Smith & Wesson M&P 9 Shield Plus Review - Brandon Curtis of Concealed Nation

The micro-compact handgun world is on fire, being kicked off a few years back with the Sig P365. Since then, companies have attempted to capture a part of this market, and Smith & Wesson has answered the call with their ever-popular M&P Shield series. Not long ago, they introduced the M&P 9 Shield Plus, giving you all of the concealability you’re looking for, with 13-round magazines.

When I heard about this upcoming release (upcoming at the time), I knew I had to get my hands on it and check it out. While I’m not a huge M&P Shield fan, I have become a fan of this latest rendition with higher capacity.

The specs for the M&P 9 Shield Plus vary depending on your sight configuration and desire for a manual safety, but the rest are the same regardless of what your preferences are:

Model: M&P 9 SHIELD PLUS

Caliber: 9mm Luger

Capacity: 10+1, 13+1

Safety: Manual Thumb Safety (optional)

Length: 6.1

Front Sight: White Dot (or) Tritium Night Sight

Rear Sight: White 2-Dot (or) Tritium Night Sight

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: 17.9oz.

That trigger. It feels just as amazing as it looks. The flat face is smooth and responsive, allowing for nice shots on target by giving you a great feel with your trigger finger. The look is cool, too, at least for me. It adds a nice bit of spice to the overall package, and I welcome the touch.

From Smith & Wesson’s site, here are the features of this new beauty:

Flat face trigger for consistent trigger finger placement that allows for more accurate and repeatable shooting.
Enhanced grip texture allows the user to manage recoil, keep a firm grip and delivers comfort when concealing.
Extended magazine offers 13+1 round capacity.
For more concealable option, we offer a flush-fit 10 round magazine.
Tritium night sights for low-light situations.
Two – 13 round and One – 10 round magazines included.
Tactile and audible trigger reset.
Extremely thin and lightweight – can be comfortably carried all day.
M&P’s patented take-down lever and sear deactivation systems all for disassembly without pulling the trigger.
Optimal 18-degree grip angle for natural point of aim.
Armornite^® durable corrosion resistant finish.
Backed by Smith & Wesson’s Lifetime Service Policy.

Again with the trigger, but it’s just too purrty to not look at close-up.

Let’s get to this grip, because it was a part of the handgun that surprised me. It’s aggressive but not. Does that make sense? It feels a little aggressive when you grip (I have baby soft hands btw) but as you’re shooting, you aren’t wishing that you weren’t shooting. It’s a pleasant experience, not too much and not too little. These sweaty FL baby-soft hands don’t slip around.

My choice for sights were the Tritium Night Sights, because I can’t see a reason to not get this option, outside of budget. The upgrade, to me, is always worth it to have a sturdy and reliable set of night sights on your handgun.

In the photo above, you’ll notice the opposite side of the slide release. Yes, it’s ambidextrous, so left-handed shooters can rejoice!

You’ll also notice familiar slide serrations that have carried over from the M2.0 models. The wavy serrations run from top to bottom in the rear, and just a little are placed up front.

The night sights are glowing wonderfully for me, and I hope they’ll continue to keep that glow for some time. Again, it’s a must-have for me when it comes to handguns, even if I’m running a red dot.

The Smith & Wesson M&P 9 Shield Plus is a great option for people who carry, want something slim and concealable, and capable of carrying 13+1 rounds at a time.

It’s a new world, friends, and the opportunities for concealed carry choices are amazing!

The configuration that is shown in this article MSRP’s at $623. That’s basically the addition of the night sights. All other configurations come in at an MSRP of $553.