Range Report: Smith & Wesson M&P9 M2.0 Compact, 2000 Rounds

posted on March 7, 2018
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
rr_fullsizerender.jpg

Preliminary Reading:
Range Report: M&P9 M2.0 Compact Pistol, Part 1  
Range Report: Smith & Wesson M&P9 M2.0 Compact Pistol, Part 2  
Range Report: Smith & Wesson M&P9 M2.0 Compact Pistol, Part 3   

260 Rounds (2016 total)
Well, we made it. My recent range session consisted of SIG Sauer ammunition—124-gr. ball (200) and 124-gr. V-Crowns (60)—and brought the total round count to 2,016. More than 2,000 rounds through Smith & Wesson’s M&P9 M2.0 Compact, and not a single malfunction. No ammunition issues, no magazine issues, no firearm issues. The gun was cleaned twice, once at zero rounds and again just after the 1,000-round mark. I did change the sights on the Smith, but unlike most handguns I shoot extensively, that is the only change I made. I had high hopes that this pistol would prove utterly reliable and be a legitimate alternative to the Glock 19 as a “perfect” duty/carry cross-over platform—right size, right capacity, reputable manufacturer. I was not disappointed, not in the least. 

The Compact is probably best defined by two characteristics that are now hallmarks of Smith’s M2.0 line, namely the texture and the trigger.

So, what did I learn? Besides flawless function, using a range of ammunition, and a high degree of accuracy, the Compact is probably best defined in my mind by two characteristics that are now hallmarks of Smith’s M2.0 line, namely the texture and the trigger. The molded polymer frame features a very coarse, gritty texture all the way around the grip. It is without question the most aggressive factory texturing I’ve encountered, and is closer to a custom stippling job, in terms of feel, than a stock molded frame. In the hand, as long as your mitts aren’t too sensitive, the texture anchors the gun, and is very effectively increases purchase and improves control and handling during recoil. There is one drawback, however, which is experienced when carrying the gun against bare skin, as in a concealed IWB holster. That grip can rub the carrier raw. This affect can be mitigated with a good holster and belt that does not have a lot of play, but incidental contact is unavoidable, and can be a bit uncomfortable. Some have suggested sanding the texture down a bit, but because of how effective it is when shooting, I haven’t been able to justify doing so. Instead, I’ve just been sure to have a T-shirt between the gun and my skin.

The second defining feature is the Compact’s trigger. It is amazing. I strongly urge anyone who owns an M&P M2.0 pistol to get out and shoot them because 750 rounds or so through the gun will take what feels like an average, striker-fired trigger mechanism and transform it into a very smooth, crisp 5- to 5.5-lb. pull, on par with custom-tuned models I’ve owned—see Part 2 of this evaluation for more specifics. You cannot gauge this gun with a few dry-fire trigger pulls in the gun shop, in my experience the reliability kicks in on round one, but this pistol only gets better over time. 

 

For those curious, I’m still using the Wright Leather Works Predatordescribed in Part 1—but I’ve also been running the Torsion IWB holster from Bravo Concealment which is a slim kydex rig that is actually contoured to better fit the body, whether carried strongside or in the appendix position.

That concludes the 2,000-round review for Smith & Wesson’s M&P9 M2.0 Compact, be sure to stay tuned here for more reports from the range.

Latest

Hopkins & Allen Gunmaker
Hopkins & Allen Gunmaker

Hopkins & Allen: The Armsmaking Giant That Didn't Survive

Founded in 1868 in the northeast U.S., Hopkins & Allen grew from a friendly business venture into a prolific maker of affordable guns for brand names such as Merwin & Hulbert and Forehand & Wadsworth.

Burris Optics Celebrates 50 Years Of Fullfield Riflescopes

Firearms and ammunition ballistics have changed greatly over the last half-century, but one of the biggest leaps in performance hit the scene five decades ago, when Burris Optics introduced its Fullfield line of riflesopes.

I Have This Old Gun: Heckler & Koch P7

In the mid-1970s, the German federal police sought a replacement for its existing World War II-era sidearms and put out stringent guidelines for what it wanted in a handgun. The result was the Heckler & Koch P7.

New For 2025: Smith & Wesson Shield X

Smith & Wesson's new Shield X micro-compact handgun combines elements from the company's M&P Shield Plus with some cues from its smaller Bodyguard 2.0 design.

Review: Tisas PX-5.7 FO

The idea that a faster-moving, lightweight projectile can do the same work as a heavier, slower-moving slug has been around for ages, and the math clearly supports it, even if some in the general public don’t.

NRA Awards Grand Scholarships To 2024 Y.E.S. Students

The Y.E.S. program—which launched in 1996—is held each summer in Washington, D.C., and brings together high-achieving high school students from across the country for a week of immersive learning focused on the U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights and American government.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.