To answer the question of whether hunting with the Smith and Wesson M&P 2.0 10mm is a good idea, we must first discuss you and your hunting style, the state you plan to hunt, and what you are going after.

Does your State allow you to hunt with a small Handgun?

Let’s get the boring legwork out of the way. Check your regulations for minimum caliber, barrel length, and what type of optics are allowed. If you plan to hunt multiple states and only own one gun…well you know the drill.  There is no sense in buying a gun that has no purpose. Hunting with the Smith and Wesson M&P 2.0 would be illegal in some states and not practical in others.  I would rather buy this same gun in a 9mm if I wasn’t going to hunt, or ward off angry grizzlies. The 10mm has significantly more pop and cartridge expense than its 9mm counterpart.

Are you really ready to hunt with a 10mm polymer gun?

I’m just going to be blunt and say it. Many guys would be better off with a more hefty gun for a variety of reasons. The odds are you might be one of them. Small guns like the Smith and Wesson 10mm are not as easy to be accurate with. Trigger control, proper grip, and a good rest like the Trifecta Signature Camo Handgun Rest are a must in my book, especially when you are trying to extend your range. The flat-faced trigger on this new M&P 2.0 is actually pretty good. My only complaint would be that it’s a little heavy for a hunting handgun, but, I’m not ready to swap it out just yet.  I have been getting good groups with the little pistol at 25 yards, and haven’t seen the point of aim move during my many dry fire practice sessions due to a stiff trigger. Be honest with yourself and ask whether you have the time, patience, and funds to practice enough to make this type of gun a viable option. We all have lives outside of the hunting world. If you’re ready to go small… read on.

If you are up to the challenge the Smith and Wesson M&P 2.0 10mm might be the most fun you have ever had while hunting with a firearm.

As I write this post, I am currently right in the middle of a series on the Trifecta Handgun YouTube Channel centered around hunting with the Smith and Wesson M&P 2.0 in 10mm.  I discovered the gun in November of 2021. I knew I wanted one and immediately called my FFL. To My surprise, he got a 4″ compact version less than a month later. Perfect I thought. I will now try to prove whether this Indiana minimum legal Smith and Wesson M&P 2.0 10mm is good for handgun hunting. The series is a fun process where we are trying to discover whether this gun will make my trifecta of handguns alongside the Ruger Super Blackhawk in 44 magnum, and Thompson Center Encore in 7mm-08. In order to make the team, The Smith and Wesson 10mm must be accurate to 50 yards, economical to shoot, and quick to reload for. So where does the fun come in? Imagine walking to your stand with nothing in your hands. When you are sitting in the tree or blind, there is no weapon in your lap. The tiny Smith would also be very maneuverable for those close-quarter shots.  I see this gun being the perfect fit for hunting all those archery stands in tight cover, or near any known travel routes. 

Is the 10mm a good round for elk, moose, and other large game animals? 

First things first. I have never killed anything larger than a deer, therefore I am not an authority on this question. I do however have an opinion and would love to hear your thoughts. Elk are sometimes hard to get close to. I’ve heard it said many times that an archer better is proficient at 60-70 yards when hunting out west. I have no doubt a proficient 10mm shooter could make that range of shot, but why risk it, when there are larger flatter shooting guns?  Making a marginal shot with a small 10mm round might lead to some disappointing tracking in the near future. In short, I wouldn’t do it. I’ll carry something with more of a weight burden, knowing the tradeoff is a gun more capable of making the long shot. I’ll stick to the smaller game animals like deer, and hogs with my 10mm. 

My closing thoughts on whether the Smith and Wesson M&P 2.0 is a good gun to hunt with? 

The gun is a good-looking lightweight pistol. There are several advantages that we already discussed above. I think this gun is going to make a perfect companion piece from what I have seen so far. If I were going to buy one gun to hunt with, the 10mm, in general, would not be my first choice. I want the ability to reach at least 100 yards, and that’s where the 44 magnum really shines. If the 4inch Smith makes the Trifecta, it will ride along on some of my future hunts where medium to long-range isn’t necessary.