Got a Shield Plus

kbm6893 · Mar 25, 2021

I wasn't overwhelming impressed with S&W introducing a gun to compete with the Sig 365 and Springfield Hellcat, yet still be bigger than both of them, but since I have a Shield 1.0 and like it, and the new gun will fit in the same holsters, and I just had a birthday and figured I was due, I bought a Plus today.

It's nice. Grip texture is nice. Gun is very stiff. Safety doesn't engage or disengage as smoothly as the 1.0. Take down lever is a lot stiffer. The safety is kind of sharp, to be honest. I also can't press down on the slide lock to drop the slide like I can on my 1.0.

I'm sure it will loosen up with use, although my 1.0, bought 4.5 years ago, hasn't had a lot of use. Maybe 500-600 rounds. I have other guns to shoot so I rotate. But it is a quality piece and I'm sure it will serve me well.

rwsmith · Mar 25, 2021

How's the trigger?

How's the trigger compared to the 1.0?

The safety is a concern.

kbm6893 · Mar 25, 2021

rwsmith said:
How's the trigger compared to the 1.0?

The safety is a concern.

Trigger is much better. The safety works fine. Comes off easier than goes back on but it’s not hard. Just not as smooth. The sharpness is definitely there. I think it’s on the cutout where the safety sits. Not enough to draw blood or even leave a Mark, but noticeable. The slide lock is tight. No pressing down to release it but that might loosen up.

jkallner · Mar 25, 2021

Congratulations on your birthday present. I have a 1.0 and am sticking with it, but I do like some things the plus offers. Have fun at the range!

crracer_712 · Mar 25, 2021

Lol, just had a birthday! The excuses we come up with. I just had one too, come to think of it, I've got one coming up also!

grizz700 · Mar 25, 2021

Just went down to my FFL and did the paperwork on my Shield Plus. Fondled it a little. Did not really play with it that much, good ol Washington wants to make sure the gun is safe so I have to wait 10 days before I can bring it home in case the gun decides it wants to go on a rampage.

Did like the feel of the grip both in size and texture compared to my Shield 1. Excited to get it home and coddle it. Then shoot the heck out of it. I really like that the shop I ordered it from included 2 more 13 round magazines with it. Now I have 4 magazines for it. 1-11 round and 3-13 round magazines. Not bad for $499.00.

kbm6893 · Mar 25, 2021

grizz700 said:
Just went down to my FFL and did the paperwork on my Shield Plus. Fondled it a little. Did not really play with it that much, good ol Washington wants to make sure the gun is safe so I have to wait 10 days before I can bring it home in case the gun decides it wants to go on a rampage. Did like the feel of the grip both in size and texture compared to my Shield 1. Excited to get it home and coddle it. Then shoot the heck out of it. I really like that the shop I ordered it from included 2 more 13 round magazines with it. Now I have 4 magazines for it. 1-11 round and 3-13 round magazines. Not bad for $499.00.

Much better deal than I got. $529 plus tax and no extra mags but I’m ok with it. Comparing the new with the old, my 1.0 is much smoother. I have rubberized Talon grips on it so it feels good. Safety much smoother and no sharp edges. Slide lock drops easily. I think I’ll shoot the new one next week. Ammo being so short I’m glad I have a nice stash of my hand loads. Maybe splurge and fire off 200 or so and see if I can really break it in.

I’m happy with the purchase. Like the extra capacity and once it breaks in I think I’ll like it even more. But for now, the 1.0 feels like a broken in mitt and the new one doesn’t.

As for the birthday comments. The wife already gave them to me! Good thing she doesn’t know about the 2.0 Compact I bought last year for Bastille Day!

song dog · Mar 25, 2021

The new Shield Plus owners that also own the Shield 1.0 assuming still have the factory 1.0 trigger how is the new trigger and how does it break? My 2.0 Shield hits the wall then breaks clean and wonderful improvement over the 1.0 Shield. The new Shield Plus trigger is supposed to make it more accurate so will be looking forward to your range reviews.

Stratajema · Mar 28, 2021

I went to Academy Sports and looked at the new Shield Plus under the bright lights. It was one of only five pistol models that they had in stock.

The Shield Plus is going to be a homerun for S&W. However, I strongly disagree with their decision to cerakote the pistol frame. They would have been better off to leave it alone as the cerakote color on the Shield I looked at is more "faded" than the slide color.

Another observation I had is that S&W did not bother to cerakote the plastic on the 13-round magazine extension and so there are two different color tones of plastic on the gun. Perhaps they chose to cerakote the pistol frame to reduce the aggressive texture of the grip area?

GV889 · Mar 28, 2021

I picked up a Shield Plus last week and I'm very impressed. Does anybody know about the availability or source for spare magazines?

petepeterson · Mar 28, 2021

I handled one the other day. I was actually surprised at how much larger it felt than my 365. Seemed like a solid pistol, though.

crracer_712 · Mar 28, 2021

petepeterson said:
I handled one the other day. I was actually surprised at how much larger it felt than my 365. Seemed like a solid pistol, though.

Just picked up my shield Plus. Was really surprised how much bigger it is than my 365 in the trigger guard, figured it'd be comparable, but it's the same as my shield 1.0.

Trigger is nice. My FFL is a local police officer, apparently he showed my plus off to fellow officers, he didn't realize there was a new model. Kept commenting how he liked the trigger.

crracer_712 · Mar 28, 2021

I will add that loading both magazines wasn't hard, easily done by hand right down to the 10th and 13th round. Originally, I had to use a loader to load my 365 magazines for the last few rounds.

catcus-jack · Mar 28, 2021

I like my p365 and shoot it well but it just never felt right im my hand.My new Shield plus fits my hand better.
Also the mag release is better and eaiser to use on the Shield.
I have ordered Ameriglo Spartan night sights for the Shield.
The p 365 comes with night sights.
It would be hard to choose between the 2 but because of how the grip on the Shield fits my hand my choice by a very very narrow margin would be the Shield.

neil0311 · Mar 29, 2021

Took my new M&P Shield Plus to the range yesterday. Accurate and comfortable. Not sure I’m all that in love with the sights, but I was able to put rounds on target up to 15 yards out.

I was using a Sig P365XL which has night sights, but the feel and accuracy of the Shield Plus is probably going to make it contender for EDC.

neil0311 · Mar 30, 2021

kbm6893 said:
I wasn't overwhelming impressed with S&W introducing a gun to compete with the Sig 365 and Springfield Hellcat, yet still be bigger than both of them, but since I have a Shield 1.0 and like it, and the new gun will fit in the same holsters, and I just had a birthday and figured I was due, I bought a Plus today.

It's nice. Grip texture is nice. Gun is very stiff. Safety doesn't engage or disengage as smoothly as the 1.0. Take down lever is a lot stiffer. The safety is kind of sharp, to be honest. I also can't press down on the slide lock to drop the slide like I can on my 1.0.

I'm sure it will loosen up with use, although my 1.0, bought 4.5 years ago, hasn't had a lot of use. Maybe 500-600 rounds. I have other guns to shoot so I rotate. But it is a quality piece and I'm sure it will serve me well.

I have both a P365XL and a Hellcat. And I just bought the Shield Plus. I like the Shield Plus and put about 50 rounds through it at the range over the weekend. It was very accurate for a small barrel ultra compact pistol. The trigger was very nice.

The thumb safety on the Shield is tiny and not smooth. That was the biggest issue for me. My P365XL has a thumb safety and is very smooth with a nice easily accessible lever. The Hellcat has no safety, and IMO doesn’t shoot well. Not sure why I bought it and will probably sell it soon.

Other issue for me is the grip is big on the Shield Plus. It’s actually larger than the P365XL, especially with the extended mag. Not being able to find mags and holsters is another temporary issue. Hoping to be able to find both and start to carry this pistol.

Dave Lively · Mar 30, 2021

neil0311 said:
Not being able to find mags and holsters is another temporary issue.

Doesn't the plus fit into holsters designed for the older Shields?

neil0311 · Mar 30, 2021

Dave Lively said:
Doesn't the plus fit into holsters designed for the older Shields?

Is that the case? I asked the folks at Vedder when they would be supporting the Shield Plus and their answer was they were working on it.

catcus-jack · Mar 30, 2021

The holsters are the same.lol

crracer_712 · Mar 30, 2021

neil0311 said:
The Hellcat has no safety, and IMO doesn’t shoot well. Not sure why I bought it and will probably sell it soon.

I've seen several claims like this with the hellcat. Seems interesting, I don't own one, actually I don't own any Springfield, but was considering the hellcat. Guess I'll continue to hold off.

Got a Shield Plus

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