New for 2021: Smith & Wesson M&P Shield Plus

by
posted on March 16, 2021
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
Smith & Wesson joined the ranks of several other manufacturers in offering expanded capacity inside a micro-compact carry pistol, thanks to the launch of the company's new M&P Shield Plus. The new pistol takes many of the features that gun owners loved about the M&P Shield M2.0 and blends them with a couple of design enhancements that make the gun even better.

To start, the Smith & Wesson M&P Shield Plus features a redesigned stagger-stack magazine that ups flush-fit magazine capacity from seven rounds to 10 rounds. The extended magazine increased from an eight-round capacity to 13 rounds, making this a more capable CCW package than ever before. Despite the increase in capacity, the dimensions of the M&P Shield Plus are only slightly wider than the original M&P Shield M2.0 model, which means that it's still an easy-to-carry pistol. In fact, the Shield Plus is designed to fit all standard M&P Shield holsters currently on the market.

One of the other enhancements found on the M&P Shield Plus is the addition of an entirely new trigger assembly. S&W eliminated its traditional hinged trigger safety, opting instead to go with a blade-in trigger safety like many other models on the market. The trigger's profile has changed drastically as well, now coming with a much flatter face as opposed to the curved bow seen on past models. The trigger also offers a clean pull with a crisp break that aids in accurate shooting.

Multiple models will be available at launch, including optic-ready, Performance Center and manual-safety-equipped pistols. Each of these guns will share many of the features found on the M&P Shield M2.0 models, including enhanced texturing, serrations at the front and rear of the slide, three-dot sights and a 3.1" barrel.

Suggested retail pricing on the Smith & Wesson M&P Shield Plus starts at $553. For more information, watch our video on the M&P Shield Plus above or visit smith-wesson.com.

Latest

John Commerford
John Commerford

Political Report | America at 250: Celebrate Our History

It isn’t news to the patriotic members of the National Rifle Association that July 4, 2026, marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and the founding of the United States of America.

Benelli Updates Its M2 Field Shotgun

Over the years, Benelli shotguns have gotten subtle updates that have made their reliability and usability even better. New for 2026, Benelli’s M2 Field models are getting added features for better comfort and control.

It’s OK to Have Fun

A gun is a serious tool, but it can also be an object of joy.

Gun of the Week: Springfield Armory Model 2020 Boundary

While the company's initial Model 2020 Waypoint design was intended to be more of a precision platform, Springfield has since come out with several field-ready variants of the Model 2020, including the Boundary.

Standing Guard | The NRA and Freedom’s 250th

A quarter of a millennium ago this July 4, John Hancock was the first to sign the Declaration of Independence.

The Armed Citizen® June 19, 2026

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.