Finally - I now own a .45 ACP handgun

[A-R]

... but it's not a 1911, still waiting on that one.

Was at GT Distributors today. Guy in front of me in line was eyeing a used full-size Smith & Wesson M&P .45 for $425. He said he was going to buy it, so I went looking elsewhere in the store.

Came back a bit later and turns out the clerks couldn't find the box, nor - more importantly - the other two backstraps. So the guy passed on the gun.

I asked to see it. It has barely been shot. Black coating on barrel and chamber still fresh. Trigger not even fully broken in.

Just then someone came from the back with the box, both extra backstraps and three factory mags.

"I'll take it."





Walked out with the gun, a total of 5 factory mags, and a 250-round case of Federal 230-grain FMJ for about $600. Hoping to put some night sights and Apex parts on it tomorrow if Dawson Precision has them in stock. Then shoot the heck out of it.

IDPA classifier in two weeks in San Antonio .... was only going to bring my M&P9 full size in SSP class. Now might see if I can hang with the 1911 guys in CDP also.

Now the only downside ... need to get rid of something to offset the money I SHOULD NOT have spent on this .... but what to sell?

[cbr600]

but what to sell? [/i]

A house! The commission should cover it.

P.S. Congrats on the 45.

[dcphoto]

but what to sell? [/i]

A house! The commission should cover it.

[gigag04]

Dibs on the m&p 9 if it goes up for sale....

[G.A. Heath]

If the M&P shoots as well in .45 ACP as my M&P 9 does then you have gotten yourself a keeper.

[A-R]

but what to sell? [/i]

A house! The commission should cover it.

I'll write up the contracts now for each of you knuckleheads to buy one of the two houses I'm listing this week and next ... one in Leander, one in north Austin - flip a coin



I wish I could spend real estate commission money on guns. For some reason SWMBO thinks I should spend it on groceries, utility bills, swim lessons etc. She really needs to get her priorities straight

Dibs on the m&p 9 if it goes up for sale....

I'm definitely keeping the full-size M&P9 (you missed it, I sold another one I had a few weeks ago). Might sell the M&P9c I recently picked up from another forum member. Still can't get completly comfortable with the grip on that gun - tried all the backstraps etc, just don't like the way the grip cuts off short at the bottom; it lacks the little "hump" that a baby Glock has on back of grip to keep it firmly imbedded in my palm. The M&Pc always feels like it's about to slide out of my hand. But need to shoot it a bit more before I decide. Might even stipple the grip to see if that helps.

This move to .45, assuming all goes well and I like it as much as I think I will, could lead me to get out of .40-caliber altogether. I've shot .40-cal Glocks for 13 years now and shoot them well and trust the cartridge and the gun. But they do start to wear on my hand (something has been bothering my shooting thumb the last 6 months or so - tendinitis? possibly even some mild carpal tunnel, wrist and thumb areas ... need to get it checked out). So far, 9mm doesn't bother my hand as much in extended shooting sessions, and the .45s I've shot are more pleasant than my .40 Glocks in abbreviated use. The improved ergonomics of the M&P grip certainly help too, but even my 9mm Glock is a joy to shoot compared to my .40s

IDPA + CHL instructor has prompted me to shift to 9mm instead of .40 for lower cost and ease of use in both competition and teaching new shooters. Seems .40-cal gets lost in IDPA - competitive disadvantage in SSP competing against mainly 9mm, but doesn't qualify for CDP against the .45s (IDPA really needs to start a new division for .40 S&W/.357 Sig shooters - seems USPSA is more suited for .40, but haven't tried it yet.).

I hate to give up on my .40 Glocks - I still carry them regularly, and the G23 especially has a lot of sentimental value. But if I could package my G23 and G27 (both with custom grip stippling, night sights etc) for a nice 1911 I'd be very tempted to do that.

All of this is the fault of 2010 Texas CHL Forum Day at PSC - if I hadn't fired those 10 rounds through that M&P9 Pro that day none of this would've happened.



Guess I could just completely give myself over to TMG Syndrome and stop trying to fight it.

[The Annoyed Man]

Good job on the M&P 45. I really like mine. Didn't you get a chance to shoot mine at the last forum day?

[A-R]

Good job on the M&P 45. I really like mine. Didn't you get a chance to shoot mine at the last forum day?

No, I don't think I did. As I remember, you were shooting one of your Kimbers in the class we took together. But dcphoto and I go shoot together a lot and after shooting my M&P9 he went out and bought an M&P 45 and I've shot it.

My only concern carrying it is the extra length of barrel/slide. The full size M&P9 is 4.25" and I think the 45 is full 5". Even the M&P9 is a tad too long for my round derriere when I sit down (compared to 4" barrel on my Glock 23). So far just wearing and dry drawing/dry firing around the house tonight doesn't feel any worse, but the real test is a fully loaded gun while sitting in the bucket seats of my Toyota pickup.

You carry yours in an MTAC also, right? Did you have to adjust cant more than with your Kimber? Or does it fit about the same?

Funny thing, so far I think I like the small backstrap better on the 45. The medium on the 9 fits me like a glove. But I guess the grip on the 45 is possibly just a wee bit wider or something (definitely nothing like the difference between a "regular Glock" and a .45-cal Glock). But will try them all at range to see which I like best while shooting. Both guns fit in same holster - MTAC and a Safariland kydex belt holster I use for IDPA sometimes (though the fit is a little snug on the Safariland, need to adjust tension screw).

Anyway, I'm excited to get out and shoot it. This could become my go to "big gun" to carry when weather/wardrobe allow.

[cougartex]

Congratulations.

[gigag04]

I could find use for an M&P 9c. Let me know.