PSA: Before you rush out to "upgrade" to a Shield PLUS...

[Echo40]

Lately there has been a lot of buzz regarding the new M&P9 Shield PLUS. Some folks are excited by the prospect of upgrading to the new Shield PLUS for the increased magazine capacity or enhanced trigger yet are dismayed by the lack of availability, while others feel blind-sided because they just recently purchased a Shield prior to the Shield PLUS being announced and would have preferred the Shield PLUS. Fortunately, there's are alternative solutions for both parties which can save you a lot of money and help to relieve a bit of stress.

If you own already own a Shield yet desire the higher capacity of the Shield PLUS, then you may want to look into Magguts Kits as well as Hyve baseplate extensions for the M&P Shield. Both of these aftermarket peripherals serve to increase the magazine capacity of the M&P Shield, they have been on the market for years now, and by all accounts they appear to be 100% reliable.
Magguts is a simple kit which includes a magazine spring and follower which allows the user to fit more rounds into the magazine without altering its external dimensions, while magazine extension baseplates offered by both Magguts and Hyve increase magazine capacity by means of increasing the length of the magazine.
Granted that neither option can enable the Shield to match the capacity of the Shield PLUS' extended 13 round magazine, but it can enable the M&P9 Shield to match the capacity of the Shield PLUS' flush-fitting 10 round magazine.

In addition, for those who prefer the flat-faced trigger design of the Shield PLUS, there are a wide variety of aftermarket trigger kits for the M&P Shield which are of similar design to that of the Shield PLUS.
However, trigger modifications are obviously less accessible to folks who lack the ability/know-how to install them and may carry the risk of voiding the warranty should they be installed by anyone other than a certified gunsmith, so just keep that in mind.

Aftermarket paripherals/modifications such as these are obviously less expensive and more available than the Shield PLUS is at this time, ergo you could save money by purchasing them as upgrades to your existing Shield rather than simply replacing it with the newer Shield PLUS. As time goes by and supply catches up with demand, the price of the Shield PLUS will drop, but for the time being demand is likely to increase while supply decreases.
Just something to consider.

 

[crracer_712]

I'm not upgrading, I'm adding to my collection. I think a lot of people do that, or they just want to try something new.

 

[ImDrRich]

I'm not buying the Plus. Perfectly happy with my 2.0 9mm Performance Center Model.

Hey - this is my 500th post - congratulate me!

 

[lihpster]

I'm not buying the Plus. Perfectly happy with my 2.0 9mm Performance Center Model.

Hey - this is my 500th post - congratulate me!

Congrats, Doc!

 

[Eric300]

Perfectly happy with my stock Shield 2.0. Purchasing the 'PLUS' never even crossed my mind.

 

[scout II]

I really like my Shield 2.0 9mm and 45 acp. But I may end up getting a Plus size just to check it out.

 

[GerSan69]

Hey Forte, I see your point completely, but it's like buying a new car. It's not about the "It's new!" it's that priceless new-gun smell.....

 

[curlysir]

I'm not upgrading, I'm adding to my collection. I think a lot of people do that, or they just want to try something new.

That is what I did, added to my collection. And very happy with it.

 

[S&WOkie]

I am hearing a lot of people liking the Shield Plus because the grip is just a bit larger and apparently that is what many are wanting.

I have the first version of the Shield and like it a lot but if and when the Plus prices come down I will check into getting one myself.

 

[HEADKNOCKER]

Now I'm waiting for the guy who will buy the Shield Plus Magazines & Dremel their 1.0/2.0 to accept the Plus magazines.. Possible magazine catch change & then there's the trigger..
You Know It's Coming..
I also would guess that the different texture is caused by the 2.0s rough texture being painted/ceracoated..

I'm happy with the 2.0 but will stop bye the LGS & see the new "Plus"

 

[reccpd101]

Bubbas know no boundaries.

 

[Donn]

No slam on the Plus, I won't be in the market. I'm happy, (and proficient), with my ancient Gen 1 Shield. Local gunsmith smoothed out the stock trigger, lightened up the pull. That, along with it's sun rising in the East reliability works for me. No reason to changes horses.

 

[LPD256]

My 1.0 Shield works well for me. I did add an Apex trigger and a stipple job. I’d buy another K-frame if the new gun money was burning a hole in my pocket.

 

[VaTom]

I am hearing a lot of people liking the Shield Plus because the grip is just a bit larger and apparently that is what many are wanting.

I have the first version of the Shield and like it a lot but if and when the Plus prices come down I will check into getting one myself.

I also have the first version of the Shield also and after carrying a Glock 23 at work (before I retired) the grip felt small. The grip glove (see picture) helps fill out the slim grip.

 

[Echo40]

Bubbas know no boundaries.

Installation of a new magazine spring/follower/baseplate is hardly a Bubba affair, it's something that anyone who maintains their firearms ought to be already familiar with.

Trigger installation is trickier, hence why I specifically called it out and even mentioned that it may be better to leave such modifications to a certified gunsmith.

A Bubba move would be something along the lines of using a dremmel tool on the magwell of a Shield in attempt to get it to accommodate a Shield PLUS magazine. (Which by the way, I have seen suggested by folks online, sadly.)

 

[Bozz10mm]

I am keeping my Shield 9mm 1.0, but upgraded the magazines with the Magguts +2 kit a couple years ago. So far 100% reliable with hundreds of rounds.

 

[lkabug]

I have room in the safe, and since Krispy Kream is giving away free donuts .
Why not a Shield Plus?

 

[hyena]

My Shield is in a caliber that starts with "4" and ends in "5" so I'm sticking with it.

 

[GT_80]

Lately there has been a lot of buzz regarding the new M&P9 Shield PLUS. Some folks are excited by the prospect of upgrading to the new Shield PLUS for the increased magazine capacity or enhanced trigger yet are dismayed by the lack of availability, while others feel blind-sided because they just recently purchased a Shield prior to the Shield PLUS being announced and would have preferred the Shield PLUS. Fortunately, there's are alternative solutions for both parties which can save you a lot of money and help to relieve a bit of stress.

If you own already own a Shield yet desire the higher capacity of the Shield PLUS, then you may want to look into Magguts Kits as well as Hyve baseplate extensions for the M&P Shield. Both of these aftermarket peripherals serve to increase the magazine capacity of the M&P Shield, they have been on the market for years now, and by all accounts they appear to be 100% reliable.
Magguts is a simple kit which includes a magazine spring and follower which allows the user to fit more rounds into the magazine without altering its external dimensions, while magazine extension baseplates offered by both Magguts and Hyve increase magazine capacity by means of increasing the length of the magazine.
Granted that neither option can enable the Shield to match the capacity of the Shield PLUS' extended 13 round magazine, but it can enable the M&P9 Shield to match the capacity of the Shield PLUS' flush-fitting 10 round magazine.

In addition, for those who prefer the flat-faced trigger design of the Shield PLUS, there are a wide variety of aftermarket trigger kits for the M&P Shield which are of similar design to that of the Shield PLUS.
However, trigger modifications are obviously less accessible to folks who lack the ability/know-how to install them and may carry the risk of voiding the warranty should they be installed by anyone other than a certified gunsmith, so just keep that in mind.

Aftermarket paripherals/modifications such as these are obviously less expensive and more available than the Shield PLUS is at this time, ergo you could save money by purchasing them as upgrades to your existing Shield rather than simply replacing it with the newer Shield PLUS. As time goes by and supply catches up with demand, the price of the Shield PLUS will drop, but for the time being demand is likely to increase while supply decreases.
Just something to consider.

I bought a bunch of 8 round Pro Mag mags for mine, and they worked great- then bought some inexpensive +2 extensions and I have a bunch of 10 round mags that have been very reliable.

 

[Markmontana]

Bought the new Shield Plus on Friday and took it to the Range for first session yesterday. I’m generally an understated kind of guy — wife says too quiet — but I was really impressed. Here are the headlines and they are all good:
Was 100% reliable out of the box. I shot 100 rounds of Fiocchi 115 FMJ and100 rounds of various defense loads, mixing them in same magazine. (Federal HST +P, Speer GDHP, Winchester Ranger 147JHP, Sig 124 V-Crown, Rem Golden Sabre). No malfunctions!
Love the new trigger. Shot to POA with no adjustment - this was a first out of five total S&W semi-autos. And, at 7 yards standing was able to put whole magazines in a fist size group with few flyers. Shot one 13- round mag of the Fiocchi from a rest sittingand produced a group just under 2”.
I’ve always said that, for me personally, the Shields felt recoils for caliber have always felt softer than other pistols of comparable size. Not sure why this is but it just is.
The new grip size is almost indiscernible from original . For me, Actually makes the gun feel better. I have Talon grips on my other Shields but don’t plan to put them on the Plus.
Bottom line is I was really impressed. I’m putting my Sig P365 on Armslist today. The Sig, although a very concealable package, never really felt good to me. Felt like Ihad a toy pistol in my hand.
My only complaint is thatI had to buy one with thumb safety because my LGS only had this one pistol. Night sights will come later with future model rollouts. That said, S&W did a much better job of this model rollout than Sig has ever done. I’m still waiting for shipping box/label to send my Sig Cross back for recall (waiting five months now)