By: Friedrich Seiltgen
Copyright © 2024
ABOUT 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’s 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® debuts the M&P® Pistol Series. Law enforcement officials championed the new line of polymer pistols. In the first year after their 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 FRAME
The SD9 2.0 is an update of the Sigma pistol, the first polymer frame, semi-automatic S&W pistol. Smith & Wesson listened to customer feedback and made changes. It’s a compact frame approximately the size of the Glock 19.
The frame is black polymer, and the grip is textured on the front side and rear. There’s a Picatinny rail on the dust cover for lights and lasers. The Sigma’s curved trigger has been changed to their new flat-face self-defense trigger, which Smith & Wesson say has a crisp break, smooth take-up, audible reset, and provides the shooter with consistency.
THE SLIDE & BARREL
The slide has been given a makeover with a satin finish. Aggressive serrations have been added on the front and rear to aid in manipulations and on the top of the slide between sights to reduce glare. Sights are fixed white 3-dots. The stainless-steel barrel is four inches long with a 1:10-inch twist.
SPECIFICATIONS
Type: Striker Fired, Compact
Caliber: 9mm
Magazine Capacity: 16 Rounds
Sights: White three-dot
Barrel Length: 4 Inches
Overall Length: 7.2 Inches
Height: 5.5 Inches
Width: 1.29 Inches
Weight: 22.7 Ounces
MSRP: $349
URL: www.smith-wesson.com
THE VERDICT
The SD9 2.0 is a budget-friendly option for an everyday-carry pistol, with the quality Smith & Wesson is known for. Check one out at your Smith & Wesson dealer.
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, 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].