Who Really Benefits From A Carry Compensator?
I’ve had the chance to spend some time with the new S&W Carry Comp, and it's not bad for a factory gun. My perspective comes from competing in USPSA for several years. I have spent some time shooting open guns. These pistols are mostly 2011-style guns, they typically have a 2 to 3-chamber compensator on the end, and are truly built to shoot flat. The Staccato XC is a 1-chamber compensator built from the factory and performs very well. Does the Smith & Wesson Carry Comp compare to those pistols? No. If you're expecting an amazing flat shooting, sewing-machine, get that out of your head because this isn’t that kind of pistol. Is it reliable with almost every type of ammunition you put through it? Yes. Do I believe this is good for the industry as a whole? Yes. Is it something you should look at for a future purchase? Possibly.
When I worked for Smith & Wesson, I remember having conversations about what we could do to enhance a pistol with the marketing teams. Red dots were on the rise and magwells were just coming into the market from factories. I suggested two changes that could make a noticeable impact, one being an enhanced performance trigger. Specifically one with a lighter, shorter break, much like an Apex or Timney trigger. The next was a compensator, not a port, in the slide and barrel so it would fit in a standard holster. Ports had been done, and I never felt a real change in the gun with those.
Eventually, Smith & Wesson produced a gun with a compensator. More importantly, they didn't just apply it to a full-size gun because they included the M&P Shield as well. This type of compensator, in my opinion, really benefits two groups of shooters. The first is law enforcement and the other is people who carry smaller platforms every day, like concealed carry. Taking the same size bullet, 124 grain 9mm, and shooting it out of a 5”, 4.25”, and 3.6” are all going to feel much different even though it's the same round. The slide mass, over weight of the gun and grip are what give you that smooth or snappy feel in the gun.
I believe law enforcement will benefit from a compensated gun from the factory because the reliability will be there. There is no need to change springs and no special ammo is needed to make it run. It will perform out of the box. Especially for the agencies running +P or even +P+ ammo. To those people still believing that +P+ is the way to go, it would be wise to get with the times and stop making your people shoot that. Another topic of conversation is, does it affect your ability to shoot at night? No, I did not notice much of a difference once I started shooting the compensator at night. There is a fireball that comes out of every pistol when you shoot at night.
To the smaller platform or concealed carry market, taking out that little bit of snap with the compensator really helps you get back on target better. Plus, I have found throughout my twenty-plus years of teaching that everyone anticipates recoil in shooting, more than is acknowledged. The more a gun recoils, the more anticipation happens. This is why everyone is struggling to shoot a .40 caliber and the scores came up when all the agencies switched back to 9mm. This was not shocking.
When looking to purchase a gun with a carry compensator, have realistic expectations about what you’re buying. If you are expecting only a minimal amount of snap to be taken from the recoil of the gun, you are on the right track. If you're looking for that “OMG! You need to shoot this!” feel, save your money and buy a better-built gun.
