Smith & Wesson Response PCC Review: Modular Design, Mixed Results

Smith & Wesson came out swinging into a competitive pistol caliber carbine (PCC) market in 2023 with the Response. The firearm has some valuable features that shooters are bound to love.

Despite the potential, the rollout (marred by a recall) wasn’t perfectly smooth. We can agree the reliability and safety of new firearms are crucial components in the decision to purchase.

Smith sent us one to test, and we found the platform very promising. We’ll share the results with you below.

So read on!

Smith & Wesson Response

$649

at Kygunco

Prices accurate at time of writing

$649 at Kygunco

GrabAGun (see price)

Palmetto State Armory (see price)

How We Tested the Smith & Wesson Response

For this review, we tested the Response with a Vortex Sparc Solar Red Dot, shooting 10-round groups at 7 yards. We went through 500 rounds of ammunition, using both practice ammo in the form of AAC 115gr FMJ, 115 gr/124gr defensive ammunition from Nosler, and Hornady Critical Duty 124gr

Because the Response comes with an interchangeable magwell, we tested it with both M&P and Glock magazines. We also measured the Response's trigger with a Lyman Digital Trigger gauge to accurately assess the actual pull weight.

Smith & Wesson Response Specs & Features

Specs

• Caliber: 9mm
• Action: Semi-auto, blowback
• Capacity: 10+1 (or by magazine)
• Length: 33.75”
• Barrel Length: 16.5”
• Width: 2.75”
• Height: 8”
• Weight: 5 lbs. 9 oz.
• Comes with: Cardboard box, Flexmag magwell, (2) 23-round magazines (where legal), owner’s manual, gun lock

Features

• Flexmag
• Threaded muzzle 1/2x28
• Last round bolt hold open

S&W Response Background

Interestingly, PCCs are somewhat new territory for Smith & Wesson unless you want to go back to the 1800s.

Other than the M&P FPC, which was released a few months before the PCC, there isn’t a lot of background to consider.

The FPC is another PCC from Smith & Wesson that folds in half. Another major difference is the magwell is in the grip on the FPC whereas the Response has an AR-9 configuration with a separate magwell.

Who Is the S&W Response For?

Since the Old West, shooters have appreciated the ability to share ammunition between their long gun and sidearm. Over the decades, that evolved to even sharing magazines between the two different platforms.

The Response is a lightweight, blowback-driven PCC that could be used in a home or vehicle defense scenario. Its modularity means you can outfit it to your preferences and even run it in a variety of magazines.

Ergonomics: Fit & Feel

The fit and finish of the Response are somewhat unique. Almost everything is polymer, so nothing is shiny — just grainy, black plastic.

Still, it looks like an AR-15 with most of the normal trappings you find on the ubiquitous rifle. Notably, the magwell is set up with a more backward rake and designed to take pistol magazines.

Picking the Response up, you can’t help but marvel at the weight. Coming in at just over 5 pounds, I appreciated the effort it took to make the PCC, but wondered if that might sacrifice some reliability.

Just pulling on various parts, like the charging handle, upper and lower, I could cause the Response to flex. The rail felt pretty stiff though, so I reserved any judgments until I had fired it.

Furniture on the Response was very solid. A Magpul MOE SL buttstock graced the rear, offering six-position adjustability, QD, and a great butt pad.

The grip had an aggressive texture in the swooping, M&P configuration. Smith also included a total of four different-sized, interchangeable, palm swell inserts so you can customize it to your hand.

Magazines were M&P steel, 23-round counts with extended base pads. While there are round count windows, you can only see to 21 as the base pad covers the bottom two.

The overall ergonomics were really good, and I appreciated the efforts Smith took to make the manual of arms so similar to the AR-15. A full Picatinny rail and plentiful M-LOK also ensure shooters can customize the Response with accessories as they see fit.

Controls

As mentioned, the controls are very similar to those of a non-ambidextrous AR-15. Fire control was on the left side only, as was the bolt catch/release. The magazine release was on the right side only but was well placed and easy to activate.

The charging handle was double-sided and pretty large. I had no issues operating it, though I sometimes felt it flex in my hand.

The Response’s trigger was a highlight for a couple reasons. I appreciated the flat, steel, bow for its ergonomic feel and very short throw.

There was just a bit of pre-travel before a crisp break. Reset was also tactile and audible, happening immediately upon release.

Using a Lyman digital gauge, I tested the trigger and found that it averaged 2 pounds, 12.3 ounces. The light nature and short throw mean you can run it fast.

How Does the Smith & Wesson Response Shoot?

Editor's Note: The first Response we received for review was included in the recall that followed the platform's release. We sent our model back to be fixed and, upon its return, began testing the Response. For information on the Response recall, head to Smith & Wesson's website.

We began the testing process with the hopes of running the entire review with a SilencerCo Omega 9K suppressor but found the Response’s bolt wouldn’t close all the way. Removing the can alleviated this problem, so we progressed without it.

During accuracy, we tried some Nosler ASP 115gr and found it wouldn’t feed or would feed but not go completely into battery. After multiple instances of this, we dropped Nosler and stayed with AAC and Hornady, which the Response cycled perfectly.

This led to a mixed reliability rating. The suppressor and Nosler ammunition malfunctioned a handful of times, but once we removed those two items, the Response cycled perfectly for the remainder of the test.

We fired a total of 500 rounds through the Response, the bulk of which being AAC 115gr FMJ. Defensive rounds consisting of 124gr Hornady were also fired to make sure the PCC would cycle them properly.

Because the Response is equipped with a Flexmag, we were able to fire through both M&P and Glock magazines. The system worked extremely well (suppressor and ammo exceptions notwithstanding).

Using a single hex wrench, I was able to remove the M&P magwell from the Response. I then used the same tool to secure the Glock magwell. It was easy.

All the magazines we used locked in, loaded, cleared, and dropped when we pressed the release. In addition, the Response is equipped with a last round bolt hold open feature and this worked without fail.

One notable difference was the angle of approach for insertion. Despite the overall AR-15 feel of the gun, the magazines had to be inserted at a steeper angle to seat properly.

Shooting from a P3 Ultimate Gun Rest at 25 yards, I fired two, 10-shot groups. The first consisted of AAC 115gr FMJ and the second Hornady Critical Duty 124gr Flexlock.

Accuracy was good, with AAC averaging 1.5 inches for the group. Hornady Critical Duty was slightly better, coming in at one inch (omitting one flyer).

Another interesting observation was made concerning recoil. Because the Response is made of polymer, it’s lightweight, but it also flexes noticeably when you shoot it.

This didn’t have a major effect on accuracy. I was able to snug the PCC down and wring out some blistering strings of fire without missing a beat.

One of the features I liked best about the Response was the trigger. The short throw allowed me to really run the gun hard.

Why is the Smith & Wesson Response Unique?

The Response is certainly unique because of its polymer upper and lower. Adding in the Flexmag makes it even more interesting, though other companies have done this before (such as the Ruger PC9) so that particular quality adds value but isn’t unique.

By the Numbers

Reliability: 3/5

This rating reflects the Response’s difficulty running an Omega 9k suppressor and struggling to feed Nosler ammunition. After these two components were removed, the gun ran flawlessly.

Ergonomics: 4/5

The Response has standard AR-15 ergos (adjustable butt stock), with the grip offering good adjustability via multiple backstraps.

Accuracy: 4/5

Shooting 10-shot groups from a CTK Precision, P3 Ultimate Shooting Rest at 25 yards, the Response put together a group of Hornady Critical Duty at one inch (omitting one flyer) and a group of AAC at 1.5 inches.

Customization: 4/5

The Response gets high marks for customization in that it has plenty of MLOK and Picatinny to mount up accessories. I suspect you could even install your favorite trigger, grip, and change the butt stock like an AR-15.

Value: 4/5

With an MSRP of $799, I’m seeing current pricing around $699 with online retailers.

Overall: 4/5

Smith & Wesson Response

$649

at Kygunco

Prices accurate at time of writing

$649 at Kygunco

GrabAGun (see price)

Palmetto State Armory (see price)

Upgrades for Smith & Wesson Response

AAC 9mm 115 Grain FMJ 100 Round Box

$25

at Palmetto State Armory

Prices accurate at time of writing

$25 at Palmetto State Armory

With the amount of speed the Response can muster, you'll go through ammo quickly. Best to get some affordable practice ammo to have fun with.

Vortex SPARC Solar Red Dot

$140

at Amazon

Prices accurate at time of writing

$140 at Amazon

Kygunco (see price)

BattleHawk Armory (see price)

We used the Vortex SPARC Solar for this review and it was a perfect, lightweight dot to match the PCC.

ShellShock Ultimate Eyes & Ears Combo (Bluetooth)

$169

at ShellShock Protection

Prices accurate at time of writing

$169 at ShellShock Protection

Even if you can find a suppressor that will run on the Response, you'll want good eye and ear pro.

Why You Should Trust Pew Pew Tactical

At the helm of this review was Pew Pew Tactical Content Producer Sean Curtis. Sean has been shooting since childhood but really began to delve into guns more during his law enforcement career. He spent over two decades in law enforcement, where he became a POST-certified handgun instructor and NLEFIA Red Dot Instructor and received CLEFIA Advanced Firearms Instructor Training and AR-15 armorer training. He has since attended a variety of training, including Tactical Performance Center Handgun Mastery & Carbine Mastery, and earned USCCA rifle instructor certification. Aside from training and prior to joining the Pew Pew Tactical team full-time, Sean wrote for several gun publications evaluating and testing guns and gear and has written hundreds of articles.

This review was edited by Editor-in-Chief Jacki Billings, who runs Pew Pew Tactical’s experienced team of reviewers. Jacki is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, ACES: Society for Editing, and the Professional Outdoor Media Association and has her bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications. She has worked as a media professional for close to 20 years, specializing in gun media for almost 10 years, and has worked as an editor for five years. She uses her extensive professional journalism and editing experience to set testing protocols and editorial standards.

Final Verdict on the S&W Response

The Response is an interesting PCC that is lightweight and adaptable.

I'm hopeful there may be other suppressors that work better with the Response, as this would certainly increase the value.

That said, its Flexmag feature allows shooters to share magazines with their favorite pistols. It was also accurate during our testing.

Overall, once you've verified the ammo, you run cycles well, and you've got a great shooter

Are you picking up a Response? Let us know in the comments below. And for even more PCC action, check out 12 Best Pistol-Caliber Carbines (PCC): 9mm & Beyond!