Well, my rifle and pistol hankering has been satisfied for awhile...
Reciently bought the FNH FS2000.. It's been fun.. and it augments, and might someday replace my M4..
Pistol wise, I like 9mm's for the easy recoil, and cheap/plentiful ammo, and with the right round in there, they are as deadly as anything going IMNSHO.. sure the .45 is bigger, and the 40 is bigger and faster, but I've had a 9mm since the 80's... and hopefully will never need to use it in anger.. but it's served me well.
That being said, I wanted a laser grip.. CTC to be precise.. And they do not make them for my 9mm hand gun.. (They make it for the Beretta, but not the Taurus, my pistol has a safety on the frame that locks the slide in place, and is in the same place the laser is located on the CTC grips for the Beretta.....)
I've really liked my "clone" gun.. it was 300.00 new, and I've got rubber grips on it, and had to replace the roll pin that secured the better rear sights, v/s the drift adjustable only standard sight. (Mine is windage and elevation adjustable, and it makes this pistol a good shooter at 25yrds.. figure easy 3" groups.)
But laser options were to drill and tap the frame, and bolt one on.. or get some half assed clamp on laser, or a guide rod laser at 300.00+....
So screw it.. for 700.00, I have a completely new pistol, with the CTC grip laser, stainless slide and barrel, and one of the most comfortable for me, plastic pistols I've tried. (Would have bought another Taurus, but they don't have a CTC option, and I'm tired of waiting for one to come along..)
Thought about the XD's.. they are nice, have great reviews, and the price was better, but in the end, the lines, comfort and equal reliablity of the S&W M&P won the day.
In 9mm of course. (I was going to get the compact.. but after all the mental reasons for a compact gun, I'm such a big dude, that a small gun is not needed to conceal it... and the "medium" sized version with the standard barrel, and frame fit me best, and is still easy to conceal.. there is a longer barrel version, and a shorter frame, shorter barrel version, and they are all fine, but I like this one I got best for all around use.)
Man, I love Idaho.. Walk in, look at weapons.. Fill out paperwork.. phone call.. check out fine, pay for gun, and walk out with said firearm.
Not much government bullshit. (There used to be even less.. you went in, looked at gun.. showed your concealed permit.. paid for gun, and left at your leisure..)
Montana is only better in that you have NO TAXES.. (Would have saved me about 43.20, but hey, I'm not going to be in MT anytime soon, and I wanted the pistol now..) LOL