Written by: Rusty Odom
1MM MORE PLEASE
As maybe you can tell this article is about my review of the new S&W MP 2.0 10MM. Now that's a mouth full, but with Smith & Wesson you sometimes need a secret decoder ring to find out what gun you have. If you want to know more about the S&W decoder ring, check out the Handgun Radio podcast. These guys do a fabulous job getting you through the number codes of Smith.
So let's begin with how it was received, when I showed up to my trusty FFL I got the generic cardboard box that most all of my S&W’s come in. I was not impressed by the packaging at all. Unlike when I have picked up my Sig’s, Caniks’ and even Glock’s they have all been in a hard plastic box that will double as a range box. Inside you had your typical owner’s manual, paperwork, gun lock and of course the pistol and two 15 round magazines. There are also several different palm swell back straps to fit most anyone's hand. There was also a bag filled with numerous optic mounting plates labeled with numbers. If you’re mounting an optic you will have to use the instruction manual and know what your optic’s footprint is to find the right plate. The particular model I bought has a SKU#13388, it is the 4.6” barrel, manual thumb safety and optics ready.
Starting with the frame and working my way up I am going to give you a brief description. On the grip, where the magazine goes in, you will notice a cutout on both sides for easy stripping of the magazine if a failure happens. There is a takedown tool tucked neatly in the handle. Just rotate it and it comes right out. This also lets you change the backstrap panels out if you need to adjust for hand size. The stippling on the grip is nice and tacky, it is different from any other firearm I have and definitely felt good. The trigger guard is not square like a lot of other pistols, it is a little blocky, but has a nice round edge for the larger hand people to get a nice high grip. It has a nice undercut at the area where the trigger guard and grip come together. This helps out with the old “Glock knuckle” I get on my Glocks. Moving up the frame you will notice a 1911 style thumb safety, I would have not initially bought this model with a thumb safety but, that is all they had with the longer barrel length I wanted. The safety is ambidextrous and easy to get to and is not in the way. If you are a 1911 shooter you will feel right at home. It is tactile and has a nice sound when engaged and disengaged. The slide release is nice and tucked in with a raised fence around it. You might think of it like most AR lowers that have their controls tucked in. The frame also has an accessory rail at the end to accommodate your chosen gadgets.
The slide has nice cutout scallops on the rear for easy gripping. The front of the slide also has a nice cutout, if you're a press checker you should like them as well. They all should be easy to grab with gloves on. The pistol comes with nice suppressor height sights that also make co-witnessing with a dot optic nice. The only concern I have with the optic cutout is the plastic plates for mounting your optic on. I would like to think there was a lot of R&D that went into it so that the plastic doesn't give and let the optic come loose and smack you in the forehead. I mounted a green dot optic from Swampfox, it is their Justice optic, I also put their Ironside Shield on it to protect the optic. This did raise the optic up a bit so the sights are just a little below the dot.
The takedown lever is fairly easy to use, but I would read the instructions before attempting it. Smith & Wesson has two different ways to do this procedure. Follow all normal safety procedures, lock the slide back, rotate the lever downwards. From this point you can use the disassembly tool located in the grip to push the sear down, then you can just pull the slide off. The other option is to rotate the lever down, let the slide go forward and then pull the trigger like a lot of other striker fired autos. The slide will then just come off the end. Reassembly is the same procedure just in reverse.
Now let's get to the specs and then what I like and dislike about it.
Height : 5.6”
Length: 7.9”
Weight: 29.6 oz
Width: 1.3”
So as you can see the specs are not too far off than any other full size striker fired handgun on the market. The pistol feels great in the hands, it has a natural pointability, the stippling is nice and stays in the hands. The sights are awesome, nice and tall and easy to pick up. I mentioned the thumb safety already. Now let us talk about the trigger. I have read other reviews and watched youtube videos about the new 10MM. I so wanted my trigger to not be, well mush on my finger. I dried fired my pistol for a week before I sent the first round down range, I practiced trying to find the reset and take up, just like I do on all firearms. Plain and simple, the trigger stinks, it is bad, it is like squeezing a french fry with your finger on the edge of the table. It just fell apart. There was no audible reset and barely a feel for it as well. Take up was ok then it just went mush. I want to say this is the first M&P I own, so I can't compare it to others. The other ones I have fired all had replacement triggers in them. So my solution to this problem was to dry fire some more. I did it everyday for about a month, so now I know where it is going to fall apart.
The shootability of the pistol is great despite the trigger, I handed it off to my 14 year old daughter and she ran it like a 9mm. The look on her face when she turned around was great, she could have caught flies in her mouth. I loaded the mags with Freedom Munitions 180gr FMJ, and shot about 300 rounds. The pistol ran great, it never missed a beat. Then I loaded up some Underwood 180gr bonded jacketed hollow points…….. This is where it was different, there was a big difference in recoil, it was still very comfortable and manageable. You could tell you had a hold of a hand cannon. This is where the memories of shooting my 44 mags flashed back, except I had 15 rounds of thunder in my hands. I had so many thoughts rushing through my mind, how many hogs can I take at once, can I double tap a deer at 50 yards, the bear won't have a chance once it is treed, lord have mercy if someone breaks into my house with this beast next to the bed. Lets just say if you have ever fired a center fired magnum revolver and liked it, you are going to love this. I love it so much I think I am going to name this pistol. I will take suggestions, just find me on Instagram @6gundaddy and let me know what a good name should be. Oh back to the review, once I started shooting the trigger issue went away. It is still bad, but you forget about it. I just trained around it. I think it goes with any firearm, that if you know the manual of arms, its strengths and weaknesses, and train with it, you will be just fine. Do I think Smith & Wesson should have put a better trigger in it? YES I do! With the technology that is out there today and so many aftermarket triggers, it could be better, but it is what it is. If everything was perfect I would not be writing this article.
To end the review, I am giving this pistol a above average review, as you can tell I do not like the trigger or packaging, but that is just my personal opinion. It is going to be my primary hunting firearm for running hogs, black bears and deer in southeast Tennessee. I have always liked the challenge of hunting with a handgun. I do it every year, I swap out between my Blackhawk .357 and my Ruger Security 6 .357. With proper ammunition and training I think this pistol will fit into that notch that a lot of guys are arguing about online, the old 45 ACP or the 9MM. I just say let's split the difference, forget about the 40 S&W and call the 10mm the new big boy on the block in auto loaders. I see why there is a cult following for this caliber, it is fun, recoil is fun but not too bad, it can play a multi role of self defense, critter control on the farm or backpack hunting. This caliber will not let you down.
Just a few side notes, if you buy one, you do not have to hunt for holsters, The frame size is the same as the S&W MP 45. So that is a plus unlike a lot of other new firearms on the market. The safety, it can be removed and you can order a safety block plug that fills the gap of where the lever was. I did do this one to mine because safety levers on striker fired pistols are not needed in my opinion. You can order the plugs for just a few dollars from just about anywhere.
Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points
Claim to Fame:
Bigger than a 9mm
Badder than the 45 ACP
Blows the 40 S&W out of the water
Cult like following
Target Market:
Dedicated reloaders
People wanting something with magnum like power in an auto loader
Hunters
EDC
Those who like recoil
FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):
Reliable
Easy to shoot
Holsters are the same as the M&P 45
What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?
Compact version for CCW
10 round version for communist states
A version without a external safety
What others are saying?:
Low bore axis
Smooth round contour
Grip texture is great
Link to other reviews:
Price point:
On par for most comparable striker fired pistols from a big company
From $599 to $665
I need it now! Availability:
Brownells
Our Rating:
Pros:
A quality product from the UA
10mm ammo is available
15 round magazines
Great sight
Grips are excellent
Optic ready
Cons:
Trigger is bad
Packaging with mine could have been better
Unsure of the optic mounting plates at this time
