I decided it would be interesting to do a side-by-side comparison between the new S&W M&P 2.0 Compact and S&W's "other" Glock 19-sized 9mm auto, the bargain-priced SD9VE. These pistols are sold at much different price points and are marketed towards different buyers, but I still feel a comparison is warranted. In many ways the pistols are very similar, but at the same time there are many things that set them apart. Let's begin by comparing sizes:



As can be seen they are both nearly identical in size overall, but the SD9VE has a slightly longer grip. This is not surprising as it also holds 16 rounds in the magazine as opposed to 15 for the MP9C (which is what I will henceforth call the S&W M&P 2.0 Compact since it's too much of a mouthful). However the SD9VE is lighter at 22.9 ounces as opposed to 27.0 for the MP9C. The overall length and width of each is so close as to be considered insignificant.



Externally the pistols look similar, but that is more a matter of them following S&W's current styling cues. Both have similar sights, and in fact both use the same dovetails and will accept the same aftermarket sights. The factory ones on the MP9C are clearly superior to those of the SD9VE, although those of the latter are still useable. However on the SD9VE the rear sight is made of plastic, and the sight picture is not as crisp or distinct as I later found out on the range. The front sights on both are made of steel and dovetailed in place. Both have cocking serrations at both the front and rear of the slide. They are easy to use and provide great traction, but while the rear ones on the MP9C seem to provide more grip than those on the SD9VE the front ones are nearly useless. Speaking of being useless, the right-side slide stop lever is impossible to disengage on the MP9C. The SD9VE gets around that problem by not even having one. The standard left-side release on the SD9VE is long yet flat and extremely easy to use, while also not getting in the way of one's thumb. The standard left-side release on the MP9C is a little too out of the way and hard to get at with your thumb, but at least it works. My MP9C came with an optional manual thumb safety, which is not offered on the SD9VE (but with its heavier trigger you shouldn't be needing one anyway). The magazine release is reversible on the MP9C but not the SD9VE. The spring is very light on the SD9VE as well, which I do not like as it makes it more likely to be pressed on accident. Both have the same front Picatinny rail setup for attaching lights or lasers.



While externally they may look similar, internally they are completely different. The SD9VE (bottom one in pic above) has a very simple trigger system which is almost crude and Glock-like internally (not a complete shock given its lineage with the old S&W Sigma, aka Glock rip-off), and it becomes clear why there is a weight difference between the two. The MP9C has a more complicated trigger/striker system as well as having much larger and beefier frame rails (BTW please excuse the red grease you see in the pics... I simply didn't feel like wiping everything clean for the photos). Both use a single flat-wire captured spring guide rod, but the one in the MP9C is steel while it's polymer in the SD9VE. As most people are aware the SD9VE has what is called a "self defense trigger", meaning it's purposely set at around 8-9 pounds. The MP9C by contrast is advertised with a 5.5 pound trigger. Unfortunately I do not yet own a trigger scale, but I can tell you for a fact there is a big difference in the feel of the two triggers. You're not going to fire the SD9VE on accident, but at the same time the MP9C doesn't quite have a hair trigger like the Walther PPQ either. The SD9E trigger feels long and springy, but the letoff is still fairly crisp. The re-set distance is pretty long, however. In my opinion the MP9C is just about right, not too light and short but not too stiff and long either. It won't please everyone, but then again nothing ever will. I don't mind the curved, pivoting trigger of these guns but I do know some folks absolutely detest them. If you're one of those there are aftermarket solutions like the Apex trigger which can be ordered for either pistol.

The biggest difference however is in the grip. The SD9VE has a very plain grip without removable backstraps. Fortunately it's shaped very well and comfortable for most hand sizes. However the checkering/texturing is dull and offers very little traction. In the past while shooting mine it would squirm noticeably in my hand. As a result I cut some grip tape material to shape and added it to the backstrap, which you can see in the pictures. Maybe it's cheating, but I didn't want to remove it for this review and I will say that for me at least it was absolutely necessary. By contrast the MP9C has the new aggressive textured grip surface in addition to four different-sized backstrap options. At first I shot it with the medium backstrap but subsequently decided the small one felt better in my hands. I can tell you that no matter how sweaty your hands are the MP9C's grip will NOT shift in your hand. Some might consider the texture to be too aggressive, but I suggest trying it first before attempting to sand it down. The bore axis is slightly lower on the MP9C, and it made a noticeable difference at the range as I'll discuss shortly.

Continued...

Disassembly of the SD9VE is identical to a Glock. Verify it's unloaded, remove the magazine, pull the trigger, pinch the slide back slightly and pull down on the tabs of the disassembly lever (which unfortunately are tiny and hard to get ahold of) then pull the slide off the frame. The MP9C disassembles in a slightly different, but in my opinion a superior fashion: Verify it's unloaded, remove the magazine and lock the slide back. Rotate the disassembly lever down, release the slide, pull the trigger then pull the slide off. Yes it involves more steps but you're less likely to disassemble it without realizing there are still live rounds inside. And if that's still too hard to do there is a small lever that can be accessed through the ejection port and flipped down to disengage the striker, using a punch or even the built-in "tool" that holds the removable backstraps in place.

Of course with all of this we must keep in mind one thing: The SD9VE retails for around $349 currently while the MP9C is between $100-$150 more. Feeling each one in the hand like this is akin to comparing a stripped-down base version of a Toyota Corolla versus a fully-optioned Acura sedan. leather seats and all. In the hand the SD9VE feels crude compared to the MP9C, but that was intentional. The SD9VE is simple, basic protection for those who cannot afford more gun than that. The M&P series is for the discriminating handgun buyer who likes features. However just as a cheap compact car will still get you to work and back, a budget gun like the SD9VE will still save your backside as long as you do your part. But the question is... all else being equal how well do they actually shoot compared to one another? Lets find out...

Using S&B 115gr FMJ I fired two sets of targets with each, one a 15-round slow-fire at ten yards followed by a 10-shot rapid-fire (one shot per second) at seven. The pictures basically speak for themselves:



Using the MP9C I easily shot right to point of aim at ten yards, and the 2 3/4" group size was quite respectable. The excellent sights and low bore axis, combined with the grip gluing itself to my hand made repeat shots a cinch. At ten yards the first shot went slightly high, but it did not spoil the overall group size by much.

The SD9VE was another matter. At first the stiff trigger combined with the less-than perfect grip caused me to throw the first shot way high. However with subsequent shots the grip found the right position in my hand and I quickly got used to the trigger. As a result the remaining 14 rounds went into a respectable 2 7/8" despite the first-shot flyer opening everything up to 5 1/4". However due to the heavy trigger I pulled the shots to the left somewhat. The sight picture was also noticeably more fuzzy, owning to the plastic rear sight. Furthermore I noticed a bit more muzzle flip when I fired the SD9VE, although I don't know how much of that was due to bore axis or if the comparatively slick grip was moving in my hand.



Firing rapid fire at seven yards on a "Mini-Me" sized IPSC target things were about the same. The MP9C was easy to control and the groups were centered. With the SD9VE I missed the paper completely with one shot, although the rest were in a reasonably tight but off-center cluster. For what is expected of a realistic combat and defense shooting handgun however the SD9VE did just fine. The MP9C was much more enjoyable to shoot and was easy to hit with, and as I said it felt like a luxury car compared to the boxy, plain-jane SD9VE. But was its performance clearly superior? It certainly felt better in the hand, but it didn't really shoot noticeably better if you discount the operator-induced wild shots. And that despite the fact that the heavy 8# trigger of the SD9VE is decidedly inferior. With a little practice it's not hard to manage. I winged those couple of shots mostly because of the fact that the grip didn't plant itself into my hand well until after the first round fired.

So, what do I think? The M&P 2.0 Compact is definitely more fun to shoot, and under stress it's a lot easier to shoot as well. But the SD9VE is still able to hold its own despite being a "cheaper" handgun with next to no frills compared to its more expensive brother. The trigger and grip texture would need improvement to bring it closer to the level of the M&P, but Apex has you covered with the former and a simple stippling job or Talon grips would take care of the latter for little additional cost. My obvious preference is for the M&P, but I would still feel very well-armed with the lower-cost SD9VE as well.

Nice review. Thanks!
I just ordered an M&P 2.0 Compact in .40 S&W.

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Cliff
CCSO, FPD ret, USN ret.

Having owned both of those (sold the SD9VE), I concur with every thing you say. Great post!

Excellent review! I wish more would take the time to go as in depth.

I don't own one, but I've handled a few SD9VE guns and find the trigger just horrible. Not just heavy, but lots of slack, lots of creep and lots of over-travel. All that adds up to very poor accuracy.

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Freedom isn't free.

I will be the first to agree that the trigger on the SD9VE is by no means an Apex M&P trigger, but it can be mastered. I only have one pic left of shooting with one of my SD’s, and while I can do better with my M&P’s, I don’t think this is too bad for rapid fire and double taps.

Edited to add: Great write up DSK. Thanks.

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NRA Life Member, Patron

Great write up.

Found my target from the SD9 from last spring. Slow fire trying for accuracy. Sorry about the pic coming in sideways.

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Is 1 round per second rapid fire? dang...I must shoot at mega turbo rapid fire then... I usually kick off 3-4 rounds per second when I run a string at 5-7yds. probably not with an 8lb SD9 trigger though. I can do that and stay accurate with my M&P's and glock 9mm's. I think I can squeeze another round in their with my Apex'd guns with the forward set sear kit. I guess I better start taking pics of my targets and using a shot timer so I can back up my claims! don't wanna be one THOSE guys...

I'm really liking that S&B 115g stuff... 1280fps is some serious juice for target ammo. I tend to like shooting the hotter stuff so it will better emulate my defense load. I've been seeing more of the S&B out there lately for pretty good prices in bulk. seems like maybe they are really trying to compete for a piece of the market share.

Are you using a timer?

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Freedom isn't free.

Not yet, like I said in my post, I'm gonna try one out now so I can actually get my splits timed accurately.

Counting out a full second is 4 syllables though so it's not hard to imagine getting 4 shots out in that time. I also dont use my sights when doing this kind of shooting. Strictly point and shoot. I'm also a drummer and have a good sense of time.

I have a feeling that most people are actually shooting faster than 1 round per FULL second.

Unfortunately one shot per second is as fast as the range allows. They've had too many Rambos in there putting holes in the ceiling.

Oh yeah, one of those ranges. More and more common unfortunately. I'm lucky I have one that's pretty cool near where I live. They're pretty cool there... unless you're being an idiot. They have steel baffles for the ceiling unlike most that have wood baffles so they can take a bit more abuse.

Great comparison. I like that smith&Wesson offers a decent budget handgun.

I think S&W made a smart move to cover the budget market with an entirely different gun rather than simply take one of their standard M&P models and strip it down to nothing. Otherwise when you do that the customer is reminded of what they are missing, and it also tends to drag down the reputation of the premium guns. The SD9VE stands completely on its own merits, good or bad (but mostly good).