type locking system. The M&P pistols are all striker-fi red. In mid-2009, S&W redesigned the M&P striker for better durability. This enhanced striker is thicker and has a smoother surface fi n- ish. The M&P has multiple internal safeties. Unique among polymer-frame pistols, the M&P uses full-length, internal steel rails molded into the polymer frame. A sturdy foundation, this makes the frame more rigid to improve both reliability and accuracy. The barrel and slide are machined from stainless-steel billets. All the M&P pistols, even the competition- oriented Pro Series pistols, have a Picatinny rail molded directly into the polymer frame under the front sight. The M&P pistols use an ambidextrous slide release and a revers- ible magazine release button. The M&P pis- tols come from the factory with three different sizes of interchangeable palm swell inserts.
4.25-inch Versus 5-inch Both 9mm and 40 S&W versions of the S&W M&P come in two different barrel lengths: 4.25 inches and 5 inches. The clear choice for a dual duty-competition pistol is the 5-inch version. The logic behind the 5-inch barrel is easy. The longer the barrel length, the longer the sight radius, i.e., the distance between the front and rear sights.
Mounted in a pistol rest, a 4.25-inch gun is just as accurate as a 5-inch gun. However, tactical operations and handgun competition don’t involve pistol rests. The longer the bar- rel (sight radius), the easier it is for the shooter holding the pistol to precisely align the front and rear sights, and to keep that perfect sight alignment. While the 4.25-inch and 5-inch M&P pistols may have the same mechanical (intrinsic) accuracy, the shooter will be much more accurate with the longer barrel. The longer barrel also has other advantages. The 5-inch pistol is two ounces heavier than the 4.25-inch pistol. This adds weight to the front of the pistol, which dampens the move- ment of the front sight before each shot. This extra weight also absorbs the total felt recoil and it reduces the amount of muzzle fl ip after each shot. The 5-inch barrel also produces a bit more velocity, which helps barrier penetra- tion and wound ballistics, and also generates a bit more plate-toppling momentum.
M&P Pro Series Smith & Wesson makes two different 5-inch barrel, 40 S&W caliber pistols: the M&P40 Pro Series and the M&P40L Pro Series C.O.R.E. They make three different 5-inch barrel, 9mm pistols: the M&P9L, the M&P9 Pro Series, and
The S&W M&P Pro Series is available in 9mm and 40 S&W duty calibers, and in 4.25 and 5-inch barrel lengths.
The S&W M&P Pro Series easily field strips for cleaning...or barrel swapping. The Pro Series uses a trigger group with a different sear, lighter trigger pull, and shorter reset distance.
The S&W M&P Pro Series has interchangeable backstraps to adjust to any grip size. The M&P pistols have a barrel twist rate that favors 115- and 124-grain bullets.
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