I just picked it up and am wondering if there's anything I need to know about this pistol. I know I should have researched this pistol before buying, but I'm a terrible impulse buyer. Thanks for any help.

You got a great pistol. Take it to the range and verify your example is reliable. That's pretty much it.....

Always good to give a new pistol a thorough cleaning before first use, dry fire, after ensuring it is empty. to get a feel for the trigger, which is excellent on the 2.0 series, and install the most suitable back strap for your hand. The M&P 2.0 Compact is an excellent pistol, you should be very satisfied with it.

__________________
DAV Life Member

You bought a great gun. One of my favorites. Just picked up another 1.0 45c myself.

I have this same firearm as I prefer the 4" barrel over the 5". From the previous comments, it is an outstanding weapon straight out of the box. Having said that, I have added an Apex Tactical trigger kit and Novak night sights to mine, again just a personal preference. You will get a lot of mileage from yours whether you keep it stock or tinker with it some. Hope you enjoy it!

Took some effort for me to get all the protective coating out of the barrel.

Try loading a full magazine. (My 9mm takes only 14 out of 15)
Then, with the slide closed, try inserting the mag.

Just for fun, try releasing the slide with the slide catch on the right side.
(I am left handed and it is much harder than the left side.)

Not sure which trigger you have, but if it feels 'gritty' their are some options to improve it.

Then enjoy: great grip, flat recoil, on target, slim profile.

Every time AIM Surplus advertises police trade in MP45s, I get just that much closer to owning one.

I have 4" M&P2.0 Compacts in 45acp and 10mm. Both are great shooters out of the box. I've had no reason to swap out the trigger on either of them, but if I got the urge to do so, I would go with an Apex.

I'm also happy with the stock f/r sights, so again no reason to switch.

S&W puts heavy grease in the slide runners/grooves of all of their M&P2.0s for shipping purposes. Be sure to scrub this area thoroughly before the first time you shoot it. Otherwise, you'll experience a FTF/FTE and wonder if it's the gun's fault.

Final good news: the 45acp and 10mm frames/slides are close enough, dimensionally, that I can use the same holster for both guns.

They don't need trigger kits or so called "upgrades." It's marketing to get people to spend extra money. The stock M&P trigger is good out the box. I guarantee you that there are a plethora of members on this bord, including myself, who can shoot these guns just as good if not better than others who installed $100+ triggers. I have owned 7 various M&P pistols thus far with and without APEX triggers, and there's really no point in swapping out the trigger other than you have money yo burn and you want the look of an aluminum trigger. As with all guns, the stock trigger will smooth out and even lighten up with use.

The only upgrade that may be needed are night sights if you plan on using it as a home defense or carry gun, or fiber optic sights if you plan on competing or using it as a range toy.

I fired it and I'm sold. The trigger DOES feel gritty, but I'm hitting with the gun fine so no tinkering with it.

A lot of M&Ps have rough striker block faces, striker block channels, and/or trigger bars out of the box.

They'll break in with a few to several hundred trigger pulls, or you can break out the Dremel and polish them with polishing compound and a felt bit if you want to speed things up. The top of the 'dogs head' on the trigger bar can be polished with a ceramic knife sharpening rod.

I had Dan Burwell work over my 1.0 and it was markedly improved for not a lot of money.
I tried wearing in an Sig with 2000 cycles, dry and live fire as recommended by one of their in house experts. Then I sent it to Teddy Jacobson who made a real difference.

This is a real issue, but not a show-stopper. When I carry my M&P45s (I have one compact, one full-size, both 1.0s) it's with 10+1 in the gun and nine rounds in the reload magazine.

I got my Compact as an LE trade-in gun with the Apex trigger already installed by the LE agency. It's what I carry when I want to carry a .45. My 1911s stay in the safe.

__________________
Regards,

Chuck

Please for the love of God don't stone your trigger bar with a ceramic knife sharpening rod.

I know exactly what you mean. Just before COVID hit CDNN had a slew of brand new 5" XD Tacticals with the stainless slide in 45. When the price got down to near $300 I caved. Then Springfield had their magazine and range bag giveaway. I got a lot of gun and gear for the money.

__________________
Release the Kraken

It should smooth out with use, if not, then you can always disassemble it and give it a good polishing, or otherwise replace it with an aftermarket trigger.

__________________
Shooting Comfort is bilateral.