M&P compact question

[Dueeast]

Thinking of adding a new CCW to my rotation. Looking at the Compact with the 3.6" barrel.
Is the 4" barrel really going to make any difference ? To me it's just more to conceal.
2nd, the only difference between that and the shield is the changeable backstop.
anything else I may have missed? Your thoughts?

 

[hardluk1]

Thinking of adding a new CCW to my rotation. Looking at the Compact with the 3.6" barrel.
Is the 4" barrel really going to make any difference ? To me it's just more to conceal.
2nd, the only difference between that and the shield is the changeable backstop.
anything else I may have missed? Your thoughts?

Well it might depend on ypour body size and how your carry than just saying a 4" compact might be harder to conceal than a 3.6" !

I basically carried a 4.25 lite weight commander for 33 years of CC and a m&p 4.25 40sw for some 17 years years in a iwb hybrid holster and I can switch to a 5" barrel model of ether one model and its conceals just as well . I carry at 3:00 position maybe higher on my side than some and my arms aids with concealment . Now if your going to aiwb and your small the 3.6 might be betterstill a p365xl or hellcat pro .

My wife is 5-2 and small built but she carried a old m&p9c - sub compact today . She changed 10 years ago to a kimber ultra 9mm and finally a p365xl !and I have never carried it. I do have a 4" compact and a hellcat pro comp I figure I may want to adjust to less recoil and light weight as I 69 now .

 

[STORMINORMAN]

The M&P Compacts can use the higher capacity double-stack magazines vs. those for the Shield...

IMHO, a barrel length 0.4" longer makes no difference concealment-wise.

Cheers!

 

[BBMW]

In he M&P Compact line, the 4" barrel gives you about 15-20 f/s greater velocity, and a teensy bit more sight radius, if you're not going optic. Likely not worth it. The 3.6 seems to make a better carry package.

The basic Shield is a 3.1" barrel. So more lost velocity and sight radius. There is a 4" version of the Shield, if you want longer. The Shield (all including the Plus) is thinner than the M&P 2.0. I think that's it's man advantage. The Shield has a shorter grip than the M&P 2.0 Compact, but there is an M&P 2.0 SUBcompact, that has the short, two finger grip. So just pick the model that has permutation of features and sizes you want.

From my standpoint, the Shield Plus is a bit to big if you really want a microcompact. The P365 and the Hellcat are noticeably smaller with the same or more capacity. This makes them marginally pocketable. The Shield Plus is marginally above the like of being pocketable. Once you cross that line, it likely makes more sense to go into the M&P line.

Thinking of adding a new CCW to my rotation. Looking at the Compact with the 3.6" barrel.
Is the 4" barrel really going to make any difference ? To me it's just more to conceal.
2nd, the only difference between that and the shield is the changeable backstop.
anything else I may have missed? Your thoughts?

 

[Marshal Tom]

The Compact is also ambi, which the Shield is not. No slide stop/slide release on the passenger side. If you are looking at the Shield, get the plus. More capacity, better trigger etc than the gen 1 or 2. The one from the pro shop is arguably the best of the bunch. Also look at the newly released M&P 2.0 Pro Comp.That thing is sweet. As was mentioned above, the Hellcat and P365's are both great in that same size package.