Patron's Choice: S&W M&P 9 Metal Carry Comp
- Graham Baates
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
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When the unfortunately ill-fated CSX was released it surprised many people that Smith & Wesson was making metal-framed pistols again. I asked a Smith & Wesson employee about it at a trade show and was told the CSX was just the beginning. What we see here is part of that expansion.
What Is It? The S&W M&P 9 Metal Carry Comp is a twist on the classic M&P 9 Compact, with a slightly longer stock to accomodate 17-round magazines, an aluminum grip, greatly enhanced traction points on the slide, and a ported barrel.
Who's it for? This is a question I struggled to answer. The styling, port, and longer grip suggest it's a competition gun, but the compact slide length suggests carrry. Perhaps this is where the name came from as the pistol is part "competition" and part "carry".
Aluminum Grip As part of the "metal" line the M&P 9 Metal Carry Comp has an aluminum grip frame that is nicely improved from the earlier CSX frame. Why use aluminum? Aluminum weights slightly more than polymer when used in the amount needed for a pistol grip. The upside usually is a crisper, better trigger feel that remains more consistent over time as the pins that hold the mechanism have something sturdier to pivot within. Increasing non-reciprocating mass also tends to make for less felt recoil comparatively. The downside is that more of the shock and vibration is transfered through the grip into the shooter's hand. Only the most sensitive and experienced of shooters will notice this, but it's there.
Take a Look at the S&W M&P 9 Metal Carry Comp in the tabletop video below. It's a looker for sure. Rumble Link
Specifications
Width: 1.4 in
Length: 7.25 in
Height: 5.5 in
Weight: 28.1 oz
Caliber: 9MM
Capacity: 17
Barrell Length: 4.22in* Note: Barrel is back-bored to the port
Night Front Sight
Optics Ready
Barrell Material: Stainless Steel
Frame: Aluminum
Number of Included Magazines: 2
MSRP: $999
Prices Around the Web as of 14NOV25
Click links for current pricing
Does it make a difference? On my scale the M&P 9 Metal Carry Comp's slide was about an ounce lighter than my old classic M&P 2.0 9 Compact and the frame was about two ounces heavier (including that it's larger). Tehcnically, these are the fine details that can give a competitor an edge, like a racecar's tires having one more or less pound of air pressure in the tires. Not enough for the average driver to notice, but a skilled driver might find an advantage.
To see if the premium over the base model amounts to more than just aesthetics, I hit the range for the same GBGuns range protocol that has given over 500 other handguns a fair chance including:
Cold Shots: Truly my first shots through the gun.
Full Magazine +1: Suprisingly some modern guns still struggle with this. It's a test of how much play is in the magazine as well as how the slide cycles with pressure. This is also when I do my best to learn the trigger. With aged magazines there is no promise.
What's For Dinner™: A test to see what ammunition the gun will eat. Does the gun feed the round from slide lock, will it cycle and feed another round of the same type, does the slide lock to the rear on empty, and is there any notable point of impact change with different loads.
For this gun the following ammunition was used:
Priced and linked where found at the time this article was written
45gr Sim-X DEFENSECORE $18.99 / 20 at Target Sports USA
50gr Liberty Ammunition Ultra Light $37.39 / 20 at Optics Planet
100gr Sellier & Bellot XRG $13.34 / 25 at Target Sports USA (see review HERE)
115gr Hornady American Gunner $21.41 / 25 at Global Ordnance
115gr Wincherster SilverTip $18.29 / 20 at GrabaGun
124gr PMC SFX $24.85 / 50 from Widener's
124gr Federal Premium HST $39.95 / 50 from Widener's
130gr Federal Syntech PCC $25.99 / 50 direct from Federal
147gr Fiocchi Defense Dynamics JHP $21.89 / 50 at GrabaGun
165gr AMMO, Inc. /stelTH/ $21.25 / 50 at Target Sports
Standard range ammunition was Norma 124gr $12.82 / 50 at SportsmansGuide
Sights & Trigger Control: on a 6" spinner target at a distance of 12-ish yards. We got this from Titan Great Outdoors and use it to gauge how learnable the trigger is and usable the sights are for forced, timed, precise shots.
Practical Accuracy: Five shots from a distance of seven yards at a one inch target. This isn't so much about printing a tight group as it is a culmination of the shooting experience and time for to collect thoughts prior to making a conclusion.
After Shots: Final impressions and reflections from the range session.
Watch the process from the first shot in the Shooting Impressions video below. Rumble Link
On the Range I was a bit underwhelmed by the Metal Carry Comp. This model costs significantly more than a standard M&P 9 for logical reasons, mainly machine time, but the benefit to the shooter seems minimal outside of aesthetics. The potential for a more tactile trigger was not realized by the metal frame, and the ports didn't make the gun feel any flatter shooting aside from when using higher-pressure rounds during which the metal frame transfers more energy into the hand anyways. Traction was good and the pistol was comfortable to shoot, but the "wow" factor I expected given the price and looks was simply not there. To me the Metal Carry Comp "upgrade" is a bit like one of those packages auto makers offers which enhances the aesthetics of the car, but doesn't improve performance in any appreciable way.
I was able to notice compensation effects during rapid fire, but interestingly enough didn't feel it got me back on target any quicker during slower fire. This is proibably where it comes down to what one wants to do with a pistol, personal brand feelings, and how much money you're willing to spend on a gun.
I plan on spending some more time on the range with the S&W M&P 9 Metal Carry Comp as I haven't been able to come to a solid conclusion as to whether or not I like the gun yet. Now that base gun performance has been established I've mounted an OSight X for my next outing in during which I'll attempt to compare and contrast with the base model M&P9. Mounting an optic of course has negated the slide weight savings the serrations and windows provided.
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