Figured I'd make a post with all that I've learned and done to M&P mags over the last few months just to share the info.

First off, supply. As little as 4 months ago, finding 17 rd M&P mags was like finding hens teeth. Waiting lists, high prices when you could find them, yada yada yada. Times are better, prices have dropped and they are now fairly easy to find.

http://www.gtdist.com/ProductDetail.aspx?PartNumber=SW-MPXXXX
http://www.gandrtactical.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=39490&reference=/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi%3Fsearch%3Daction%26keywords%3D%26sea rchstart%3D0%26template%3DPDGCommTemplates/FullNav/SearchResult.html%26category%3DSMWE


Now, on to mods.

First up is more rounds, hicap just aint enough. Why carry 17 rds when you can carry 22?

I chose Arredondo base pads.

http://www.arredondoaccessories.com/category.cfm?cid=1001,2015&PID=gg13l5513ivuxy&GID=

Yes, I know they say you can fit 6 more rounds in 9mm, but that is with the stock spring and base plate. While the stock spring can work, you really need to use the baseplate that comes with the Arredondo basepad, and an extra power spring for guaranteed functionality.

Here's where I got the springs.
http://www.speedshooterspecialties.com/catalog/search.php?submit=submit&categories=Smith+%26+Wesson+M%26P+9%2F40%2F357&subcategories=Springs

Here's a pic to show the difference between the stock spring and base plate compared to the extra power spring and Arredondo baseplate.

http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk58/kwrangln/mpmag2.jpg

The Arredondo baseplate is shaped like it is to secure the extended base pad, it keeps it from sliding off the mag.

Here is the Arredondo modified mag next to a stock one just for perspective.

http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk58/kwrangln/mpmag1.jpg

So, you don't want to increase capacity, no problem, there are still things we can do to make life better with the M&P mags.

If you look at the fullsize M&P mags, the base pad on em is huge, that front lip sticks way the hell out there. Far enough out there that when pulling a mag out of a pouch for a reload, it is real easy to snag the mag behind it and having it end up hitting the deck in an unglamorous fashion. Here's how to fix that for cheap.

Call S&W customer service, tell them you want to order a magazine basepad for a compact version of whatever caliber you have, in my case I ordered basepads for a 9mm compact magazine. I got 6 of them delivered for $13, so they are fairly cheap.

Here's what the compact basepads do for ya.

From left to right, compact basepad, stock basepad, Arredondo basepad.
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk58/kwrangln/mpmag3.jpg

From the bottom, same order.
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk58/kwrangln/mpmag4.jpg

And finally, from the front.
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk58/kwrangln/mpmag5.jpg

Figure ya might be interested in how they fit in the gun, so pics of that as well.

Compact basepad first.
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk58/kwrangln/mpmag6.jpg

Stock basepad.
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk58/kwrangln/mpmag7.jpg

Finally, the Arredondo basepad.
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk58/kwrangln/mpmag8.jpg

To bring this all to a close, I'll mention followers. Early model M&P's used a black magazine follower, which evidently had occasional issues with holding the slide back when it was empty. S&W updated the magazine followers by changing the angles and colors, the newer followers are light gray. Not saying you will have trouble if you have a black follower, but there is a newer version out there. S&W's exellent customer service will get some to you if you give them a call, they are truely outstanding to deal with.

Think that about covers it, hope this helps someone.

GT was much cheaper. $25 for a 12 round 9mm:grinpimp::grinpimp: beats the hell out of the average price of $40:smokin:

GT was much cheaper. $25 for a 12 round 9mm:grinpimp::grinpimp: beats the hell out of the average price of $40:smokin:

Tell me about it. I found em when they were selling the 17 rd 9mm for $22.:evil:

You bought the wrong caliber if you're planning to shoot those mags in a match.

Technically, you could shoot USPSA Limited with a 9mm M&P, but you're scored minor and going up against the baddest double-stack 1911s which get to be scored Major in .40. ;)

They're fun, though, aren't they? I had a couple of G17 mags that held 21-22 rounds with an Arredondo pad. Wound up selling the extensions.

They are just for fun, in no way shape or form am I ready to attempt shooting limited.

Mainly they are to fawk with Jerad, he's picking up his 9mm 1911 in the next couple days, so it'll be fun having twice the capacity his does.:laughing:

Production is where it's at. If I can shoot 80% with a 10 round gun scored minor, I go home happy as hell. It's like wheeling 2 open diffs and 31" ATs. Ciming anything gives you a huge sense of accomplishment. ;)

Random note: Go look up the scores for the Holmen (sp?) gun club where Ben Stoeger shoots all his local matches (I was bored, it was in the title of all his videos - and the scores are posted for their monthly matches on their website). He KILLS all the Open shooters with a 9mm Beretta. Nearly every time, he's the 100% leader. I both hate and respect him. :D

OK so why not just take a dremel to the factory fullsize baseplates? Sure the compact baseplates are cheap, but dremeling is free :flipoff2:

OK so why not just take a dremel to the factory fullsize baseplates? Sure the compact baseplates are cheap, but dremeling is free :flipoff2:

If you wan't to shoot in matches, the rules don't allow you to modify the baseplates. Since the compact baseplates are a factory part, they are allowed. Kinda a loophole type thing that works in our advantage. ;)