New for 2020: Smith & Wesson M&P M2.0 Compact Optics Ready

More of today's handgun enthusiasts are discovering the benefits of optics-equipped handguns, and many new reflex optics are emerging on the market with smaller sizes, greater battery life and improve durability. Smith & Wesson now offers a dedicated handgun ready to accept many of these popular sights with the rollout of its M&P9 M2.0 Compact OR.

“The use of optics has become increasingly popular as handgun owners look for ways to enhance their accuracy and shooting experience," said Vince Perreault, Smith & Wesson's brand marketing manager. "To meet the demands of our consumers, the M&P9 M2.0 Compact is now able to accept many popular slide-mounted optics, straight from the factory.”

Smith & Wesson took its standard M&P M2.0 handgun slide and milled a slot just forward of the rear sight. This milled section is compatible with seven mounting plates that ship with the gun. These plates feature mounting holes that line up with the footprints of many of today's popular reflex sights, so all shooters have to do is find the plate compatible with their optic of choice, mount the plate onto the slide, then mount their optic atop the plate.

A nice touch included on these factory Smith & Wesson M&P M2.0 Compact handguns is the inclusion of suppressor-height sights. The sights are tall enough to co-witness with a mounted red-dot optic, which provides a back-up sighting solution that can be viewed through the lens. When a mounted optic is not in use, a cover plate is included that blends in with the profile of the slide.

The Compact features a shortened 4" barrel and a shortened grip frame compared to other optics-ready models in the Smith & Wesson lineup. This makes the platform ideal for daily carry, and the addition of a dot sight on a dedicated CCW pistol can provide an intuitive aiming point in all kinds of lighting conditions.

As with all of Smith & Wesson's M&P M2.0 handguns, the optic-ready Compact version is equipped with the 18-degree grip angle and interchangeable grip inserts that provide a close, comfortable fit with a range of hand sizes. The pistol ships with two 15-round magazines and can be had with or without a manual thumb safety. Suggested retail pricing on the optic-ready model is $616. For more information, visit smith-wesson.com.