After what seemed like an eternity of waiting, I finally received my M&P from the custom run by my buddy Hilton at 10-8 Performance. For those who don’t know, from time to time, 10-8 Performance releases a small run of M&P pistols built to their specs. These runs typically sell out in minutes; fortunately, there are usually a couple runs a year for the dedicated few who wish to own one of these fine pistols.
The feature list is available on the 10-8 Performance website, but I will go over the major ones here: full top and side slide serrations and 10-8 logo machined by ATEi, slide refinished by ATEi, full trigger workup with Apex parts by Hilton, 10-8 Performance front and rear sights, full frame texturing and match barrel hand fit by Hilton. My M&P had a couple of special features added as a favor that isn’t typically available (don’t ask). This includes the Apex polymer AEK trigger and a base pistol with a thumb safety.
While the new 1:10 twist barrels have improved accuracy across all 9mm bullet weights, I wanted to see how the Storm Lake match fit (not drop-in) barrel shot. The AEK trigger broke light and clean and was almost like cheating. It is so light that I definitely feel better with the added margin the mechanical thumb safety provides. At 25-yards, shooting standing freestyle, I managed the above group: about an inch with one called flyer. Much better than my early generation M&P 9’s that would barely hold 8-inches at 25 yards.
I need more time on the gun for a real opinion, but so far I am really liking the pistol. The texturing that Hilton came up with is attractive and aggressive. ATEi’s machine work is superb and offers plenty of traction for slide manipulation.
If you want one, get on the 10-8 Performance mailing list.
The slide looks great. I really like the serrations.
Great work!
Know anyone making holsters for the 5″ CORE? some of my local holster guys are not ready to start making them and I cannot find anyone online selling one. HELP!!
Try Comp-Tac or Blade-Tech. The 5″ CORE is the same as the 5″ Pro.
Tim. that is a very nice M&P!
Also very nice to see M&P production to slightly exceed demand (for some models).
Apex kits definitely turn the factory pistol into a completely different pistol.
“Hard” fit barrels are such a dramatic improvement. It is certainly much faster fitting the M&P than a 1911.
Thanks for the article!
Does this mean you switch to M&P instead of Glock?
Not Tim, but this just means he is writing about his new M&P I built him.
Am I the only one that thinks they should just add forward serrations all of the full size pistols, like on the .45 models?
Given the quality of little parts in the M&P, I doubt you will see S&W add anything to the model line that increases the price point by a single penny.
S&W has an overall excellent product (albeit in need of a few fire control components for the discriminating shooter) that is dealer priced below equivalent Glock Gen3 models and well below Gen4. The S&W marketing plan was no doubt to bring its M&Ps to the marketplace priced below Glock thus capturing some of Glock’s market share. Personally, I think they have succeeded by all expectations.
Roger that! That’d be awesome. If they did it the same way as on the .45, where the serrations are on a raised pad, then new holsters would be required. They’d need a different solution at this late stage of the game.
What is the twist of the Storm Lake barrel?
1:16
Ah, thank you for that reply. Is the 1:16 twist still a big improvement to the original 1:18.75″ twist barrels?
You might want to search back and read all the articles I’ve written on the M&P, there is a ton of info on the performance of the various barrels. Barrel twist is not a matter of more/less is better, it is about matching it to the ammunition type. The 1:16 is commonly accepted as a middle of the road solution for the 9mm.