Introducing two of the stars of our show! These two are my go-to self defense weapons. They're both from the Smith and Wesson M&P line of handguns. The M&P line of handguns has been around for years now, and has established their reputation for performance and reliability in both private and law enforcement use. Along with the Glock, the M&P series is one of the two handguns that most people think of when picturing the striker-fired polymer-frame handgun. The line was introduced in 2005 with the 1.0 version, and was subsequently improved with the revamped M2.0 version in 2017. All models in the M&P lineup have polymer frames and steel slides and barrels. Models are offered in a multitude of chamberings, from the ever-popular 9mm to .45ACP, .380ACP, .40SW, and even .357SIG and .22LR. Barrel lengths can range from just over 3 inches to over 5 inches depending on the model. Smith & Wesson also offers upgraded versions of many variants through its Performance Center and M&P C.O.R.E. lines. The Shield series is the ultra compact variant of the M&P, and they differ from the larger M&P handguns in that they typically have single-stack magazines and shorter barrel lengths. They are noticeably slimmer than their larger siblings, and make for very comfortable and concealable carry weapons. The Shield series was introduced in 2012 with the 9mm and .40SW models, with the .45ACP version joining them in 2016.
My personal examples here are relatively basic. The larger of the two (top) is an M&P45 1.0, chambered in 45ACP. Smith & Wesson introduced the .45ACP version of the M&P pistol in 2007. This particular version is equipped with a 4-inch barrel and a 10-round magazine capacity, and is considered the "mid-size" version. It is (for me and my smallish hands at least) a full sized handgun. It serves as my primary home defense pistol. In the winter , when I'm wearing more layers or a jacket, it also doubles as my everyday self defense carry pistol. I find that the full sized grip coupled with the slightly shorter overall barrel length make it (just barely) small enough to carry. Its been lightly modified with an Apex Tactical trigger system, a Holosun 407C optic, and an Olight PL Pro weapon light.
The smaller of the two (bottom) is an M&P Shield 45 Performance Center. It's also chambered in .45ACP, has a 3.3-inch barrel, and has a 6 or 7 round magazine capacity. It's much smaller and narrower than the "big" M&P45, and serves as my primary self defense carry pistol. The most notable difference of this Performance Center version are the port holes in the barrel and slide; these allow for the redirection of gasses upwards, forcing the muzzle of the weapon down during a shot and helping to keep the shooter on target. The Performance Center models also have a reworked trigger system from the factory, resulting in a slightly lighter and more crisp feeling trigger. They are also equipped with fiber-optic iron sights from the factory. The only modification on this particular weapon is the Holosun 407k optic that's been mounted.
If you're looking for any of the parts I mentioned, my preferred place to grab parts from is Brownells. Their prices are great and they ship SUPER FAST.
You can find the Holosun 407C here:
You can find the Holosun 407k here:
And you can find the Apex Tactical trigger kit here:
We'll dive deeper into each of these two in a future post; for now I just wanted you to get to know them. Stay safe!