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I've finally expanded my handgun horizons from 9mm and picked up my first .45 yesterday. And no, I did not go for a 1911. I went with this (note the image is not mine):




A full-sized M&P 45 in Flat Dark Earth. 10 rounds of a .45 ACP goodness in a very manageable frame size. The backstraps make this gun fit perfectly, I'm really impressed with how the gun is designed as a whole. This gun was made in May of this year and the trigger is far superior to the M&P guns I've fired in the past. There's almost no grit felt in the pull and while it seems to stack a little bit at the end, it's not too bad overall. I still may throw an Apex kit in there but I don't feel the immediate need to do so.

Now I need to get it out to the range and see how it shoots though I imagine it will be pretty well.

As a side note, it is rather entertaining to put a .45 round next to a 9mm. The 9mm cartridge is still my primary choice and the one I carry but there's not much debating the size difference when you see them like that.

Beautiful! Congrats! I'm not far behind you...but mine will be a 1911!

that's why .45acp hollowpoints are called flying ashtrays

Blindref757 wrote:Beautiful! Congrats! I'm not far behind you...but mine will be a 1911!

you will probably like it so much you will get another

Only 10 rounds?

I've heard the ashtray thing before, but never understood it since they don't expand until they hit something.

C-dub wrote:Only 10 rounds?

I've heard the ashtray thing before, but never understood it since they don't expand until they hit something.

they look like a flying ashtray before they expand

patterson wrote:that's why .45acp hollowpoints are called flying ashtrays

C-dub wrote:I've heard the ashtray thing before, but never understood it since they don't expand until they hit something.

Pictures worth 1000 words?




Versus

I bought that exact same model, same color, a few years ago. My son calls it "a war gun". Although I prefer carrying smaller pistols, and consequently seldom carry mine, it is a great shooter....consistently accurate and easy to shoot. Long story, involving an excess of calcium in my brain, but I ended up with a S&W Custom Shop trigger.

C-dub wrote:Only 10 rounds?

I've heard the ashtray thing before, but never understood it since they don't expand until they hit something.

I first heard the term used to describe the Corbon 185 grain +P load 20 years ago. Since the diameter and length are the same, lightness was achieved by means of a larger cavity in the bullet nose. The picture below is of a more current DPX bullet, the the old school lead/copper jacketed bullet had the same wide open look to it.....hence the moniker "flying ashtrays":

I once carried 1000 rounds of .45 FMJ from a gun show to my car. That was a work out. It made me appreciate the soldier carrying the tommygun in WWII even more.

Then double that when you actually pick up a Thompson! Holy smokes. Did they put lead in their shoes during basic too?

LAYGO wrote:I once carried 1000 rounds of .45 FMJ from a gun show to my car. That was a work out. It made me appreciate the soldier carrying the tommygun in WWII even more.

Then double that when you actually pick up a Thompson! Holy smokes. Did they put lead in their shoes during basic too?

You can do some amazing things when your life is on the line! Bullets zipping by your face can be very motivational!

Blindref757 wrote:

LAYGO wrote:I once carried 1000 rounds ... It made me appreciate the soldier carrying the tommygun in WWII even more.

You can do some amazing things when your life is on the line! Bullets zipping by your face can be very motivational.

Being young and full of testosterone helps too!

I have two M&P COREs in 9mm and got the chance this past week to get an M&P .45 I will love it once I fix the trigger. It has the worst trigger I have ever owned. My others are so good in comparison it was a shock. I thought the trigger didn't work. I got the black model with night sights. No matter what you can't beat the M&P. Good for you.

Blindref757 wrote:Beautiful! Congrats! I'm not far behind you...but mine will be a 1911!

Thanks! I'm sure I will get a 1911 eventually, it's just not a priority for me right now.

The Annoyed Man wrote:I bought that exact same model, same color, a few years ago. My son calls it "a war gun". Although I prefer carrying smaller pistols, and consequently seldom carry mine, it is a great shooter....consistently accurate and easy to shoot. Long story, involving an excess of calcium in my brain, but I ended up with a S&W Custom Shop trigger.

When I decided on an M&P 45, I was going to get the all black version without a thumb safety until the FDE caught my eye. I decided to go with the FDE but they only make it with a thumb safety. I'm deciding if I want to remove it or not. I'm leaning towards not since all of my S&W handguns have a safety or a safety/decocker.

I don't plan to carry this. Instead this will serve range duty until I'm content it's ready for being the primary house gun then I'll stick a light on it and be ready to roll.