Smith & Wesson is as American as apple pie, and one could even argue that they are an American tradition.
From revolvers to ARs to duty handguns, Smith & Wesson is definitely a jack of all trades. One of the company’s most successful lineups is the M&P series.
And today, we’re going to dive into the M&P line, look at its history, and walk you through some of the notable models you might want to consider.
Summary of Our Top Picks
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Editor’s PickSmith & Wesson M&P9 M2.0 Metal
All metal frame, excellent recoil mitgation, and snazzy looks
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Best for Easy RackingSmith & Wesson M&P380 Shield EZ
Great for shooters with weaker hand strength or health conditions
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Best Top Tier M&PSmith Wesson Performance Center M&P 9 M2.0
High end model with all the bells and whistles
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A Brief History
M&P handguns were introduced in 2005 as Smith & Wesson’s new line of polymer pistols. They were pretty revolutionary for the times.
With a rubberized grip, hinged trigger, fish scale serrations, and interchangeable backstraps, the M&P was definitely on the cutting edge of handgun technology in the early 2000s.
In its first year, the M&P gained over 100 Law Enforcement contracts. Unfortunately, it never quite gained the foothold needed to surpass Glock in popularity.
Enter the M&P 2.0. It was better than the first generation in almost every way.
The next-gen quietly broke the “you get what you pay for” mold. In reality, the second iteration of S&W duty handguns delivered your money’s worth and then some.
Some upgrades included: a steel frame insert, front slide serrations, improved slide stop, improved fire control group, and a significantly improved grip texture.
Each upgrade the M&P 2.0 brought added tons of functionality to an already great gun.
With a full lineup of over 22 variants (and rifles) to choose from, there’s plenty to pique your interest. So let’s get to it!
Best Smith & Wesson M&P Models
1. M&P 9 M2.0 Metal
Kicking off this list is a gun that has become an office favorite at PPT headquarters…the M2.0 Metal. Bringing a metal-framed vibe to the M2.0 lineup, it features a T6 aluminum frame.
While the added weight does make it slightly heavier, it isn’t a bad thing.
A little extra weight does wonders for recoil mitigation, and this couldn’t be truer than with the Metal. Seriously, this is a flat shooter.
We were nailing targets at 7 yards with no problems whatsoever — not to mention zero reliability issues.
Sights are also metal (notice a theme here??) in a white, 3-dot configuration and include serrations on the rear block.
The Metal sports some nice curves that fit even large hands and a nice beavertail to protect from slide bite. Overall this gun feels fantastic! It’s light and well-balanced.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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The Tungsten Gray Cerakote is also a nice touch and elevates the looks of this pistol.
Want more? The full video review below has all the details, as does our written review.
2. M&P .380 Shield EZ
At first glance, the M&P .380 Shield EZ can seem a little underwhelming. Like many other shooters, I dismissed it. I thought it was useless.
Boy, was I wrong!
After helping a friend teach a few handgun classes and going to the range with a few of my friends, I saw the glory that is the Shield EZ.
Our bodies are all different. This is the one challenge that all shooters face sooner or later. Most of us immediately relate this to mechanics.
Rightfully so, but one mechanic many shooters overlook is racking the slide. There is no way to shoot without doing it, and you’ve got to do it at least once. It comes so easily to most folks that it often goes undiscussed.
Sadly, this can be extremely discouraging for shooters with weaker grip strength or health conditions. In fact, they’re pretty much forgotten by the majority of the gun industry.
Smith & Wesson to the rescue!
The M&P Shield EZ was specifically designed with this demographic in mind. Redesigned from the ground up, the M&P Shield EZ is, in my opinion, one of Smith & Wesson’s greatest ideas to date.
With a grip safety, tactile loaded chamber indicator, and easy load magazine, the Shield EZ is definitely the odd man out. It sure doesn’t look like its brothers and sisters, but that’s because it serves a different purpose!
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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On top of serving people who might have trouble racking slides or managing recoil, the EZ serves a secondary group…those that like a manual safety.
The M&P Shield EZ fills that niche perfectly with both a grip and manual safety.
Added bonus? No hinged trigger to deal with.
Even if you don’t fall into the target audience, the Shield EZ is a logic-defyingly fun gun to shoot with a very soft recoil impulse.
Next time you hit the range, try one out and see if it’s worth a second look. It certainly changed my mind.
For a full look into the Shield EZ, read our review here or check out the video review below!
What do you think of the EZ? Rate it below!
3. Performance Center M&P 9 M2.0
This is a no-brainer. The best M&P offering is, without a doubt, the Performance Center M&P9 M2.0.
As the name suggests, the Performance Center M&P9 M2.0 is built for performance.
This is the top shelf of M&Ps. It has a ported slide and barrel, fiber optic sights, and a finely tuned trigger. Most importantly, it’s optics ready out of the box.
Now, these guns are not what anyone would call popular among competition shooters, but they are not looked down upon either.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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Instead, they are – sort of — just forgotten. Occasionally, you might see some people running these here and there.
What really makes the PC M&P9 M2.0 a force to be reckoned with is that it takes a gun that’s already great out of the box and tunes it to be phenomenal.
It’s modernized and optimized something that was already “good enough.”
4. M&P9 M2.0 Compact
Glock 19 Killer? Perhaps. Perhaps not.
The compact M&P9 M2.0 is plain jane. That is not necessarily a bad thing, though.
It is the Smith and Wesson equivalent to the Glock 19. A true workhorse…range toy, concealed carry, competition rig, whatever — this M&P variant will get the job done, often cheaper than its competitors.
One thing is certain; the M&P9 M2.0 holds its own with the big dogs like Glock and Sig.
As previously mentioned, the M&P 9 M2.0 has tons of functional upgrades from its prior generation. Boasting its aggressive grip, great trigger, metal (as opposed to Glock plastic) sights, and fish-scale serrations, the M&P M2.0 is a beast for the price.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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Compacts can handle pretty much any situation that needs to be handled between “needing a gun” and “needing a rifle.”
While this model doesn’t come with a ported barrel and slide or an optic-ready slide, the namesake M&P9 with an upgraded trigger is hard to beat!
Want to read more? We got you! Check out our review of the M&P9 M2.0 here.
5. M&P 45 Shield M2.0
Two WORLD WARS! IT CAN STOP A BEAR! 9MM, BUT FOR MEN!
Now that we’ve lost the interest of literally everyone else in the gun community, here is one for the .45 fanboys.
The M&P 45 Shield M2.0 is a beast of a concealed carry gun. It’s slightly larger than its 9mm counterpart and only holds one less round.
This little pocket gun can carry six to seven rounds of .45 ACP. That’s pretty substantial! Not to mention, its grip texture is more aggressive than the 9mm shield variant.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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Designed and optimized for concealed carry, the Smith & Wesson M&P 45 Shield M2.0 is the perfect concealed carry gun for boomers and 45 fanboys alike.
6. M&P Bodyguard .380
We’ve all experienced times that we wish we had a little something extra. Walking down a dark alleyway, going for a nighttime jog, or even just taking out the trash on a particularly dark night.
Maybe a gun? No, too inconvenient for such a minor task. A bodyguard? No, too expensive. Well, what if you could have both? (Sorry for the dad joke.)
The Bodyguard .380 may look like a toy, but it’s a seriously potent firearm. If you say you’ve never fantasized about an ultra-concealable gun for high-speed and imaginary spy missions, you’re lying.
It can fit in the palm of your hand or a pocket. Hell, it could even fit in your socks (although I don’t recommend this). The bodyguard is perfect for summertime carry or shooters with small hands.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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The trade-off to having such a concealable weapon is that it will take some extra training to acclimate yourself to shooting such a small firearm.
You can, however, shorten the learning curve a bit by getting a Crimson Trace Laser model.
For more deets, read our review here!
7. M&P Sport II
The M&P Sport II is one of S&W’s more budget offerings, but don’t let that be a knock against it!
This 5.56-chambered AR-15 is worth your attention. It features a 16-inch barrel length with an overall length of 35 inches. Weighing in at 103.2 ounces, the Sport II is great for home protection, hunting, and just plain ole shooting.
There isn’t really anything that stands out about the Sport II — good or bad. It’s a very basic mil-spec AR-15, but S&W made it well.
If you’re looking for a functional, reliable rifle that will leave enough cash in your account for lots of ammo and a sling — the M&P Sport II is absolutely a rifle you should consider!
Ergonomics, accuracy, and reliability are good for the price, and you can always upgrade.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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Read our full thoughts on it, or check out the video below!
Final Thoughts
Smith & Wesson did a bang-up job with the M&P line. It’s a shame that it hasn’t quite achieved the level of popularity as other duty guns in the marketplace.
Personally, I think it is about time that the M&P gets its flowers. I mean. Let’s be real. The M&P checks off all the boxes, and it does it well.
The bottom line is that M&P is good to go out of the box.
What’s your favorite M&P model? Let us know in the comments below. Interested in another Smith & Wesson, that’s not an M&P? Check out our review of the Smith & Wesson CSX.
The post 7 Best Smith & Wesson M&P Models of 2023 appeared first on Pew Pew Tactical.