The North Carolina Highway Patrol recently made a significant shift in their firearms by selecting the Smith & Wesson M&P pistols and rifles for their troopers. Previously carrying the Sig Sauer P229 DAK, the Patrol has adopted the S&W M&P pistols chambered in .357 Sig.
The initial order is 2000 pistols, which is enough to equip all of the troopers. According to S&W, “reliability, ambidextrous operating controls and three interchangeable palm swell grip sizes were noted by officials within the agency as key reasons for the selection of the new duty sidearm.”
Additionally, the NC Highway Patrol selected the M&P 15 rifle for the troopers. S&W states that 1000 rifles have been ordered by the Patrol.
The North Carolina Highway Patrol is one of many U.S. law enforcement agencies converting to the M&P pistols and rifles. S&W states that 570 U.S. agencies issue or approve the M&P pistols for duty use, and more than 250 issue or approve the M&P 15 rifles.
Other articles that will amaze you:
- Smith and Wesson M&P Continues to Increase Law Enforcement Marketshare
- Smith and Wesson M&P Line Now Features Thumb Safeties
- Sig Sauer to Release New Sig P250 Pistol and Sig556 Rifle at IACP Convention
- Sig Sauer Only Shipping One Magazine with Handguns Now
- Smith and Wesson M&P Ships to Three Additional State Law Enforcement Agencies
There is a big difference between issuing and approving.
How many firearms share space with the S&W M&P on the approved list of those 570 agencies?
Heck, even the issuing agencies might not be all M&P, Houston PD issues Glock 22′s but approves a ton of different handguns, you see everything from Wheel Guns to 1911′s to Sigs and other model Glocks, I’d swear I’ve seen a Sigma.
I hope Smith keeps doing well though, maybe they’ll learn from the optional lock in the M&P and make the lock optional on their wheel guns.
It’s a good choice. The MnP is an easy gun to fit to a wide variety of hand sizes, and has both good accuracy and easy manipulation. If they’d put a trigger in it with a reset that was more like the Glock, they’d have made the perfect cop gun. I like mine a lot, but trigger work was a must to be able to run the thing.