I heart the Smith & Wesson M&P .45. That said, if you buy the handgun in the Bay State it’s hamstrung by the dreaded Massachusetts trigger—an action so heavy the Granby Charter Days Tractor and Truck Pull uses the M&P for competitions. No worries: Apex that and you’re good to stow. Unfortunately (or not), cops have to keep their Smiths factory. Never mind. Even in Mass spec. the S&W M&P .45 is a terrific firearm. The Taunton [MA] po-po recently sang the handgun’s praises to tauntongazette.com, explaining their decision to equip all their officers with the large-caliber Smith. Some of their reasons for choosing the S&W M&P45 are a little, uh, suspect . . .
[Taunton Police Chief Edward ] Walsh said that some of the older model semi-automatics, including an outmoded S&W .40-caliber, had certain design imperfections.
Among those was a weight imbalance, causing the barrel to tilt downward whenever an officer extended an arm straight out at a target.
Walsh says he also had to deal with what he calls personal “biases” of some veteran cops, who went into the field tests convinced the new .45-caliber would be tough to handle.
“It was almost like culture shock; they thought a 45 would knock them over,” he said.
Instead, Walsh said, they were pleasantly surprised to find out the gun had a very negligible recoil, or kick, when fired.
He says he went so far as to blindfold some officers who swore they could tell they were firing a .45-caliber model.
“They couldn’t tell,” Walsh said, adding that in the end the M&P45 beat out the competition.
Needless to say, stopping power was also an important consideration. Or . . . not.
[Certified firearms instructor Lt. Eric ] Nichols, an adherent of the “commonality in training” philosophy, says despite the .45-caliber’s obvious size advantage over a .40-caliber bullet, the M&P45 was not chosen based on its potential to kill a person.
“Lethality is not our concern, like (it is) in the military,” Nichols said, noting that more critical consideration is given to a weapon’s “kinetic energy” and ability to stop an aggressor.
“We put heavy emphasis on accuracy,” he said, adding that “a slow hit beats a fast miss,” coining a phrase often employed by TPD Lt. Mike Costa.
A 9mm gun might carry more rounds in its magazine than the M&P45, but it is also inherently less accurate, said Walsh, who said that the old military adage “spray and pray” is not compatible with current police gun technique.
Methinks Mr. Walsh needs to practice his Google-Fu a bit. Try “police hit ratio.” And shooting. Walsh and his men should practice shooting. A lot. Soon.
Do you live in Mass. Fargo? If you do, how in the world did you manage to get a carry permit?
I think Mr. F. lives in the Ocean State. I think.
True dat. I have a Mass LTC. For now . . .
As a denizen of the Kommonwealth, I can tell you the secret to receiving a Massachusetts LTC: eat your greens, say your prayers at night, do harm to no man and reside in a town other than Boston.
Among those was a weight imbalance, causing the barrel to tilt downward whenever an officer extended an arm straight out at a target.
A 9mm gun might carry more rounds in its magazine than the M&P45, but it is also inherently less accurate, said Walsh
“Lethality is not our concern, like (it is) in the military,” Nichols said, noting that more critical consideration is given to a weapon’s “kinetic energy” and ability to stop an aggressor.
Uh-huh….
Huh? Since when is the 9mm in a service pistol less accurate than a .45? Maybe in some kind of tuned model 1911. Have these people tried a Sig, or Beretta lately? Their S&W 9’s are front heavy? With 15 or more rounds in the grip? If they say so.
“…outmoded S&W .40-caliber…”
“…the new .45-caliber….”
Sounds to me like whoever is filling out the PO wants a .45. Okay, I don’t have a problem with that, but why all the stupid bull crap?
“Lethality is not our concern, like (it is) in the military,” Nichols said, noting that more critical consideration is given to a weapon’s “kinetic energy” and ability to stop an aggressor.
I suspect the most critical consideration was given to getting the purchase order for 115 M&P’s over to, well we don’t know. Because it isn’t mentioned anywhere in the article who got this 40 grand gun order. Conspicuous by its absence. Didn’t this go out for bid?
There are so many glaring errors in this bogus press release but this one stands out:
“It was almost like culture shock; they thought a 45 would knock them over,” he said.
A .45 will knock you over, just ask Lippard.
Based on the moron-level tone of the PR, I’m surprised Chief Wiggum didn’t suggest the 25 ACP for statewide use…
I feel safer knowing cops in MA are willing to be blindfolded while firing handguns…or not.
Surprised this wasn’t in the very first comment. I mean, who needs gun safety rules?
Actually, sort of what I was thinking as well…OK boys, blind fold me, spin me around, and I will pull the trigger. Play spin the cop!
With all the gun laws in place in Mass the cops shouldn’t need to use their guns that much anyway.
I do not even know why they should issue guns. Mass Compliance has made the State totally safe!
True that. Criminals wouldn’t dare violate those laws, might affect their parole or probation adversely.
The criminals might lose their LTC permits!
“He says he went so far as to blindfold some officers who swore they could tell they were firing a .45-caliber model.”
Wow. “Blindfolded shooters to the firing line. Ready on the right? Ready on the left? Ready on the firing line? Point your firearms in whatever direction feels good and COMMENCE FIRING!”
Gonna have to try that next time I help run our range. Hey, if it’s good for the Taunton PD, it’s good for everyone!
He says he went so far as to blindfold some officers
So that’s why they can’t hit sh!t. The morons forget to take off their blindfolds.
I cannot find a reason for the requisition to sound like an idiot wrote it without making cops sound stupid. This is a skim and stamp moment.
Lol at “weight Imbalance causing the gun to point down”.
And the bit about the 9mm being inherently less accurate was chuckle worthy as well.
I am reminded now why Massachusetts sucks so hard.
What’s wrong with this picture? Does it have anything to do with that officer’s epic constipated face?
Weight imbalance? In what is most likely a 59-series S&W? Granted it’s a nearly 30 year-old design but I don’t remember 3rd-gen S&W semiautos pointing at the ground.
Do they need to put a hole in the middle so it handles more like a doughnut?