Slim 9mm With Big Capacity

S&W Defend X

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Smith & Wesson possible has probably the most hid carry choices in the marketplace. They’ve a startling quantity of micro-compact 9mms, to the purpose the place they appear to be competing with themselves.

We now have the Defend Plus, the Equalizer, the CSX, and now the Defend X. Past the micro-compact 9mms, we even have the Bodyguard 2.0 collection, numerous small revolvers, and the compact M&P collection.

Introducing the Defend X

As we speak, now we have their newest, the Defend X. The Defend collection has been a particularly profitable gun for S&W. I keep in mind when the unique hit the market; it was so fashionable that it was typically promoting for above MSRP.

The Defend Plus launched the stack-and-a-half journal design and have become a staple in its personal proper. The Defend Plus developed into a number of fashions, and now now we have the Defend X.

S&W Shield X Review: Slim, Optics-Ready 9mm Carry Pistol — 13 or 15 rounds is obtainable with the Defend X

The Defend X collection sticks to the stack-and-a-half design of the Defend Plus however makes some strategic adjustments. The “X” within the gun world sometimes means a compact slide and a full-sized grip, signifying a crossover mannequin.

Nevertheless, the Defend collection doesn’t appear to have something to cross over with. Nonetheless, the Defend X includes a longer total grip with 13- and 15-round magazines to match.

The barrel is now 3.6 inches lengthy, which places it firmly within the center between the usual 3.1-inch and the Efficiency Middle 4-inch barrel. It’s additionally the primary Defend with a rail, so it will possibly accommodate micro-sized lights.

S&W has been on a tear with aggressive serrations that I first seen with the Bodyguard 2.0, and so they’ve appeared to stay round with the Defend X.

Because it’s 2025, the Defend X is optics-ready with a Defend RMSc minimize. S&W calls it the ClearSight Reduce, which is used to divert gasoline away from the optic to stop the lens from getting soiled. I’ve by no means seen that occur sufficient to matter, however hey, much less carbon is healthier than extra, I suppose.

The Defend X comes with the identical flat-faced set off because the Defend Plus, and so they additionally produce a thumb security mannequin in addition to a 10-round mannequin for states with journal capability restrictions.

First Impressions of the Defend X

I don’t have a lot expertise with the Defend Plus collection, however I had a good bit with the unique Defend. I’ve dealt with the Defend Plus, the CSX, and the Equalizer, and the factor that stood out instantly with the Defend X was the grip.

It’s simply good. I do know that’s excessive, however they discovered a approach to make the grip fairly skinny and well-rounded. It doesn’t really feel blocky, and it’s a wanted revamp of the Defend grip form.

The curve on the rear of the grip is extra pronounced and varieties a micro beavertail. The set off guard additionally includes a extra pronounced undercut. The 2 enable for a pleasant, excessive grip on the gun. The upper the grip, the extra management you’ll have over the gun.

The grip texture goes increased on the grip than earlier Defend designs. Actually, the Defend X looks as if a 9mm model of the Bodyguard 2.0. It’s roughly the identical form, simply scaled up. The grip is thinner than any Defend at solely 0.9 inches broad.

I used to be additionally glad to report that the magazines aren’t all that troublesome to load. Each the 13- and 15-round magazines are loadable with out a device. After experiencing the Bodyguard 2.0’s 12-round journal, I wasn’t so assured with the Defend X. Fortunately, that was a simple repair.

The Defend X magazines will work within the Defend Plus, however the Plus magazines gained’t match within the Defend X as a consequence of thicker base pads.

We want a brand new identify for this dimension of gun. They aren’t the identical micro-compacts we see with the P365 or authentic Defend Plus. Weapons like this, the P365XL, the Hellcat Professional, and related fashions are removed from “micro.”

Vary Time With the Defend X

I shot the Defend X with simply iron sights. I didn’t have a pink dot readily available that wasn’t already on one other take a look at gun. The included sights are a blacked-out rear sight and a high-visibility entrance sight that can also be an evening sight. The sight image seems to be improbable, and so they catch the attention rapidly, and the intense sight drops between the blacked-out rear sight nicely.

I may get a fast sight image and alignment. I began at 10 yards and fired 5 rounds right into a Dot Torture dot. All of them made it into the dot, however two simply broke the road. I wager a pink dot would clear that up a bit bit. At 25 yards, I fired 5 rounds offhand and created roughly a palm-sized group.

Out to 50 yards, I may land most of my hits on an IPSC-sized metal goal. My predominant downside with accuracy at this vary was the entrance sight overlaying all the goal. Once more, a pink dot would clear this up.

The set off feels pretty good. We now have a slight pre-travel, then a wall, and a crisp break. At first, the set off felt a bit prefer it was rubbing plastic on plastic, however after 100 and fifty rounds or so, that feeling pale, and it smoothed out.

Going Quick

The Defend X’s improved grip design and talent to choke up excessive offer you glorious management for taking pictures quick. I may snap off double-taps in lower than half a second and have the 2 rounds land about two inches from one another. Capturing five-round strings as quick as I may by no means felt troublesome, and from the low prepared, I may do it in a few second.

The rounds have been sticking to a bunch smaller than my hand at seven yards. The entrance sight was all the time straightforward to trace because of its vivid nature and the pretty flat taking pictures nature of the Defend X. The comparatively low recoil makes it straightforward to manage, and the ergonomics of the grip design take {that a} step additional.

Talking of ergonomics, the gun doesn’t have a ton within the controls division. We get a set off, {a magazine} launch, and a slide launch. The journal launch is straightforward to succeed in and stands out good and much for simple engagement. The slide launch/lock is tremendous small and never very straightforward to make use of.

The Defend X brings a brand new diploma of refinement to the Defend collection. It’s a bit larger and matches extra into that Glock 19 class than the Defend Plus, nevertheless it’s light-weight, skinny, and simple to hold. The Defend X can be a wonderful hid carry gun and presents glorious ergonomics, nice accuracy, and loads of trendy options.