New S&W M&P .380 ???

[ericire12]

http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2009/12/12/sw-may-soon-unveil-a-mp-in-380/

Express Police Supply have a win-a-gun-a-month competition. In May the prize is a M&P in .380!

http://www.ombexpress.com/content/21GunSalute.aspx

[MikeBjerum]

Not starting a bash or calling any of these companies bad ...

I wonder if it will be along the lines of the current M&P's or if it will be another KelTec clone?

[Neon Knight Anubis]

I guess they see a demand in the market for a 380 in the M&P design, although I don't know why anyone would introduce any more models in 380 because of the shortage of ammo in that caliber especially.

[twyacht]

I guess they see a demand in the market for a 380 in the M&P design, although I don't know why anyone would introduce any more models in 380 because of the shortage of ammo in that caliber especially.

[/b]


No doubt!!! Maybe, they could keep the .380 craze by manufacturers in line with ammo production...

[texcaliber]

It makes sense when you think about the Walther/Smith and Wesson conglomeration. P99=SW99 and the P22 is repaired in Springfield MA. Walther P380 released and now an adjustable gripped version from S&W sans the European slide flip up safety which looks like a scaled down M&P. Yup makes sense.

[Sponsor]

[ellis4538]

YAWN!  But will check it out anyway.  Like my LCP a lot and it would take a lot for me to switch....havn't seen anything yet that would make me want to.

Richard

[bushpilot267]

WHY would anyone want a .380 when 9mm pistols, of the same size and weight, are available?

The 9mm will out perform the .380 in all areas.

They don't call the .380 the 9mm Short for nothing!

[ericire12]

WHY would anyone want a .380 when 9mm pistols, of the same size and weight, are available?

The 9mm will out perform the .380 in all areas.

They don't call the .380 the 9mm Short for nothing!

To answer your question...... There is no true pocket pistol in 9x19 on the market right now. The .380s are considerably lighter and smaller and lend themselves better to deep concealment and/or back up guns. They are also preferred by many in extremely hot and humid climates as primary carry guns -- i.e. Florida.

More on this subject here:
http://www.downrange.tv/forum/index.php?topic=9437.0

and here:
http://www.downrange.tv/forum/index.php?topic=9897.0

and here:
http://www.downrange.tv/forum/index.php?topic=3841.0

Size comparison here:
http://www.downrange.tv/forum/index.php?topic=9437.msg122319#msg122319

The only big question is what S&W is going to do with this new pistol... Are they going to try to jump into the pocket pistol craze, or are they just gonna produce a .380 that is the same size and weight as their sub-compact 9mm (i.e. Glock). The later would be a huge flop. The former will sell well, but I wonder if bad timing has caused them to have missed the boat -- the buying glut is over and most all who wanted a .380 now have them. It will be interesting to see.

My opinion on the .380 wars here:
http://www.downrange.tv/forum/index.php?topic=9437.msg122302#msg122302

[twyacht]

I think they are late to the game, especially since the ammo is so damn hard to find, and has almost doubled in price.

Trouble finding and the pricing of .380 ammo will directly effect sales this late in the game.

45Colt is cheaper.

[Rob10ring]

Of course a large part of the .380 ammo shortage is due to the ammo manufacturers being shortsighted on what the demand would be. The other reason there is a shortage of .380 is because it is the hottest craze in CCW arms right now. I guess those 2 reasons are really kind of the same.  It is debatable if the attention towards .380 is deserved. However, the newest batch of .380's are smaller than the 9's. 9's got smaller, so .380's got even smaller and lighter. Comparing 9 to .380 probably isn't even relevant anymore. Because of the carry-ability of this new batch of guns, the comparison is really to the .32's and .25's that were previously found in guns that size. In that comparison, .380 is a hands down winner.

I wish I could get a LCP, or a Kel-Tec in CA, but we need a few more elections to work on that. I do already have a S&W .380 that works pretty well, other than the awkward magazine release - The Sigma .380.