Smith & Wesson Spec Series M&P 9 Metal M2.0: Review

In 2005, Smith & Wesson introduced the M&P series of polymer-frame, striker-fired pistols. Nineteen years may not seem that long to those of us who can still remember when Reagan was president and gas cost less than a dollar a gallon, but it’s a substantial length of time for a pistol to remain relevant in the ever-evolving semiauto pistol market. The reason the M&P line has remained one of the top options for years is simple: Smith & Wesson started with a solid design, and it hasn’t been afraid to tweak its guns to meet the demands of the market.

The latest additions to the M&P family are the new Spec Series guns. The first was the Compact model, with a polymer frame and Bull Shark Grey Cerakote finish. Now we have the Spec Series M&P 9 Metal M2.0 combo.

Like the first Spec Series guns, it comes in a polymer carry case with locking tabs and all sorts of extras. In addition to the pistol, the case contains two 17-round magazines and a pair of extended 23-round mags, a thread cap for the muzzle, four interchangeable backstrap inserts, a karambit-style knife with a 2.25-inch fixed blade and a sheath, and a challenge coin.

Of course, there’s also an M&P pistol inside. It features a full-size frame made from machined aluminum instead of polymer like the Compact. The metal frame adds a bit of weight for better control and gives the gun a look and feel that set it apart in the world of striker-fired pistols.

Finishes and Hardware

Spec Series Metal frames and slides both feature olive drab Cerakote finishes. Slide lightening cuts reduce the pistol’s overall weight, ensure reliable feeding, and add an extra styling touch that improves the overall aesthetic.

The Spec Series Metal pistols have a 4.8-inch barrel with a Faxon compensator to help cut back on recoil, and you could also mount a suppressor instead. But if neither of those suits you, a thread protector is included.

The Metal Spec Series gun has suppressor-height night sights that are dovetailed into the stainless steel slide and which co-witness with many optics. These guns also incorporate S&W’s C.O.R.E. optics-ready system. The company has caught on to the fact that finding the right plate and screws for your sight is a hassle, and no one who buys a new gun wants to wait to get the right plate and screws.

S&W includes a screw and plate kit that will allow you to mount most major red-dot optics on your pistol, and a chart in the back of the owner’s manual will help you sort out the right plate/screw combination. There’s also a black cover plate that secures into the optics cut if you choose to run your pistol with the iron sights.

In Hand

The grip angle remains 18 degrees, which is similar to a 1911, and that, combined with the use of aluminum instead of polymer, gives the Spec Series Metal gun a bit of a John Browning feel for those who prefer a hint of 1911 DNA in their striker-fired guns.

The new M&P 2.0 pistols—including the Spec Series—offer advanced micro-texturing on the grips, and the four backstraps that come with the gun (small, medium, medium-large, large) have this 2.0-style texturing as well. That texturing is also present on the frontstrap. Between the front and rear textured grip portions lies a channel of smooth OD green aluminum.

The frame contains a subtle mag well machined into the aluminum, which makes it easier to reliably drive home those 17- and 23-round metal mags. There’s also a recess on either side of that magazine well to help shooters strip stubborn mags from the gun.

The slide is machined from stainless steel and features aggressive front and rear slide serrations for sure manipulation of the slide. Smith & Wesson’s Performance Center logo appears on the slide—that’s because these pistols feature a Performance Center sear.

Safety and Size

These guns do not have a manual safety, but there are passive built-in safeties. The trigger features a bladed design, and the trigger face itself is flat for improved control and fast follow-up shots. The magazine release is reversible, and there’s an ambidextrous slide stop that is large enough to operate easily. A robust externally mounted extractor ensures reliable ejection.

I’m a fan of Smith & Wesson’s takedown lever design. It’s safe and easy to use, allowing you to quickly field-strip the pistol. There’s a three-slot accessory rail on the front of the frame.

With an overall length of 8.5 inches, height of 5.5 inches, and an unloaded weight of 30 ounces, it’s clear that Smith & Wesson didn’t design this pistol specifically with concealed carry in mind. However, if you aren’t opposed to the weight and large size, the gun’s 1.3-inch width allows it to tuck close to the body.

The C.O.R.E. system is, as mentioned, a real benefit to the Spec Series pistol because it streamlines optic mounting. I’ve mounted enough Leupold DeltaPoint Pro optics on S&W M&P 2.0 pistols that I have the recipe down pat. I found the No. 6 plate, fished out the appropriate screws from the included hardware bag, and within a few minutes the optic was firmly in place. The plates are polymer, which may be a matter of contention for those who prefer metal components, but I’ve never had issues with the S&W design.

Small Snafu Resolved

There was a bit of a hang-up prior to official range testing, though. The small pin that rides in the trigger and holds the safety in place had come loose, presumably during transit. That allowed the trigger safety blade to rotate and eventually fall out of the gun.

I contacted Smith & Wesson and the company overnighted a new trigger assembly, which can be swapped out in a matter of minutes if you have some gunsmithing experience. After field-stripping, I simply knocked out the two forward frame pins with a non-marring punch, removed the chassis and slide stop, then swapped the damaged trigger for the new one. When I reassembled everything, I function-tested the pistol and was back in business.

The trigger issue was the only hiccup this gun had, and from that moment forward, the Spec Series was nothing but fun. The compensator and gun’s heft help make it one of the most flat-shooting 9mm pistols I’ve tested. The trigger has a smooth take-up before the wall, breaking at 4.5 pounds.

Much like a sports car, this smooth-handling pistol begs to be put through the paces, and it’s also fast. The Smith & Wesson’s flat-shooting nature and controllable trigger with short reset make it a great pistol for those who want to put more shots on target quickly.

Accuracy

And my, is this gun accurate. From a fixed rest at 25 yards, the gun produced five-shot groups as small as 1.2 inches. Whenever I shoot five loads through a gun from the bench, I’ll usually get a group or two that’s particularly impressive. But what impressed me most was the Smith & Wesson’s consistency. Of 20 five-shot groups, seven measured under two inches, which is considerably better than average performance and can’t be chalked up to chance.

I was so impressed with the Spec series pistol’s accuracy that, even though it isn’t standard handguns testing protocol, I felt obligated to fire a 10-shot group from the rest at 25 yards. The result was a 1.77-inch group.

The Spec Series pistol is a poised and steady performer on the bench, but the gun’s even more fun to shoot offhand. The 1911 grip angle, metal frame, good balance and excellent trigger make it extremely accurate.

My standard for offhand testing is seven yards, and from that distance I was able to shoot groups that mimicked those from the bench. On one torso target I fired three consecutive Mozambique/failure drills from seven yards, and the results were two centered groups where all shots were touching.

Well-Balanced

That’s not a testament to my shooting but rather the consistency of this pistol. In addition to the balance and weight I also appreciate the slight cutouts in the frame that act as rests for the support-hand thumb. For me it had the effect of a “gas pedal,” which is to say it provides an anchor point for the thumb and offers improved control of the muzzle. Having the ability to swap backstrap modules also helps ensure that the gun fits properly in the shooter’s hand.

You could remove the compensator, but I don’t know why you would unless you were invested in mounting a suppressor. Recoil fatigue is real, and I can attest to the impacts—both mental and physical—on a shooter after close to a hundred rounds of 9mm.

The gun’s weight and compensator help mitigate recoil fatigue (read: make shooting more fun) and allow you to extend practice sessions. I doubt that a lot of new shooters will start with this pistol, but it would be easier for most folks to manage—provided they are comfortable with the gun’s added weight—than a light carry 9mm loaded with hot defensive ammo.

Reliability was excellent throughout the testing. Smith & Wesson uses quality parts that are precision machined, and the blade of the extractor is robust and takes a steady bite on the case head of the cartridge. The feed ramp is smooth and polished, and there were no feeding issues. The slide locked back as each magazine ran dry.

Value

People have understandably high expectations of a striker-fired pistol costing close to a grand, even if it does come rolled up with various accessories and goodies, but I believe most buyers will be pleased with this gun. I’m a sucker for metal-frame pistols, even if they aren’t my first choice for carry, and I like the look of the Spec Series M&P 9 M2.0. The OD Green looks good, and more importantly, the finish seems durable and should stand up well to serious use.

I’m also a fan of the aggressive front and rear slide serrations that Smith & Wesson has incorporated into its pistols. If you’re going to offer up serrations, I say make them bold enough that they’re actually useful, and S&W has done just that.

In spite of the initial trigger issue—which, to Smith & Wesson’s credit, was remedied in quick fashion—this gun is a winner. It checks all the boxes and offers a cool alternative to the ocean of black polymer-frame striker-fired guns available today.

At $999 it’s priced higher than some competitors like the Springfield Echelon and SIG P320, but it’s difficult to measure the Spec Series against rivals because no other company offers a gun with so many extras, such as the four magazines and the Faxon compensator—which sells for $85 alone.

Bottom Line

The karambit-style knife, a design of Indonesian origin with a sickle-shaped blade, is another nice addition, and it comes with a polymer belt clip sheath that secures the knife in place but keeps it accessible. The challenge coin is a nice addition for Smith & Wesson collectors.

The Spec Series Metal will almost certainly be a favorite of Smith & Wesson collectors, but this is too good a gun to be relegated to some dusty collection space in your gun safe. It’s a gun that is loads of fun to shoot quickly, and it’s exceedingly accurate.

Spec Series M&P 9 Metal 2.0

• Type: striker-fired semiauto
• Caliber: 9mm Luger
• Capacity: 17/23
• Barrel: 4.8 in. stainless steel, 1:10 twist; threaded w/Faxon compensator installed
• OAL/Height/Width: 8.5/5.5/1.3 in.
• Weight: 30 oz.
• Construction: OD green Cerakote-finished steel slide, aluminum frame; textured interchangeable backstraps
• Trigger: flat; 4.5 lb. pull (measured)
• Sights: suppressor-height night; C.O.R.E. optics mounting system
• Safeties: trigger, passive
• MSRP: $999
• Manufacturer: Smith & Wesson, smith-wesson.com

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