The Smith & Wesson M&P .40 is a full size service pistol that shares all of its design features in common with the other members of the M&P line such as the M&P .357 and the M&P 9mm. The major difference, of course, is the fact that this gun is chambered for the more powerful .40 S&W cartridge.

This pistol falls in line with other members of the modern service pistol being manufactured today which have a forged steel slide and barrel matched to a polymer frame, a double-stack high capacity magazine, integrated Picatinny style accessory rail, and next-generation safety features.

Some may say that much of what is found on the M&P .40 is already found on pistols made by Glock, Springfield Armory, and others but these guns are loaded with innovative features not found anywhere else.

To begin with, the guns were among the first to be offered with interchangeable back straps which allow the size of the guns grip to be adjusted to fit each particular shooter's hand. The gun sports scalloped serrations at the rear of the slide which provide a superior purchase for the fingers when manipulating the slide when chambering a round. The front of the slide is controured in order to allow the pistol to be re-holstered in an easy snag-free way.

Where safety is concerned, the M&P .40 service pistol currently offers more integrated systems than any other manufacturer. Aside from the internal systems that make these pistol drop-proof, the M&P also comes standard with a sear deactivation lever which allows the gun to be disassembled without pulling the trigger as is required on Springfield Armory's XD Pistols. Also, in order to suit the needs of many civilian shooters as well as the department regulations of many law enforcement agencies, the M&P .40 can be ordered with an optional thumb safety.

The gun is completely ambidextrous with the magazine release readily able to be switched for either right or left handed operation. The thumb safety, when present, is ambidextrous and even the slide release can be operated from either side of the gun.

These service pistols ship standard with combat sights in a black-on-black color configuration. There are few options other than the thumb safety, but the gun can be ordered with Trijicon night sights for an additional charge.

Magazine capacity for this full size service pistol is 15 rounds of .40 S&W ammo. The gun is capable of firing +P ammos as well, but Smith & Wesson specifically states in the handgun manual that accompanies this pistol not to use +P+ ammunition as such ammos exceeds industry standards and has no standard conformity of the pressures these rounds on the firearms they are fired from.

Reviews of the Smith & Wesson M&P .40 can be found below. Please write a review of your own and share you personal experience and insight with others in the shooting community as to this gun's overall performance and value. Limit reviews to the .40 S&W edition of the pistol though as the compact versions as well as the pistols twins the M&P 9 and the M&P .357 have their own review sets.