The barrel is 4.5-inches, and the slide and barrel are coated with Melonite, a tough, black coating that resists the elements. The frame also has an extended “beaver tail” on the top rear of the frame to prevent getting bit by the slide as it recoils–something that is a problem with a GLOCK when wearing heavy gloves. I used the smallest one, and the gun feels great in my medium/large hands.
Additionally, there are a couple different back straps you can easily install on the gun so it fits your hand all that much better. The M&P line of handguns has a black polymer frame, and the full-sized handguns also have Picatinny rails on the dust cover for mounting lights and lasers on the gun. 45ACP handgun and insisting that it have a manual safety so S&W is already ahead of the game in this respect. However, I understand that the US military is looking for a new handgun, and they are leaning towards going back to a. The M&P 45 that I purchased has a thumb safety (they also come without a manual thumb safety), and that is something you can elect to use or not (I don’t). Also, they have found the M&P to be more ergonomic–it fits the hand much better. It’s a bit more predictable and a bit more “crisp” than the mushy trigger pull on the GLOCK line of handguns. The one thing that most cops I’ve talked to like is the trigger pull on the M&P.
40S&W, and those that I’ve talked to love the M&P 40. Many law enforcement agencies are switching from the GLOCK 22 as their duty weapon, to the M&P in. 45ACP handgun at a decent price, and it was just too good of a deal for me to pass up. I recently ran across a brand-new S&W M&P 45, full-sized. This wasn’t the first time I’ve had problems with Smith’s customer service department, so for a lot of years I steered clear of any new or used Smith & Wesson firearms. I steered clear of S&W handguns for many years because of a customer service issue that they refused to honor.