S&W Spec Series VI Review: $1,899 EDC Done Right?

Estimated reading time: 14 minutes

The S&W Spec Series VI M&P 9 M2.0 Metal Compact pairs a ported barrel, Aimpoint ACRO P-2, metal frame, and roughly $985 in included accessories with genuinely fast, controllable performance. After several weeks of shooting and carrying it, the $1,899 package makes a stronger case for itself than the sticker price suggests.

The S&W Spec Series VI M&P 9 M2.0 Metal Compact combines an ACRO P-2, ported barrel, and premium carry gear in one package. Rather than simply adding a flashy finish, Smith & Wesson built this pistol around features that can actually improve an everyday carry setup. It also includes nearly $1,000 worth of accessories that make the $1,899 MSRP easier to swallow. After spending several weeks shooting and carrying the Spec Series VI, I think Smith & Wesson got the formula mostly right.

S&W Spec Series VI Unboxed: More Than Champagne Cerakote

Opening the box of a special-series pistol can be underwhelming. Often, the manufacturer adds a unique finish, throws in a few commemorative items, and calls it a premium package. That isn’t what happened here.

The first thing that caught my attention was the Champagne Cerakote covering the aluminum frame and ported slide. The color isn’t necessarily my favorite, but I like that it makes the Spec Series VI immediately recognizable. More importantly, the finish will provide the corrosion resistance I want on a pistol that will spend time riding close to the body.

The Aimpoint ACRO P-2 was already mounted to the slide, and three 15-round magazines were included. Each magazine wears a Floyd’s Custom Shop baseplate, while the pistol itself comes with Floyd’s EDC magwell. Then I started digging through the rest of the package.

Nearly $1,000 in Extras Changes the $1,899 Math

The included Savior Equipment pistol bag immediately stood out. Most factory pistol cases are something I use once before throwing them in a closet. This one is different. The bag is genuinely useful. It has magazine storage, dividers, and enough room for the pistol and the other equipment I’d normally bring to the range. It’s also well made enough that I expect to keep using it.

The Hunter Constantine carry belt is an even more valuable inclusion for me. I’ve personally used this belt for about a year, and it has become one of my favorite concealed-carry options. It’s elastic, and the adjustable design lets me carry comfortably in athletic shorts without belt loops, yet it works equally well with jeans.

The Spec Series VI also includes a knife, challenge coin, and patch. The knife feels well made and looks great, but the challenge coin might be my favorite of the smaller extras. The artwork is excellent, and it’s a thoughtful touch for a limited-edition pistol.

When you add everything together, the $1,899 price starts looking considerably more reasonable. The ACRO P-2 alone carries a $617 price, while the Hunter Constantine belt is $115, the Savior bag is $88, Floyd’s magwell is $75, and the three baseplates total another $90. That’s roughly $985 in included accessories. In other words, you’re effectively paying about $914 for the ported M&P Metal Compact, three magazines, and a knife. That’s a very different proposition from simply looking at the $1,899 sticker price.

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S&W Spec Series VI M&P 9 Metal Compact Specifications

Model	S&W Spec Series VI M&P 9 M2.0 Metal Compact
Caliber	9mm
Barrel Length	4”
Frame	Aluminum
Weight	30.24 ounces
Included Magazines	Three 15-round magazines
Optic	Aimpoint ACRO P-2
Barrel Porting	Four ports
MSRP	$1,899

Factory Mounted ACRO P-2 Is Excellent, but the Irons Aren’t

I love that Smith & Wesson installs the ACRO P-2 from the factory. The direct-mount design keeps the optic relatively low. The P-2 itself is a rugged, proven optic. Its brightness range worked extremely well during testing. I could easily see the dot against bright backgrounds on a summer day, while the lowest settings worked well with night vision after dark.

There is one major problem with the factory sight setup, however. The front iron sight is completely blocked by the base of the ACRO. For a pistol that comes with an optic from the factory, I would much rather see taller backup sights. Batteries eventually die, and having a usable iron-sight picture provides valuable insurance.

The ACRO also wasn’t zeroed when I received the pistol. That’s worth knowing before heading to the range. Make sure to confirm your zero before relying on it. My other complaint involves the Aimpoint’s adjustments. Windage and elevation require a star bit. I would prefer a tool-less system that allows adjustments with something as simple as a cartridge case.

Metal Frame and Grip Texture Make the Spec Series VI Carry Ready

The aluminum frame is one of the Spec Series VI’s biggest advantages. It provides a rigid platform while keeping the pistol’s weight at a reasonable 30.24 ounces. That rigidity matters even more for anyone running a visible or infrared laser. A weapon light doesn’t require a perfectly rigid mounting platform because the light itself doesn’t establish the point of aim. A laser does. For that application, the metal frame is an excellent choice.

The grip texture is another area where Smith & Wesson got it right. The texture is aggressive enough to keep the pistol locked in my hand during rapid fire, but it isn’t so rough that I found it uncomfortable while carrying. The interchangeable palmswell inserts allow further customization. I also like the texture on the magazine release, which makes it easier to locate during fast reloads.

I ran multiple draw drills from a Tier 1 Concealed holster configured for another compact M2.0 pistol with a Streamlight TLR-7A. The Spec Series VI fit just fine, and the combination allowed me to draw quickly while remaining comfortable to carry.

Four Barrel Ports Cut Muzzle Rise by Roughly 30 Percent

The Spec Series VI gets more interesting once you look at the slide. Smith & Wesson cut the slide to accommodate the ACRO while also incorporating a top slide cut that lines up with four ports in the barrel. Those four holes direct gases upward as the bullet exits the barrel. That reduces muzzle rise without increasing the overall length of the pistol.

The difference is noticeable, and this is where the ported S&W Spec Series VI starts earning its keep. Shooting the Spec Series VI alongside an M&P9 M2.0 Compact Carry Comp, I estimate the Spec Series VI reduces muzzle rise by roughly 30 percent. I wouldn’t claim that as a laboratory measurement, but the difference was obvious during back-to-back shooting.

There is a tradeoff. The ports produce noticeable blast, particularly when shooting rapidly. They also leave some carbon around the barrel and slide cuts. However, the buildup never affected reliability or slowed me down during testing.

M&P M2.0 Trigger Breaks at Approximately 4.5 Pounds

The trigger remains familiar territory for anyone who has shot an M&P M2.0. Take-up is relatively long, but it remains smooth until reaching a well-defined wall. There is a small amount of creep when breaking the shot. I could barely feel it while shooting, though. More importantly, the reset is short and positive, putting my finger right back on the wall for the next shot.

My trigger gauge measured approximately 4.5 pounds. That’s right where I’d expect a carry pistol to be.

Floyd’s Magwell Speeds Reloads Without Bulking Up the Grip

Floyd’s Custom Shop adds another practical improvement with the EDC magwell. It gives my pinky a comfortable ledge while creating a surprisingly large funnel for such a compact pistol.

It also doesn’t add much width. That’s important for concealed carry. During drills, the magwell made reloads more consistent. The magazines dropped free every time, and the cutouts in the magwell and baseplates provided plenty of room to grab a magazine if I needed to strip it manually.

The baseplates themselves are another thoughtful addition. They add almost no length to the magazines, which is exactly what I want on an EDC pistol.

S&W Spec Series VI Accuracy and Velocity at 10 Yards

For accuracy testing, I shot five-round groups at 10 yards with Hornady defensive ammunition. I measured velocity with a Garmin Xero C1 Pro chronograph.

Hornady Load	Average Velocity	5-Shot Group (10 yards)
115 gr XTP	1,128.5 fps	1.21″
+P 124 gr FlexLock	1,157.4 fps	1.77″
+P 124 gr XTP	1,207.1 fps	1.99″
135 gr FlexLock	1,037.5 fps	1.14″
147 gr XTP	944.5 fps	1.17″

The groups were slightly larger than what I typically shoot with semi-automatic carry pistols. Still, every load produced reasonable accuracy for its intended role.

Velocity was more interesting. Despite the four barrel ports, the Spec Series VI produced excellent velocities across the board from its 4” barrel. In fact, it averaged about 20 fps faster with the 115gr and 124gr ammunition tested than a different 3.83-inch 9mm pistol I recently evaluated. That’s a good result for a pistol that noticeably reduces muzzle rise.

S&W Spec Series VI Range Test: Fast, Flat, and Malfunction Free

AmmunitionToGo.com is the ammo sponsor for this review. My order arrived within the week, and the company offers a wide selection of competitively priced ammunition through an easy-to-use website. Shipping was also fast, making it a convenient option for stocking up on range or defensive ammunition.

I put a couple hundred rounds through the Spec Series VI, primarily shooting 124-grain Blazer Brass. I also ran Hornady 115-, 135-, and 147-grain loads, including several +P loads. The pistol didn’t have a single malfunction. The Spec Series VI fed, fired, extracted, and ejected everything I put through it.

Rapid-fire drills showed why the porting matters. Even with a little trigger freeze on my part, I fired all 15 rounds in 1.9 seconds, averaging just under 0.13-second splits. The pistol remained extremely controllable. The dot quickly returned to the target after every shot, and the grip texture kept the gun firmly planted in my hand. At close range, I could shoot quickly. At 100 yards, I could still pretty consistently hit a C-zone-sized silhouette.

Reloads were equally smooth. The Floyd’s magwell helped guide the magazines into place without making the pistol feel oversized. For those who want to see this pistol in action, I posted a short video to my YouTube page below:

S&W Spec Series VI Pros and Cons: Where the Package Wins

• Pros: Noticeably reduced muzzle rise from the four barrel ports, reliable performance across a wide range of ammunition, factory-mounted Aimpoint ACRO P-2, rigid aluminum frame, effective grip texture, useful Floyd’s EDC magwell and baseplates, three 15-round magazines, and roughly $985 in included accessories.
• Cons: $1,899 MSRP, factory irons are obstructed by the ACRO P-2 housing, the optic was not zeroed when received, Aimpoint adjustments require a star bit, and the barrel ports create additional blast and carbon buildup.

S&W Spec Series VI Verdict: Is the $1,899 Package Worth It?

The Smith & Wesson Spec Series VI M&P 9 M2.0 Metal Compact isn’t cheap. At $1,899, it’s considerably more expensive than a standard M&P M2.0 Compact. However, calling it overpriced would miss the point. Smith & Wesson didn’t simply put a special finish on an M&P and raise the price. The company built a complete carry package around the pistol and included equipment I’d actually buy separately.

The ACRO P-2 is excellent. The Floyd’s magwell and baseplates are useful upgrades. The Hunter Constantine belt is one I’ve personally trusted for a year. The Savior Equipment bag is good enough that it won’t be relegated to the back of a closet.

Then there’s the pistol itself. The aluminum frame provides a rigid platform, the ported barrel keeps muzzle rise under control, the M2.0 trigger remains predictable, and the grip texture works well for both concealed carry and rapid fire. Add a couple hundred malfunction-free rounds across a wide range of ammunition, and the Spec Series VI makes a compelling case for itself.

For someone who simply wants an M&P 9 M2.0, there are certainly less expensive options. For someone who wants a premium, factory-built EDC pistol with an enclosed-emitter optic and nearly everything else already sorted out, this package makes considerably more sense. That’s ultimately what I like most about the Spec Series VI. It isn’t a pistol that requires a shopping list after you bring it home. It’s already built.

Related Reads from GunsAmerica Digest

• New Pistol Review: Testing the M&P9 M2.0 Metal
• Smith & Wesson Spec Series: Metal M2.0 Pistol Review
• Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0 Review

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