M&P 2.0 Compact -- Fit and finish issues

teevo8 · Feb 19, 2019

I have a Shield 9mm Gen 1 that's my EDC, and it was once my only S&W gun. I love that thing and when M&P 2.0 Compact came out, I eyed it for a long time and finally bought it a couple of months ago in December 2018. I saw a deal on Model # 12411, which is 2.0c w/o thumb safety and Crimson Trace pistol light, for $399.99 and I couldn't pass it up.

But I'm disappointed in the 2.0c. It has serious fit and finish issues that bothers me every time I look at it. Here are some of the issues:

1. There is a pretty big gap between the slide and the frame. I have several other brands of pistols. This 2.0c has by far the biggest gap. I call it, "the magazine viewing window".

2. Mine is w/o thumb safety. And they stuck plastic plugs where the safety would be and they don't even line up correctly. Half-assed...

3. The takedown lever flops freely when disengaged and feels like I can shake it off the gun. In contrast, my Shield has reassuring resistance when I engage or disengage the lever. It feels solid. 2.0c does not.

4. This bothers me the MOST. The back of the slide and the backplate stick out about 1/32" of an inch past the frame. When light hits it at certain angles, the resulting shadow makes it looks like the gun is out of battery. And I gotta look at it every time I shoot it.

2.0c is a mass-produced, meet-the-quota type of gun and it shows it. People are saying this is a Glock-killer, but I vehemently disagree. I also have a Glock 19. No, 2.0c is definitely not a Glock-killer.

It's an inexpensive gun that does the job and is adequate as a spare gun, and that's all it is. I'm sorry if your feelings are hurt, but I'm an owner as well and I'm calling like it is.

mobiless2 · Feb 20, 2019

There is a lemon made in everything. Send it to S&W with your concerns.

My 2.0 compact 9mm does not exhibit any of the issues you're having.

RobHazmat · Feb 20, 2019

Sounds like someone who doesn't understand manufacturing process and that sometimes things slip through QC. Using one unit out of thousands produced to form a judgement about model is kind of ignorant. Every single one I've handled has had exceptional fit/finish.

Like the other guy said, call S&W and I'm sure they'll make it right for you. Also, if this was an online purchase, pretty sure whoever your FFL dealer is allowed you to look the firearm over before you signed paperwork on it. If you didn't look it over before signing paperwork, that part is on you. Just saying.

moonpup · Feb 20, 2019

My slide plate is exactly the same way. Doesn't bother me, but I suppose I could call S&W and ask for another one.

Ranger17 · Feb 20, 2019

I don’t know if the OP’s purchase was in store or online but am guessing it probably was a net purchase. I assume in those that the buyer has the ability to check over the item before accepting it; if not I would have a problem with that dealer or license holder. Admitting i have not or wont purchase a gun online so can only assume on some of this. But yes if there are problems with its mechanicals then SW should cover it. If something is cosmetic i cant say either way.
Heck i have gone to purchase a new gun in a local store and told them to grab another when i saw the sights looked off, etc. so i understand like with any mass produced item there can be occasional issues to correct.

StephenWhoDat · Feb 20, 2019

I also do not have any of those issues with either of my M2.0 Compacts. If I were you, I'd be on the phone with S&W. Sounds like you got a defective example of an amazing pistol and I'm willing to bet they would make it right.

swsig · Feb 20, 2019

So, how does it shoot?

68Dave · Feb 20, 2019

Not counting the lever, my 2.0 compact has the same issues. My full size 2.0 that purchased a year prior does not. The slide overhang is annoying.
Both guns shoot wonderfully with no malfunctions. Please keep us posted if you contact S&W.
David

labloverva · Feb 20, 2019

Mine is the same way. Never paid much attention to it because it shoots so well with no malfunctions in about 600 rounds.

GeoJelly · Feb 20, 2019

Not to be a smart-butt, but I don't think you can say 'fit and finish' regarding the plastic framed S&W's or Glocks/etc. At least in the case of the Glock's, I've never seen any indication of fitting. I think they keep their tolerances close enough that they are just assembled ... and that no one is sitting at a bench with a file/etc and fitting parts.

Jeppo · Feb 20, 2019

Anyone know where I can buy a NIB G19 with Crimson Trace for $400?

ladder13 · Feb 20, 2019

Jeppo said:
Anyone know where I can buy a NIB G19 with Crimson Trace for $400?

The Jeppo owns plastic

oh the horror.

msjdgman · Feb 21, 2019

Everyone has their own standard for what is acceptable. But I don’t even begin to worry about very minor flaws in a mass produced polymer gun that sells for around $400. If it works and has acceptable accuracy, that’s all I truly care about. YMMV

gunny4053 · Feb 21, 2019

I've got no dog in this fight, but let me ask one question.....well, maybe several. How does it shoot? It's an M&P not a $2500 Wilson. If it doesn't shoot correctly or well, you have a problem, contact S&W. But, "it's not pretty", begs the question, did you look at it before you bought it? If you did, then who's at fault?

After the grief I just threw at you, contact S&W. A couple of your concerns I'm sure they'll address. A couple others I can guarantee the reply is going to be " it meets manufacture specs and performs as designed". Good luck.

Real Old Navy · Feb 21, 2019

Is S&W maybe having a Quality Control issue...this is the 2nd post concerning flaws running currently.

Well Armed · Feb 21, 2019

Real Old Navy said:
Is S&W maybe having a Quality Control issue...this is the 2nd post concerning flaws running currently.

Seems more like a lot of nitpicking issues. Things that really aren't that big of a deal and that most people won't even notice or care about if they do notice it. These aren't meant to be pretty handcrafted and fitted safe queens. They're meant to be reliable, fictional, massed produced duty grade firearms that are used to defend life with. Plus, they're selling for $300, $320, to $400 dollars (with a Crimson Trace laser).... Some have their standards to high and their priorities in the wrong place IMHO...

asilcot · Feb 24, 2019

Ranger17 said:
Heck i have gone to purchase a new gun in a local store and told them to grab another when i saw the sights looked off, etc. so i understand like with any mass produced item there can be occasional issues to correct.

I wish I had done the same when I bought my M&P 40. The display had a terrible trigger. The one he brought out for me to purchase had the same. I had read that the gen 1 all had bad triggers so i just accepted it as normal and figured in $100 for an Apex kit when I bought the gun. When I bought the 40C I made only a casual inspection of the trigger for the same reason. It did seem better to me. First trip to the range confirmed that while it is no target trigger it will be quite acceptable for what the gun will be used for. Had I asked to see another gun or two when I bought the full size I might have saved the $100.

Real Old Navy · Feb 24, 2019

Well Armed said:
Some have their standards to high and their priorities in the wrong place IMHO...

True...and I'm one of those guys. I have at least 1 spare of EVERY part of my Shield, including 2 complete slides and I gotta say there are no such flaws on any of them. No they're not show guns...but if I was willing to accept an inferior product I could have bought a Taurus for less. Thing is...his gun shouldn't have those problems, so what's causing it?

Well Armed · Feb 24, 2019

Real Old Navy said:
True...and I'm one of those guys. I have at least 1 spare of EVERY part of my Shield, including 2 complete slides and I gotta say there are no such flaws on any of them. No they're not show guns...but if I was willing to accept an inferior product I could have bought a Taurus for less. Thing is...his gun shouldn't have those problems, so what's causing it?

First, we're not talking about the Shield which is a completely different gun. We're talking about the M&P 2.0....

There's a difference between being an inferior product and nitpicking over insignificant little things...

The gap between the slide and the frame is the way it's designed. I have the same gap, and others who have posted pics of theirs have a gap also. It's normal... Look at his pictures and compare it to others...

From the pictures of the plastic plugs, I see absolutely nothing wrong with it, and it doesn't affect the fuction in any way. Mine looks similar.

The takedown lever has play when the the gun is fieldstriped, so what? It's not going anywhere, and it has zero play when it's fully assembled. I've taken my 2.0 M&P apart to install the Apex Trigger, and if the OP took his apart, he'd understand why there's play, and that it's not a fit and finish issue. Again, it's NOT going to just fall out.

The back of the slide and the frame isn't 100% perfectly flush, so what? So is mine and many others. I had to go look as I never noticed or even paid attention. You have to be looking for things to nitpick about to even notice. The OP is the first person I've ever heard even complain about it. It's a non issue that doesn't relegate the M&P 2.0 to being an " inferior product."

These aren't "problems", and if you give me a second, I'll post pictures of my 2.0 as well as others that are on the inet, and they'll look similar to the OP's...

Well Armed · Feb 24, 2019

Here's a pic of the gap between the slide and frame as well as the plugs on my M&P 2.0:

Here the OP's plug and slide/frame gap"

-------------------------------------------------

Here's a pic of the rear of my frame/slide:

Here's the OP's:

----------------------------------------------------

As far as the take-down lever is concerned and if memory serves me correctly, it has a half moon notch on it that inserts into a half moon opening in the trigger housing (or what ever the technical name is). It simply sits/lays in the insert, so there will be play; however, you must punch the pins out from the frame, AND pop the entire trigger housing out before you're able to remove the take-down... Someone correct me if I'm wrong... There's no chance of it just popping out, and there's no play when the gun is fully assembled

Here are fully assembled pics.. As you can see, unless you have the pistol an inch or two from your face or are taking close up macro pics, the OP's complaints are barely noticeable if at all...

M&P 2.0 Compact -- Fit and finish issues

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