Smith & Wesson M&P9 M2.0 Metal Review: Best All Metal 9mm?

Smith & Wesson M&P9 M2.0 Metal Specs & Features

Specs

• Caliber: 9mm
• Capacity: 17+1
• Action: Striker-fired, semi-auto
• Length:7.25"
• Barrel Length: 4.25"
• Height: 5.5"
• Width: 1.3"
• Weight: 1.76 lbs.
• Comes with: Cardboard box, two 17-round magazines, 6 plastic optic plates & screws, 4 grip panels, lock, manual

Features

• Flat face trigger
• Interchangeable grip inserts
• 18-degree grip angle
• Aggressive grip texture

Metal-framed pistols are making a comeback, with a handful of manufacturers slowly introducing metal versions of their most popular guns.

So, it's no surprise that Smith & Wesson would jump into the metal resurgence with a new addition to its famed M&P series.

The M&P M2.0 Metal uses the company's solid platform but ditches polymer for an aluminum frame and adds on some upgraded features as well.

We got our hands on the Metal and took it to the range to see if it improved the M&P series. Spoiler alert, it does!

But stick around and keep reading to see what sold us on the Metal.

Smith & Wesson M&P9 M2.0 Metal

$779

at Brownells

Prices accurate at time of writing

$779 at Brownells

Kygunco (see price)

GrabAGun (see price)

How We Tested the Smith & Wesson M&P9 M2.0 Metal

For this review, we tested the M&P9 2.0 Metal with iron sights and a Trijicon RMR Red Dot, shooting 3-round groups at 7 yards. We went through 500 rounds of ammunition, using both practice ammo in the form of AAC 115gr FMJ, plus 115 gr/124gr defensive ammunition from Nosler.

At the helm was Sean Curtis, who has been shooting since childhood but really began to delve into guns more during his law enforcement career of over two decades. He received continued training for his roles in SWAT and was a POST-certified handgun instructor.

Background

Smith & Wesson was founded in 1852, and the M&P line started over 100 years ago. There is a lot of history here.

M&P was originally marketed toward the military and police, but the general shooting public found love for the line of firearms those professions could trust.

In my own LE career, I never used an M&P, and when I first tried it, I didn’t like the trigger because it felt squishy compared to what I was used to.

After I stuck with it for a while, though, I realized how wrong I was. The guns are stellar, and the trigger greatly contributes to the accuracy, as I found out in this review of the M&P 2.0.

Who Is It For?

The M2.0 Metal is a cut above the average handgun. It's certainly still worthy of its namesake heritage, so it would make a fine defensive handgun for just about anyone.

The model we tested is full size and came in at just over 7 inches long, so keep that in mind when considering concealment.

Ergonomics: Fit & Feel

The gun feels outstanding in the hand -- light and well-balanced, with a slight tip toward the business end.

Its aggressive texture of the polymer front strap and back strap really helps keep the pistol firmly in hand during recoil and manipulation.

Its magazines are steel with a large plastic base pad that allows you to grab onto them when seated should a malfunction occur and stripping become necessary. They included a light grey follower that was clearly visible when the slide locked back.

In addition, the grip features beveled angles on the interior, which guide magazines in for seating. The external size isn't flared, but you're getting some assistance regardless.

Sights are also metal (an ongoing theme) in a white, 3-dot configuration and include serrations on the rear block. Both front and rear are held in place with a dovetail and are replaceable.

Controls

The trigger bow has a light curve and a nice, flat-face surface that is comfortable to use. The trigger safety flattens nicely when pressed back.

There's quite a bit of pre-travel before hitting a defined wall that broke at an average of 3 pounds, 14 ounces on a Lyman Digital Gauge— reset was a little softer than I prefer, but was still tactile, though barely audible.

Interestingly, the slide stop/release is shouldered and sticks out on both sides of the slide to a degree where it's easy to hit. Thankfully, it's well placed in a forward position so I don't hit it with my thumbs.

The reversible magazine release is an almost perfect height and placement. I could hit it without adjusting my grip but it wasn't so tall that it would deploy in a holster.

How Does the Smith & Wesson M&P9 M2.0 Metal Shoot?

I shot several 3-shot groups for accuracy at 7 yards and was very impressed. The groups were all very close, with some holes even touching.

The trigger, once mastered, really allows the shooter to get on, then break the shot without disturbing the gun. This is achieved by holding the trigger back to the wall, finalizing the sight picture, then pressing the rest of the way like a two-stage trigger.

I was able to ride the dot through the recoil thanks to the aggressive grip texture and found the M2.0 pointed naturally with the 18-degree angle. This made follow-up shots quicker.

*Update 5-23-24 I've since used the M2.0 to complete my annual LEOSA certification. It was an easy qualification, the trigger coming in clutch for staging in between the different courses of fire.

At this point I have approximately 2,000 rounds through the M2.0 and it's reliability has been flawless.

Why is the Smith & Wesson M&P9 M2.0 Metal Unique?

The M2.0 Metal has a T6 aluminum frame, different from the polymer versions of the old. This makes the gun slightly heavier as a result. This isn’t a bad thing, though.

I feel like the minimally additional weight helped me to control the recoil a little better. Another thematic difference is going to be the Tungsten Gray Cerekote color, which I find to be marvelous.

This version is also compatible with previous M&P models of similar size in both magazines and holsters. It also has forward slide serrations which I really appreciate!

I also enjoyed having everything I needed to mount several different optics in the box.

That said, the plates are plastic, so I'm curious to see how they'll do long term.

Smith & Wesson M&P9 M2.0 Metal

$432

at Buds Gun Shop

Prices accurate at time of writing

$432 at Buds Gun Shop

Palmetto State Armory (see price)

Kygunco (see price)

Sportsmans Guide (see price)

Show all prices

Upgrades for Smith & Wesson M&P9 M2.0 Metal

Trijicon RMR Type 2

$ at Brownells

ShellShock Ultimate Eyes & Ears Combo (Bluetooth)

$169 at ShellShock Protection

SureFire X300 Turbo

$269 at Primary Arms

AAC 9mm 115 Grain FMJ 100 Round Box

$27 at Palmetto State Armory

Field Strip the M&P9 M2.0

Learn how to disassemble the S&W M&P9 M2.0 in our detailed video below!

Final Verdict

You can have your cake and eat it too. The cost is a little above the median, but our testing revealed a handgun that is reliable, accurate, and beautiful.

Whether you’re an officer on the street or a citizen concerned with your safety and the safety of those around you, the M2.0 Metal is a great choice.

Will you be picking up an M&P9 M2.0 Metal? Let us know in the comments below! And for more metal options, check out our Best Metal Framed Guns!