Back in July of 2008, I returned from Iraq on a R&R and found myself visiting a friend down in Florida. One day, bored to my skull, I dug up the address to a local gun shop and went browsing. A couple of hours later I walked out of there with about $2k worth of stuff. The two big purchases were a carbine (PS90 T/R) and a Smith and Wesson M&P 45 in Flat Dark Earth color, and with a thumb safety. Fast forward to my return to the VA area, and an immediate request to my local FFL that he order me a M&P 9 with a thumb safety after S&W debuted that combination at the SHOT Show. Haven't shot the 9 yet, but this weekend I finally got the .45 to the range and ran about 100 rounds through it. My initial thoughts: Plenty accurate, sights (I added Warren three dot tritium sights to the gun) work well with the gun, the thumb safety is about the same as found on a 1911, and the trigger sucks. The reset might as well not exist, because you can barely, if at all, feel it. The pull is heavy - I'm guessing north of 7lbs, and the travel is about as long as you can get. I'll be sending the gun off for a trigger job, probably to Bowie Tactical. I have the medium back strap insert installed on both guns, but given the trigger out of the box, I'm not in a rush to replace my primary carry gun, a Glock 19, with either M&P. Assuming the trigger issue can be resolved, however, I think this gun just might be a legitimate contender against the Glock. Raven Concealment Light Compatible holsters are on order for both guns. I have another M&P 9 on order through G&R Tactical, that is a semi-custom M&P being produced by S&W in consultation with Todd as seen here: http://pistol-training.com/archives/1274

I purchased both guns during S&W Mag promo periods. That means I currently have a coupon being processed by the company for two extra mags for each gun. Medium back strap is on the gun, with the other two shown. The texture treatment on the gun is very fine, but not so fine that I feel the need to do any sort of grip stippling treatment.
http://www.pbase.com/1sfg/image/110559278/large.jpg

Good look at the thumb safety
http://www.pbase.com/1sfg/image/110559282/large.jpg

Front Warren sight in focus
http://www.pbase.com/1sfg/image/110559284/large.jpg

Thumb safety is Ambi - not a big fan of the style of the slide serrations, but as long as they are functional, I can live with them. Both M&P's will fire without a magazine inserted.
http://www.pbase.com/1sfg/image/110559287/large.jpg

The Niner
http://www.pbase.com/1sfg/image/110559444/large.jpg

Configured exactly the same
http://www.pbase.com/1sfg/image/110559445/large.jpg

Including the sights
http://www.pbase.com/1sfg/image/110559446/large.jpg

And Ambi thumb safety
http://www.pbase.com/1sfg/image/110559448/large.jpg

Group hugs
http://www.pbase.com/1sfg/image/110559514/large.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/1sfg/image/110559521/large.jpg

Thanks for the write-up. I had an M&P compact in stock for a while. I never fired it because it was brand new, but it did have a nice feel to it.

nice write up.

everyone has their opinion, and they all stink as the saying goes... but here is my opinion: if you are going to carry it, be careful in what you do with that trigger. it will smooth out and feel better after dry or live firing it 500 or more times anyways.

take a listen to this if you find the time: http://proarms.podbean.com/2009/02/28/022-pull-my-trigger/