In 2005, Smith & Wesson introduced the M&P as a competitor to the Glock series of handguns. The M&P is a striker-fired, polymer-framed, semi-automatic pistol available in several calibers and variants. M&P stands for Military & Police, a designation the pistol shares with the company’s Model 10 service revolver.
The M&P 40, specifically, fires the .40 S&W cartridge, which Smith & Wesson developed in cooperation with Winchester in 1990. This round offers increased power compared with the 9mm Luger cartridge and increased capacity compared with the .45. While not the first Smith & Wesson .40 pistol, the M&P is one of the most versatile.