I have had no issues with my VTAC finish. I have also have not had any functional reliability issues of any kind. Mags have dropped free, it feeds hollowpoints just fine, and fires every time I pull the trigger, now at well over 3,500rds.
Sorry for the hi-jack but I just watched the video and misinformation drives me crazy. Not that it matters to the issue at hand, the VTAC M&P, but S&W released the Model 39 to the civilian population in 1955, not the 1960s. It was developed for the U.S. Army service pistol trials that took place in 1954.
Like others have said, the sights on the VTAC M&P aren’t for me, but I am sure others like them.
Somewhat off topic as well but you can contact S&W about getting the FDE back straps that are on the VTAC version for your regular m&ps. Just call their customer service line. I have the part # on an email if anyone needs them but they should know what you’re asking for.
HAHAh that’s you? That’s pretty funny I watched the video a few weeks ago! I like the video though.
I had an opportunity to try one of these at a recent training day for a friends company. I shoot a standard M&P9 and was curious to shoot with those new VTAC sights, to see if I liked them. It took a second to get used to them but I found the sights to be great. I was day shooting so much like the Trueglow TFO fiber sights on my M&P9 the daytime fiber optic sights were very bright and visible on the M&P VTAC. I definitely noticed a slightly lighter smoother trigger on the VTAC M&P than mine was stock. Felt similar to my M&P after the addition of the APEX sear/trigger kit I installed, but a bit lighter and smoother. Very attractive pistol IMHO. I would pick up another VTAC model in .40 to compliment my 9 if I have the chance and funds 
Got my VTAC back from S&W a couple days ago after getting its ejection problems fixed. Turn around was 8 days including shipping. The technician replaced the barrel and mags (it shipped with the wrong caliber) and even included a couple of extra mags as a nice gesture.
For this range session, I started with 147 grain Federal AE. The first mag had one spent casing hit the top of my head and one other hit my right shoulder. All of the other rounds fired from the box had casings ejecting to my 3 o’clock. However, I noticed that my accuracy from this box was way off with all rounds shooting about 8" high at 15 yards. In addition to shooting high, my groups were way off compared to my experience with 124 grain ammo (I had previously fired only 5 round of 147 grain GD with this pistol which was probably not enough to notice this variance). Given this pattern, I have to wonder if Randy’s theory of premature barrel unlocking might be at play with this pistol and heavy loads.
I did fire an additional 100 rounds of 115 grain WWB and 50 rounds of 124 grain Federal AE. All rounds ejected to my 3 o’clock with none striking my forehead. In addition, there were no malfunctions with any ammo. My accuracy with the lighter loads was much better and typical for what I’ve come to expect from an M&P prior to installing APEX parts.
Overall, I like the pistol. I’ve not had any finish problems despite about 500 presentations from a Secrete City Kydex holster. I’ve also had no problems with the sight picture and find similar pick-up with the “VTAC stack” when compared to using my other M&Ps with iDot Pros. I don’t have my timer on this deployment to quantify any difference, but my practice dry fire draws and live fire at the range feel fast.
Me too. These are actually my second favorite sights. The AmeriGlo IDOT Pro is still my favorite sights - especially during daylight due to the bright orange front sight. Having said that, the VTAC sights are a step above all of the other night sights that I’ve used mainly due to the fiber optics that really stand out during the day compared to more traditional brands.
Besides those abominations of sights what does this offer to justify a 150-200 increase?
anodizing is done to aluminum not steel…anodizing ONLY surface hardens it odes NOT penetrate the metal.
The gold package, goofy sights and it says VTAC.
I shoot a stock M&P9 with about 15,000rds through it in a little over 2 years. It’s been about as close to problem free as you can get. Figured I needed another one, as I love the platform and it looks like I’ll have one of these VTAC 9’s for the end of December. I’m planning on running this gun hard over the next year in courses, so hopefully it’s as reliable and durable as my stock M&P9.
Thanks for the video review!
I really enjoyed this review. Thanks for posting.
a great review indeed
Cool review, but I didn’t understand why you said you might want to rethink making it your daily carry because of holster wear on the finish. Just a nitpick I guess but we ought to be about function and not form if self defense is the purpose of carrying and not fashion, which I think is the case for most of us (I hope).
If I lived in Afghanistan, I wouldn’t care. If it were the only finish available on the M&P, I wouldn’t care. Since neither are true and I have a choice, I prefer to have a firearm that resists wear for my daily carry. I know it’s not the hardcore thing to say, but it’s the truth and I suspect most folks, if they admit it or not, prefer their weapons to stay nicer longer and do care about undue wear. At least in the civilian world.
I carry a G19 with the EXO finish and it looks like the day I bought it in terms of wear. I shoot the be-jebus out of it and it still looks great. I’ll never have to worry about refinishing the pistol as long as I own it regardless of how hard I am on it. I like that.
Chances are if I go with a M&P for daily carry, I will send it off to FailZero for the same finish my EXO Glock has because I’ve been so impressed with the durability.
If you like salty gear, outstanding.