Smith & Wesson M&P 5.7 Review
BY Herschel Smith
1 year, 10 months ago
Mike does a very good job of the review in this video.
I was hoping that it was a hammer fired gun. It is. I wouldn’t have been even a little bit interested if it was a striker fired gun.
I also very much like the operating system, and the narrowness of the frame. It’s narrowness means that it would be easy and comfortable to conceal for IWB carry at the 3:00 position (my preferred position). I don’t appendix carry.
Finally, I like the price point. So this gun meets all of my criteria. But I will have to say that that gap he’s talking about between the slide and frame is similar to the M&P design. I’ve never picked up an M&P that didn’t have that same gap. Apparently, the S&W engineers prefer that design for some reason. Maybe someone who knows about this will weigh in.
I may have to look into this model.
On February 5, 2023 at 11:57 pm, Dan said:
My only real issue with the 5.7 is ammo availability. The cartridge has been around for more than 20 years and you still don’t see it on the shelf in a lot of stores. It’s also expensive for what it is especially compared to 9mm.
On February 5, 2023 at 11:59 pm, Herschel Smith said:
I know. Guns shows are a source of ammo, as well as online.
“Ammoseek 5.7.”
On February 6, 2023 at 7:35 am, Will Travis said:
Herschel will you repost if you previously written about or newly post an article articulating your concerns with striker fired pistols?
On February 6, 2023 at 9:34 am, Michael B. said:
To second Travis’ question on striker vs hammer, I’d be interested as well
On February 6, 2023 at 9:40 am, Don't mind me said:
At over 60 cents a round no thanks. I don’t need another safe queen.
On February 6, 2023 at 9:42 am, Herschel Smith said:
I’ve never written extensively on the topic.
In general, striker fired guns have a striker, of course, that is half-cocked, with the pull of the trigger cocking it all the way. They don’t have a tactile feel (there are exceptions with really good trigger designs), and to me feel grinding and gritty.
Hammer fired guns have the following things mostly in common: frame-mounted safety, the ability to leave the gun cocked with the safety engaged, the ability to decock it with a round in the chamber (where cocking it is by choice), and the tactile feel of a hammer dropping off of the sear to discharge a round.
Of course, this isn’t always the case. Some hammer fired pistols are SA/DA, some hammer fired pistols don’t have good trigger designs and the sear isn’t polished enough, etc.
But in general, I don’t enjoy the feel of striker fired guns and don’t do as well with them regardless of the amount of practice (there are exceptions, the Springfield Armory XDMs, etc.). I shoot Glocks okay, not great.
But there are always exceptions to everything.
On February 6, 2023 at 2:17 pm, Georgiaboy61 said:
Re: “I’ve never picked up an M&P that didn’t have that same gap. Apparently, the S&W engineers prefer that design for some reason.”
With the caveat that this is speculation on my part and nothing more, maybe that gap was left in place on that M&P due to the known propensity of some designs with very close tolerances to mal’f or jam when hot, dirty or fouled. I am not a materials scientist, but could it also have something to do with the slide and frame being made of different substances with different coefficients of expansion? You’re the engineer; you tell me….
On February 6, 2023 at 5:48 pm, George said:
Ghetto music? Really? WTF