NRA Gun of the Week: Smith & Wesson M&P Shield Plus

by
posted on July 2, 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 came to market with its M&P Shield pistol back in 2012, which offered citizens a micro-compact pistol that was slim and easily concealed. The design was award-winning and now the legacy maker updated its Shield by incorporating a few simple features that make the M&P Shield Plus a viable option in today’s highly competitive, concealed-carry market.

The Smith & Wesson M&P Shield Plus is a striker-fired semi-automatic design that comes chambered for 9 mm Luger. This latest iteration of S&W’s popular Shield pistol has changed little, going from slightly less than an inch wide to just slightly over an inch, boosting capacity by three rounds.

An all-new blade-in-trigger safety and flat-faced trigger shoe, similar to many popular aftermarket and custom shop trigger assemblies, comes standard on the Shield Plus. This trigger update, from our experience on the range, provides a clean, crisp, short pull. The assembly, from sear to shoe, inspires greater confidence and enables more consistent and precise accuracy.

Grip texturing, slide serrations, sights and frame contours all match those found on earlier Shield models, and that provides a few benefits. For one, the Shield Plus will fit all standard Shield holsters. Additionally, all aftermarket light and laser modules designed for the original Shield will clamp onto the trigger guard of the Shield Plus with no modifications required.

Watch our NRA Gun of the Week video above to learn more about the Smith & Wesson M&P Shield Plus in 9 mm Luger.

S&W M&P Shield Plus Specifications
Manufacturer: Smith & Wesson
Action Type: recoil-operated, semi-automatic, centerfire pistol
Chambering: 9 mm Luger
Slide: alloy steel
Frame: polymer
Barrel: 3.1”
Sights: dovetailed steel; three-dot
Trigger: striker-fired; 5-lb., 9-oz. pull
Height: 4.6”
Length: 6.1”
Width: 1.1”
Weight: 20.2 ozs.
MSRP: $553

Latest

Hk G36 22Lr 1
Hk G36 22Lr 1

Gun of the Week: Heckler & Koch G36 .22 LR

Due to Germany's strict firearm-export laws, along with U.S. firearm import laws, the closest any HK fan could get to owning a real G36 was in the form of the HK SL8. Now, though, Heckler & Koch has introduced its G36 .22 LR, which, profile-wise, is a G36 in all but chambering.

The Armed Citizen® July 17, 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.

A Visit to the New Smith & Wesson Academy

Let the training (re)commence at Smith & Wesson's new Academy in Tennessee.

New for 2026: Leupold LCO Pro F2 Red-Dot Sight

The optic giant has updated its flagship red-dot sight with a host of upgraded features.

Rifleman Review: Heckler & Koch CC9

When Heckler & Koch USA launched its micro-compact CC9, it proved to be one of the most robustly built micro-compact handguns yet made.

Beyond the Headlines on Armed Citizen Stories

Concealed carriers in the U.S. commit almost no crimes with their lawfully owned firearms. Armed citizens do, however, stop a lot of crimes.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.