Having been a born/bred Glock fan (carried them personally and professionally since 1990) I decided that I wasn't going to wait for Gaston to build an 8 rd single stackish 4", G19, sized .45ACP. I looked around and decided to give the M&P45c a try, this was 2010. Bought it, shot it and it was...meh. Sold it and didn't look back.
Then Generalissimo Cuomo gave the good people of NY the anal raping that is the SAFE ACT. I decided again that I wanted a .45 the size of a G19. The .40 doesn't do it for me, we are issued the .45 GAP and although it has been an excellent performer it just isn't...well, it isn't an American .45. It just isn't.
Enter the second foray into the M&P45c, this time with more determination and forethought. I purchased a Gunbroker deal M&P45c for $375.00 and took possession of it. Shot it again, with the aide of a friend and Firearms Instructor for Maryland NRP (issued M&P40's). We came to the same conclusion independently...meh. The trigger was HORRIBLE and the resultant accuracy was not stellar. After about 400 rounds I decided that the factory sights had to go and the trigger guard web was discomforting, the trigger was atrocious but we all knew that coming in.. BUT, the size was really right where I liked it and the grip, absent the nonexistant undercut, was great. Sooooo, I set off to fix things.
I first installed an Apex DCEAK, HUGE difference in the trigger...but still sorta...meh, spongy and indistinct. I installed Trijicon OEM night sights, better sights but not what I really wanted. The thing was hell for accurate, though, now that the trigger was smoothed out. Then I broke out the Dremel and carefully removed the offensive material at the triggerguard/grip juncture making an effective, and more importantly smooth, undercut. Starting to like this thing, feels pretty good.
Then I had a setback of sorts, you see I had a good deal on an HK45c and wanted to try it out, maybe that would be the "right" .45. Long story short, it wasn't. It was much less natural feeling, the gun felt top heavy and the muzzle flip was pronounced when firing. It was overall much bigger and not worth the extra money. The magazines were prohibitively expensive and it needed night sights and the LEM installed to make it even livable. Side by side shooting was very telling, the M&P is a good gun and after 500+ rounds of differing ammunition without malfunction I trust my life to it.
So, back to the M&P I went, with no regrets. I decided the trigger itself needed to go, it was long and the hinged design felt like it was wrapping around my finger. So this weekend I installed the AEK polymer trigger and included trigger spring. HOLY SHIT, this thing shoots like a dream now. I put 200 rounds downrange this morning and the trigger is better than my beloved G19, it is hell for accurate and I love this thing. I have a set of Trijicon HD (Yellow) sights coming this week which I will install and promptly shoot. After that I will be happy to post pics but am hesitant to do so until it is 'done'. Anyway, long read but the moral of the story is, the M&P45c is a great gun.