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Wild Speculation? Or New M&P's?

2K views 27 replies 15 participants last post by  cowboy1964 
#1 ·
I don't know who else has noticed, but prices on the full size M&P 9 have plummeted recently. They are all over the place for around $480, and yesterday one online seller even had them for $399.

This could simply be that Smith has an big overstock of them and needs to move them. I don't know if I buy that, though. The full sized M&P 9 and 40 pistols are pretty much their flagship models these days. Companies are not likely to cheapen their brand too much with big price cuts unless there's more too it.

With other popular products these days, particularly with things like cameras, mobile phones, TV's and other electronics, a big price drop usually means a newer model is coming out.

I'm wondering, could that be the case with the M&P's?
 
#4 ·
The reduced prices are probably more the result of wholesalers and dealers wanting to manage their inventories. S&W has been running 24/7 manufacturing, and has had to shift around their headquarters floor space to add more manufacturing capability for their M&P pistol and rifle lines in recent years. We were told some time ago that they've stopped keeping large vaults of "factory inventories" of firearms, and have been running production according to existing and anticipated demand, shipping out virtually everything they make.

The M&P's are still selling as fast as they can make them, but that doesn't mean all the wholesalers, distributors and dealers (both commercial and LE) may be managing their inventories in accordance to the highly variable moods of the buying public from one moment to the next. I'd not be surprised to see some great deals here and there (online and in storefronts) as they try and shift inventories to manage things.

Naturally, these things are easily influenced by advertising (new LE/Gov contracts, testing, etc) and the news (gun control discussions, politics, etc).

A little while ago the company stopped their long-running armorer/VIP discount program (using a time sensitive discount form issued at classes), and have instead started telling us that we can simply order through LE distributors from now on. No more defined discounts on their standard and PC catalog items (used to be about 35-40% discount for armorer purchase program, and better for VIP discounts) provided by calling the factory and giving them our credit cards (for shipping to FFL dealer, of course).

Now it's more like buying a Glock through a LE dealer.

Guess the M&P's are still selling like hot-cakes. I know we were told that getting our new issued M&P's (9, .40 & .45 models) was going to be a bit delayed because of the heavy production already scheduled for existing commercial sales and LE contract runs.

Nothing new mentioned in my last M&P pistol armorer recert about any new models, but that doesn't mean anything. The company's become very good in recent years at keeping such things quiet before they're ready to announce something, and not letting news prematurely slip.
 
#6 ·
Probably not. Not unless they get some heavy demand for such a thing at the international level, like Walther did for a couple models, or some huge LE/Gov contract in CONUS who specifies that variation. As it is, last time I looked, S&W had a steadily growing international market for their M&P in its current configuration.

Their hinged trigger works quite well, and it doesn't hurt that it provides a familiar trigger face design and profile for revolver and TDA pistol shooters.

It's mostly Glock aficionados who express complaints about the lack of a safety lever insert within the trigger face.

Never say never, though.
 
#9 ·
S&W is discontinuing the M&P line since LA country and other LE agencies have reported increase in AD since switching to the M&P. They have a new polymer pistol to be announced soon but don't worry guys they're keeping the CA Shield for the California market.

Sorry, don't ask as I can't give anymore details.
 
#11 ·
I don't know who else has noticed, but prices on the full size M&P 9 have plummeted recently. They are all over the place for around $480, and yesterday one online seller even had them for $399.

This could simply be that Smith has an big overstock of them and needs to move them. I don't know if I buy that, though. The full sized M&P 9 and 40 pistols are pretty much their flagship models these days. Companies are not likely to cheapen their brand too much with big price cuts unless there's more too it.

With other popular products these days, particularly with things like cameras, mobile phones, TV's and other electronics, a big price drop usually means a newer model is coming out.

I'm wondering, could that be the case with the M&P's?
S&W has teamed with General Dynamics to develop a handgun for the Contract for the US Army trials.

Word is it will be loosely based on the M&P with a replaceable FCU and improved, modular ergonomic pieces.

I would assume they would put the pistol on the civilian marketplace.
 
#12 ·
I think a big factor in lower prices is that so many people have spent their discretionary funds over the past few years in panic buying at high prices. Smith and others are trying to keep business up even if it requires selling for less.
 
#16 · (Edited)
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With other popular products these days, particularly with things like cameras, mobile phones, TV's and other electronics, a big price drop usually means a newer model is coming out.
I'm wondering, could that be the case with the M&P's?
Well, since Sig just came out with four - yeah, dude-skis, count 'em, that's 4 - 10mm P220s, it's not inconceivable that S&W, Ruger, CZ, et. al, are now taking a hard look at what models in their respective line-ups might be successfully scaled-up for chambering the big 10mm AUTO.

Even considering the U.S. handgun market's current lull, the niche market of things 10mm, until Sig's initiative, has largely gone untapped as far as new guns for 15 or 20 years - other than those from Glock, Tanfoglio, Colt, and a couple other makers of 1911s.

For S&W anyway, which of those named actually has hands-on experience in building and marketing 10mm pistols (the 3rd Gen 10XX-series), that old internal memo about engineering a beefed-up 10mm M&P is probably being pulled off the corporate back-burner, dusted off, and moved to the top of the agenda for discussion at the next board meeting.

And that thought makes for a ...

:perfect10:
 
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#17 ·
Well, since Sig just came out with four - yeah, dude-skis, count 'em, that's 4 - 10mm P220s, it's not inconceivable that S&W, Ruger, CZ, et. al, are now taking a hard look at what models in their current line-ups might be successfully scaled-up for chambering the big 10mm AUTO.

For S&W anyway, which of those named actually has hands-on experience in building and marketing 10mm pistols (the 3rd Gen 10XX-series), that old internal memo about engineering a beefed-up 10mm M&P is probably being pulled off the corporate back-burner, dusted off, and moved to the top of the agenda for discussion at the next board meeting.

And that thought makes for a ...

:perfect10:
Not going to bet against that speculation. ;)

I've been listening how there's been a constant pro & con inside the factory regarding making another 1 or 2 pistol lines chambered in 10mm. I've heard one 10mm aficionado from the factory express how easy it would be to make a SW1911 in 10mm, for example.

One of the problems may be how the factory determines the viability (profitability) of trying to shoe-horn in a 10mm gun ... at the obvious risk and expense of NOT making as many of some other model that IS selling well. Then, how they commonly look at commercial sales of ammunition (not components for reloaders) to see if a caliber is viable for adding to the existing catalog.

Maybe the new SIG Classic offerings in 10mm may be just enough to distract the company from looking at ammunition sales, IF the new SIG's sell in respectable numbers. Roll of the dice. Wait & see.

The M&P pistol, with its molded stainless steel sub-chassis that rigidly attaches to the LB and steel SHB, would seemingly lend itself to the potential for a very solid M&P10 pistol, huh?

Guess we'll see.

I personally don't have any interest in a M&P 10 or SW1911/SW1911E 10mm, but that's only because I'm no longer involved in reloading, and I mostly prefer to only buy ammo from one of the major American ammo companies. The 10mm has been a bit neglected since it fell off the LE radar 25 years ago. Mores' the pity.

Personally, I think either a M&P10 or SW1911E 10mm (or both), even if only done in occasional production runs, would probably sell to reloaders and enthusiasts ... and handgun hunters who like pistols ... like hot cakes.

And maybe someday that might be just enough to convince the major American ammo makers to put some time and effort into making some better defensive JHP & hunting ammo for 10mm. (Probably not something the custom ammo companies would like to see, though. ;) )
 
#19 ·
That sounds like bs.
I don't know about the new gun part, but it is not impossible to think that departments like LA and NYC have requested modifications of S&W. The article linked to below demonstrates the issues LA had in the transition from a Beretta to the S&W (yeah... they are getting "Glock Leg" with M&P's!).

I am not defending ND's, training, where to put your finger, etc., just factually stating that some departments are having problems.

http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-sheriff-guns-20150614-story.html#page=1
 
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#20 ·
FWIW, LAPD has been issuing/using M&P's for a couple of years, and from the info I've heard (not limited to news sources) they haven't experienced the ND issues reported by LASD.
 
#21 ·
(sarcasm alert)
Well, in addition to LA area officers having some training/safety issues, at least the general public is a lot safer after yesterday's vote, right?

Putting a new 10-round max capacity magazine ban in place for LA will surely solve all their problems!

Sorry, GT'ers from LA. You had trouble getting them, but now they are taking the ones you already had. Looks like you will have 60 days to move or sell your magazines after it goes into effect.
 
#22 ·
I saw Shield's on sale for $299 a month or two ago. I could kick myself for not getting at least one. I paid $500 + tax for mine at the same store years ago.
 
#26 ·
I somewhat miss the "old days" at S&W. Probably an oversimplification on my part but in my imagination it went somewhat like this at Springfield. Ted is bored and his boss is out of building so he starts wandering around and rummaging in old boxes and drawers and such. He says to Bart, "Hey Bart - what the heck are these?" Bart comes over and examines one and says "Gee I think I have seen this twenty years ago when I was being trained. I think it is actually a frame for a Schofield." Ted says "Hey why don't we each take one and try making a new Schofield since Hank isn't here." Hank is having most of his extended lunch in the form of adult beverages and by the time her gets back he is about 0.19. Bart says, "Hey Hank - look what we are working on. Ted found some frames." Hank has to lean on a desk to keep his balance and asks "Are there more of those frames? I have an idea..."
 
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