S&W M&P Compact Carry Comp Range Report

[Podmonkey]

Smith & Wesson Military & Police Compact Carry Comp. That's a very long name.

Anyway, also on the gun is a Holosun EPS mounted on a DPP Titanium plate and the Streamlight TLR-7 HL-X. All three of these items are pretty new on the market.
It also came with a nice cleaning kit:


It's a very nice piece, the milling is very sexy looking like an Agency Arms custom. The action is smooth, the trigger is quite good
Amd the slide to frame fiit is tighter than tge typical polymer/striker gun.
This is my first proper fighting sized M&P, I have long wanted to try one having been so impressed with the shooting qualities of the Shield.
When I saw the Carry Comp get released I knew it was time to get one. I sold my Walther PPQ and SIG P320 RXP to a buddy and the proceeds purchased the Carry Comp itself. The red dot and the light in one shot.

This M&P hasn't disappointed me in terms of ergonomics and shooting qualities between the PPQ, P320 and Glock I think I like the M&P the best. Some of the above might have a particular trait that beats the M&P but it is a very well rounded gun.
The style of slide serrations apart from being beautiful also provide a tremendous amount of traction, they are very gippy and sharp. Perhaps a little TOO sharp. Rocking the gun feels like your fingers a sliding along a cheese grater bit you certainly won't fail to.get a purchase on it.

It has a good balance to it and it is pretty light as well and sits nicely in the hand.
I'll get into the actual table impressions in tge next post.

 

[Podmonkey]

I put 500 rounds through it in about 2 hours of shooting. The loads used were MagTech 124gr FMJ standard pressure, Federal HST 124gr +P jHP and Winchester 124gr NATO FMJ.

I started out with slow fire on paper to get the excellent EPS Red dot zeroed. It required very little adjustment actually, just a few clicks of windage, elevation was already on. I zeroed for 25 yards and with my poor shooting it took awhile for me to warm up to the point where I could discern a grouping. I started out with sole MagTech 124gr FMJ standard pressure and once I started getting getting decent (for me) groups I loaded up my carry ammo, Federal 124gr +P HSTs, to get the zero. The results were okay I guess, I need to work a lot more on my pistol craft honestly. There were a few groups that hinted at good accuracy potential.
I Started out at 10 yards for the warm-up then moved back to 25 yards for the zero.
Even if the groups aren't pretty I'm at least confident I can tag an attacker from that distance.


Yeah I know I'm working on it. Big thanks to the cops for letting me bum some of there targets as a reward for patiently waiting while they ran a qualification. I wasn't in a hurry so it wasn't a big deal.
I am going to do a lot more shooting on big targets like this. Very convenient to marker in an aiming point, mark the hits and circle multiple groups without having to hang numerous little targets repeatedly.

Thing was that under slow, deliberately aimed fire I was underwhelmed. Tge Carry Comp wasn't deficient by any means but it didn't feel all that different to other handguns I've shot, it didn't feel special.
Things changed very dramatically when I got my zero and packed up from the upper range and headed down to the steel plates range. My range just re-did tge steel bays and we now have a variety of plates lined up to sweep through:

And here I just went absolutely ham on those plates! Just nuts I mean. The Carry Comp shoots so flat, so fast that as fast as you can pull the trigger you can ding the steel. At 15 yards I was just mag dumping on the large plates and connecting with each shot in the 15 round magazines. I was sweeping the dueling trees up and down, back and forth., I was double tapping the little poppers and sending them carreening about the chains. I was having so much fun I couldn't help but cackle like a madman.
This is what the Carry Comp is for. Good gravy was it fun! I had to really discipline myself to not shoot every round I had, need to save some for next weekend.
I'm telling y'all, this gun. with this optic is FREAKING AWESOME!!

DINGDINGDINGDINGDINGDIMGDINGDIMGDING*maniacall cackling* is what that range sounded like!

 

[Podmonkey]

Now that it has been zeroed and vetted, not one hint of a hiccup BTW, I can put it into service in the duty rotation. Indeed it is now the go to sidearm.
I will be ordering the Irornside OWB holster from T-Rex Arms which can also be made into an IWB by attaching it to an Alcantara backer. I have their Ragnarok Holster for my G19 and it's a great Holster sonI imagine the Ironside will be as well.
Then more mags and ammo.
Further down the road I have plans for a few modifications: I want to add an SLR
Riflwrorks carry maxwell primarily to give my pinky a lip to lock into and that model works with factory baseplates. I also want to add a slightly extended magazine release from Springer precision for the improved texture and just the tiny extra nit of reach I'd like to have.
I also want a DPM Recoil Reduction spring and not for Recoil Reduction but because I agree with what I have read/heard about the Csrry Comp: it is over sprung. With tge factory 16lb spring it is stiff to rack and when the slide slams back into battery it causes the barrel to tip downward significantly. You can see it clearly in slow motion footage. With the DPM triple nested spring it will be much more stable.

 

[Podmonkey]

Wow, nothing huh? Well if anyone were in the market for a new M&P I think this would be the one to get. Unless you have sensitive fingers/hands.
Also highly recommend the EPS dot and the TRL-HX too

 

[Xae289]

I was never a big fan of the old school M&P guns, but S&W's latest polymer guns have really impressed me big-time. The new triggers are a huge improvement over their hinged BS, I always liked their ergos well enough, but they're excellent now, and they've really gone up in fit and finish.

Very cool pickup, enjoy that piece! Glad your latest revolver from them being a lemon on arrival didn't turn you off to Smith.

 

[Podmonkey]

I was never a big fan of the old school M&P guns, but S&W's latest polymer guns have really impressed me big-time. The new triggers are a huge improvement over their hinged BS, I always liked their ergos well enough, but they're excellent now, and they've really gone up in fit and finish.

Very cool pickup, enjoy that piece! Glad your latest revolver from them being a lemon on arrival didn't turn you off to Smith.

I seem to have developed an unhealthy abusive relationship with S&W. They abuse my trust and I come crawling back for more.
That is the power of an appealing product I suppose. In fact I would like to make the next purchase the controversial 10mm Performance Center. Apparently all they need for problem free operation is a heavier recoil spring and upgraded magazine springs. The M&P 10mm PC has got to be one of the coolest looking pistols on the market! After the Carry Comp which IS the coolest looking pistol on the market.

 

[Defilade]

the Carry Comp which IS the coolest looking pistol on the market.

Nope, this is...

 

[Podmonkey]

Nope, this is...
View attachment 250922

Disagree. Has no speed holes

 

[urjustamemory]

I have been looking at the M&P 10mm. Thankfully I didn't see any in the old LGS that I was near lol.

 

[Podmonkey]

See? Speed hole. It makes ze gun go fastah.

 

[Defilade]

John wicks speed holes are faster! Ultimate speed holzs...

 

[FP1201]

I seem to have developed an unhealthy abusive relationship with S&W. They abuse my trust and I come crawling back for more.
That is the power of an appealing product I suppose. In fact I would like to make the next purchase the controversial 10mm Performance Center. Apparently all they need for problem free operation is a heavier recoil spring and upgraded magazine springs. The M&P 10mm PC has got to be one of the coolest looking pistols on the market! After the Carry Comp which IS the coolest looking pistol on the market.

I seriously considered buying a 10mm M&P but figured for no more than I shoot the Delta Elites anymore, sold the Glock, and only put one magazine through the carbine, well it would just be another gun sitting in the Safe...I've handled several of the M&P's including the 2.0's and they're nice pistols, another nice one that's under rated are the Kahr Pistols.

 

[VietnamEraVet]

I’m an S&W fan. Their revolvers In particular.

The grips of the M&P lines fit me well and I shoot them with ease. I keep an M&P full size .45 with extended mag (14+1) bedside. And on a daily basis I carry either a Shield .45 (8 rounds), or a Shield 9 w/ 10+1 Hyve extended mag.

I may upgrade someday to the Shield Plus (13 round), but for now have added a car safe, and a magnetic handgun and magazine mount onto the dash in my car and have an extra Shield available besides my EDC on trips. (That’s the problem w/ Smith coming out with the Shield Plus, - some people are dumping their original Shields for the Plus, and now you can pick up an original Shield for $150 +/- for a spare or as a truck gun.) Damn it! (LOL)

Also, there is guy out there selling aftermarket 1911 thumb style safeties for the Shield 9’s,- easy to retrofit and an improvement over the original Shield safety for those who prefer a safety as I do.

 

[MikeyCNY]

Now that it has been zeroed and vetted, not one hint of a hiccup BTW, I can put it into service in the duty rotation. Indeed it is now the go to sidearm.
I will be ordering the Irornside OWB holster from T-Rex Arms which can also be made into an IWB by attaching it to an Alcantara backer. I have their Ragnarok Holster for my G19 and it's a great Holster sonI imagine the Ironside will be as well.
Then more mags and ammo.
Further down the road I have plans for a few modifications: I want to add an SLR
Riflwrorks carry maxwell primarily to give my pinky a lip to lock into and that model works with factory baseplates. I also want to add a slightly extended magazine release from Springer precision for the improved texture and just the tiny extra nit of reach I'd like to have.
I also want a DPM Recoil Reduction spring and not for Recoil Reduction but because I agree with what I have read/heard about the Csrry Comp: it is over sprung. With tge factory 16lb spring it is stiff to rack and when the slide slams back into battery it causes the barrel to tip downward significantly. You can see it clearly in slow motion footage. With the DPM triple nested spring it will be much more stable.

First, awesome write-up and pictures! I love my M&P 2.0s - 365XL is my primary carry since I'm limited to 10 rounds anyway, but for range fun, classes and competition the M&Ps are so much easier to handle.

As I said in DMs I was likely going to pick up this or the Metal version eventually... but I'm kind of waiting on the M&P "3.0" - serialized fire control unit ala SIG 320/365 (and Springfield Echelon, others?). I have no inside info but being modular would be sooo handy for grip module changes, caliber changes, barrel length etc etc..

Oh, and I have the DPM Recoil Reduction Spring in one of my 2.0 Compacts - hard to say if I noticed a difference in recoil, it's probably very minor. I've been meaning to do a side-by-side comparison at the range but I never remember to. They make one for the 365XL as well, but my carry gun has been flawless so I'm reluctant to change anything without plenty of ammo ready to re-certify it for carry (including expensive hollowpoints).

 

[Xae289]

Nope, this is...
View attachment 250922

I always say about H&K that if Batman carried a pistol, it would be a VP9.

I’m an S&W fan. Their revolvers In particular.

The grips of the M&P lines fit me well and I shoot them with ease. I keep an M&P full size .45 with extended mag (14+1) bedside. And on a daily basis I carry either a Shield .45 (8 rounds), or a Shield 9 w/ 10+1 Hyve extended mag.

I may upgrade someday to the Shield Plus (13 round), but for now have added a car safe, and mag mount onto the dash in my car and have an extra Shield available besides my EDC on trips. (That’s the problem w/ Smith coming out with the Shield Plus, - some people are dumping their original Shields for the Plus, and now you can pick up an original Shield for $150 +/- for a spare or as a truck gun. Damn it! (LOL)

Also, there is guy out there selling aftermarket 1911 thumb style safeties for the Shield 9’s,- easy to retrofit and an improvement over the original Shield safety for those who prefer a safety as I do.

View attachment 250956

Good to see that's on the market. The stock Shield thumb safety is hot garbage that's difficult to reliably disengage in a hurry.

 

[Podmonkey]

I’m an S&W fan. Their revolvers In particular.

The grips of the M&P lines fit me well and I shoot them with ease. I keep an M&P full size .45 with extended mag (14+1) bedside. And on a daily basis I carry either a Shield .45 (8 rounds), or a Shield 9 w/ 10+1 Hyve extended mag.

I may upgrade someday to the Shield Plus (13 round), but for now have added a car safe, and mag mount onto the dash in my car and have an extra Shield available besides my EDC on trips. (That’s the problem w/ Smith coming out with the Shield Plus, - some people are dumping their original Shields for the Plus, and now you can pick up an original Shield for $150 +/- for a spare or as a truck gun. Damn it! (LOL)

Also, there is guy out there selling aftermarket 1911 thumb style safeties for the Shield 9’s,- easy to retrofit and an improvement over the original Shield safety for those who prefer a safety as I do.

View attachment 250956

My Shield Plus is my constant every day companion. I very rarely go about unarmed and it's usually the Shield I have on me though I have been carrying the 586 L-Comp regularly too, in my down time. During the work week it is always the Shield in the Galco Miami Classic Lite.
It is my strong fondness for the Shield that has had me wanting to try an M&P 2.0 actually.

First, awesome write-up and pictures! I love my M&P 2.0s - 365XL is my primary carry since I'm limited to 10 rounds anyway, but for range fun, classes and competition the M&Ps are so much easier to handle.

As I said in DMs I was likely going to pick up this or the Metal version eventually... but I'm kind of waiting on the M&P "3.0" - serialized fire control unit ala SIG 320/365 (and Springfield Echelon, others?). I have no inside info but being modular would be sooo handy for grip module changes, caliber changes, barrel length etc etc..

Oh, and I have the DPM Recoil Reduction Spring in one of my 2.0 Compacts - hard to say if I noticed a difference in recoil, it's probably very minor. I've been meaning to do a side-by-side comparison at the range but I never remember to. They make one for the 365XL as well, but my carry gun has been flawless so I'm reluctant to change anything without plenty of ammo ready to re-certify it for carry (including expensive hollowpoints).

I don't really like the way S&W does their metal framed striker guns. The aluminum frame isn't much if any lighter than the polymer framed so you don't get any extra stability out of it and you lose the polymer frames recoil absorbing flex. More than that I don't at all like the way S&W jsuy sticks on rubber inserts for the front and rear strap, they move around on the frame and it feels cheap. Had S&W done what SIG did with their AXG frames in using a traditional skeleton frame with grip scales bolted on then I would be more inclined towards the metal frames. In any case for me the choice was moot: I intend to CC the Carry Comp so I wanted the shorter grip which only comes in polymer while the metal frame is only a full sized grip.
Regarding the P320 style FCU modular sub-assembly I really do think it's a bit of a gimmick. It makes sense for a large organizations to ease armory logistics but for the private citizen it doesn't accomplish much. The cost of additional slides and barrels represent something like 90% of the total cost of the gun so if you wanted different configurations of the same model it makes more sense to just get a complete new gun. Otherwise you just have a collection of spare components out of which only a single useable gun can be made despite the total costs being similar.

What I would have liked to have seen with the Carry Comp series is tge grip texture from the Shield Plus which is a more toned down version of the 2.0 texture, still very gripy and secure but much less abrasive. Also as incredibly good looking as they are I think the Carry Comp slide serrations are sharper than they needed to be. It's not a gun that is hard to get hold of, that is for sure!

 

[dsdmmat]

I have the 2.0 competitor the aluminum frame is why I looked at in the first place. I have about 2K rounds through it and it has been a great pistol.

 

[urjustamemory]

I think I am the odd one out, I have a newer ez9 and don't like it. I wish I had more hands on time with it before I bought it I would have found out that it doesn't really fit me. I absolutely love the idea of the reduced recoil, easy slide/mag but the firearm just feels weird in my hands.

 

[Xae289]

My Shield Plus is my constant every day companion. I very rarely go about unarmed and it's usually the Shield I have on me though I have been carrying the 586 L-Comp regularly too, in my down time. During the work week it is always the Shield in the Galco Miami Classic Lite.
It is my strong fondness for the Shield that has had me wanting to try an M&P 2.0 actually.

I don't really like the way S&W does their metal framed striker guns. The aluminum frame isn't much if any lighter than the polymer framed so you don't get any extra stability out of it and you lose the polymer frames recoil absorbing flex. More than that I don't at all like the way S&W jsuy sticks on rubber inserts for the front and rear strap, they move around on the frame and it feels cheap. Had S&W done what SIG did with their AXG frames in using a traditional skeleton frame with grip scales bolted on then I would be more inclined towards the metal frames. In any case for me the choice was moot: I intend to CC the Carry Comp so I wanted the shorter grip which only comes in polymer while the metal frame is only a full sized grip.
Regarding the P320 style FCU modular sub-assembly I really do think it's a bit of a gimmick. It makes sense for a large organizations to ease armory logistics but for the private citizen it doesn't accomplish much. The cost of additional slides and barrels represent something like 90% of the total cost of the gun so if you wanted different configurations of the same model it makes more sense to just get a complete new gun. Otherwise you just have a collection of spare components out of which only a single useable gun can be made despite the total costs being similar.

What I would have liked to have seen with the Carry Comp series is tge grip texture from the Shield Plus which is a more toned down version of the 2.0 texture, still very gripy and secure but much less abrasive. Also as incredibly good looking as they are I think the Carry Comp slide serrations are sharper than they needed to be. It's not a gun that is hard to get hold of, that is for sure!

I think the Carry Comp really is one of the best in its size class.

As far as the Sig FCU, I think its application is limited, but can be very excellent in a few cases. Specifically, it works great to buy a 365 XMacro for a slimline compact and for about $150 buy an XL grip module and magazine. That way you have a slim compact, but can swap to a subcompact for deeper concealment use the Macro's mags to carry a reload. It also works well with the 320 Carry to Compact. Same slide length, so you go from something you can use for home defense or competition to compact pistol. But yea, most people realize going from compact to full sized is almost the same price as a whole new gun, especially since you need all new mags.

 

[Podmonkey]

I think I am the odd one out, I have a newer ez9 and don't like it. I wish I had more hands on time with it before I bought it I would have found out that it doesn't really fit me. I absolutely love the idea of the reduced recoil, easy slide/mag but the firearm just feels weird in my hands.

Maybe try the new Equalizer? It's the EZ's successor with a similar internal hammer action but with ergonomics similar to the Shield.

 

[urjustamemory]

Maybe try the new Equalizer? It's the EZ's successor with a similar internal hammer action but with ergonomics similar to the Shield.

A member of my family has a few shields and I handled one, I don't know why I am hoping the M&P 10mm is different because it probably is not at all different.

 

[dsdmmat]

A member of my family has a few shields and I handled one, I don't know why I am hoping the M&P 10mm is different because it probably is not at all different.

I got to handle one when they first appeared. I declined to buy it because of the horrible trigger. Maybe they have gotten better (IDK).

 

[Podmonkey]

I replaced the factory 16lb recoil spring with this. It's a triple nested progressive rate setup. 10lbs at full extension, 15lbs at full compression. I didn't buy it so much for the recoil reduction but to reduce the significant barrel dip when the slide slams home. It accomplished this and does provide a slight but noticeable reduction in recoil impulse. It also eases the formerly stiff effort needed to rack the slide.
I sent a further 200 rounds of 124 gr Winchester NATO onto steel today and found that the dot has less vertical track through the window now. At 15 yards it's easy to keep all 15 rounds on a 1/2 size IPSIC plate at mag dump speeds which is quite fun. It also clears a dueling tree at an entertaining clip.
She's a fast shooter for sure, now a little smoother and flatter.

I also invested in a more sensible "accessory", I ordered a 1k case of 124gr Speer Lawman. And a replacement box of 124gr +P HST to make up for the one I expended last week.

 

[Defilade]

Everyone is doing speed holes now.

 

[Podmonkey]

I don't know what appropriate category holster stuff should go into so.......
@HEX maybe there should be a gun/shooting gear section? Ammo/accessories has only ammo related threads and range/carry gear seems out of place in there.
Anyhoo..... picked this up of the doorstep yesterday:


It is the Ironside convertible OWB/IWB holster by T-Rex Arms. The original intention was to run it as an OWB in coat weather and IWB in warmer weather. However it is so incredibly comfy (and it's a pain to attach the IWB backing peice) that I'll probably just keep it in the IWB configuration. I wore it for a couple hours, ran some errands, sat on the couch etc. and it is by far the most comfortable IWB holster I have ever worn, all day comfortable I'm sure. It conceals quite well also as you can see. This rig will be replacing my Shield Plus as my off work EDC. While working the Shield is going to have to remain my primary carry until I can find a non-bulky shoulder rig that can accommodate both a weapon light AND a red dot which is a tall order. There are a few options out there but they all either look way too bulky or uncomfortable.
Working nights as I do I would like to bring a lighted and red dotted pistol to work if I could. Belt carry just isn't an option, I tried carrying a Glock 19 in a nice leather OWB but after 10 hours found it to be digging into my side to the point of being painful. Not to mention clanging of every bump and protrusion in the cab and getting caught up when squeezing myself between tightly parked trailers. Also belt carry makes using public restrooms (or just taking a leak in the grass behind the trailers) a complicated affair. Having to remove the holster from the belt and stashing it in the pants or what have you for the occasional sojourn to the public john is tolerable, but not every single day, multiple times daily.

 

[MikeyCNY]

Regarding the P320 style FCU modular sub-assembly I really do think it's a bit of a gimmick. It makes sense for a large organizations to ease armory logistics but for the private citizen it doesn't accomplish much. The cost of additional slides and barrels represent something like 90% of the total cost of the gun so if you wanted different configurations of the same model it makes more sense to just get a complete new gun. Otherwise you just have a collection of spare components out of which only a single useable gun can be made despite the total costs being similar.

I was out of town so late reply - but to me the allure of the modular FCU is not so much a change in "upper", but different grips. For example on my SIG P365XL the factory grip is adequate, but over the years I tried the laser-engraved GreyGuns grip module, and then eventually the Wilson Combat one which seems to fit my hands a little better.

You can also experiment and do some home gunsmithing - and if you ruin the grip module it's only $40-50 to replace. (same thing if its damaged at the range)

But yeah, I've been seeing lots of videos of the Carry Comp on YouTube.. I do tend to agree with you that polymer would be better over metal for recoil management..

 

[Podmonkey]

So something like 1,500 rounds through it now, much of it being hot Winchester NATO loads, and not one single malfunction, not even a hint of one. Zero.
I now question if this gun is actually made by Smith and Wesson at this point.
It shoot flat, it shoots fast, it shoots accurately and reliability, it carries well and it looks cool. I don't know what else I could want from a pistol.
More magazines, that's what. I ordered two online. I'll pick up extras whenever I'm in the vicinity of a place that might have em for sale.

@MikeyCNY If S&W did their metal frame in the same fashion as SIG does their AXG frames I'd may well have gone that route, provided it was in the midsized grip length. I am not a fan of the way rubber inserts in aluminum feels, feels cheap to me. A traditional setup with whatever material panels bolted on, like the AXG, would be far more appealing to me. As it is I really like the Fullsize barrel, slide and dust cover look matched up to a compact size grip that the polymer Carry Comp has. It has wonderful balance and feel and I enjoy carrying it as well though that's as much down to the holster I got.