Click pictures for a larger version.

S&W M&P Pro 40 Caliber pistol with Buffalo
Bore's Lead-Free Hollowpoint ammo.

Accessory rail.




Disassembly latch.


Ambidextrous slide lock levers.

Magazine release.



Excellent steel Novak rear sight & fiber-optic
front sight.







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It has been over six years now since Smith
& Wesson introduced their M&P
semi-automatic pistol. The first one that I reviewed, and
the first version that they produced, was chambered for the 40
S&W cartridge. That pistol finally put S&W at the top of
the heap, and ever since, the M&P has been finding its way
into more and more law enforcement duty holsters, and into the
hands of people who want a world-class fighting handgun. S&W
has filled out the line with many variations of the M&P,
chambered for various cartridges from the 22
Long Rifle to the 9mm up to the 45
ACP, and in compact 9mm and compact
45 ACP, and even a new sub-compact version in 9mm
and 40 S&W. The 40 S&W M&P Pro shown here is
probably the best version yet for a duty pistol, and is also an
excellent choice for competition. The M&P pistols are
striker-fired, polymer/steel pistols, and I have covered the
details of these weapons in my previous reviews of the M&P,
so I will not plow the same ground again here, but will
highlight the features of this Pro version of the M&P.
From its inception, the M&P has included
features that make it more user-friendly than its competition,
from its interchangeable grip inserts to its easy disassembly,
steel magazines, and excellent trigger, the M&P just feels
better in most shooters’ hands than does a Glock. There is
certainly nothing wrong with a Glock. I
own a few, and they are great pistols, but the M&P fits
my hand better.
The Pro model shown here has some features
that make it a better fighting pistol than the others in the
M&P line. The barrel is longer, the sight radius longer, the
trigger pull better, and the sights are improved. Like all
full-size center fire M&P pistols, the weapon is supplied
with three sizes of grip inserts, to comfortably and easily
adapt the grip to fit the shooter’s hand. On the M&P Pro,
there is no manual safety, but a striker safety prevents the
pistol from firing until the trigger is pulled. The trigger pull
on the M&P Pro is smooth and relatively light. The steel
magazines drop free easily with a push of the magazine release.
The frame of the M&P Pro has a pronounced beavertail, and is
very comfortable to my hand. There is an accessory for the
attachment of a light or laser,
if desired.
The rear sight on the M&P Pro is a Novak
steel unit, with the rear surface slightly angled to prevent
glare. The front sight is a steel post with a green fiber-optic
insert. This sight combination works extremely well, providing a
good sight picture on the target range, and also works well in
less-than-ideal lighting conditions, enhanced by the fiber-optic
insert on the front. Barrel-to-slide and slide-to-frame fit are
excellent on this pistol, and the five-inch barrel and longer
slide give it better balance than the standard M&P duty
pistols.
Critical specifications are listed in the
chart below. Weights are listed in ounces. Linear dimensions are
listed in inches. Maximum width is measured across the
ambidextrous slide lock levers. The grip width and trigger reach
vary, depending upon the grip insert that is installed. Trigger
pull is listed in pounds of resistance, as measured with my
Lyman digital trigger pull scale. Height includes sights and
magazine base. Weight includes an empty magazine.
Chambering |
40 S&W |
Weight |
28.8 oz. |
Trigger Pull |
5 lbs. 7 oz. |
Barrel Length |
5.000" |
Barrel Diameter |
0.555" |
Overall Height |
5.560" |
Overall Length |
8.370" |
Grip Thickness |
1.280", adjustable |
Frame Width |
1.110" |
Slide Width |
1.090" |
Maximum Width |
1.28" |
Trigger Reach |
2.540", adjustable |
Magazine Capacity |
15 |
Magazines Supplied |
2 |
Accessory Rail |
Yes |
Velocity testing was done at
an elevation of 541 feet above sea level. Range temperatures
hovered in the seventy-two degree Fahrenheit range, with
forty-seven percent humidity. Wind conditions were light, with a
slight gusty breeze. Velocities are listed in feet-per-second.
Bullet weights are listed in grains. JHP is a jacketed
hollowpoint bullet. LFHP is a Barnes lead-free homogenous copper
hollowpoint. DPX is a homogenous copper hollow cavity bullet. PB
is Cor-Bon Pow’R Ball, a specialty
hollowpoint bullet with a nylon ball inserted into the hollow
nose. FMJ is a full metal jacket bullet. Velocities were
recorded at a distance of ten feet from the muzzle.
Ammunition |
Bullet Weight |
Velocity |
Cor-Bon DPX |
140 |
1223 |
Cor-Bon JHP |
135 |
1280 |
Cor-Bon PB |
135 |
1289 |
Buffalo Bore JHP |
155 |
1251 |
Buffalo Bore JHP |
180 |
1060 |
Buffalo Barnes LFHP |
140 |
1229 |
Buffalo Barnes LFHP |
125 |
1395 |
Buffalo Bore FMJ |
180 |
1032 |
Black Hills JHP |
180 |
928 |
Stryker JHP |
180 |
920 |
Double Tap JHP |
150 |
1316 |
Atomic JHP |
180 |
1047 |
As expected, the M&P Pro ran flawlessly
with every type of ammunition tested. The pistol fed, fired, and
ejected every cartridge without fail. Accuracy was also very
good, and the smooth trigger pull contributed greatly to the
practical accuracy and easy shooting of the pistol. The
accessory rail makes the mounting of a weapon light easy, and a Crimson
Trace Lasergrip insert is available, if desired. I have both
the Crimson Trace Lasergrip and the Crimson
Trace Lightguard mounted on my standard M&P. The M&P
Pro is an excellent choice for a competitive shooter in IDPA
style competition, and is also one of the best pistols available
to carry as a duty weapon, or to serve for home defense. The
Pro, with its longer barrel and better trigger, is the best of
the full-sized M&P pistols so far. The Shield has the
compact end covered very well, and the Pro is, in my opinion,
the best polymer striker-fired duty gun on the market. The
M&P Pro is reliable, accurate, built right, and built in the
USA.
Check out the extensive line of Smith &
Wesson firearms and accessories online at www.smith-wesson.com.
For the location of a Smith & Wesson
dealer near you, click on the DEALER LOCATOR at www.lipseys.com.
To order the M&P Pro online, go to www.galleryofguns.com.
To order quality fighting ammunition, go to www.buffalobore.com,
www.doubletapammo.com,
www.luckygunner.com,
and www.theamericanmarksman.com.
Jeff Quinn
 
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Click pictures for a larger version.


Pistol comes with two magazines, instruction manual,
three grip inserts, hard case, and cable lock.


S&W M&P Pro 40 (top) compared to author's
bedside pistol, a S&W M&P 9mm with Crimson Trace
Lightguard and Lasergrip.

Striker lock prevents the pistol from firing unless
the trigger is pulled.



Interchangeable grip inserts.



Pistol comes with two fifteen-round steel magazines.




Accuracy was tested with the aid of a Ransom
Master Series machine rest.


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