Just this month, Smith & Wesson introduced their M&P M2.0 Compact 9mm handgun to supplement its M&P M2.0 full-size gun released earlier this year. It is my opinion that this new compact 9mm will directly compete with the very successful Glock 19 compact 9mm pistol, used by many for concealed carry. There are other compact 4-inch barreled guns that compete in this compact category. I shall present some later in this review.
The M2.0 Compact is intended to provide major changes from the original M&P 9 C design (especially the trigger, aggressive texturized grip, and extended stainless steel chassis for stability.) I wanted to test and evaluate the changes and improvements for this compact concealed carry gun for myself, since I already own the other variants. I was ready to especially experience the improved trigger, audible and tactile short reset, the more aggressive grip and improved ergonomics, 4 palmswell inserts, and the stainless steel chassis, etc. Thanks to Smith-Wesson I was able to receive one of the first ones produced to test and evaluate it for readers, students, and for myself.
I wondered if this M2.0 Compact would meet my preferences and personal criteria for my concealed carry or home defense guns? Are the trigger improvements and short, tactile and audible reset really “significant” improvements? Does the extended steel chassis help any with muzzle flip and felt recoil? Is the trigger press lighter, crisper, and smooth compared to the original version’s hard press? Does the grip texturing help for a more solid grip? I want to analyze, compare, and evaluate this M&P M2.0 Compact relative to some of my top 9mm guns, so I can recommend it or not in this article. Some of my students will shoot and evaluate it and give me feedback. I have reviewed several 9mm compact and full-size guns in depth recently, several on this website. I evaluate my Top 21 concealed carry guns in the recent second printing of my book “Concealed Carry & Handgun Essentials.” I definitely favor the 9mm for concealed carry and want to help readers and students compare this new model to my other recommended 9mms. The Smith & Wesson M&P 9mm series has a reputation for quality and accuracy, so how does this improved M2.0 Compact model rate?
I use my handgun selection criteria, compare each criterion to the gun’s features, and show my range test results for the M2.0 Compact, to help you analyze your handguns and make the best selection for yourself. You can add or subtract from my criteria to meet your needs and preferences. I was very anxious to compare it factor by factor to my other quality 9mm guns and receive input from some of my students to see if it truly ranked in my top concealed carry pistols. Know that I am not on the Smith-Wesson payroll, have not been paid by them for this article, and not influenced to say certain things about the gun. I want to be honest and straight-forward with my opinions and ideas the way I see the pistol to sincerely help folks. Specifically, I want to hands-on test and evaluate to learn:
- How accurate is it out of the box, with the improvements and without modifications?
- What weight is the new trigger press? Is the trigger really light, smooth and crisp?
- Does it have a short and distinct reset that is easy to feel and hear?
- Is it a reliable gun with FMJ and JHP ammo?
- Does the extended rigid and steel chassis frame help with muzzle flip, recoil, and reduce torque when firing it? (6) Is the high grip-to-barrel-bore axis comfortable for me and does it help reduce muzzle rise and help for a faster aim recovery?
- Is the slide stop truly ambidextrous and does it freely and easily control the slide?
- Do you have to press the trigger to disassemble it or can you deactivate the sear easily beforehand?
- Which of the 4 interchangeable palmswell grip inserts work best for me?
- Does the 18-degree grip angle work for me and must I rotate my hand to operate the controls with this angle?
- Is the grip texture too aggressive for me and like gritty sandpaper or not?
- What are its pros, cons, and special features?
- Is this a 9mm compact gun I would recommend or not for concealed carry and/or home defense?
First, I will give you the M&P M2.0 Compact’s Specifications and special Features. Then, I will follow with a mini-visual comparison between the original M&P 9 C and this new M&P M2.0 Compact. Then I will present a chart comparing this new M2.0 Compact to 6 other current 4-inch barrel 9mms for concealed carry. Next comes my 10 criteria and their definitions. Following this, I will conduct my live-fire range test, show actual results, and give my opinions with ratings and support for each of my criteria, with individual one-by-one analysis and ratings. Then my final overall recommendation or not is given, based on my assigned number of points and my opinions. I hope this saves you some time and helps you make an important decision about what 9mm compact handgun to buy for concealed carry.
S&W M&P M2.0 Compact 9mm DEALS
1. Accuracy and Reliability – Score: 10
The accuracy of the M2.0 Compact with its 4.00″ barrel and nice sight radius was very good for self-defense purposes for this eye-troubled old codger at distances of 3, 7, 10, and 15 yards. My groups at each of the up-close encounter distances were acceptable and within 2.0-3.0 inches for the first time I ever fired the gun, after first cleaning it. Groups were acceptable for self defense at 10 and15 yards. I fired about 250 total rounds for this test and want to fire a total of 500 rounds to break-in ANY carry gun I’m betting my life on. The slightly-less than 5.0# trigger press I experienced was crisp, soft, short and great, and was a definite improvement over the M&P 9 Compact, non-M2.0 version’s 6-6.5# press. It definitely met and exceeded my personal preference press range and criterion. The just-right aggressive grip texturing, extended and rigid stainless steel chassis frame (visible thru windows cut in the dust cover), its comfortable high grip-to-barrel bore axis, and the fine 18-degree grip angle all helped me to control the gun’s felt recoil and muzzle flip when shooting it. The slightly longer sight radius also helped. The slide and barrel are stainless steel with their Armornite treatment for a hardened, durable corrosion-resistant finish. I used my Modified-Isosceles Stance, a two-handed grip, and successfully shot high-quality 9mm Sig Sauer Elite V-Crown 124 grain JHP and Sig Sauer Elite Ball 115 grain FMJ rounds. NO malfunctions at all with any of the ammo and gun. My students were accurate with this gun and recommended it.
2. Trigger Press – Score: 10
The trigger press averaged about 4.90 pounds with 12 readings from my Lyman Electronic Trigger Pull Gauge. This was great for me and within my limits for my press range for my carry guns, given the limited 250 rounds I fired with it. There definitely was a major improvement to the trigger and its press. It was very smooth and soft with a crisp break and a very short reset point. It will get even better after more rounds down range. I prefer that my carry guns have a max. of 6.5 pounds press or much less to help mitigate movement, so this is certainly at the optimal lower end of my range. You can compare it to my top 21 concealed carry guns & their presses, etc. in my recent Book. It was fun to shoot this gun with its short, very crisp and smooth trigger press and the felt recoil was minimal. Really.
3. Trigger – Score: 10
The improved steel trigger had a very identifiable click and reset point that was easy to feel tactilely and also to hear audibly. I liked the short takeup and positive reset trigger. I experienced no stacking in the press weight and the trigger was not gritty. It is very comparable to my M&P Pro Series trigger in my other gun. The trigger was slightly wider than previous models and helped with control. Again, the press was soft, smooth, short, and crisp. My shots were consistent each time and I could easily recognize the reset point. For me, it was a much-improved trigger and for me there is no need for an Apex mod kit, but see what you think. I’ll bet you like it.
4. Barrel Length – Score: 10
The 4.00-inch length barrel and its long sight radius helped me to control muzzle flip and felt recoil, influencing accuracy. The M2.0 Compact’s stainless steel barrel was of high quality and with their Armornite finish should be very durable and corrosion resistant. The compact barrel length was concealable, as was my original M&P 9 C and its 3.5 inch barrel. I consider it a subcompact and the M2.0 a compact. For me and my carry and home defense purposes, this length barrel is fine, handles & points well, and I will definitely buy it and use it for carry and home defense. I had no feeding problems at all with it.
5. Sights – Score: 9
The steel front and rear sights are nice and work fine. The front sight was a white dot and the rear were a white 2-dot. They worked well and have the same dovetail cuts, so you can add aftermarket sights. For concealed carry, I will probably upgrade the sights after awhile, given my impaired night vision and color blind eyes. I prefer the bright green fiber optic front sight for a better lock on the front sight and I do like larger sight dots with my condition.
6. Proper Gun Weight – Score: 10
The 24 ounce unloaded weight of the M2.0 Compact was just right for me. The weight helped me control movement, lessened felt recoil, contributed to accuracy, and was not too heavy for all-day concealed carry. Of course, there are personal preferences and tradeoffs. A very personal decision. For me, this total package is acceptable for home defense and for carry. Very comparable to the Glock 19 and with a better trigger for me.
7. Caliber – Score: 9
I had fun shooting this gun and it was so comfortable in my hand and I didn’t want to stop shooting it. I really like and prefer the 9mm caliber for my main concealed carry and personal protection gun. I enjoy practicing with the 9mm, since it is not snappy and the recoil does not beat me to death after many rounds fired. The M2.0 Compact digested the JHPs and FMJs easily without a single malfunction or stoppage.
8. Capacity – Score: 8
There were two mags included for this compact gun, both 15-rounders. I liked their high capacity for a compact and carry gun. The mags were well made. It would have been nice to have had one more mag included. I believe for almost ALL uses a shooter should have at least 3 mags minimum on hand and included, to save upfront expense for buying another. But, it helps that the mags are compatible with previous models’ mags. No feeding problems whatsoever and the mags ejected freely and worked very well.
9. Ergonomics – Score: 10
The ergonomics of the M2.0 Compact were excellent. The grips were aggressively textured, just right for me, and easily customized for my wife and students. Similar to Glock’s RTF texture. I could grip them securely and comfortably with my medium-sized hands. No skateboard tape needed and no abrasive sandpaper irritation. I was able to easily reach all the controls without changing my grip. The well-rounded grip and 18 degree grip-bore angle helped me with a solid tactile grip. It fit my hand very well with the improvements and extra medium-large grip insert. I liked that the model I tried had no manual thumb safety. This is, however, an option. It did NOT have the mag safety disconnect and can be fired when a mag is not in place. The attention to detail in all ergonomic-related functions was excellent. The steel chassis with the full-length guide rails that extend the full length of the polymer frame is more rigid than the original M&P and helped lessen felt recoil and muzzle flip. The chassis is visible through the holes in the frame on the dust cover above the front rail and below the slide.
10. Miscellaneous – Score: 9
Before I shot the M2.0 Compact, I disassembled, cleaned, lubed and re-assembled it, as always with any gun. I did NOT have to press the trigger to disassemble it and it was quick to takedown by lowering the sear, even without the included tool. There is a small front rail below the slide, which has partial scalloped cocking serrations, which do not extend all the way up the slide like the rear ones do. The small rail is fine with me for a carry gun. There is a Loaded Chamber Indicator on top of the slide which is handy. You should know that the M2.0 Compact is backward compatible with mags, sights, and (most) holsters, which helps with new gun expenses and not spending more for extras, if you have the original model gear. The gun comes in the standard black and has a slight beavertail. The reshaped slide profile and reduced thickness make the gun lighter and more maneuverable than previous ones. I am so glad that S&W introduced this Compact model with these improved M2.0 features and changes. The M2.0 does not include accessories like some other compacts, e.g. a holster, mag pouch, or third mag. But given the fine trigger and grip improvements and other features like the 4 included interchangeable palmswell grip inserts, extra mag sleeves for higher cap mags, etc. you do not even think about them. The M2.0 Compact has a Limited Lifetime Warranty and a Lifetime Service policy.
