TFB Review: Smith & Wesson M&P9 M2.0 Compact Carry Comp
As a Smith & Wesson fan, I jumped at the chance to test out the M&P9 M2.0 Compact Carry Comp series pistol. I had high expectations for this striker-fired pistol, which were mostly met, but I encountered a couple of downsides that might be too much to overlook.
Smith & Wesson @ TFB:
M&P9 2.0 Compact Series Specifications
With over 170 years of experience and tradition in the firearms industry, Smith & Wesson is a staple for American shooters. S&W has developed some of the most iconic cartridges (such as the .38 S&W Special, .357 Magnum, and .40 S&W) and firearms (such as the Model 28 chambered in .44 Magnum and its ever-popular M&P pistol series).
I love that Smith & Wesson continues to innovate instead of resting on its past success. The S&W M&P9 M2.0 Compact Carry Comp is a testament to this statement, as it has several features that you rarely see on a stock pistol in this price range, which we’ll get into a bit later.
For now, here are the general specs:
- Width - 1.4 in
- Length - 7.25 in
- Height - 5 in
- Barrel Length - 4.22 in
- Weight - 25.4 oz
- Caliber - 9mm
- Capacity - 15
- Action - Striker Fired
- Frame Size - Compact
- Polymer Frame
- Safety - None
- Sights - Night Sights (Front)
- Optic Ready
What’s In The Box
I’m always surprised by what companies deem necessary to provide in their firearm. Some give as little as possible, and others go above and beyond. I think the Smith & Wesson Performance Center does a great job of offering shooters what they’ll need to get started (minus targets and ammo), but you can be the judge for yourself:
- Pistol
- Manual & safety information
- Two 15-round mags
- Sticker
- Cleaning kit with compact carrying case
- Optic screw plate kit
- Three spare rear grip plates
- Two grip extenders
- Pistol lock
I was most surprised by the cleaning kit, screw plate kit, and multiple rear grip plates, as these are typically additional purchases. The grip extenders were a bit silly, as my small hands don’t need them, and they don’t function with the 15-round mags, but if you have large hands and an extended magazine, I can see why they’d be beneficial.
S&W M&P9 M2.0 Compact Carry Comp Pros
- It just looks good
- Trusted brand
- Solid pricing
- Minimal felt recoil
- Accurate & quick sight alignment
- Compact enough to conceal carry
It was love at first sight for me and this pistol. You can be wrong and disagree if you want, but this pistol is one of (if not) the best-looking stock pistols on the market. Smith & Wesson did an excellent job of making this pistol stand out from the others you’ll see at the gun shop.
After owning and firing several Smith & Wesson firearms, it’s a brand I and thousands of other shooters have come to trust. It doesn’t hurt that your great-grandpa probably carried or owned a Smith & Wesson at some point. The company has been around for nearly 2 centuries for a reason.
Considering this pistol's high-end features and everything in the box, I was shocked it didn’t cost more. It provides features that serious shooters will appreciate at a price most can afford.
I was pumped when the day finally arrived to test the Smith & Wesson M&P9 M2.0. I picked it up from the gun shop and headed to my gun range with three different brands and bullet weights to test the recoil, accuracy, and sight alignment.
I loaded the first magazine with Remington 115-grain FMJs, slowly squeezing off the first few rounds before finishing the mag with some rapid fire. As expected, it had little recoil even when I stepped up to the Federal 147 grain FMJs, thanks to the Power Port, which “diverts gas upwards to help reduce felt recoil.”
I’m not a sharpshooter with a pistol, but I had no problem getting on target while shooting my steel shooting tree from about 8-10 yards away. Even in the hands of an average shooter like myself, this pistol is plenty accurate for self-defense, but I’ll need to practice a lot more with it before entering any matches.
Speaking of concealed carry, even though it has a 15-round capacity, this pistol is compact enough to hide easily. I’m not a large man and don’t have any problems concealing it without printing.
Even though I’m a big fan of Smith & Wesson and this pistol, I found a few things that could be improved.
Cons Of The S&W M&P9 M2.0 Compact
- Stippling on the rear grip is a bit overkill
- Can’t see the rear “night sights” in the dark
- Trigger is a little heavy
When I picked up the Smith & Wesson M&P9 M2.0 for the first time, I immediately noticed how aggressive the stippling on the grip was; I was excited about this at first because my hands are constantly sweaty and I thought the extra grip was going to help me hold the pistol better.
I definitely didn’t have any problems holding onto the gun, but it felt like 60-grit sandpaper on my palm, and my hand was sore after just a few mags. Luckily, S&W sent multiple palm swell grip inserts (in varying roughness) in the box, and they’re simple to change, so I slapped a less aggressive one on and liked it much better.
Another thing I didn’t like about this handgun is the night sights. The front sight is easy to see at night, but you can forget about trying to align it with the rear sights in the dark because the rear sight is just black. Thankfully, they’re simple to change if this is a big issue.
Lastly, the stock trigger is a little heavy, not more than most stock triggers, but you’ll have to install an aftermarket trigger if you’re looking for a hair trigger.
Parting Shots
After taking the Smith & Wesson M&P9 M2.0 Compact Carry pistol to the range and running several mags through it, I didn’t have a single hiccup. I would highly recommend it to any of my family or friends.
I suggest upgrading the sights and trigger for serious shoots, but it’s nearly the perfect pistol for beginners looking for a fun range and carry gun.
Smith & Wesson M&P9 M2.0 Compact Carry Comp
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That’s one ugly pistol. Should go well with Affliction or Ed Hardy clothing and the convenience store Chinese pocket knife.
Now if they'd just make this in 10mm. Alaska would buy it.