M&P Shield Plus: Micro Compact With Enhanced Capacity

Don't let the small package fool you, the M&P Shield Plus has plenty of firepower on tap.

When it comes to concealed carry pistols, the Smith & Wesson M&P Shield has fostered a fairly dedicated following. No surprise. The striker-fired, polymer-frame handgun is among the most reliable, concealed and affordable options to come down the pike. That ticks off a lot of boxes.

Now, it’s set to get even better. Smith & Wesson recently introduced the newest addition to the line—the M&P Shield Plus. As its name suggests, the 9mm offers a bit more than previous iterations, in particular enhanced capacity in a micro-compact package. And, boy howdy, does it offer quite a bit of firepower for its class of handgun, feeding off a 13-round magazine.

As to its size, the Shield Plus comes in at a very manageable 6.1-inches in length, 1.1-inches in width and 20-ounces in weight, which should prove conducive with deep carry, even in light garb. The 3.1-inch barreled gun also boasts several features that make it quite shootable, including a flat-faced trigger with a tactile and audible reset, enhanced grip texturing for a positive handle and high visibility three-dot sights.

Wait, aren’t all guns going optic-ready nowadays? Quite right and so is the Shield Plus, but Smith & Wesson offers this model through its well-regarded Performance center. Available with a Crimson Trace model with optics cuts, though the gunmaker does not specify the compatibility of the slide cut. There are some clues, given the PC Shield Plus is available with a 4 MOA Crimson Trace micro red-dot, though the particular model goes unnamed.

Smith & Wesson offers options with and without a manual safety on its standard and PC models.
As for price, the stand Shield Plus runs $553 and the Performance Center option with red-dot $896.

M&P 9 SHIELD PLUS Specs
Caliber: 9mm Luger
Capacity: 10+1, 13+1
Length: 6.1″
Front Sight: White Dot
Rear Sight: White 2-Dot
Action: Striker Fire
Grip: Polymer
Barrel Material: Stainless Steel with Armornite® Finish
Slide Material: Stainless Steel with Armornite® Finish
Frame Material: Polymer
Slide Finish: Matte Black
Frame Finish: Matte Black
Barrel Length: 3.1” (7.9 cm)
Weight: 20.2 oz.

Performance Center M&P 9 SHIELD PLUS Specs
Caliber: 9mm Luger
Capacity: 13+1
Optics: Red/Green Dot
Length 7″
Front Sight: Fiber Optic Green
Rear Sight: Fiber Optic Red
Action: Striker Fire
Grip: Polymer
Barrel Material: Stainless Steel with Armornite® Finish
Slide Material: Stainless Steel with Armornite® Finish
Frame Material: Polymer
Slide Finish: Matte Black
Frame Finish: Matte Black
Barrel Length: 4″ (10.2 cm)
Weight: 22.6 oz.

For more information on the Shield Plus, please visit smith-wesson.com.

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