The Smith & Wesson M&P FPC 10mm combines a folding carbine, fifteen-round M&P magazines and the best millimeter in one surprisingly practical package.

I fired 620 rounds through the FPC 10mm using practice ammunition, defensive hollow points and heavy hard-cast loads. The carbine experienced two ammunition-related feeding problems during the first 100 rounds but otherwise functioned reliably, held its zero after repeated folding and produced its best 25-yard group with 180-grain Hornady XTP ammunition.

It is not a precision rifle, and it does not magically transform 10mm Auto into .308 Winchester. It is a compact, hard-hitting pistol-caliber carbine that offers substantially more control than a 10mm handgun.

Smith & Wesson M&P FPC 10mm Specifications

According to the official Smith & Wesson M&P FPC 10mm product page⁠, model 14167 includes:

• 10mm Auto chambering
• 16.25-inch barrel
• 30.625-inch unfolded length
• 16.5-inch folded length
• Approximately 5.7-pound weight
• Fifteen-round capacity
• Three included 15-round magazines
• M&P 10mm double-stack magazine compatibility
• Two spare-magazine compartments in the stock
• Side-folding barrel and handguard
• Picatinny-style upper rail
• M-LOK accessory slots
• Flat-face trigger
• Reversible magazine release
• Integrated recoil-buffer system
• 9/16×24 threaded muzzle
• $719 manufacturer-listed price

Smith & Wesson also sells an OD-green FPC 10mm. State-compliant versions may include reduced-capacity magazines or other changes required by local nonsense.

M&P FPC 10mm Round Count and Ammunition Tested

I fired 620 rounds over three range sessions:

Ammunition

Bullet

Rounds

Magtech full-metal jacket

180 grains

200

Sellier & Bellot full-metal jacket

180 grains

160

Federal American Eagle full-metal jacket

180 grains

100

Hornady XTP jacketed hollow point

180 grains

80

Underwood hard-cast flat nose

200 grains

80

Total

620

I used all three supplied Smith & Wesson 15-round magazines. I loaded each magazine to full capacity and rotated them throughout the test.

The FPC was cleaned and lightly lubricated before the first session. I did not clean it again until the 620-round test was complete, although I added a small amount of lubricant to the bolt rails after approximately 350 rounds.

That is enough ammunition to reveal obvious feeding, magazine and heat-related problems. It is not enough to declare the carbine immortal. Anyone promising a definitive 50,000-round durability verdict after one afternoon and two boxes of ammunition is reviewing his own imagination.

Reliability and M&P FPC 10mm Problems

The FPC 10mm experienced two failures to feed during the first range session.

Both occurred with 200-grain hard-cast flat-nose ammunition loaded in the same magazine. The bullet nose stopped against the feed ramp instead of entering the chamber. Pulling the charging handle cleared both stoppages.

I marked that magazine and continued using it. The problem did not repeat with full-metal-jacket or hollow-point ammunition, and the same hard-cast load functioned normally after the first 100 rounds.

That suggests an interaction between the new magazine, the feed-ramp surface and the long flat-nose bullet rather than a fundamental failure of the carbine. It is still something an owner should test carefully before choosing heavy hard-cast ammunition for woods defense.

There were no failures to fire, extract or eject. The bolt locked open consistently after the last round.

The FPC became dirty quickly when firing full-power ammunition. Carbon accumulated around the bolt face, chamber and inside the receiver. That is normal behavior for a blowback pistol-caliber carbine, but owners expecting an immaculate action after several hundred rounds are going to be disappointed.

The carbine continued functioning when dirty. That matters more than whether the inside remained suitable for serving breakfast.

M&P FPC 10mm Accuracy at 25 Yards

I tested accuracy from a bench at 25 yards using a compact red-dot sight and a supported front handguard. Each recorded group contained ten shots.

The average results were:

• Magtech 180-grain FMJ: 2.9 inches
• Sellier & Bellot 180-grain FMJ: 3.1 inches
• Federal American Eagle 180-grain FMJ: 2.7 inches
• Hornady 180-grain XTP: 2.2 inches
• Underwood 200-grain hard cast: 2.8 inches

The pictured target is a representative ten-shot group fired with Federal American Eagle 180-grain ammunition. It measured just under three inches, with most shots concentrated near the center and two rounds opening the group.

The FPC is capable of keeping rounds inside the practical scoring area of a defensive target at ordinary pistol-caliber-carbine distances.

At 50 yards, ammunition differences became more noticeable. The Hornady load remained the most consistent, while inexpensive practice ammunition produced occasional unexplained shots outside the main group.

That accuracy is entirely adequate for home defense, trail use and shooting steel. The FPC is not intended to replace a bolt-action hunting rifle or Service Rifle.

Does the FPC Return to Zero After Folding?

The FPC folds horizontally, allowing the barrel and handguard to pivot beside the receiver. The optic remains attached to the receiver’s top rail.

I checked the zero after repeatedly folding and unfolding the carbine between groups. After 50 folding cycles, the center of the group had shifted less than one inch at 25 yards. That difference was small enough to fall within normal shooter and ammunition variation.

The hinge remained tight, and the locking mechanism engaged positively each time. I found no visible peening or unusual movement around the hinge.

This is the correct way to design a folding carbine with an optic. Mounting the sight on the stationary receiver prevents the folding barrel assembly from dragging the optic around with it.

The charging handle also retains the folded assembly. It is simple, requires no separate strap and keeps the folded carbine from opening inside its case.

Recoil and Shooting Impressions

The M&P FPC 10mm produces more recoil than a typical 9mm carbine. Nobody should find that surprising unless his understanding of ammunition begins and ends with the price sticker.

The recoil is a firm rearward push accompanied by the movement of the blowback bolt. It is not painful, but it is more noticeable than the recoil from a gas-operated 5.56mm AR-15.

Smith & Wesson’s integrated buffer keeps the impulse manageable. The stock remained comfortable during longer strings, and the carbine did not become unpleasant with full-power ammunition.

The heavier 200-grain loads produced the strongest impulse. The difference between ordinary practice ammunition and full-power woods ammunition was immediately obvious.

The flat-face trigger was usable but not remarkable. Mine broke consistently without excessive grit, although it was heavier than a good AR-15 trigger. It is appropriate for a defensive folding carbine, not a benchrest rifle.

M&P FPC 10mm Magazine Compatibility

The FPC accepts Smith & Wesson M&P 10mm double-stack pistol magazines. That is one of the strongest reasons to buy it.

An owner with an M&P 10mm handgun can use the same magazines in both firearms. Smith & Wesson includes three 15-round magazines, and the stock stores two spares using quick-release retention tabs.

With one magazine in the grip and two in the stock, the carbine carries 45 rounds without requiring an external magazine pouch.

The stock compartments held loaded magazines securely throughout the test. Neither magazine moved free during firing, carrying or repeated folding.

The release tabs are positive, although they require deliberate pressure. That is preferable to watching a fully loaded 10mm magazine launch itself into the mud.

Do not assume that FPC 9mm magazines, .40 S&W magazines and M&P 10mm magazines are interchangeable merely because they share similar dimensions.

What Does the 16.25-Inch Barrel Do for 10mm?

A 16-inch barrel can increase velocity with some 10mm loads, but results depend heavily on the powder, bullet weight and original cartridge design.

The additional barrel length does not turn 10mm Auto into a centerfire rifle cartridge. It does provide a stable shoulder-fired platform, a useful sight radius, a stationary optic and easier recoil control.

I previously reviewed the Glock G40 10mm long-slide pistol⁠. The Glock offers superior portability and can be carried in a proper chest or belt holster. The FPC provides better stability and is considerably easier to shoot accurately at distance.

For hunting or outdoor defense, the choice depends on whether the owner prioritizes immediate handgun access or carbine-level control.

Is the M&P FPC 10mm Good for Bear Defense?

The FPC 10mm is useful around a rural property, hunting cabin or campsite, but the caliber name does not create an invisible force field around the shooter.

A bear-defense carbine must function with the chosen ammunition. Heavy hard-cast bullets can have long, blunt profiles that feed differently from conventional full-metal-jacket ammunition. My two early failures with 200-grain hard-cast ammunition demonstrate why every defensive load must be tested.

The FPC provides better control and easier aiming than a 10mm handgun. It also provides less power than a proper centerfire rifle or shotgun.

A folded carbine packed beneath camping equipment is compact but nearly useless during an immediate emergency. Equipment placement matters as much as equipment selection.

M&P FPC 10mm for Home Defense

For home defense, the FPC offers fifteen-round capacity, a shoulder stock, room for a red-dot sight and M-LOK slots for a weapon-mounted light.

A weapon light helps the homeowner identify what is in front of the muzzle. It does not replace a handheld light, safe gun handling or judgment.

Full-power hunting ammunition may penetrate more deeply than desired inside a house. Select home-defense ammunition with the building, family members and neighboring homes in mind.

Police are not stored in your hallway waiting for glass to break downstairs. Armed citizens must be capable of defending themselves during the time between recognizing a threat and receiving outside help. That is why private gun ownership matters and why politicians who restrict defensive firearms place innocent people in greater danger.

M&P FPC 10mm Muzzle Threads and Suppressor Compatibility

The FPC 10mm uses 9/16×24 muzzle threads.

That is not the 1/2×28 thread commonly found on 9mm carbines, nor is it the 5/8×24 thread common on many centerfire rifles.

Any suppressor mount, compensator or muzzle brake must match the 9/16×24 thread and safely accommodate a .40-caliber projectile. A device designed only for 9mm can create a very expensive demonstration of why bore diameter matters.

A suppressed blowback 10mm carbine may also send additional gas and fouling into the receiver. Function should be verified with the specific suppressor, mount and ammunition.

M&P FPC 10mm vs. CMMG Banshee 10mm

The CMMG Banshee 10mm uses AR-style controls and CMMG’s radial-delayed operating system. It is available in configurations that are shorter than the Smith & Wesson when ready to fire.

The FPC instead provides a conventional 16.25-inch rifle barrel and shoulder stock. It folds for transportation without depending on a pistol brace and shares magazines with the M&P 10mm pistol.

The Banshee offers familiar AR ergonomics and a more sophisticated operating system. The FPC is lighter, less expensive and easier to store.

Is the M&P FPC 10mm Worth $719?

At its $719 manufacturer-listed price, the FPC 10mm provides a strong collection of features:

• Three magazines
• Folding construction
• M&P pistol-magazine compatibility
• Onboard spare-magazine storage
• Optics-ready receiver
• M-LOK accessory slots
• Threaded barrel
• Manageable weight
• Full shoulder stock

The primary disadvantages are more expensive ammunition, heavier recoil than a 9mm PCC, increased blowback fouling and an uncommon muzzle-thread specification.

After 620 rounds, I would trust the FPC with the full-metal-jacket and hollow-point ammunition tested. I would conduct additional testing before relying on the particular hard-cast load that produced the two early feeding problems.

Final Verdict

The Smith & Wesson M&P FPC 10mm is not merely a larger-caliber version of the original 9mm folding carbine.

The additional power changes the character of the firearm. It becomes a legitimate woods, hunting-camp and rural-defense carbine while retaining the FPC’s compact storage, magazine compatibility and sensible optic arrangement.

Mine remained accurate, held its zero and completed 620 rounds with only two early stoppages involving the same flat-nose ammunition and magazine.

The folding system is useful rather than gimmicky. The stock magazine storage works. Recoil is substantial but manageable. The accuracy is more than sufficient for the carbine’s intended purpose.

For an M&P 10mm pistol owner, the FPC is an easy recommendation. For somebody seeking a compact 10mm carbine without spending well over $1,000, it deserves serious consideration.

It is compact without being legally complicated, powerful without pretending to be a rifle cartridge and unusual without being stupid.

That is about as good as firearm design gets.

GarandThumb.com was established on May 4, 2012, to document my experiences trying to become a better marksman.