The slide and barrel are constructed of stainless steel finished in matte black Melonite. Slide length has been trimmed by about three-quarters of an inch, as has the barrel. Overall machining and fitting are excellent, as one would expect from Smith & Wesson. Serrations, in a sort of gnarly dragon's-scale pattern, are located at the rear of the slide and give an excellent purchase--especially seeing that the recoil spring, of necessity, is a tad on the stiff side.

(Left) The shortening of the Compact's grip means it holds five fewer rounds than the standard M&P. (Center) The interchangeable palm swells on the M&P Compact make it easy to customize the grip to fit any shooter's hands. (Right) The tool for taking down the pistol is located in the butt of the gun; from there, disassembly is about as simple as it gets.

Three-dot sights on the Compact, like the standard M&P, include a dovetailed steel ramp front and Novak LoMount Carry rear. Both are drift adjustable. Tritium sights are available as extras.

The M&P has a unique takedown setup. First you remove the magazine and ensure the gun is unloaded. Next, lock back the slide and remove the takedown tool from the butt (though actually you can use any appropriately sized pointed instrument for the takedown). Now look down in the chamber and find a small white metal lever that somewhat resembles a shepherd's crook. Push forward and down on this lever. Rotate the takedown latch downward and remove the slide off the front of the frame. The recoil spring and guide and barrel can now be popped out of the slide. Piece o' cake.

Looking at a gun in the office is all well and good, but the real test occurs in the field. Our evaluation of the M&P Compact was accomplished at the Angeles Shooting Range in Lakeview Terrace, California (www.angelesranges.com). Five different brands, weights and types of 9mm Parabellum ammo were used. Three five-shot groups with each type of ammo were fired from a rest at a combat range of seven yards and also at 25 yards.

ACCURACY RESULTS: S&W M&P Compact
9mm LOAD	BULLET WEIGHT (gr.)	AVG. VELOCITY (fps)	STANDARD DEVIATION	AVERAGE 7-YD GROUP (in.)	AVERAGE 25- YD GROUP (in.)
Black Hills JHP+P	124	1,224	16.3	2.75	8.00
Speer Lawman FMJ	124	1,060	9.4	1.00	6.50
Federal Hydra-Shok JHP	124	1,044	15	2.00	5.50
Magtech SCHP	96.2	1,250	16.9	0.88	3.88
Hornady XTP JHP	147	964	6.7	1.25	3.75
Velocities are average of five shots at 10 feet with a Chrony Pro chronograph. Accuracy results are result of three five-shot groups at the yardage indicated. Abbreviations: JHP, jacketed hollowpoint; FMJ, full metal jacket; SCHP, solid copper hollowpoint

While most pocket pistols do just fine at the closer distances for which they were really intended, with much justification I've come to expect accuracy to come to pieces in many of these shorties when firing them at the longer range. Not so with the M&P Compact. Many times I got groups that I would be happy with from any standard-size auto. I think that this may be the best I've ever done with an out-of-the-box concealed carry auto at 25 yards.

The gun was very controllable. Recoil was more than manageable even with some of the stout loads and, as mentioned before, the short grip presented no problem for me. Feeding and ejection were 100 percent. I would imagine the .40 S&W and .357 to buck a bit more than the 9mm, but I feel that the gun would be eminently controllable no matter the chambering.

I know the chances of Los Angeles ever allowing wholesale concealed carry are about the same as the French acknowledging U.S. help in the two world wars, but should this unlikely event ever happen (the L.A. thing), the M&P Compact would be right at the top of my list for a concealed carry gun. It's simply one very nice little pistol.

	(This is article appears in the April 2007 issue of GUNS & AMMO magazine, which is on sale now at your local newsstand. Click HERE for a look at the other great features and stories available in the April 2007 issue)