It has to due with the overall length. A pistol under 26 inches cannot have a fore grip, adding a for grip makes it an AOW, over 26 inches it is just a pistol with a fore grip. This is my under standing after reading the ATF's letter on the matter.
Yeah, it's good sized. Nice for fast target acquisition but a bit wide for precision. Since this is largely a woods gun for me, the former is a higher priority and I'm ok with it.
New to me Smith and Wesson m&p 9mm.. With a few mods, but it wouldn't be mine unless I modded it somehow lol.