Smith & Wesson is adding extra capacity to their hugely popular Shield pistols with the new M&P Shield Plus. With a redesigned grip, the Plus carries 10+1 rounds in 9mm Luger or 13+1 with extended magazines.
The Shield Plus is the latest addition to the surging micro-compact class of concealed-carry pistols, blurring the lines between single-stacks and double-stack handguns for everyday carry. At a glance, the Shield Plus looks nearly identical to the single-stack Shield, even though it has a greatly improved capacity.
“We’re excited to announce the next evolution of the M&P Shield pistol, the M&P Shield Plus,” said Smith & Wesson Vice President Kyle Tengwall. “Packed with popular features such as a flat-face trigger, large capacity magazine, optics cuts, and more, the M&P Shield Plus product line has been designed to meet the needs of today’s firearm consumer.”
“With over three million M&P Shield pistols sold in the past decade, the Smith & Wesson M&P Shield is a proven, reliable platform with the ability to stand the test of time,” he said, “And best of all, the new M&P Shield Plus pistols are rolling out to retailers across the country now.”
Like the original M&P Shield, the Shield Plus is a polymer-framed, striker-fired handgun for personal protection. Smith & Wesson is leading with two lines of M&P Shield Plus pistols, a standard, affordably priced line as well as a premium Performance Center series. The suggested retail price for the base model is $553.
Although Smith & Wesson redesigned the grip to accept the larger magazines, it still has the same ergonomic shape. All models come with the upgraded semi-flat-faced trigger that retains the passive trigger safety.
The entry-level Shield Plus pistols are offered with and without manual thumb safeties in addition to 3-dot iron sights, or a move up to night sights for an extra $70.
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Dimensionally they’re very close to the original Shield models with a 3.1-inch barrel, measuring in at just over 6 inches long and weighing in at just under 18 ounces with 10-round magazines and about 20 with the extended 13-round mags. Base models ship with two 10-round mags or one 10- and one 13-round magazine.
The Performance Center models can be customized with red and green fiber optics sights, extended slides and barrels, ported slides and barrels, and cut for reliefs to mount a mini red dot sight.
It’s safe to say that the Performance Center options will make the Shield Plus popular with shooting competitions that focus on small handguns and backup pistols, but red dot sights are also becoming a lot more common on serious pistols for self-defense.
For more information about these and the rest of the M&P line of self-defense products, visit Smith & Wesson online.
Great everyday carry gun. The flat trigger and increased capacity are outstanding new features! Great job S&W ! Not being able to purchase additional magazines is my only concern with the pistol.
Love the Shield Plus but extremely disappointed in the lack of availability for the 13+1 Magazines. At purchase I received one 10+ and one 13+. I like to have more than a 2 magazine option. Wondering will more will be available on market?
My favorite every day carry gun. Super comfortable to wear IWB. I have a couple of ten round P mags, would be nice to have the 13 rounder if it isn’t gonna sit flush.
I like that the trigger has been changed. I am waiting for them to make those trigger changes to the full-sized M&P 45.
I really appreciate the advancements firearms have taken in the past decade. I am a huge fan of the M&P 2.0’s, I own 4 of them…. currently however, the firearm world needs to come up with better ammo solutions. .75¢ a bullet for 9mm range ammo is dam ridiculous. I don’t know how sport shooting and target practice can be sustainable for many people with the cost of ammo. It’s out of hand and bums me out!