For years, polymer frame, striker-fired guns have been the rage. Since their inception and the introduction of Gaston Glock’s famous model 17 pistol, every manufacturer has been vying for a share of the market. Of course, some consumer holdouts refuse to trust “plastic” guns. They stick with the classic 1911, or trendier ones might go with the CZ 75. But recently, there’s been a shift to replace a polymer frame with a metal one. But why? Well, recoil management. The name of the game for shooting a pistol (well) is recoil management. Metal guns, because of their heavier weight and frame stiffness, are easier to manage. So, for those who maybe use a gun for work, have a desire to shoot competitions, or have recoil sensitivity, a metal gun might be a better option. Smith & Wesson is one manufacturer who took to this mantra relatively early.

More Metal

The Smith & Wesson M&P Metal was introduced in 2022 and has been immensely popular. Its initial offering has morphed into the Performance Center Competitor as well as the 2023 Spec Series (which we discussed previously). For 2024, Big Blue has decided to extend the line further with additional offerings. Three new models—albeit one is CA-compliant—have hit Smith’s website. These are mainly continuations of the original model and are an offshoot of the Spec Series gun. The main takeaway includes a new color—FDE—and both (free-state guns) have threaded barrels. While most people will think a threaded barrel is for affixing a suppressor, compensators have taken over. Comps, like the one on the Spec Series Pistol aid in recoil management, making the recoil impulse flatter and more straight back (which helps when you couple a comp with a metal-framed gun). If you want a compensator, I recommend Herrington Arms (they are another great Ohio company). The only other addition is the inclusion of suppressor height sights. These will not only work with a suppressor but will also co-witness with an attached red dot sight. Everything else is the same as the first introduced model.

Final Thoughts

The introduction of more models within the Metal series of pistols is a good thing. Smith & Wesson is listening to their customers and offering the options they are demanding. Furthermore, these additions are practical. All pistols in 2024 should have a threaded barrel as an option—it just makes sense. Adding a threaded barrel and colorway options gives the end-user greater flexibility for outfitting the pistol for the given task. Pricing will hover around $899.99, which is only $50 more than the base model, so the value is there. These should be hitting dealer shelves shortly.