https://gunmagwarehouse.com/blog/smith_wesson_mp_m20_truglo_fde/BY RICHARD JOHNSON NOVEMBER 8, 2017
Smith & Wesson is running at flank speed with the roll out of the M&P M2.0 line.
Introduced earlier this year, the M2.0 series pistol is a full-size update to the company’s original M&P line of handguns. The original pistols served law enforcement and armed citizens well. However, the company saw an opportunity to improve aspects of the pistols and the Modular Handgun System competition seems to have been the impetus behind the development.
Since the launch of the updated, full-size M&P pistols, Smith & Wesson updated the Shield and introduced a brand-new pistol size called the Compact. Both of these have the M2.0 features such as the improved trigger and more aggressive grip texture. Now the company is going back and offering a wider range of options in the duty-sized pistols.
This is the right side of the M&P M2.0 FDE pistol.
The company recently announced the addition of a pistol with a new finish and Truglo sights. Offered in both 9mm and .40 S&W, the new pistols are functionally the same as the M&P9 M2.0 and M&P40 M2.0 respectively. However, both of these guns have a flat dark earth finish. The polymer frame appears to have the color added during the injection molding process while the slide has a Cerakote finish applied.
Both versions of this gun have sights upgraded from the plain 3-dot style that is standard. These pistols have the TFX sights from Truglo installed at the factory. The TFX sights are a 3-dot arrangement that use a blend of tritium and fiber optic technology. The concept behind the sights is that they will offer the best possible brightness in all kinds of lighting conditions. I’ve used these sights before, and I was impressed at how bright they really can be.
This is the left side of the Smith & Wesson M&P40 M2.0 pistol with Truglo TFX sights.
While there are a wide range of theories on what kind of sights work best in “real world combat,” my experience and study continue to support some of Dave Spaulding’s work that suggests a front sight that is large, bright and offers a stark color contrast will be more likely to be seen and used in a body alarm response (aka fight or flight.)
My aging eyes might prefer a front sight that is even larger than the TFX, but I would expect the bright green color is much easier to pick up than a plain white dot in a stressful moment. I like the FDE color treatment, but it is the improved sights on this gun that make it worth my time to consider.
Smith & Wesson lists both caliber versions of this gun at $699.
Richard Johnson
Richard is a writer with a background in law enforcement and sports photography. In addition to his work in the firearms industry, he writes in the sci-fi and fantasy genres. More of his work can be found at GunsHolstersAndGear
