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

Gotw Walther Fseries Prox Pmm 1
Gotw Walther Fseries Prox Pmm 1

Gun of the Week: Walther Arms PDP F-Series Pro-X PMM

One of Walther Arms' recent introductions combines the features of several other PDP handguns, meaning the Walther PDP F-Series Pro-X PMM is packed with a number of different design elements.

The Armed Citizen® Oct. 30, 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.

President's Column | Your Input is Valued

I wish to thank all our members who have sent me e-mails these last 12 months. I’m doing my best to keep up with all your e-mails, but please be aware it seems I’m always 300 to 400 e-mails behind. I want to reiterate that I am reading them all as fast as I have time for.

Building an X-Card Gun for Turkey Shoots

Unofficially known as a “turkey shoot,” X-Card competition challenges shotgunners to place shot pellets as closely as possible to the center of a target. And some makers have perfected a way to fine-tune shotguns for this purpose.

Spanish National Police Adopt Springfield Armory Echelon 4.0FC

The Spanish National Police (Policia Nacional) has officially adopted the Springfield Armory Echelon 4.0FC 9mm pistol as the issue pistol for its uniformed officers.

NRA Launches New NRA.org Platform and Official App to Modernize and Enhance the Member Experience

The National Rifle Association today launched its new NRA.org website and continued enhancements to the official NRA App, marking a major step and significant investment to modernize the organization and better serve members.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.