M&P 12 – Smith & Wesson goes bullpup

Smith & Wesson breaks with tradition by introducing the M&P 12, its first bullpup shotgun. While there are many people who love the oddball design, the backed up configuration has never really gained a foothold in the market. Other than mid-sized manufacturers like KelTec, it has been gunmakers from around the globe, including IWI and Steyr, who have tried to scratch the Yanks’ bullpup itch. Smith & Wesson, a manufacturer of tactical and defensive firearms, has revealed its version of the bullpup shotgun as part of its M&P line. The 12-gauge M&P 12 Shotgun is Smith & Wesson’s first attempt at a scattergun and a significant departure from its previous smoothbores. The time is right for the introduction of a defensive gun, bullpup or not. Tactical shotguns have been popularized in America’s record-breaking gun-buying frenzy. They are similar to carry-friendly pistols. The shotgun is as blocky in stock, fore and has a dual-tubular magazine design. The Smith & Wesson scattergun is a great choice for anyone who wants to throw some confetti. It has plenty of ammunition without compromising its overall length. The 27.8-inch gun can hold six 3-inch shells, or seven 2/2/3 shells. Smith & Wesson claims that it can properly cycle mini shells. This is not the case with all shotguns. The M&P 12’s push-button selector is located at the rear of your fore. It allows for quick mag changes, and allows you to adjust the pitch of your shotgun downrange. It does however increase the gun’s overall profile. Smith & Wesson has rethought grips and moved away from the standard AR handles. The shotgun is equipped with M&P pistol handles, which include interchangeable palm swell inserts and palm swell grip inserts. It also has controls that are very similar to an AR-15, making it easy to use. Picatinny optics rail is included (there are also M-Lok slots), but this is a bit forward. This makes sense since a red-dot is most likely to be the candidate for an optic. It has a push-button load/unload system and compatibility to Rem Chokes. It also has a reciprocating dust cover that covers the receiver in an effort to make it easier to clean damaged shells and malfunctions. Another nice feature is the location of the action lock lever at the trigger guard. This makes it easier to clear damaged shells or malfunctions. The big question is, how much does it cost? Smith & Wesson currently has a MSRP of $1165 on the M&P 12. This puts it at the top end of the market. Despite the fact that tactical and home-defense shotguns are selling quickly, the MSRP of Smith & Wesson is not prohibitive. It is available in both semi-auto and pump guns, as well as sporting and defensive break action guns. Many of their most recent offerings were contract jobs like the Japanese-made (Howa), Model 3000 pump or Model 1000 semi-auto. Shotguns have been rolled off the manufacturer’s lines, including the side-action 916, which is based on the Nobel Shotgun Company’s Eastfield Model. The M&P 12 marks the company’s first foray in the scattergun market in almost 30 years. It is not known if it was made in-house. The time will tell if this is a smart move.
Capacity: 6,7
Optics
Color: Matte Black
Safety: Ambidextrous safety selectionor
Length: 27.8 inches
Pump Action
Stock Synthetic Fixed Stock
Grip: M&P With Four Interchangeable Palmswell Grrip Inserts
Material for the barrel: 4140 Chrome-Moly vanadium Steel
Barrel Length: 19 inches
Weight: 8.3 pounds
MSRP: $1,165For more information on the M&P 12, please visit smith-wesson.com.More Tactical Shotguns:NEXT STEP: Download Your Free Storm Tactical Printable Target Pack 62 Printable MOA Targets with DOT Drills – Rifle Range in YARDS This impressive target pack from our friends at Storm Tactical contains 62 printable targets for rifle and handgun range use. Target grids and bullseye sizes can be found in MOA. Perfect for long-range shooting! Get free targets