As the owner of a 2.0 Metal, which I like a lot, I'm wondering if anyone has heard any speculation or rumors about the future of expanding the Metal series. I haven't read or heard anything about the popularity of the 9mm 2.0 Metal, so I'm wondering if it's successful enough that we might see more offerings. Maybe a Metal in .45? Maybe a Shield Plus? Anyone know anything?

Thanks,
Whisper

I have no answer...
... But I want to speak up to show interest.

I also have, and love, the M2.0 Metal. I would also instantly purchase a Shield Plus or Full size 45 Metal.

Heck, I'm tempted to get the Metal Competition and I have no real use for a competition gun. Tempted, but have (thus far) talked myself out of it.

If S&W has any marketing sense, and I think they do, they will greatly expand the Metal lineup to include just about all of their M&P pistols.

It's got lots of pros and practically no cons.

The only con to me is price; I waited until I found a used one at a lower price.

Some say they would prefer a steel frame over an aluminum frame to soak up recoil. I don't think steel is necessary for 9mm, it could make sense for 10mm.

I would buy a 3.6 or 4” metal in a heartbeat.


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I got mine! It was an impulse buy last fall. I wanted one with a plastic frame, but the sales guy talked me into this. It turned out that I like it very much, and it is now one of my favorite pistols

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Dang it, I had the hots for one a few months ago but I'd kinda gotten over it. Now I won't be able to quit thinking about it again...

If they combined the metal frame with a hammer fired DA trigger, they would really have something.

And get the plastic glock dingus out of the trigger.

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S&W Accumulator

Having of late become a much bigger fan of 45acp than any other semi-auto caliber, I'd probably buy a metal M&P45. I've got a couple of 1911's and a couple of Glock 23's. I'm a much bigger fan of metal than plastic. But to me all polymer pistols are equal and Glock is the devil I know.

So, please S&W, give me a reason to buy a new gun from you. QC issues and all, I'd take the plunge. And if it's hammer fired SA/DA? Just give it to me in an IV.

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Just Say No - To Social Media

I agree that the price on the 2.0 Metal is stiff, but just imagine what they'd cost if the frame was steel instead of aluminum. Plus then you'd get people complaining about the weight.

We should get the M&P 2.0 .45 Metal first, then Shield Plus Metal. Please tell us you're listening, S&W.

Cheers,
Whisper

I would love to see a metal frame 45 myself but it would only be worth more money if they actually did make it more accurate with a tighter slide to barrel fit, otherwise why bother?

What you and others are asking for already exists in the form of a SIG Sauer P220.

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I'll play devils advocate for a minute. The M&P metal frames appear cast, and as was already pointed out - aluminum. That isn't necessarily a bad thing, so long as the casting process and metal alloy has been perfected = not porous/susceptible to cracking.

I started looking at the metal M&P's. That stuck out to me as my philosophy with frames is "metal" absorbs recoil better than the composites.

That said, I consider "metal" to be stainless steel. When you dig in to the weight of the metal vs composite M&P's there is not much difference in weight because of the aluminum.

In practice, which shoots smoother with less recoil? Probably the metal, but by how much? To me, on the outside looking at the numbers I can't justify it.

For the added price - I can get more bang for the buck with the classic composites.

For what it is worth, in 9mm my favorite pistol is a Kahr MK9. It is the best shooting small pistol I have - which is why I bought it back in the day. It is heavy stainless steel and a pretty small pistol. It is more concealable than the majority of my pistols (aside from the Bodyguard). What it doesn't have is round capacity - 6 rounds flush mag, 7 and 8 with the extended mags. I switched to the Equalizer late last year as my primary as its a double stack and I really like the form factor. That doesn't discount the MK9, it still has its place.

As to the metal M&P's - go stainless steel and add 10oz or more. Then I might look at them again. Though, I am sure the casting process would be vastly different with that metal and trying to machine it may not be possible.

I do not want a steel framed gun if I am going to be carrying for a significant length of time.

Recoil from a 9mm or 45 AARP is not a factor for me. Plastic, aluminum, or steel frame makes no difference in that regard.

I haven’t handled a S&W metal frame model. Is this another pot metal gun like Walther P22 and such? If so I’m not sure if it’s better than the plastic models. Seeing how S&W have ties with Walther and they are tied with pot metal casting outfit, I believe I’ll just pass right now. I can see from pics they are out of same outfit.

No, S&W is using aluminum for the frames. Same for Walther P22. No pot metal.

Personally, I never really understood the appeal of the Metal M&Ps and have always just sort of presumed that they were made to tap the niche market of those who desire a modern pistol yet refuse to purchase anything with a polymer frame.

I feel like if Smith & Wesson really wanted to take the market by storm then they ought to revived their 3rd Gen Semiautomatic Pistol series with some updates/upgrades, given them a unique brand name, then marketed them aggressively.

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Shooting Comfort is bilateral.

I carry my Metal on a daily basis and love it. If they made a 45 Metal and FPC or Response, I would be double down.

Plastic has been fine, in my experience. No problems in the least. Why would you not want a plastic framed pistol or pistol caliber carbine?

What rock have you been living under. S&W cut ties a long time ago with Walther. Umerex is the German company that makes .22 pistols for many brands, but not S&W anymore. Pot metal is zinc, not many guns made from zinc in the past 40ish years. Aluminum on the other hand, has been used a lot since the 60s.

Kind of depends. To me, plastic is just a throw away. And it looks cheap. And there's no soul. I own a few but I don't think of them as "heirloom quality firearms". And manufacturers charge way entirely too much for a piece of injection molded plastic.

So, give me a similar metal vs plastic pistol in somewhere near the same price range and the question is "why wouldn't I prefer metal"?

To each their own.

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Just Say No - To Social Media

I agree, there is nothing wrong with plastic. When I hear about frames developing stress cracks, stretching or some other problem it usually involves some sort of aluminum alloy. I prefer steel if weight is not an issue and plastic if it is.

Nothing wrong with aluminum in a properly designed gun but I only own two with aluminum components, a 22 compact with an aluminum slide and an AR.

If someone likes the way metal looks and feels that is 100% subjective and there is no wrong answer. Personally, I think wooden grips look out of place and ugly on stainless steel revolvers and despite people trying to convince me I am wrong nobody has ever succeeded. It's nice S&W provides options.

I have no ill will toward "Plastic." I used to use the M&P Full and compact 40 for duty. Just like your children, you love them all but, maybe one a little more than the other. The Metal is really not that much more weight to worry about and I believe in the end metal is more durable than plastic. Also, what is not to love about a Metal 45 and a FPC or Response.

There is not really a right or wrong here. I's all preference, but some members just can't get a grasp on that reality, and will feel they have to justify their purchases.

Well, hopefully the metal series won't be going down the road of the Walther versions...

As in a cool $1,599.99 (!) for the PDP Compact with a metal frame...

Cheers!

P.S. There were NEW CZ-75Bs available earlier this week for $499.99!

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Sit Reloader Sentiret

I'm guessing you would like it released as the "4th Gen" pistol.

I'm left shaking my head at the number of people who still grumble about alloy in firearms. Metallurgy is an ever evolving art, and it has come a long way in the last 40 years or so.

There is another factor when it comes to metal versus polymer. I'm pretty sure it easier to make ergonomic grip frames using polymer than metal. Saying "make the Model ABC123 in metal and I'll buy it" may not be achievable at a reasonable manufacturing cost.

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Release the Kraken

I own several plastic guns which I have no problems with however after having a 6906 frame crack and S&w giving some extremely low round count for them to be “good” for it has soured me with their aluminum guns. I may not fit the majority, and that’s ok, but I prefer steel. The weight doesn’t bother me and it’s not a recoil issue, but just that 6906 and response from S&w. If I can find the old email response from them I’ll post it but I don’t know if I called them or emailed at that time.

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Jim

I feel that way about all semi-autos with aluminum frames, not just S&W. I will still consider an aluminum frame revolver even though I do not currently own one. And I do own a S&W 22 compact which has an aluminum slide on a polymer frame. But its not just S&W that has had issues with aluminum frames, I have heard the same about Sigs too.

If S&W made a steel frame metal version of the M&P compact I would likely buy it as a range and home defense gun. It would be too heavy to carry but the extra weight and lack of flex in the frame would make it easy to shoot well. But I have no interest in the current metal model.

I may be the minority on this, but where is the 40 metal? They can use the same size frame as the 9 and wont really have to change much. It would be the easiest caliber to add to the line up, and I would buy the first one that I saw. 45 and 10mm would be great too and I would definitely buy them if they were available, but those would be more r&d for smith than the 40 would.

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Please no more EZs...

The trick with .40 S&W is that as long as there continue to be cheap police trade-ins on the market, nobody is going to buy a new gun chambered in the round.

Seriously, the majority of people — including those who insist that they'd buy it at any cost — are going to change their mind really fast when they see that they can buy a couple SIG P226s, Beretta 96s, CZ-75s, or even an old S&W 3rd Gen for the price of a new M&P40 Metal Frame.

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Shooting Comfort is bilateral.

I disagree, I think there are plenty of people that will buy the metal in 40, 45, or 10. I don't think that the price will be too crazy and people will eat it up. Not that I have a viral dislike for any of the others out there, I just really like S&W. As I have stated here, if they had a combo of FPC or Response and a metal in 45 I would be in for both. Would I pay over $3000+, probably not. I don't think that it would be that much without being PC or something like that but, in the 2300-2600 range, yes. I might pay more for a SPEC series combo for that but, it would have to be nice.

Metal frame semi’s auto’s….what a concept., who would have ever thunk it!!

Resurrecting an old thread, I'm trying to work out the justification of a Metal M&P for competition use. I've been competing in the last five years with longslide polymer M2.0s and haven't been able to work out whether an aluminum framed gun weighing almost exactly the same would provide any competitive benefit.

If you went with the Spec you may notice a difference, but I would guess the standard Metal wouldn't do much for your split times.

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Please no more EZs...

And the Competitor? (I compete with an unported 5" polymer M&P with optics)