Ensuring reliable functioning was utmost when it came to designing the M&P. It doesn't matter how accurate a pistol is, how powerful a cartridge it fires, or how close to ergonomic perfection it might be if it doesn't go bang every time the trigger is squeezed. S&W engineers made a small change that qualifies for inclusion in the Why Didn't I Think Of That? Hall Of Fame. I'm referring to the slide stop levers.

The M&P's slide stop is ambidextrous, and the levers have a flat profile, which aids in lessening the chances of inadvertent activation. (Inset) The pistol's magazine release is also ambidextrous.

Many years ago I lost a speed shooting match when I inadvertently rested my thumb on the slide stop of my pistol, allowing the slide to run forward on an empty chamber. Thinking the empty pistol still had ammo in it, I attempted to fire another shot while the other contestants were reloading. The few seconds it took me to rectify my mistake were the difference between winning and blowing it!

Conversely, I'm sure most pistol shooters have at one time or another, whether due to a poor grip or recoil, engaged their pistol's slide stop by mistake.

On the range such mistakes are aggravating, but in a defensive situation they could have deadly consequences. The M&P's ambidextrous slide stop levers have a flat profile, are located slightly forward of the usual slide stop position, and are flush with the frame. Those three features combine to greatly lessen the chances of the shooter manipulating said devices unintentionally and require a separate, conscious movement to activate.

To complete its ambidextrous bona fides, the M&P features a magazine release button that is reversible. It can be changed from port to starboard sides in a few seconds using nothing more complicated than a ballpoint pen.

Looking into the magazine well, the large ejector, magazine disconnect safety lever, and sear disconnect lever can be seen.

Before embarking on the process of building a new pistol, S&W personnel conducted extensive interviews of law enforcement and military agencies, competitive shooters, and civilian gun owners. The information enabled engineers to include a number of features these varied groups thought were desirable. They wanted a consistent trigger pull; they didn't want any external safety devices.

As the M&P slide goes forward, the tail of the striker remains in a partially cocked position. The M&P uses a double-action-only (DAO) trigger that provides a 6.5-pound trigger stroke of 0.30 inches, which completely retracts the striker before tripping the sear. The trigger pull is exactly the same for each shot, providing the legendary consistency and accuracy of the double-action revolver. Another nice touch is a trigger overtravel stop that eliminates overtravel after the trigger trips the sear, which reduces the likelihood of flinching and thus enhances accuracy.

While the M&P's long trigger stroke is one of its primary safety features, the pistol contains a plethora of other safety systems. These consist of trigger, firing pin, and magazine disconnect safeties in addition to an internal lock. Located at the rear of the trigger where it bears on the frame, the trigger safety prevents movement until the pivoting trigger is pulled. The second is an internal, spring-loaded plunger that prevents firing pin movement until the rearward movement of the trigger bar deactivates just before it releases the sear to fire the pistol. Both also serve to prevent trigger and/or firing pin movement in the event that the pistol is dropped.

Magazine-disconnect safeties generally have a poor reputation with shooters because most of the designs out there have an adverse effect on the trigger pull. The system used on the M&P solves that problem. When the magazine is removed, a lever at the rear of the magazine well pivots forward, moving the trigger bar out of alignment with the sear, making it impossible for the pistol to be fired. Reinserting the cartridge container realigns these two units allowing the pistol to be fired by a normal pull of the trigger. Last, as on most new S&W handguns, the M&P is fitted with the Internal Safety System. A special key is inserted into a small hole on the left rear of the frame and rotated, activating the magazine disconnect safety and preventing unauthorized firing of the pistol whether or not a magazine is in the pistol.