Smith and Wesson responded to the Glock pistols originally with their Sigma pistol beginning in 1994, one of the first direct competitors to the Glock polymer pistols. In fact, the pistol was such an obvious copy that Glock sued the manufacturer for patent infringement, which S&W settled out of court for undisclosed sums and a promise to change the pistol.
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However, the genie was out of the bottle, and S&W continued to evolve designs for the polymer platform. Today, the modest Sigma is sold alongside the far superior M&P platform, which has been adopted by several law enforcement agencies, and is available to civilians.
Some manufacturers may offer a sub-caliber kit to their pistol to convert it to fire 22LR ammunition, but S&W will soon offer a training version of the M&P handgun in .22LR on the full size frame. Owners will be able to practice their fundamentals with the same trigger, sights and frame, but at a fraction of the cost of defensive quality ammunition.
The M&P also offers the Springfield style package of a carry case, molded holster and mag carriers, gun lock and loader with the pistol purchase. S&W also offers versions of their M&P in the popular Flat Dark Earth (FDE) frame to suit operators in more arid environments. To the best of my knowledge, though, the M&P hasn’t been adopted by serious military assaulters or foreign military units, so this feature is most suited to individual consumers looking for an alternative to the typical “black pistol” options.
The notable innovation of the M&P involves their approach to ergonomic options. Instead of changing the grip size with a simple back strap, the M&P offers modular grip fittings that adjust size and circumference for a more customized fit. With their grip system, the M&P provides the widest and most comfortable options for virtually any shooter’s hand size.
My biggest concern about the M&P is the long heavy trigger. I had a hard time controlling the trigger and the inconsistent slack. It felt sloppy to me, but I didn’t spend a lot of time training with the pistol. Ergonomically, though, it offers one of the best grips in the business, great sights, and is easy to bring on target.
