M&P 2.0 Subcompact and

Unless something changers my mind I am interested in buying a M&P 2.0 Subcompact 9mm . The reviews I have read and watched are very positive . I want to replace my first generation Sheild . With its lighter and smaller slide and its strong recoil spring it is becoming difficult for me to retract the slide with my 77 year old hands . I played with one of the 2.0 subcompacts at a gun shop and no trouble with the slide at all and like the thicker and4 replaceable grip inserts to customize the grip to your hand .
Anyone have one and can share their experiences and likes and dislikes… ?
THANK YOU in advance.
Respectfully JoeDice

i have a 1.0 Shield and a 1.0 Compact (both 9mm). The 1.0 Compact is the same size as the 2.0 Subcompact.

The Shield is a bit of a bear to rack. Rather than pull the slide back I grab the slide and push the frame forward with a solid push (more like a punch). The Compact is easier to rack since the serrations are a bit more aggressive and the slide wider to get a better grip.

While I shoot my Shield reasonably well, I do like the bigger grip on the Compact. I also have the 2.0 trigger in it. All my mags, except for one, have the pinky extension so I can comfortable get all my fingers on the grip. With the one flush mag my pinky barely rides the edge. For the same reason I shoot my Shield with the 8 round mags. I have only one 7 round mag for it.

You might consider the 2.0 Compact. You can get one with the shorter barrel (like the subcompact) and still have a 15 round mag. I think the grip length is about the same comparing the Compact to the Subcompact using the pinky extension.

Within my small gun collection, my S&W M&P 9mm 2.0 Performance Center is not only incredibly accurate, but I don't recall one single malfunction since I've owned it.

Saudade said:

You might consider the 2.0 Compact. You can get one with the shorter barrel (like the subcompact) and still have a 15 round mag. I think the grip length is about the same comparing the Compact to the Subcompact using the pinky extension.

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With the pinky extension, the overall size and weight are nearly identical,and…in the compact you can get the much nicer design flat faced trigger vs. the old style hinged trigger, and optic ready, should you choose.

Extra capacity, nicer trigger, optic ready… frankly, I can’t believe there’s still a market for the sub compact.

dajogejr said:

With the pinky extension, the overall size and weight are nearly identical,and…in the compact you can get the much nicer design flat faced trigger vs. the old style hinged trigger, and optic ready, should you choose.

Extra capacity, nicer trigger, optic ready… frankly, I can’t believe there’s still a market for the sub compact.

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Will the compact accept the 12 round mags with the pinky extensions standard on the Subcompact????

JoeDice said:

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Will the compact accept the 12 round mags with the pinky extensions standard on the Subcompact????

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No, the compact is 15 rounds for the same length grip (sub with pinky extension. So you get 3 more rounds for the same grip length.

JoeDice said:

—————
Will the compact accept the 12 round mags with the pinky extensions standard on the Subcompact????

Click to expand...

The biggest difference in size between the two…is the small area behind the pinky extension on the sub vs the compact. The Pinky gives the “lip” affect whereas the compact is flush… it’s where you get the extra few rounds. Handgunhero.com does a really good job of all the comparison measurements. I can’t find the new 2.0 style on the site for the compact, with the better trigger and optic cut, but frame size is there…so maybe their graphic just isn’t as updated as it can be. Second pic is the current 2.0 version. For $60 more MSRP you get better trigger, sights, optic plate and true 15 round capacity… street price, probably a price difference of $30 to $50 bucks.

I have the 1.0, as people call it, 12rd compact. While I don't carry it, I do like it better than the Shield. I also have the 2.0 compact, the 15 rd model. If you don't insist on using the finger extension, then there is the advantage in concealment. When I shoot the 12rd compact, I simply curl my little finger under the bottom of the grip. I don't have particularly big hands and it works fine for me.
If you feel that you want the size advantage of the 12rd compact, but are also interested in higher capacity, you can get sleeves for the magazines. With that you could go all the way up to the full size 17rd magazines. Versatility.

What is called a m&p sub compact today use to be known as a m&p9c . Not sure why that pistol is a draw to you when the current 2.0 compact can be bought in ether a 3.6" or 4" model . We still have the old m&p9c but t its been years since it was carried or even shot .

My wife moved on to the p365xl with a wilson grip module . I have a m&p 4" compact and a hellcat pro comp I really like for a 9mm and would carry ether one before the old or current sub compact .

Concealment is not an issue for my 2.0 4" compact as I still a full size 40sw CC guy using a mtac holster at 3:00 but the p365xl or my hellcat work very well in a aiwb holster .

Spent some time handling and shooting if possible the models you may have interest in and make up your mind .

Both my M&P9C and Shield 4" are easier to manipulate than the Shield 3.1"

You absolutely should check out the Shield EZ9 and Equalizer models.

Sent from my motorola razr plus 2023 using Tapatalk

dajogejr said:

The biggest difference in size between the two…is the small area behind the pinky extension on the sub vs the compact. The Pinky gives the “lip” affect whereas the compact is flush… it’s where you get the extra few rounds. Handgunhero.com does a really good job of all the comparison measurements. I can’t find the new 2.0 style on the site for the compact, with the better trigger and optic cut, but frame size is there…so maybe their graphic just isn’t as updated as it can be. Second pic is the current 2.0 version. For $60 more MSRP you get better trigger, sights, optic plate and true 15 round capacity… street price, probably a price difference of $30 to $50 bucks.

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Thank you much for providing that handgunhero.com website I never knew of its existence. Very interesting to make comparisons. I compared it to my Sheild 1st generation and I am convinced that my original choice of the subcompact 2.0 is the right choice for me..
The heal of the grip ,which is what really prints under your shirt , with the 12 round pinky mag in not really longer than my 8 round Sheild , and I get 4 more rounds. Granted the frame and grip is thicker but I don’t think that will be difficult to conceal as compared to the length of the grip especially the heal . That’s why bobtails were invented/ created..
Thank you all ,, for all your informative responses…

I just got this instead of a bodyguard 2.0 after months of deliberation. I dislike the curved trigger, but in every other way I like it as much as my 4 inch M&P optics ready 2.0 compact. Winter carry for that big boy, and little less weight and grip to print for summer coming up with the sub. Fits my holsters, shares my larger mags with spacer.

The only bit of disappointment was that I bought the range bag kit, sku 13600 I think, and it came with 2 flat plated mags instead of the 1 flat and one pinky. Not sure if just bad luck or what.

S&W says pinky plates are on the way to make it right, but what I could not get the cust svc rep to understand is that the part they are sending has a circle hole in the center like all my 15 and 17 rnd mag base plates from my 2.0 OR.

The 2 12rnd mags with flat plates that came with the sub have a square hole near the back edge of the plate so I think the pinky rests they are sending will not fit the weird 12 round mags from the sub unless I buy a floor or lock or buttplate (or whatever it is called between the spring and base plate) with a circle nub in the middle and do full surgery on the mag . I had never seen m&p mags with the square clip base plates before this.

Smith & Wesson M&P M2.0 / Compact 9 / 40 Magazine Buttplate: MGW

OEM M&P(R) Base Plate & Retainer, 3-pack | Ed Brown Products

SMITH & WESSON M&P MAGAZINE FLOOR PLATE

dajogejr said:

With the pinky extension, the overall size and weight are nearly identical,and…in the compact you can get the much nicer design flat faced trigger vs. the old style hinged trigger, and optic ready, should you choose.

Extra capacity, nicer trigger, optic ready… frankly, I can’t believe there’s still a market for the sub compact.

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I have all the sizes in the 9MM 2.0 series and while the barrel length between the subcompact and the compact 3.6 might be the same, there is a real difference in the size and between the two. And for a carry gun, that’s really important. There’s your market right there. I don’t care about the couple extra rounds, but I could use a larger mag if I wanted that, the 2.0 trigger is quite nice as it is, and I’m never gonna mount a red dot to a carry gun anyway.

If anything, the Shield Plus kind of made the subcompact obsolete, at least for a carry gun.

kbm6893 said:

I have all the sizes in the 9MM 2.0 series and while the barrel length between the subcompact and the compact 3.6 might be the same, there is a real difference in the size and between the two. And for a carry gun, that’s really important. There’s your market right there. I don’t care about the couple extra rounds, but I could use a larger mag if I wanted that, the 2.0 trigger is quite nice as it is, and I’m never gonna mount a red dot to a carry gun anyway.

If anything, the Shield Plus kind of made the subcompact obsolete, at least for a carry gun.

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I too have had all the different iterations of M&P over the years..
I gave my dad my old M&P40c a few years ago (which, he recently traded in..lol), traded in my M&P9c earlier this year as well.
Currently have M&P Comp Carry 2.0 9 (performance center with comp) and the same in a shield plus comp carry.

Both perform better in every way vs. the old 9c and 40c.
The “heel” of the pistol, the part that prints, for me.. that extra half inch, literally… is nothing to worry about.
I personally think the whole “print” thing is way overblown.

But it sells pistols and holsters…so be it.
I’ll take the 3 extra rounds AND grip area for my support hand vs. worrying about 1/2” of printing real estate.

I also have 2XL size hands.. so again, to each their own!

dajogejr said:

I too have had all the different iterations of M&P over the years..
I gave my dad my old M&P40c a few years ago (which, he recently traded in..lol), traded in my M&P9c earlier this year as well.
Currently have M&P Comp Carry 2.0 9 (performance center with comp) and the same in a shield plus comp carry.

Both perform better in every way vs. the old 9c and 40c.
The “heel” of the pistol, the part that prints, for me.. that extra half inch, literally… is nothing to worry about.
I personally think the whole “print” thing is way overblown.

But it sells pistols and holsters…so be it.
I’ll take the 3 extra rounds AND grip area for my support hand vs. worrying about 1/2” of printing real estate.

I also have 2XL size hands.. so again, to each their own!

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I totally agree with you the general population will not notice a printing handgun , their mind is too busy to be aware of the world around them . I have even walked past a LEO at the grocery store or a restaurant during lunch and they are not looking at my waist to see if I’m carrying…
I have small hands but with long fingers which is why I wanted to try the various grip panels available on the 2.0

I’m no expert but I have stayed away from ported , compensated barrels , thinking the flash might blind you for an instant in a night time self defense situation… [?]

Thanks for your response.

JoeDice said:

I’m no expert but I have stayed away from ported , compensated barrels , thinking the flash might blind you for an instant in a night time self defense situation… [?]

Thanks for your response.

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Everyone is different, I’ve shot ARs and ported pistols in dusk, dark… that flash happens in milliseconds.
With no porting, at night/no light, you are still going to see a flash. There’s a violent explosion going on…it has to go somewhere . I don’t feel it’s enough to even consider.. and I’m a red dot guy. That being said, they offer M&P compact without a comp or porting of any kind.

The flash coming up vs out front is just 6 of one, 1/2 dozen of the other as my dad would say.

I've got a few M&P pistols. Carry one every day.

These days I carry a Shield Plus when I get in the car/truck to go somewhere. It is so easy/light to carry (back up magazines as well) that for a time I would get concerned that I'd lost it somewhere. Compared to the Compact CZ (P07) I'd been carrying the Shield Plus was invisible carrying it IWB. So light, so thin, so unnoticeable.

My wife had a Shield 9MM but it was getting hard for her to pull the slide to the rear. I ordered an Equalizer for her. Easy to rack, good round count in the magazines. Uses the same mags as my Shield Plus. It shoots good enough to satisfy either one of us (both of us are picky about group size). Took a bit of time for her to get used to the trigger pull on the Equalizer vs. the Shield PC pistol. Had grip safety issues (hand placement issues) and finally put an aftermarket grip safety on it and the problems went away. She's been carrying the Equalizer for several months and is quite happy with it (OR with thumb safeties). I shot it enough to realized I wouldn't feel unhappy if all I had was an Equalizer.

I've got a Compact .40 (4" barrel, 13+1) and a sub compact .40 (shorter barrel and 10+1). Neither is as small/light as the Shield Plus. I had the urge for a Compact 9MM but can't justify the money when the Shield Plus carries the same round count in a smaller/lighter package.

I've not carried the Equalizer so I can't comment on how it carries vs. the Shield Plus. But it does shoot as well as my 4" Shield Plus 9MM pistols.

Good luck with whatever pistol you end up buying.

M1, gotta be honest. That Shiel Plus Comp I own is an outstanding, reliable shooter. But yep, the only downside is that’s a stout recoil spring.
My wife has a little bit of trouble with it. (My) Her MP 9 Comp Carry is much easier on her. They both shoot very similar.. but I do love carrying the Shield Plus…

Somebody is going to come out with a lighter spring for that Shield. I’d be first in line to try it out and make sure it’s reliable.
Other than the slightly odd optic cut, it’s the only gripe I have about it for the features vs. price point.

Each of us have to figure out what to carry on our own . I will say the length of the grip guys might need a different holster design and or a different position on your body to carry if they feel a full size pistol is too hard to conceal .

My weight is,,, was 5-10 but as an old man I'm 5-9 today and 200lbs and always carried at 3:00 in a very adjustable iwb holster . My primary carry over the years was a alloy frame commander in 45 . Today it's a full size m&p 4.25 40sw , no short grip bang bang . But I have finally bought a pistol I probably will CC at some point , A 15 or 17 round mag hellcat pro comp that I enjoy shooting . need to thnk about an appendex holster for it , maybe .