Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0 10mm Review

The Smith and Wesson M&P 2.0 10mm brings serious thumper energy without feeling cartoonishly huge. With optics-ready capability, stout woods-load performance, and M&P ergonomics, this 10mm makes a strong case as a backcountry pistol that still behaves like a modern fighting gun.

Smith and Wesson M&P 2.0 10mm Specifications

The 10mm is making a comeback, and Smith and Wesson is bringing in their M&P line for those who want 10mm firepower for this great cartridge. Maybe you need something for four-legged problems, or you need this type of ballistic advantage in a personal defense cartridge. Either way, Smith & Wesson has you covered with their M&P 2.0 in 10mm.

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The 10mm Fever Starts Here: Why This M&P Hits Different

Any gun person who grew up in the 1980s remembers Sonny Crockett’s Bren 10, the 10mm that made it a Hollywood gun icon. And while I know the gun was later replaced by a S&W .45, the 10mm stuck with a lot of us.

I’ve heard it called a 4-legged problem solver, Thor’s Hammer, or just a “thumper” of a round. The 10 has always been a “want” for me after getting my first taste of it in the 1990’s when I carried a Colt Delta Gold Cup. (Sadly, I eventually made the mistake of parting with it in a moment of impulsive stupidity…I have wanted another ever since.)

The 10mm Backstory: From FBI Fame to Backcountry Comeback

The 10mm rose out of the infamous FBI shootout in 1986, where the 9mm of the time was found to be ineffective in stopping two determined bank robbers. The initial loadings were a huge step up ballistically. However, the resulting guns’ recoil in the S&W 1076 3^rd Gen was difficult for some agents to handle, and it was honestly a big, heavy weapon. Soon, the FBI and most of Law Enforcement with them moved on to the .40 S&W, and the 10mm was left behind.

For quite some time, the 10mm was relegated to niche shooters. While 1911 manufacturers and Glock still made the guns, they were not selling like other models in 9mm, .45 ACP, or .40 S&W. There were only a few hardcore 10 fans, and the potential of this round was unfulfilled.

The 10mm has made a resurgence in the last few years. Hunters have realized that they can use the 10mm as a hunting cartridge with its ballistics being close to a .41 Magnum. I hear a lot of people refer to it for bear defense, although I hear a rifle, 12-gauge, or even bear spray can be better options for the big guys. (Plus, to be honest, they are such amazing creatures I’d hate to have to put one down…but if it’s me or me, you have to make some choices…)

The bonus of the 10mm is that it can be on your hip or in a chest rig 100% of the time while you’re in the field, instead of the rifle or shotgun you just put down. Regardless, the 10mm has earned a solid reputation among outdoors people. With some of the loads out there from makers like Underwood and Buffalo Bore, there are some really good options. A good friend of mine who lives in Alaska is a big fan of the 10mm, and I blame him for giving me the 10mm bug with that Colt Delta Gold Cup many years ago.

Why Carry a 10mm? Because Sometimes 9mm Feels Light

While Sonny Crockett used his Bren 10 in Miami Vice, I don’t generally use a 10mm for personal defense in my urban environment. There are a lot of good rounds from .380 Auto on up to 9mm and .45 ACP that are far better for concealed carry or defensive cartridge and have far less risk of overpenetration, especially around town. Your situation may be different. There are suitable defensive 10mm loads, but they are in the .40 S&W power range, so you might be better off with a .40 in a smaller pistol.

It seems the bigger push on the 10mm is for the outdoors: handgun hunting, defense against animals in the backcountry, or in more rural environments where potentially your threats are wearing heavy clothing. If you can only afford one handgun to cover all your needs, I can understand the appeal of the 10.

Now, I’ll be the first to admit I’m a huge fan of revolvers. However, the 10mm, and this one in particular, brings advantages that your .44 Magnum or .357 Magnum wheel guns can’t. First off, I cannot reload them anywhere as fast as a semi-auto pistol with a detachable magazine. Secondly, recoil. I’ve shot .357 Magnum, and the power of the load I would need to be potent enough for animal defense is pretty stout, and the only experience I have with 44 Magnum is pretty well seared into my memory. It gives my arthritic joints pause.

The 10mm gives you a potent cartridge, as we’ll see below, with quick reloading and manageable recoil. I can reload mine (complete with my 10-round state-compliant mags) far quicker than any revolver. Moreover, current guns come with optics mounting solutions. This allows for my aging eyes to get far better sight acquisition quickly.

Smith and Wesson’s 10mm M&P Line: Modern Power With Familiar Ergonomics

Smith has brought the 10mm back in a big way with their M&P line. I counted no less than 18 versions of the pistol in varying barrel lengths, finishes, or thumb safety configurations. The ergonomics are very well thought out for a bigger gun that does not feel like a bigger gun.

The 2.0 has even made it here to California, and it’s selling well. When it was added to our approved list, I went to my local gun store and asked them to look out for it when it became available. In no time, they called me to say they could order one, and I was in. I opted for the 4.6” version as I wanted to use it for woods carry, and it was the most practical version available to me here.

M&P 2.0 10mm Features: Optics Ready, Aggressive, and Built for Work

The 10mm M&P is very close to identical to the 9mm M&P 2.0 full size (4.25” barrel) I have. The gun has the same lines, but at 4.6 inches it does have a slightly longer barrel. Per the S&W website the 9mm and 10mm have the same width at 1.3 inches, but this could be the frame / safety. I thought the slide on the 10mm felt more substantial, but per my calipers, the slides on both are nearly identical between 1.015 “ and 1.080 (depending on where on the slide you take the measurements). The weight of the 10mm is 2.7 ounces more than the 9mm version.

My version comes with an ambi thumb safety (something I’m getting used to with my other California M&P’s), a useful as well as discreet loaded chamber indicator, and our mandatory magazine disconnect safety. Like all other pistols in this line, it comes with their C.O.R.E. optics mounting solution, as well as the usual 4 back straps. The system uses plastic plates to adapt the optic to the pistol while the optic still screws directly into the slide. The gun comes standard with tall sights to co-witness with an optic.

Grip texture was the usual aggressive type we see on all M&P 2.0’s, but it was very useful for shooting, keeping the gun firmly in place. As I mentioned before, the ergonomics are superior to those of other brands that are a bit more blocky, especially on a pistol in this caliber. The gun feels very comfortable in your hand.

Fit, Finish, and That Big 10mm Slide Marking

Fit and finish were excellent. The M&P’s have this matte, but almost semi-glossy, look using their Armornite finish on all the metal parts. There were no machining marks, and the polymer frame looks all business. Pleasant to look at, but not flashy. On the port side, the impressive “10mm” is boldly engraved in the slide.

The gun does not appear to be significantly thicker than the 9mm versions. Unlike other pistols, where it looks like you’re looking across the top of the slide that you could land an airplane on, the lines and profile make this gun not appear overly large (which it’s not).

Holster Fit for the M&P 2.0 10mm: What Worked and What Fought Back

I found the 10mm M&P fit well in any open-front holster for a standard 2.0…although it was a touch snug. My Censored Tactical AIWB holster for my M&P 2.0 full-size needed to be loosened a bit to allow for drawing without dislocating something; however, my Alpha Omega Customs Ares fit it very well and allowed for a normal draw.

If you are using a duty-style rig, you should make sure to get one specifically for your pistol due to the longer barrel. (I would wonder if a holster for the 5” 9mm M&P would work.) My Safariland holster made for my M&P 2.0 full-size was not able to accommodate it due to its being a closed-front holster.

I was able to get a Blade Tech holster for it that was snug but worked well for OWB carry, and to be honest, I really don’t know if I could CCW this AIWB without bruising certain parts of my anatomy.

Shooting the M&P 2.0 10mm: Recoil, Smoke, and Real Chronograph Data

Recoil is there… This is a 10mm, and you cannot suspend the laws of physics, so it is a thumper when it comes to putting rounds downrange. My wrists would feel it after a session of shooting, but it was definitely not prohibitive. Don’t get me wrong, I would not want to use this as a gun for a multi-hundred-round shooting course, but for the purpose or role of this gun, it’s not bad at all. It may be the slightest bit stouter than other models of 10mm, which are bigger, but it is highly manageable as long as you’re not trying to do a 2-3 second mag dump.

The basic range ammo, such as CCI Blaser brass (rated at 180 gr at 1200 ft/sec) or the aluminum-cased 200-grain FMJ, was stouter than 9mm range ammo, but still very shootable. I did find that returning to target for second shots with the 10mm is a little more challenging, making focusing on the basics of grip and stance more important.

Shooting the stouter stuff, such as the Underwood 220 Flat nose hard cast, was quite stout with a satisfying cloud of smoke after each shot. I did find I’ll need to practice more to get more prepared for four-legged threats with this round to get multiple rounds on target. Recoil was more of a strong push, not sharp and snappy, and for lack of a better comparison, it felt like shooting a .45 ACP on steroids. The Underwood 150-grain Extreme Penetrator recoil was slightly sharper, but again not prohibitive for me.

Accuracy was very good, with shots staying in an IPSC A zone easily from 10 yards. With the optic, I was able to put 4 rounds in one hole at 7 yards in my initial zeroing. The Vortex Venom made accuracy easy, but under recoil, it came loose twice. The Red-Dot compatible sights were dead on for point of aim/point of impact.

Reliability was good, with one magazine issue I’ll discuss below. I did try a 24lb recoil spring from Galloway Precision as it’s supposed to make the gun handle the heavier loads better and to enhance the gun’s reliability. Reliability was 100% with both the stock 17 lb. spring and the Galloway 24 lb.. I did note the recoil actually felt more stout with the stronger recoil spring. Your results may vary. I ended up putting the 17 lb. one back in for now as it’s the one the gun was designed for.

Some people will say that their 10mm can shoot and cycle .40S&W without issue. I can confirm this to be the case; recoil was like shooting a .38 Special versus a .357 Magnum. I do not know what the long-term impact of this would be on the firearm, specifically on the barrel’s chamber, so I would opt for a .40 S&W barrel if you can find one.

I did have repeated failures to chamber with one particular magazine I picked up after purchasing the pistol. Even looking at the magazine when loaded, the top round looked…well, weird in how it stuck up from the feed lips. I will chalk this up to a magazine issue, not a gun issue, as all my other mags worked flawlessly.

M&P 2.0 10mm Ammo Results: Chronograph Data From the 4.6” Barrel

M&P 2.0 10mm Pros and Cons: Thunder With a Few Tradeoffs

• Pros: Strong 10mm performance, very good ergonomics for a larger-caliber pistol, optics-ready C.O.R.E. mounting system, co-witness sights, aggressive grip texture, excellent fit and finish, manageable recoil for the role, and 100% reliability with working magazines and both tested recoil springs.
• Cons: Recoil is still real 10mm recoil, one magazine caused repeated failures to chamber, the Vortex Venom came loose twice under recoil, some holsters were snug or incompatible, and AIWB carry may be an anatomy-bruising adventure.

Final Verdict: Is the M&P 2.0 10mm Worth Your Money?

Is this gun worth your money? I would enthusiastically say yes. If you need or want a 10mm that doesn’t feel cartoonishly big, it might be an excellent fit, not to mention the excellent ergonomics of the gun. I would also consider that the cost is far less than that of many of the other 10mm’s in the 1911 platform.

I think the optics mounting option makes this a winning design. I would say that optics have their place. I believe they are better for a handgun hunting platform, but may not be as quick as iron sights as a dangerous animal defensive weapon. This will all depend on your skill level and how much you are willing to practice in order to keep up that perishable skill.

There are also other 10mm options in the M&P 2.0 platform from S&W. There is a 5.6” performance center version that will give you potentially better projectile velocity, as well as a 4” model more suited to CCW. Mine is perfect for what I want, and I think it’s a keeper.

Related Reads from GunsAmerica Digest

Links: Gear, Ammo, and Holsters Used in This M&P 2.0 10mm Review

S&W M&P 2.0 in 10mm (all variants): https://www.smith-wesson.com/products/pistols?caliber=10MM

Vortex Venom Sight: https://vortexoptics.com/venom-enclosed-micro-red-dot+reticle-3~MOA~Dot

Alpha Omega Kustoms kydex holsters: https://www.alphaomegakustoms.com/products/level-2-duty-holster

Blade Tech Total Eclipse 2.0 Holsters: https://blade-tech.com/products/total-eclipse-2-modular-holster

Off Grid Knives Backcountry V2: https://www.offgridknives.com/backcountry/

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