Pics of my new M&P9 M2.0 (with update and new pic)

[olivehead1]

Just a few pics of the new pistol. I think it's an improvement on a good pistol. If you already like the original, it will come down to whether you like the new grip texture, would miss the beavertail, and the trigger, which feels like a marked improvement to me. The magazines that ship with the 2.0 appear to be identical to those that come with the 1.0. Having handled a total of 5 samples at three different stores, I'd say fit and finish is on par with the M&P 1.0, meaning expect to see some inconsistent finishes and a mixture of some thin areas and/or fine scratches and sights that may be slightly off from center in the dovetail. Also two changes that I haven't seen mentioned elsewhere: Smith is using solid pins rather than roll pins in the frame, and the mag release button appears to be steel.
P.s. I also think the addition of a fourth medium-large backstrap is a nice touch in theory, as I haven't had a chance to try it out yet. But with the installed medium backstrap, the grip, from memory, does feel just a bit smaller or thinner than that of the 1.0 with medium backstrap, so I may find I like the M/L backstrap best. We'll see.

 

[Steved13]

Very nice, I like the Grip area, looks cleaner to me.

Does the little bar in front of the slide lock on the left side do anything?

 

[olivehead1]

Very nice, I like the Grip area, looks cleaner to me.

Does the little bar in front of the slide lock on the left side do anything?

Best I can tell it's part of the steel chassis that pokes through the frame to secure it. But then why not similar on the other side of the frame? I will have to investigate this further...

As for the grip, it does look cleaner, and if you like the texture on the M&P45 Shield, it's basically the same thing. It also feels similar to the E2 one-piece grip on the newer SIG P-series pistols. Like those, with enough bare-handed shooting, I'm thinking you'll start to see a build up of dead skin residue (ick). Regular application of a toothbrush and some cleaner should take care of that.

 

[cash71]

I think S&W made some improvements that were needed. I owned 4 M&P9's, 4 Shields, 2 M&Pc 9's, I have since moved on.

But looking at the new gun has me interested again but the trigger will be key whether I'll buy the M&P again. I now have PPQ M2, PPS m2 and some HK's, so the new M&P M2 will need to be good regarding the trigger among other things.

It's not good to here that there were some problems with the finish. The guns I own now have very good finishing and I will expect any new gun I buy to have at least as good of finish but will look to S&W resolving any initial production issues, otherwise I'm out at purchasing again. I know my old M&P's had some issues but that was the market then but some of the newer [ non S&W ] models introduced are finished well. I'm a bit surprised about Smiths finishes I've owned many older S&W [ NOT M&P] that had very good finishes.

Good Luck with your gun I hope to hear about your range reports.

 

[charlie sherrill]

I just ordered the 5" with dark earth finish and exposed safety.

 

[DMSC]

Have you had a chance to test fit of 2.0 in holsters for the 1.0?

 

[olivehead1]

Have you had a chance to test fit of 2.0 in holsters for the 1.0?

Don't actually have a holster for the full sized M&P9, but everything I've read said they'll fit, and just looking at the 2.0 it's pretty clear that they kept most of the basic slide and frame shape from the 1.0.

 

[Shield9mm]

Have you had a chance to test fit of 2.0 in holsters for the 1.0?

holster and mags will be compatible was said on the introductory video they kept the geometry of the trigger guard.


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[Heyman]

How's the barrel fit into the slide? And when the pistol is assembled, and you shake it, do you hear rattling? You think the 2.0 has addressed the accuracy issues a lot experienced with the original 9mm design?

Thanks for the pics!

 

[NCW Ray]

Best I can tell it's part of the steel chassis that pokes through the frame to secure it. But then why not similar on the other side of the frame? I will have to investigate this further...

As for the grip, it does look cleaner, and if you like the texture on the M&P45 Shield, it's basically the same thing. It also feels similar to the E2 one-piece grip on the newer SIG P-series pistols. Like those, with enough bare-handed shooting, I'm thinking you'll start to see a build up of dead skin residue (ick). Regular application of a toothbrush and some cleaner should take care of that.

Would the picture of the Model and Features Identification in the users manual have a label on it like they do for the earlier M&P's that might say what it is?

 

[olivehead1]

How's the barrel fit into the slide? And when the pistol is assembled, and you shake it, do you hear rattling? You think the 2.0 has addressed the accuracy issues a lot experienced with the original 9mm design?

I cannot address the accuracy issue, although with the first gen I really didn't have any issue with "practical accuracy," i.e., how well I shot a particular gun.

The barrel just visually actually seems to be a better fit where the hood meets the top of the slide vs. the 1.0. This is just from memory. Maybe the hood is "squared off" a bit more?

I gave it a good shake, and there wasn't what I'd consider excessive rattle, meaning it was more of a soft clunk with a good hard shake, rather than sounding like a bunch of marbles in an aluminum can.

One other note: There's now a metal spring-loaded dingus visible when the slide lock/catch/release is in the upward position, and if you thumb the catch down, you can hear a click, like it's locking the catch into place in the down position. I think I figured the reason for this on reassembling: I hadn't thumbed the catch down again and when I tried to put the slide back on, it was catching on something, which turned out to be the tab on the left side of the slide catch (again, see pic). I think the springy dingus is there for this very reason, i.e., to facilitate reassembly with the redesigned slide catch/release (the 1.0 version does not have that tab poking upward). That tab locks into the slide to hold it open, and my though is maybe this redesign was to give a more positive slide hold-open so as to address the "slam reload" problem/feature that some M&Ps have.
p.s. I'm not so sure anymore that the mag button is metal; in the LGS it looked metal, but it may just be a different color plastic (the 1.0 button is definitely plastic and is pretty much identical in color to the frame plastic). I'll take a magnet to it when I get a chance.

 

[Bill In Texas]

Congratulations and thanks for the review!

 

[SportScout]

I just ordered the 5" with dark earth finish and exposed safety.

Price & from?

 

[Killcity]

Does this new model still use the packing inside the trigger return spring?

 

[olivehead1]

Pic of barrel hood

FWIW, the 2.0 is on the left, 1.0 on the right, illustrating what I meant about the fit seeming "tighter" and the corners being a little more "squared off." Cannot tell you at the moment if this will have any effect on accuracy.
In this pic you can see a Glock-like 15 or so degree cut on the 2.0 ejection port, but it looks like the extractor is the same part as the 1.0, so you can see it sticking out. Kind of sloppy IMO, but maybe that will change with later runs of the gun.
Also, the mag button is definitely plastic but looks metallic and is visibly "hollowed out" unlike the button on the 1.0 (sorry no pic to show this).
The trigger is almost identical to the trigger on the pictured 1.0 Pro Series 4.25 (which in turn is someone different feeling than my 5" Pro (which has a less "clicky" reset), and to tell you the truth, not having shot the 2.0, it sort of makes me appreciate the 1.0 a little more, aesthetically speaking.

 

[Sam1]

Most importantly, how is the trigger? Does anyone have an actual number on pull weight? I can't seem to find anything specific other than the usual marketing hype.

 

[Shield9mm]

Most importantly, how is the trigger? Does anyone have an actual number on pull weight? I can't seem to find anything specific other than the usual marketing hype.

good question, nobody has mentioned anything about the trigger, I guess they haven't shot the gun yet

 

[CRJeff]

Love S&W but love my CZ's more