slomo said:
1. Aluminum/steel frame: would make the pistol heavier, but I think it would improve accuracy.
This would do nothing to improve mechanical accuracy. An argument could be made that for slow, deliberate marksmanship a heavier frame, within reason, helps control wobble.
2. Aluminum/steel trigger: don't care much for the plastic thing.
Having put literally hundreds of thousands of rounds through Glocks, my M&P, SIGs, and both steel-trigger and plastic-trigger Berettas ... I can't tell the difference. Given the need for a hinged trigger, a metal part would be much more expensive to produce.
3. Melt down treatment on the slide: I know Dan does a good job, but I would like S&W to offer it.
For aesthetics? Maybe some day the Performance Center will do it. From a practical standpoint, there aren't any real snag points on the gun that need such a treatment. It's labor-intensive to do well, which is why people like Dan get paid to do it by hand.
4. Nickel/Stainless slide: Once again, Dan does a beautiful job, but it would be nice if S&W did it.
The slide is stainless. I expect a 2-tone version will come along soon.
5. Removal of the mag safety (the little yellow bar inside): useless in my opinion and something else that could fail.
S&W has decades of experience producing guns with mag safeties that haven't failed ... at least, not any more than any other part of a gun may fail. It's also far from useless, as countless law enforcement officers could tell you. Not everyone wants it, but it's an option ... get it or don't.
As for the sear disconnect, its inclusion in the M&P is a major reason why it's being chosen over the Glock by many agencies. Your comment to MI_Jester is simply wrong. There are
many people who own guns, or are issued guns, who
have made the mistake of discharging a Glock during the disassembly process. If you want to pony up the funds to improve the firearms training of every single cop in the country, I salute you. Otherwise, reality bites and we have to deal with it. One of the cardinal rules of firearms safety is "don't touch the trigger unless you want the gun to go BANG" ... a manual of arms that violates that rule is a Bad Thing.
6. More tension on the mag release spring/rod: Come on, you know you want one too.
Mine is great now that I got a replacement from the factory. If yours is causing problems, contact S&W. They're well aware of the problem and should resolve it painlessly for you.
If I were going to make an M&P wish list:
- Redesign trigger mechanism so there is a positive "click reset right from the factory
- Do something about the takedown lever getting red hot during extended rapid fire
- Improve the sights, especially the front night sight (a new factory rear sight is in the works)
- Intermediate size (something between the full size and the compact)
- More aggressive stippling of the gripping surfaces
