In 2022, Smith & Wesson launched a metal-framed version of its flagship striker-fired duty size pistol, the aluminum-framed M&P 9 2.0 Metal chambered in 9 mm Luger. Aluminum construction means that this frame flexes and contorts less during shooting in comparison to the standard polymer unit. However, the weight of the original 4¼-inch M&P 9 2.0 Metal isn’t much different from the standard full-size 4¼-inch polymer M&P 9 2.0. Unloaded, both guns weigh within two ounces of each other.
Despite the M&P 9 2.0’s fantastic frame contours and ergonomic frame shape, that lighter frame runs contrary to what most action-pistol competitors want in a performance match pistol. Many competitors that choose metal-framed pistols for competition do so because the extra mass of the (typically steel) frames does a better job at resisting recoil impulses during shooting. Colloquially speaking, they “absorb” recoil, which can give shooters a competitive edge by having a gun that “stays put” under rapid shooting.
ENTER THE M&P METAL HD
Smith & Wesson finally did what many of its diehard fans were waiting for the storied American gunmaker to do. It released a steel-frame variant of the M&P 9 2.0. The company showcased this new pistol earlier this year at SHOT Show 2025. This new steel-framed Smith & Wesson is formally known as the Spec Series V M&P 9 Metal HD. Its release comes as part of Smith & Wesson’s Spec series, one of the company’s annual special-edition product launches.
As a special-edition pistol, the M&P Metal HD does include some extras like 23-round factory-extended 9 mm magazines, a threaded barrel, steel magazine well and a Strike Industries single-port compensator. Its slide release, magazine release, barrel, magazine well and the cover plate for the optics cut are all finished with a distinctive bright blue PVD finish.
The exact Spec Series models change every year, but they always include unique finishes, extra accessories and other collectibles like commemorative challenge coins and pocket knives. Even the box that the M&P Metal HD ships in is different; in this instance it’s a foam-padded, hard-sided lockable case.
SPEC SERIES V M&P 9 METAL HD
Other than its steel frame material or overall weight, the M&P Metal HD remains dimensionally and mechanically identical to any full-size M&P 2.0 Metal pistol. Its frame is machined exactly like every other M&P 2.0 metal (aluminum) frame. After reviewing the original M&P 9 2.0 Metal, the 2023 Green Spec Series and last year’s new M&P 9 2.0 Carry Comp model, I’m familiar with M&P 2.0 aluminum guns. The Metal HD retains every same nook, edge and cranny that’s found on the aluminum frame. And like those models, the Metal HD also includes the same grippy and functional frontstrap and backstrap inserts. The granular texture on these is by far one of my favorite things about these pistols.
It’s worth repeating that this grip shape has a “neutral” 18-degree grip angle. It points and presents naturally on the draw, while its contour makes it easy to grip and control under recoil. The relationship between these frames, their RSAs and their slides is also conducive to pistols that track quite well under rapid fire. This is one reason why I enjoy Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0s the way I do. The use of steel for the M&P Metal HD’s frame adds about seven ounces to the total weight. It may not sound like much, but it’s not hard to sense the difference when shooting the same cartridge alongside a standard (aluminum) M&P 2.0 Metal.
Metal HD slides have some lightening cuts towards the muzzle and over the top of the slide ahead of the breech. These slides also retain the newer style of futuristic and wavy slide serrations identical to the ones seen on 2024 M&P 2.0 Carry Comp slides.
One detail unique to the M&P Metal HD is that its trigger shoe is made from aluminum instead of polymer, like the rest of the M&P 2.0 Metal series. From a shooting perspective, this aluminum trigger functions identically to all other Smith & Wesson flat-faced M&P 2.0 triggers. Ten trigger pulls averaged just a hair under four pounds: three pounds, 15.9 ounces according to my electronic scale.
M&P METAL HD & CARRY OPTICS
Since I’m writing this review for Shooting Sports USA and evaluating this pistol on its competition merits, I’ve decided to remove both the magazine well and the compensator in order make it compliant for USPSA’s Carry Optics division. By all means, nothing is stopping anyone from taking the gun as it comes out of the box and running it in Open Minor division.
Carry Optics division not only happens to be the most “natural” home for the M&P Metal HD, but it’s also where all of its direct competitors hang out. In no particular order, steel-frame guns like the Canik Rival-S, CZ Shadow 2, Beretta 92X Performance, Walther PDP SF, etc., all tend to congregate in Carry Optics.
I had the chance to shoot the M&P Metal HD during a weekend USPSA club match to put it through its paces. For the occasion, I mounted Gideon Optic’s new “big-window” Storm, a six-MOA, DeltaPoint Pro-footprint, red-dot optic atop the Metal HD’s slide. Unfortunately, the supplied 23-round magazines are not in compliance with USPSA’s Carry Optics (and Limited/Limited Optics) divisions. Instead, I used standard 17-round M&P 2.0 magazines, which technically put me at a slight disadvantage.
MATCH DAY
I’ve found that M&P 2.0 pistols in general tend to have a very nice “rhythm” shooting light and medium 147-grain 9 mm loads, so using such a round on match day was a no-brainer. It doesn’t hurt that their barrels seem to do better with this weight, too.
This was the first match I’d shot in months. The combination of a heavier-gun and a milder round made it simple to ease back into match shooting. As expected, I had no issues watching the Gideon Storm’s six-MOA dot track through shots. Reliability-wise, this pistol cycled everything I’ve put through it—before, during and after the match. I’ve shot it with its compensator, with a suppressor and with just the bare muzzle. It runs both subsonic and standard pressure loads just fine. In addition to HOP Munitions Poly (both FP and RN) 147-grain minor-power factor loads and my own handloads, I also shot Federal’s Syntech 115-grain TSJ and Eley’s Minor 9 action-pistol focused 124-grain FMJ bullet through the pistol for review. As I write this, I’ve easily shot 400 rounds through the M&P Metal HD—all without a hitch.
With regards to its weight and mobility across an action-pistol stage, I think the M&P Metal HD’s overall weight is on point. Compared to the CZ Shadow 2, Canik Rival-S or the steel-frame Walther PDP, the M&P Metal HD is a few ounces lighter. However, it still surpasses that threshold of mass needed to comfortably soak up 9 mm minor power-factor ammo.
M&P METAL HD CRITIQUES
From a sporting perspective, my biggest critique about the M&P Metal HD is that it’s not race-ready out of the box. Granted as the fifth iteration of Smith & Wesson’s Spec Series, it’s not specifically marketed as a USPSA-, IDPA- or IPSC-specific sporting pistol. However, its steel-frame construction makes it a hot contender for these types of action-pistol games, especially because of its weight and the other positive attributes the pistol affords the shooter.
From a functional perspective, I think the factory optics mounting system is this gun’s Achilles heel. Even though Smith & Wesson does a good job providing a variety of mounting screws with thread-locker, the 5/64 hex heads are less than ideal for these applications. In short, it was much more challenging to properly torque my optic to the pistol despite my high-quality bit set (the harder steel of my own 5/64 bit ended up slipping inside the softer steel screw). This made it harder for me to properly fasten the optic. It loosened up during the middle of the match; a first for me despite the wide variety of guns and optics I handle on a regular basis. For this application, Torx is preferable to hex.
Though accurate enough for an action-pistol stage, I would have liked for the gun to print tighter groups when shot from a rest at 25 yards. The M&P Metal HD’s trigger and the way it breaks while the gun is rested may be a factor in extreme spreads. At my match, I printed 98 Alphas, 23 Charlies, one Delta and three Mikes—that’s not the gun’s fault!
25-YARD ACCURACY REPORT
FINAL THOUGHTS
Besides Glocks, HKs and Walthers, I shoot frequently enough with M&P 2.0 pistols. I have my likes and dislikes about them, but they remain personally relevant because of their overall good-shooting qualities. I love the way they point on the draw and the way they track while shooting aggressively. After learning that Smith & Wesson released an actual steel-frame M&P, I had to get one.
There are certainly a few details I wish Smith & Wesson would tweak on this model, especially to make it better fit within the Carry Optics or Limited Optics divisions for USPSA. The good news is that the launch of the Spec Series V is proof that Smith & Wesson has steel on its mind. This makes me hopeful about the possibility of more sport-specific steel-frame pistol models on the horizon.
SPECIFICATIONS
MSRP is $1,699. Go to smith-wesson.com.
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