Smith and Wesson M&P 9mm Review | Here’s Why It’s a Popular Pistol With the Police and Army Forces

If you’ve been in the market for an affordable S&W 9mm, the M&P Shield 2.0 9mm might be the perfect handgun for your needs. In this Smith and Wesson M&P 9mm Review, I’ll go over the ins and outs of this fine pistol. This will help you determine if it’s a good fit for your needs. I was able to spend ample time with it, so you can be sure that the information I have you will help. In the end, you will be able to make a sound buying decision. So with that, let’s find out what makes this pistol so special. Also, for home protection, check out our M&P 45 review.

Specifications

These are the specifications that come directly from Smith and Wesson themselves. It’s a robust little pistol that can be handled by shooters of all skill levels. Let’s take a look at what goes into crafting the versatile Smith and Wesson M&P 2.0 handgun.

The S&W M&P 2.0 is a polymer-framed and striker-fired pistol. It delivers a short recoil, making shooting comfortable and manageable. While older models didn’t have a thumb safety, later models would come to adopt this optional feature.

You can also opt to get a mag safety, preventing the gun from firing whenever the magazine isn’t in place. This is a huge plus, as it prevents the likelihood of accidental discharges. It’s easy to assume that the gun is empty when the mag isn’t inserted, so this is a nice safety precaution to see available.

A Picatinny rail system gives you the option to add attachments like lasers or sights. There’s also an ambidextrous lock on the slide, as well as the mag release. The tritium sights are another nice addition that I like seeing. This makes a big difference when shooting in low-light conditions. 

Other common design features include an integrated Picatinny rail to mount lasers or lights, ambidextrous slide lock, reversible magazine release, aggressive forward cut rear-cocking serrations, steel low mount “three-dot” or tritium sights, external extractor, loaded chamber indicator, and interchangeable back-straps to adjust to different hand sizes.

It’s also nicely weighted, making it easy to fire off multiple rounds without breaking a sweat. The Smith & Wesson M&P 9mm is by far one of the easiest pistols I’ve used. It’s a breeze to maintain control while shooting, and never once did I have to fight with it.

The 5-inch barrel helps to give the gun a longer radius on its sight, as well as greater velocity when firing. You just can’t get these from barrels that are shorter. 

The superior ergonomics of the Smith & Wesson 9mm go a long way in giving the gun better accuracy when compared to similar models on the market. 

At close range, you won’t have to worry about missing your target, that’s for sure. I’m a big fan of how comfortable it is to fire. I think under normal circumstances, you will have no trouble loading the pistol and firing off a shot.

Reloading is equally easy thanks to the placement of the mag release. I found it to be very easy to access, giving me faster reloading times the more I practiced with it. I soon found myself trying to beat personal bests to see just how fast I could reload.

Is it a game-changer? Not necessarily. But one thing is for certain. It’s a reliable handgun that never once gave me trouble when I needed to quickly reload my magazine for the next shot. 

Another huge plus is the fact that the recoil is very low, which proves to be extremely advantageous when firing follow-up shots at your target. I found it remarkably easy to quickly reacquire my target after each round. This feature greatly benefits shooting at the range as well.

As I became more familiar with the M&P M2.0, my ability to line up targets improved significantly. Soon, I was achieving exceptional accuracy and efficiency in my shooting. If you're seeking a reliable firearm that won't disappoint, the S&W M&P 2.0 compact pistol is a fantastic investment.

With 1800 rounds fired through mine, I can confidently say that I love this gun. It offers superb accuracy, boasts a great trigger, and has an appealing appearance. The only aspect I'm not entirely thrilled about is the iron sights, but that's a minor issue that can be easily rectified.

Personally, I own the 4-inch compact version of this firearm, and it completely revolutionized my shooting experience. Having previously been a Glock/SIG Sauer/H&K/Beretta shooter for many years, I can honestly attest that the M2.0 M&P outperforms its competitors and provides excellent value for the money.

The Trigger Pull

At just 6.5 pounds, the trigger pull on the S&W M&P 2.0 compact is easily accessible to a wide range of shooters. While most of you might think that this weight makes it hard to keep shots lined up, the minimal recoil begs to differ.

I found the two to work well together, resulting in greater accuracy and precision with each shot that I fired. Sure, it’s not the same as past models that had a trigger pull weight of 5.5 pounds. But you have to take into consideration all of the other features of this pistol.

They play a big part in making the Smith and Wesson 9mm easier to keep steady and shoot with accuracy. The trigger pull is therefore ideal for beginner shooters who are just getting started with handguns.

This weight makes a great starting point to cut your teeth on, in my opinion. The ultimate test for me was firing off follow up shots. And as I quickly learned, I had a blast in doing so. If you are just starting out and looking for a respectable pistol to invest in, the M&P 2.0 compact will serve you well.

When considering all of its user-friendly and accessible features, this handgun proves to be an excellent choice for both first-time buyers and seasoned shooters. Personally, I found the trigger to be exceptionally comfortable, allowing me to enjoy extended periods of shooting without hand cramps or difficulty.

The comfort of the trigger greatly influences the overall quality and value of a pistol. However, it's worth noting that during a dry-fire session at a local gun store, I did notice the M&P's trigger had a slightly crunchy and gritty feeling, which detracted from the overall experience.

If the trigger were improved, this pistol would undoubtedly be exceptional. On a positive note, both my wife and I own this exact model and agree that it is one of the few sub-compact 9mm pistols that is incredibly easy to shoot and highly concealable. It's no wonder that they sold like hotcakes.

The Sights

The Smith and Wesson M&P 2.0 compact Shield comes standard with a 3-dot sight system. I found this to be a huge advantage when shooting in low light levels. If you want to invest in a home defense pistol, a feature like this a must-have.

I fired on the range in both optimal and low light conditions and found that the Shield delivered exceptional sight visibility. I love the 3-dot system as it is, and this one is not a disappointment in the least. And remember, you can always add your own sights thanks to the Picatinny rail system that comes standard on the M&P. 

If you aren't a fan of the 3-dot sight system, just attach your favorite sight and you'll be good to go. However, one thing I can't seem to find is sight options for use with the RMR. It seems that the sights are too low for even a lower 1/3 view through an RMR.

On a positive note, I absolutely love the feel of my new Smith and Wesson M&P 9 2.0 full-size pistol. The overall mag capacity feels great, and the selection of backstrap grips makes it a real value. Additionally, S&W offers a lifetime warranty on their products, which is a fantastic bonus.

I’m also quite fond of its weight and size. This makes it ideal for carrying. And just like any pistol, you need a comfortable weapon to keep on your person. The Shield delivers that in spades. I found it to be very easy to manage as a concealed carry, largely thanks to its 5-inch barrel.

I can safely say that this pistol is a worthy investment that won’t disappoint. It delivers consistent, safe shooting capabilities. Quickly reloading the handgun is a breeze and only gets easier the more you do it.

And thanks to its low recoil and excellent accuracy, you’re sure to find that your shooting experience with the M&P is an enjoyable one.

Accessories

The great thing about this Smith and Wesson is that it has a ton of support behind it. There are numerous attachments and accessories available for it, ensuring that you will be able to deck out your new investment as you see fit. 

Upon my research, I had no trouble finding the accessories I needed. And thanks to its ability to accept these attachments with ease, you should have no issues with adding on what you need. From sights to red dots to holsters, support for this pistol is commendable.

Concealed Carry

One of the best things about the M&P is that it is a versatile handgun. And by that, I mean that it is ideal for home defense (as you’ll see in a moment), target practicing, or concealed carrying. Its size and weight make it a great investment for personal defense.

With a barrel that measures just 5 inches, it’s true that it isn’t the most ideal handgun for concealed carrying. But because it is so well-balanced and comfortable to handle, you should have no issues keeping this on your person.

And because it’s so versatile, you can use it comfortably in just about any capacity. Keep it on you during the day, and use it for home defense at night. And when you want to better yourself using the M&P, take it to the range for some target practice.

With versatility like this, you can hit two birds with one stone. Or bullet.