For a healthy section of handgun shooters, Smith & Wesson‘s M&P line is the pinnacle of polymer pistol perfection. Messing with these gems of the striker-fired world would be akin to allowing the designated hitter, changing the recipe of Coke and releasing another version of Windows all wrapped up in one. Smith & Wesson, however, hasn't left well enough alone with the iconic company's first big release of 2017. But the new M&P M2.0 line of pistols shouldn't be a bone of contention, even with the most ardent fans of the original models. The company has shot at engineering a more shootable, practical and rugged handgun. And building off a decade of experience manufacturing polymer pistols, it appears to have hit the bull's eye on all accounts.
The M&P M2.0 line – available in 9mm, .40S&W and .45ACP – features improved grip ergonomics, including an optimized 18-degree angle, interchangeable palmswell grips and even more aggressive texturing. It's outfitted with an extended stainless steel chassis, giving the platform more rigidity during firing, thus more accuracy. Its bore axis has been lowered, lessening the felt recoil and muzzle flip – making follow-up shots more accurate and faster. And it has one snappy trigger, breaking like glass and complete with an audible reset. This final point, the trigger, is what really caught Gun Digest Editor in Chief Eric Conn's attention when he stepped to the firing line to put the full-sized M&P M2.0 through its paces in the above video. Priced competitively at $599 and with more compact models expected in the future, Smith & Wesson definitely appears to have moved the M&P line into the future, while staying true to its roots.
The Most Comprehensive Guide to Smith & Wesson
From Schofield Revolvers to M&P AR-15s, for more than 150 years Smith & Wesson has turned out some of the world’s most desirable firearms. Gun Digest is ready to arm shooters with the tools they need to know, appreciate and add more of the iconic guns to their collections. The newly updated Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson 4th Edition is the industry’s most comprehensive guide to the well-respected manufacturer’s firearms. Get Your Copy Now
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