The Ruger RXM is a compact, striker-fired 9mm built with Magpul, featuring an improved trigger, modular chassis, and optics-ready slide in a Glock 19-sized package. Its ergonomic grip and swappable fire control insert add versatility. Reliable and accurate, it offers strong value at around $499.
Smith & Wesson’s Performance Center has introduced a high-end version of its M&P line with the M&P 2.0 Competitor. Designed for both competition shooters and serious defensive use, this pistol combines a metal frame, extended barrel, optics-ready slide, and a tuned trigger into a single performance-oriented package.
Chambered in 9mm and equipped with 17-round magazines, the Competitor delivers the capacity and controllability expected from a modern duty or competition handgun.
The Competitor features a five-inch barrel paired with a lengthened slide, giving shooters a longer sight radius and improved balance. To prevent the longer slide from becoming sluggish, Smith & Wesson removed material through strategically placed cuts on the sides and top of the slide. These cuts reduce mass and maintain cycling speed similar to standard M&P models, preserving reliability while improving performance.
The longer barrel also helps reduce felt recoil and allows shooters to achieve desired power factor levels with less powder, which can further soften recoil impulse during competition.
Unlike standard polymer M&P pistols, the Competitor uses a machined aluminum frame. This allows for precise shaping and improved ergonomics, giving shooters a higher grip and better control. The frame includes sculpted trigger finger clearance, interchangeable backstraps for custom fit, and aggressive texturing for a secure grip.
The pistol also includes an accessory rail for lights or lasers, ambidextrous slide stop controls, and a reversible magazine release, making it fully adaptable for left- or right-handed shooters.
One of the standout features of the Competitor is its trigger. Traditional polymer frames can flex during trigger pull, but the M&P’s internal steel chassis eliminates this issue. With the Competitor’s metal frame, the system becomes even more rigid, resulting in a cleaner, crisper trigger break and consistent trigger feel.
The Performance Center tuning ensures the trigger is suitable for both competitive shooting and defensive applications.
A factory-installed magazine funnel speeds up reloads while remaining compact enough for practical carry. The pistol ships with four 17-round magazines featuring extended baseplates to work with the magwell funnel. Aftermarket extensions can increase capacity significantly for competition use, making the Competitor highly versatile for USPSA and similar disciplines.
The slide includes a factory optics mounting system with adapter plates for popular red-dot sights. Shooters can easily install an optic while still retaining functional iron sights, providing flexibility for both traditional and modern sighting setups.
In range testing, the M&P 2.0 Competitor demonstrated excellent reliability and accuracy. The pistol performed consistently with various optics and ammunition types, showing strong potential for competition environments such as USPSA Carry Optics or Limited Division.
Despite its competition focus, the pistol can be adapted for everyday carry by removing the magwell funnel and switching to standard baseplates, reducing bulk while maintaining high capacity.
With a suggested retail price of around $999, the M&P 2.0 Competitor delivers a metal-frame performance pistol with tuned trigger and multiple magazines at a competitive price point. This makes it an attractive option for shooters looking for a competition-capable handgun without entering the ultra-premium price tier.
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