Picked up a used M&P 9 Shield M2.0 tonight. Looking forward to taking it to the range this weekend.

I just picked up this M&p 2.0 full-size metal. Grabbed it off of tac swap. Looking to do a couple things. My other M&p as an Apex trigger kit I’m looking to get the Apex trigger kit for this, but with the agency trigger shoe. I’m just torn on optic. What are yall running on your set up?

Found this on Guns.com and it was TRASHED. rust, pitting, aluminum finish coming off. So I rescued it. Not a bad turnout.

I friggin' love the Shield Plus. I shoot it better than pretty much any other pistol I own. I am reasonably certain this is due to the design of the grip, the length of pull, and the trigger design itself.

What I'm trying to figure out is what the closest thing is to a "full size" Shield Plus. Like, conceptually, a "Shield Plus XL" or something. Same or very nearly the same style grip, similar length of pull and trigger design, but in a full-size frame with 17/20 capacity and something like a 5in or at least a +4in barrel and slide. Ideally with an option for a threaded barrel, too, in case I wanted to shoot it suppressed.

Does such a gun exist? Is the M&P 2.0 the closest thing? Or is it more like the Shield X, which gives greater capacity but only 0.5in more barrel length? Is there some after-market jerry rigged solution out there?

Here's hoping you fine folks can offer some insight here. I've been wanting to try out the M&P 2.0 either in the 4", 4.25" or 5" configuration, but most of the ranges around me don't seem to have one available to rent, nor do they have the Shield X.

Local Pawn Store has a ‘Springfield’ built, BMC serial number (after 1997) model 41 in good condition. $799 with 1 mag, no box. Am I gaining anything over a Ruger Mk4 22/45 competition (6-7/8” barrel). I don’t need another gun but the price is attractive. Top is not drilled for a red dot.

With the M&P 2.0 Competitor Steel HD I consistently run into my thumb, specifically the thumb "knuckle" (CMC joint, basal joint, the portion closest to the rest of the hand) rising up a touch and getting split with the reciprocating slide. I run into this issue with some other firearms that do not feature a beavertail. I was under the impression you want to get a high purchase with your dominant hand. Do I need to instead bring it down a smidge? It feels wrong to hold the firearm in this manner. My current theory is this slide bite issue is a result of the unique structure of my hand, if it isn't some fundamental misunderstanding about proper grip.

If it is a result of my unique hand, is there a custom gun smith out there that can make a permanent beavertail on a steel frame?

Hit the range today and was having some issues seating a mag with one in the chamber. Ive put a couple hundred rounds through it already during a couple sessions. I was about 120 rounds into it today and had an issue when i locked the slide back, put one in the chamber, dropped the slide the. Tried to put in a full mag it wouldnt go in all the way. I know it can be tight with a dropped slide and can usually just slap it in but couldnt this time. Id drop the mag,and try to fire the chambered round but it acted like it already triggered and wouldnt fire. I tried this a few times. One time i slapped the mag in woth an open slide and it dropped without hitting the release. Are these issues with the BG in general or maybe just some fouling or an out of spec bullet i chambered keeping the slide from dropping all the way