Going IDPA but with which M&P, Advantages between these 2

[jnevis]

I'd go with the 45 for the reason noted by everybody else.  The advantage of the 45 is that you can also use it in CDP if you download it to 8 rounds.

If ammo price is not an issue I would shoot the .45.

You can get an inexpensive nylon twin mag holder that is generic and will easily take your mags. (About $10) I cut the top of so they are open and easy to grab.

Just make sure that they stay in when upside down.

Part of the Magazine carrier rule:

Magazine carrier must:
A. Be designed for concealed carry and suitable for all day
continuous wear.
B. Be worn on a standard belt of no more than 1 ¾” width that
must pass through the belt loops on the shooter’s pants.
C. Hold the magazine with enough tension to allow it to be
turned upside down and retain a fully loaded magazine.D. Cover 2” of the magazine as measured from the top of the
cartridge rim down the back flat of the magazine tube.
E. Cover the entire front face of the portion of the magazine
inside the carrier. The front face is defined as the side of the
tube away from the shooter’s body.
F. Hold the magazine within 10 degrees of vertical (80-100° to
the ground) position on the belt, no substantial forward or rear
cant.
G. Be worn in a belt location that will position the front edge of
the carrier behind the centerline of the body.

Ammunition Carrier Notes:
3. In lieu of the use of ammunition carriers, spare magazines
(2), speedloaders (3) and moon clips(3) used in a CoF may be
carried in the contestant’s pockets and used for any IDPA legal
reload.
4. The shooter may carry no more than two spare magazines on
the belt.

The rest are in the range bag.  I have a few extras in  case I have a problem with one. 

This may sound like an odd suggestion, and ignore it if you don't own one and/or its not allowed (I have yet to shoot IDPA). When I go to an out door range where I can move between targets,  I usually just wear my filson upland  game bag. It has two large shotgun shell pockets, full mags on the left, empties on the right. The rear game pouch holds a couple of water bottles and a box or two of ammo. No need for a range bag and everything is within reach. It doesn't simulate pulling a mag out of a belt holder, but if the object is to just grab the thing quickly, its right there, and without buying more gear.
FQ13

The rule on concealment garments:

All equipment should be so placed that, when wearing an open
concealment garment with your arms extended at your sides and
parallel to the ground, it can NOT been seen from the front, rear or
sides. Your concealment garment should be practical for your
environment and loose enough to allow easy movement.
Competition only garments are prohibited. Competition only
garments are defined as: vented or mesh vests that allow the
firearm, holster, spare ammo or ammo carriers to be visible when
standing normally, chest pockets, specially-made pockets or any
material inserted in pockets or around pockets to keep the pocket
open for stowage of partial magazines after a reload. Garments
that are considered “competition only” will incur an FTDR.
See “Proper Magazine Retention” in the Glossary for further
details.

I usually wear either a SigTac vest, open faced shirt, or jacket depending on the weather.  I also have a range bag with the extra "stuff," including 1 1/2 to twice the number of rounds required.  I never shoot a match without requiring a few extra rounds for misses.

[Tyler Durden]

If you do NOT reload, my advice would be to stick with the .40 just because .40 ammo seems cheaper and more readily available in my area.

Errrrppp...whooppss...to back up a whole bunch.  There are 3 semi-auto divisions in IPDA:

Stock Service Pistol

Enhanced Service Pistol

Custom Defensive Pistol

Now, the CDP division is meant strictly for .45 A.C.P.  guns loaded to a max of 8 + 1

Yes, theoretically you could shoot your .45 M&P in all three semi-auto divisions.

The ESP and SSP divisions are kinda set up to just be the 9mm and .40 S&W divisions.  There the capacity limit is 10+1 .

As far as mag holders go, anything kydex by Uncle Mikes should work for either the .40 or the .45 mags.  There is a little rubber bushing/spacer between the two halves of the mag pouch.  As you tighten a screw, the two halves get closer together and that little rubber bushing gets squished out.  It is the friction that like traps the mags or pinches the mags tightly in the mag pouch....You don't want them so loose they come all flopping out and fall on the ground.

Anywhooo...that's about all I got...for now....welcome to the addiction!   

[garand4life]

I just wanted to mention this. Yesterday I tried to take the 45 out it's micro companion, my new 9 compact, to the range. There was at least 2-3 feet on each side of the poorly plowed 2 lane, now a 1 lane, road. I ended up just parking on the forest road and walking a few yards out toward the pistol range in the 2+ feet of snow just so I could feel the how this 45 shoots. I LOVE IT! The muzzle reaction is milder than any 45 I've ever shot.
I do carry the 45 and will probably carry it as much or more than my full size 40 or my compact 9. I am really thinking this will be my choice. I just need some more magazines for it and they aren't easy to find from reputable sources without paying $40+. I have a friend who reloads so I can more than likely buy the components and have him show me how to reload and in the future get my own simple reloading press. May need guidance there when the time comes from you guys. I may just rotate between the 40 and 45 depending on availability and ammo.
Just a note. I found that when the muzzle came back to rest the sights were right where I left them on the target, this is something I have never had happen on any of my other guns except, i think, my Taurus 1911. I use the same grip on each one, as size allows, but wouldn't that be an attribute of the ergos of the M&P?

[texcaliber]

I just wanted to mention this. Yesterday I tried to take the 45 out it's micro companion, my new 9 compact, to the range. There was at least 2-3 feet on each side of the poorly plowed 2 lane, now a 1 lane, road. I ended up just parking on the forest road and walking a few yards out toward the pistol range in the 2+ feet of snow just so I could feel the how this 45 shoots. I LOVE IT! The muzzle reaction is milder than any 45 I've ever shot.
I do carry the 45 and will probably carry it as much or more than my full size 40 or my compact 9. I am really thinking this will be my choice. I just need some more magazines for it and they aren't easy to find from reputable sources without paying $40+. I have a friend who reloads so I can more than likely buy the components and have him show me how to reload and in the future get my own simple reloading press. May need guidance there when the time comes from you guys. I may just rotate between the 40 and 45 depending on availability and ammo.
Just a note. I found that when the muzzle came back to rest the sights were right where I left them on the target, this is something I have never had happen on any of my other guns except, i think, my Taurus 1911. I use the same grip on each one, as size allows, but wouldn't that be an attribute of the ergos of the M&P?

good choice and good luck. Keep us informed on your match results.

tex

[GUNS-R-US]

I vote for the .45 and you can get mag here for $19.95 ea. http://www.botachtactical.com/smwempma.html

[Sponsor]

[GUNS-R-US]

and don't forget to put "stimulus" in the coupon code for an additional 10% of that will make them like $18 ea. that about half off retail! I bought 5 last month and they worked great!