Sunday Gunday: S&W’s New M&P FPC 9mm Folding Carbine
Smith & Wesson has just introduced an all-new, very innovative folding rifle — the M&P FPC 9mm carbine. Pistol-caliber carbines are hot right now for good reason. 9mm Luger (9x19mm) ammo is inexpensive — $15-$18 per 50rd box in bulk. That’s a fraction of the cost of .223 Rem, 6.5 Creedmoor, or .308 Win ammo. With ample quantities of factory 9mm ammo available, you don’t have to struggle to find powder and primers. And a complete, factory-loaded 9mm Luger round (at $0.30-$0.36 per round) costs less than what you might pay just for the bullet you’d put in a 6mm or 6.5mm rifle cartridge.
Moreover, the “fun factor” is high with 9mm carbines. You can shoot the same ammo in your pistol and rifle. That makes it simpler to do a fun day at the range. Plus, many indoor ranges that prohibit most other centerfire rifles will allow you to shoot a 9mm carbine indoors.
S&W M&P FPC Carbine Folds to 16⅜” and Takes S&W Pistol Mags
S&W’s new M&P FPC Carbine ($659.00 MSRP) has some other major advantages — easy transport and smart on-board storage for full-capacity magazines. The FPC’s buttstock has twin slots that hold 17-rd and/or 23-rd magazines compatible with S&W 9mm pistols. That’s cool. And here’s the notable attraction — when folded, S&W’s FPC Carbine is just 16 3/8″. S&W delivers the new FPC in a cool zippered carry case with four internal pockets. That nice, padded carry case is included in the affordable $659.00 price.
Because it folds at the bolt face rather than behind the action the new M&P FPC is much more portable than most folding stock rifles. And your optics stay in place. Smith & Wesson states: “[Our] side-folding mechanics … deliver a unique compact feature and allow the user to keep their sight system mounted on the gun both in the folded and extended positions. Extra magazine storage in the buttstock, familiar M&P fire controls, and reliable palm swell grip adaptors all make this new pistol carbine a great addition to the M&P family”. The barrel is 16.25″ with a suppressor-friendly 1/2-28 threaded muzzle with thread protector. To reduce felt recoil, the FPC has an integrated recoil buffer system.
Watch this video to see how S&W’s new FPC Carbine unfolds and shoots. You’ll see impressive rapid-fire action starting at the 00:24 time-mark. This is indeed a pretty cool carbine.
The FPC carbine’s compatibility with pistol magazines is a real plus. John Myles, S&W New Product Manager, explained that: “The team at Smith & Wesson aimed to design a pistol carbine that was compatible with various M&P series pistol magazines.”
S&W M&P 9mm FPC Features
The M&P FCP ships with three (3) magazines: one 17-rounder and two 23-round mags. The buttstock can hold two magazines, which are accessible with a handy quick-release catch. Notably the M&P FPC is sold with an excellent, zippered carry bag that transports the folded carbine securely along with magazines and other gear. Check it out:
One reviewer was very impressed with the value of this new carbine: “Smith & Wesson M&P FPC ($659) ups the ante with a few premium touches while staying $100 under the MSRP of the cheapest Ruger PCC model — to get the same features from Ruger’s platform you’d spend over a grand, and it doesn’t fold.”
– FreeRangeAmerican.us.
Smith & Wesson M&P FPC Video Reviews
Gun reviewers have released hands-on test videos showcasing Smith & Wesson’s new M&P FPC carbine. Generally the reactions have been very positive. Reviewers noted that the FPC’s folding mechanism works great, the carbine is very reliable, the trigger is decent, and the supplied carry case is excellent. Here are three videos released in the last week after S&W’s official product announcement on February 28, 2023.
Smith & Wesson M&P FPC List of Features
Smith & Wesson’s official product release states: “The new optics-ready M&P® FPC™ showcases our brand new, compact, folding design. Coming with (one) 17-round and (two) 23-round magazines, the in-stock magazine storage w/ quick-release latch makes reloading convenient and quick. The M&P FPC™ is compatible with M&P full-size and compact pistol double-stack magazines, and includes a carrying bag with additional storage and Velcro straps.”
| Smith & Wesson M&P FPC Folding Carbine Features: | |
| Compact, horizontal folding design with locking latch Folding design does not interfere with optics 30 3/8″ unfolded length to 16 3/8″ folded Flat-face trigger with crisp break Integrated recoil buffer system Picatinny rail on top for optics Reversible magazine catch |
1/2-28 threaded muzzle with thread protector In-stock mag storage w/quick-release tab Compatible with M&P Pistol magazines M-LOK handguard slots on handguard Charging handle doubles as retainer Carrying case with inside pockets |
VIEW S&W M&P FPC 9mm Carbine PDF Spec Sheet »
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There’s More to the Story…
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