Stretching the polymer ladder - Cop Talk

S&W's first attempt to catch market front-runner Glock was the Sigma. That dog didn't hunt. Early problems with the Sigma left US law enforcement decidedly cold to it. Smith isn't ready to put down the Sigma yet, though. They're keeping it in the line for now, but transferring their bets in the polymer pistol races to the SW99, their Americanized Walther P99.

New for this year in that series is the .45 version, "smaller feeling" in the hand than the Glock 21 or the HK USP, but listed at only 9+1 cartridge capacity. Trigger reach is excellent, particularly in single action mode. I for one don't care for the de-cocking lever placement, high atop the slide, where most right-handers and virtually all lefties will need to use their other hand to de cock. I suspect these pistols would appeal more to the institutional police buyers if Smith grafted on the DAO option from the Walther P99. The SW99 m .40 and 9mm also debuts in a subcompact form to compete with the baby Glocks. The concealment factor is there, and they're great-shooting little guns.

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