2nd largest Police force goes with M&P 9mm

[TheTman]

The Los Angeles Sheriffs Department, the 2nd largest police force in the US, has just signed a contract with S&W for a 5 year run to provide the M&P 9mm as it's new service pistol. Glad to see they went American.
These will be replace Beretta 92's.

http://www.guns.com/2013/08/26/smith-wesson-lands-massive-mp-contract-l-sheriffs-department/

[jeepster09]

Remember it is not neccessarily the type of pistol.....it is all about the "low bid", not saying M&P's are bad.

[TheTman]

I thought it was cool that they bought American. I think the M&P is a pretty good pistol and should work out well for them. I bet S&W gave them a hell of a deal to get that contract and the bragging rights that go with it.

[Sage]

A big coup for S&W.

[Longitude Zero]

More than likely S&W sold at or below cost. Glock has been beating the heck outta them for the last almost 2 decades in the police market. S&W will have a few success but they will never regain the title of the supplier to LEO agencies.

[TheTman]

I don't know LZ, the police here were given the choice of a Glock 9mm or an M&P 9. Sixty percent went with the M&P. If they keep wheeling and dealing like they have been, they may recapture the title. My opinion is if you have an American made pistol, that is every bit as good as a Glock, why not go American? The M&P went through some growing pains, as most pistols do, but they have the bugs worked out and it's a fine, accurate, dependable, pistol, with 17+1 capacity. I know some folks will never believe the M&P to be the equal of the Glock, while others never really took to the Glock. I'm in the latter camp, something about them just never appealed to me. I think at first it was the polymer frame, I wanted metal, and now I just don't like the way they fit my hand, where the M&P feels like it molds itself to you hand. And I don't think you can find a better DAO trigger than comes standard on the M&P Pro. They make an "APEX" kit to smooth out the trigger on the standard models, I don't know why they just didn't put the pro trigger in the standard series, can't be that much more expensive. It's be well worth any extra one had to pay.
Glocks are fine pistols, and if that's what floats your boat, by all means go for it. I was checking out the G34, Thought I'd probably come home with it, but got sidetracked by the M&P Pro.

[Longitude Zero]

For me it is how it feels in my hand. Glock is good S&W M/P is okay. The POS Beretta 92 is like strangling a weasel. Plus it is substandard. S&W may get back some business but IMHO the are way too far behind Glock to regain the lead.

As for DAO triggers SIG is sweet.

[jeepster09]

Live testing of new gun....


https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=511107388962621

[TheTman]

Wow, LAPD gets a pretty nice choice of sidearms:

What kind of guns do officers use?

LAPD Officers are authorized to use, as their on duty primary weapon,


Beretta:


92F, 92FS, 92FS-Stainless Steel, 8045 (4” barrel)


Smith & Wesson:


459, 5904, 5903, 659, 5906, 645, 4506, 4566, 4567, 5903 TSW, 5906 TSW, 4569 TSW, and 4566 TSW.


Glock:


9mm: Model 34, magazine capacity 17
Model 17, magazine capacity 17
Model 19, magazine capacity 15


.40 caliber: Model 35, magazine capacity 15
Model 22, magazine capacity 15
Model 23, magazine capacity 13


.45 caliber: Model 21, magazine capacity 13


I wonder how they rank in number of officers choosing which sidearm?
I'd probably go with the Glock 21 or 35.