By: Friedrich Seiltgen
Copyright © 2023
SMITH & WESSON
In 1854 – Smith & Wesson® introduced the .41 Magazine Pistol, “The Volcanic,” and never looked back. It was the first repeating American firearm capable of successfully using a fully self-contained cartridge.
In 1877 – The .38 Safety Hammerless became the world gets its first double-action, concealed-hammer revolver.
In 1899, the .38 Military & Police was introduced alongside the .38 S&W Special cartridge, now known as the Model 10; over six million units have been produced since its introduction.
Smith & Wesson produced its first automatic pistol, the .35 Automatic, in 1913.
1935 – Smith & Wesson introduces the .357 Magnum. The .357 Magnum quickly caught the interest of law enforcement agencies looking for a way to deal with more treacherous and better-armed criminals.
1942 – The Victory M&P model was released for the United States Women’s Naval Reserve, better known as the WAVES (for Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) stationed at Norfolk, VA Naval Base, that carried important, confidential messages between various section units.
The Model 36, Chief’s Special®, debuted at the IACP conference in 1950.
In 1955, S&W unveiled the Model 29 chambered in .44 Magnum – the handgun made famous by Clint Eastwood in the movie “Dirty Harry.” In 2005, Field & Stream rated the Model 29 as the 5th best gun ever made, the only handgun to make their top ten.
In response to the U.S. Army Marksmanship Training Unit, Smith & Wesson built a pistol that could fire the newly developed .38 AMU cartridge. In 1961, the Model 52 was introduced and became known as the most accurate target pistol of its day.
In 2003, an entirely new frame size was developed to fire the new.500 S&W Magnum cartridge. The Model S&W500™ is the world’s biggest, heaviest, most-powerful, factory-production, double-action revolver.
2005 Smith & Wesson® debuted the M&P® Pistol Series. Law enforcement officials championed the new line of polymer pistols. In the first year after the debut, over 100 departments purchased M&P pistols.
The M&P15 was introduced at the 2006 SHOT Show to overwhelming enthusiasm.
2017 – The M&P M2.0™ family is the culmination of a decade of research and design featuring upgrades to nearly every aspect, including trigger, grip, frame, and finish.
THE PERFORMANCE CENTER M&P 10MM 2.0
Smith & Wesson took their successful M&P 10mm 2.0 and gave it the Performance Center Treatment.
THE FRAME
A polymer frame equipped with four interchangeable palm swell inserts for a custom fit. The flat trigger has been tuned up to give you consistency, a crisp break, and an audible reset, which provides you with more accuracy and faster shooting.
The Performance Center version features a manual thumb safety only.
THE SLIDE & BARREL
An optics-ready long slide with tall tritium night sights helps ensure a clear sight picture even in low light conditions. The slide and barrel are manufactured from stainless steel and finished in Armornite. Both are ported to reduce muzzle flip and recoil for better accuracy and more manageability with the 10mm round.
The barrel has been lengthened by one inch to 5.6 Inches and features a 1:10-inch rifling.
“The new Performance Center 10mm was conceived with both the hunter and target shooter in mind. The goal was to build upon the M2.0 10mm series, with the intention of having reduced felt recoil and quicker follow-up shots. Popular features previously seen on other 5.6-inch PC pistols are present in this design and, when paired with the flat-shooting 10mm Auto cartridge, provide the end user a total package for hunting, self-defense, or at the range,” said John Myles, Senior Manager of New Products.
SPECIFICATIONS
Frame Size: Full-Size
Action Type: Striker-Fired
Caliber: 10mm Auto
Magazine capacity: 15 Rounds
Sights: Optic-Height Tritium Sight Front & Rear
Barrel Length: 5.6 Inches
Overall Length: 8.6 Inches
Width: 1.3 Inches
Weight: 31.4 Inches
MSRP: $749
URL: www.smith-wesson.com
THE VERDICT
If you want to step up your 10mm game, take a look at the Performance Center 2.0. Smith & Wesson listened to its customers, made a few changes, and made a great pistol even better.
The new Performance Center 10mm slide is cut for optics and ships with Smith & Wesson’s C.O.R.E.™ plate system, two 15-round magazines, and four interchangeable palm swell grip inserts.
That’s all for now, folks! Please keep sending in your questions, tips, and article ideas. And as always – “Let’s Be Careful Out There.”
Friedrich Seiltgen is a retired Master Police Officer with 20 years of service with the Orlando Police Department. He conducts training in Lone Wolf Terrorism Counterstrategies, Firearms, and Active Shooter Response. His writing has appeared in RECOIL, Off-Grid, Soldier of Fortune, The Counter Terrorist Magazine, Off Grid, American Thinker, Homeland Security Today, and The Journal of Counterterrorism & Homeland Security International.
Contact him at [email protected].