There are many advantages to a gun with better-than-average heft, and Smith & Wesson’s Spec Series V M&P 9 Metal HD proves it
by Bob Campbell
I don’t know everything, but I do know that Smith & Wesson makes great handguns. That’s not a debate anyone wishes to engage in on the negative side. Other things I know are that a heavier gun recoils less, it is easier to deliver fast hits, and it tracks better than lighter guns. And while I may not wish to carry a 40-ounce 9mm on a daily basis, for many forms of competition and home defense, the S&W Spec Series V M&P 9 Metal HD has much to recommend.
I have been favorably impressed with the S&W Military & Police series of striker-fired polymer frame guns since their introduction. The 2.0 improvements in the trigger and grip treatment really got my attention. I moved from a professional respect to owning and using several M&P pistols. My opinion solidified over time. While the plain vanilla service-grade M&P is a good pistol, the handgun illustrated here is the apex of the Military & Police breed.
This is among the most attractive set ups for a striker-fired handgun. And while it is striker-fired, it isn’t polymer frame. This is a beefy, stainless steel frame handgun weighing over 40 ounces loaded. That is not inconsiderable — about the same as a loaded Government Model 1911 .45. This is a good weight for a competition gun. Similar-size handguns such as the CZ Shadow, as an example, weigh in at 47 ounces. No lightweight, the S&W Spec HD is reasonably weighty for the intended mission. A steel frame 1911 9mm and the M&P HD weigh about the same unloaded. The differences between this handgun and the standard polymer frame 9mm M&P are substantial. I felt that a substantive report was needed — one that reflects deep knowledge of the handgun and an understanding of its intended use. I reached out to some of the more experienced shooters in my circle with time in shooting disciplines different than my own.
Per Smith & Wesson:
The fifth iteration of our M&P Spec Series, this new offering comes with three 23-round magazines, a Spec Series knife, and a commemorative challenge coin. Built for enhanced performance, this pistol features a Strike Industries™ compensator, a steel frame with enhanced texturing, a steel mag well, and steel optic cover plate. Elevate your performance with the all new M&P9 METAL – Spec Series V.
- STEEL FRAME – The new steel frame construction adds significant mass to the pistol, making recoil management much easier, meaning faster follow-up shots.
- FLAT-FACE ALUMINUM TRIGGER – New flat design in aluminum allows for consistent trigger finger placement, giving you more accurate and repeatable shooting.
- OPTIC-READY SLIDE – Slide is cut to fit a variety of optical sights using the C.O.R.E.™ system plates. ClearSight™ Cut in the slide directs gas away from your optic, ensuring a clear sight picture.
- Threaded barrel with compensator installed, low recoil allowing for quick follow-up shots.
- Optic-Ready slide with M&P® tall C.O.R.E green night sights.
- Optimal 18-degree grip angle for natural point of aim.
- Flat M2.0™ trigger with the enhanced Performance Center® tuning gives you a crisp break and audible reset leading to more accurate and faster shooting.
- Accurate 1 in 10˝ twist M&P® M2.0™ barrel.
- Four interchangeable palmswell grip inserts for optimal hand fit and trigger reach – S, M, ML, L.
- Gray Armornite® finish on stainless steel slide and frame.
- Ships with three 23-round magazines
- Includes hard case, Limited Edition Spec Series Coin and knife.
Last year we tested a similar handgun save that the original features an aluminum frame. That handgun offered good accuracy and flawless reliability. The newest pistol, I felt, should be similar in performance, but with its additional weight, it should shoot with even greater control.
As I began, I interviewed my friends who are involved in competition shooting. I plumbed their depths of experience. During the evaluation, I added my own experience with tactical shooting. Any shooter with experience and those willing to train will excel with this pistol. It is a superb shooter. The trigger break is sharp and the reset rapid. At a measured 4.0 pounds, it is a good striker-fired trigger. A rapid reset is also important in combat shooting to make follow up shots faster. Reset then has a significant impact on rapid repeat shots. Furthermore, the pistol shoots flat. I was able to connect more often than not with targets at a long 50 yards. That’s substitute rifle shooting. Moving a defensive instrument like a handgun into an offensive category like a rifle is a stunt not a practical skill, but sometimes it is interesting.
Shooting Results
I fired more than five hundred cartridges of various types and weights over several weeks. The pistol never failed to feed, chamber, fire, or eject. Included were steel frame cartridge case loads purchased simply because they were cheap. They fired, the powder is dirty, and accuracy fair, but they offered an option for short-range practice. All pistols will not function with such fare.
With Federal American Eagle 9mm loads, the pistol was much more accurate. The S&W Spec Series V M&P 9 Metal HD handles well. The grippy frame makes for a good balance of adhesion and abrasion. The ambidextrous slide lock delivers rapid handling and ammunition supply replenishment coupled with a mammoth magazine well. The magazine well is competition-oriented and may be removed if preferred. I left it as issued. The magazine catch may be reversed for left-hand use. The ability to quickly guide a tapered magazine into a wide magazine well makes for rapid loading. In competition use, this is a huge advantage and in tactical training you may easily load the pistol without visual confirmation.
The muzzle brake provides easy recovery. It is difficult to separate the muzzle brake from the weight of the pistol in one regard, but even heavy pistols have muzzle flip. The HD’s muzzle flip is muted. We also know that a muzzle brake may improve a rifle’s accuracy by tuning the barrel’s frequency. Does it affect the much shorter pistol barrel in the same manner? I think perhaps it does.
Inspirations
Having the opportunity to fire such a highly developed pistol was inspirational in the best use of the term. I fired the pistol to the best of my ability. Unlike most striker-fired handguns of service size and length, I did not find the boundaries of accuracy in this one. I engaged in tactical movement, praying that the Lord would keep my moving parts in the right place. Maybe I have slowed the roll a little with age, but I still roll. I have made mistakes in the past, and they ache in the winter and during the rain, but that’s about it. Mastering the handgun is part mechanical knowledge followed by muscle memory. In the hands of a competitor — which I am not — the level of accuracy exhibited may reach artistic expression.
I have never and will never criticize competition as training. Controlling emotions and physiology to compete in a match is a good means of extending our ability. Some pistols limit the shooter. But there are any number of handguns I cannot shoot right up to, and I am not limited by their performance. The Les Baer 1911 and the Manurhin MR 88 revolver are among them. The S&W Spec Series V M&P 9 Metal HD is another, and occasionally I shoot near its capabilities. While the pistol is accurate with most loads, a standout is the Speer Gold Dot 135-grain carbine load. This loading has a good balance of penetration and expansion whether fired from a pistol or carbine barrel, and it is among the most accurate combinations. A number of loads were capable of two-inch five shot groups at 25 yards from a solid benchrest.
Speed Improvement
An optical sight, I predicted, would result in greater speed of action. The C.O.R.E. mounting system offers good coverage with a total of six mounting plates. I chose a red dot sight from a company that offers excellent quality and dependability. The Vortex Defender ST wasn’t something I had in the tool kit, so this was my first experience with the unit.
The Defender ST features ten brightness settings and a 3 MOA dot. Brightness adjustment is essential for different tactical conditions. The controls are large enough for rapid adjustments. The window is 20mm high, affording good visibility. This sight adds just a sliver of weight — under 1.5 ounces — to the pistol. The optic demands you study the features. You may simply mount and zero the pistol. If you wish to make full use of its capabilities, you can disable certain features and fine tune others. The Vortex red dot offers two night vision-compatible settings and the desirable automatic cut-off when not in use.
I fired a few practice runs, both eyes open, drawing from a Galco Corvus holster. Be careful when ordering a holster for the S&W M&P. Sometimes, the compensator will snag when the SPEC HD is used in this holster. The Corvus turned in good results with a good mix of security and speed. Results were now faster to an accurate first shot at moderate range. Dialing down the dot to its lowest setting, slow-fire accuracy also improved. I have invested quite a bit of time and ammunition in this interesting handgun. I feel the best performance is yet to come. That means the shooter may improve. I find no fault with the handgun.
I would recommend the S&W Spec Series V M&P 9 Metal HD for many forms of competition. As a holster gun for a special team, it has much merit. For the home defender who wishes to have the best combination of an easy-to-shoot, low-recoil 9mm, it would be hard to improve on this handgun. If you have perimeter intrusion alarms backed up by night vision sensors, well, you need a high-tech pistol as well. The gun, with a red dot and combat light, would be that pistol.
What I Like
- The pistol is a great shooter. The sights, handling, and grip frame are all good. It is heavy, but if that is an impediment, then simply purchase the aluminum-frame version.
What I don’t Like
- Considering its mission, there is nothing not to like. I thought about changing out the huge magazine well, but I cannot complain about something so easy to remove.
What I Would Change
- I think I would like one flush-fit 17-round magazine to supplement the 23-round magazines. No big gripe.
Compare To
- The steel frame Canik costs less and isn’t as nice a package, and the S&W is more service-grade with a double-action-only trigger. Some of the competitors are single-action striker-fired. No problem for a competition gun, but this is why the Walther isn’t adopted by institutions and the M&P is in service holsters. I like the trigger a great deal more than the SIG P320 variants. You really must get into a hammer-fired 9mm to compare to the SPEC HD. The CZ Shadow comes to mind.
