scarlata