Shield Plus vs Shield 9 v1

[Shield 9 WV]

Compare and contrast the original Shield 9 vs Shield Plus
+++
Stuff you don't see in the regular reviews

The pistols:

Shield version 1 w/safety was bought Sept 29, 2017 with a S&W rebate just as the Shield 2.0 was being introduced. The invoice price was $349. After rebates from S&W and Cabella’s it cost $225. It is run today completely stock as it came out of the box.

The Shield Plus base model /wo safety was $550 (Edit - NOT $650) from a local dealer June 26, 2021 which was two days ago from the date of this writing. It was within my budget to purchase any version of the Plus. This is exactly the model I wanted after extensive research on-line and after watching Youtube vids of all Plus models. The other model I strongly considered was the Plus Performance Center w/ 3.1 barrel, fiber optic sights and ported barrel for an extra $50 bucks.

Trigger:

I have one of the most recent versions of the Shield1. My trigger doesn’t have grit. It works great, very smooth.
The Shield+ trigger has more grit sound (not actual grit) than the Shield1. I don’t care about it making a “click” sound while resetting. It has zero effect on accuracy or follow-up shots.

Shield+ has more “grit” feel than the Shield1 does. It is well known the “grit” was never in the trigger itself of the Shield1, but from where the pivot holes were drilled back in the frame. Smoothing out the hole is the solution to a less gritty feeling trigger pull.

Magazine:

The top of the mag followers are opposite in each respective gun. The grey follower in the Shield1 is raised to the right, the orange follower in the Shield+ is raised to the left. I’m not an engineer and I have no idea why they are opposite. It makes no difference to me as a shooter.

Magazine release button:

The Shield1 is very smooth. Perfect.

The Shield+ button is gritty. With the mag out you can hear the button sound like it is going over 3 distinctive speed bumps or small plastic ridges. It does not affect ejecting the mag.

Mag release action:

The Shield1 mag is clunky and will slightly “stick” when inserted and needs to be popped into place. It will eject cleanly without having to pull the mag out.

The Shield+ is super smooth both while ejected and when being inserted. The mag will drop free without needing to be pulled out. I would note the Shield+ is buttery smooth when being inserted and will “snick” into place without having to use force. Outstanding.

Grip:

The Shield1 is long and narrow, more oblong and perfect for my size Large hand.

Shield+ is more roundish and not as comfortable. The specs are nearly identical but I can really feel a difference in favor of the Shield1. This is purely individual preference and I would not argue if others feel the Shield+ grip is perfect for their hands.

Grip Texture:

It should be noted this is personal preference and to my hands the Shield1 texture is perfect. It’s very comfortable next to the skin under a shirt.

The Shield+ feels very coarse like the 60 grit sandpaper I pulled out for comparison. The Shield+ texture was very rough and uncomfortable on my hands.

The same on both pistols:

• Take down to field strip is super easy and with practice can be done blindfolded in about 5 seconds.
• The 3-dot white sights are identical.
• Both have very stiff springs so charging the pistols is not easy, it takes some grip strength in both hands.
• The 8-round mag for the Shield1 fits the hand in the same way as the 13-round mag in the Shield+.
• Both are just the right size for concealed carry and make the Shield easy to shoot.

About the author:
I'm 65 and have a CCW. There is only one pistol in the rotation, The Shield 9 version 1. I can shoot it very well and with confidence at a ten yard distance. I am not an expert shot, not a competitive shooter and have no military nor police background.

I chose to pick up the Shield Plus due to its higher capacity so I don’t feel the need to carry a spare magazine and because it has the same fit and feel of the original Shield. I really didn’t care about the new upgraded trigger since I felt the old trigger was just fine. I don’t think a new trigger will make me a significantly better shot but practice will.

I am biased in favor of the Shield1 which feels perfect for me. I’m sure I’ll get used to the Shield Plus but there was nothing wrong with the Shield1. It fits my size Large hand, it has been 100% reliable. When wearing it OWB but under a loose fitting shirt for concealed carry at the 3:00 position it is all but invisible.

I will be keeping both Shields moving the Plus to EDC while the Shield1 will go into a small portable gun safe tethered via cable under the front seat of the car.

I haven't picked out a safe yet but I want something easy to use, probably four button with mechanical action, no battery. Feel free to suggest something.

This is an opened ended thread so please comment, critique or make suggestions. Feel free to add observations on your own favorite Shield model.

 

[Tanners Owner]

Thanks for the review. Very helpful. I recently sold my v 1 to someone who wanted more than I did after I got my P365.

I wasn’t fond of the shield’s trigger, but found I shot it pretty well. As such am reconsidering getting another shield with the gift certificate from a sponsoring FFL I won at last weeks WA state IDPA championship.

 

[Lee in Quartzsite]

Quite an extensive review, but with all due respect I disagree with many points. I have been an M&P owner, shooter and CCW carrier since the very first M&P semi-auto was introduced many years ago. About 2 years ago I traded in my M&P 9 compact for a Sig P-365 and have carried it ever since…up until I was able to find and purchase the new M&P Shield Plus.

I was impressed by its smooth trigger, and the feel of the grip in my hand, and its magazine capacity. After putting 500 rounds through it it has replaced the Sig as my EDC. I added a green ArmaLaser, night sights and carry it in a Crossbreed IWB holster. My 365 is now resting in my safe. I still have my M&P 45 compact as my nightstand gun, so now I am back to owning 2 M&P’s.

 

[Bozz10mm]

Now I want a Shield Plus.

 

[Shield 9 WV]

Quite an extensive review, but with all due respect I disagree with many points. (respectful snip!)

Having a difference of opinion will never hurt my feelings. It's the best way to exchange ideas.

The place where I find myself in the opposite camp is where it comes to Shield1 trigger, which I like and the Plus trigger with which I'm not impressed in dry firing. I have yet to take the new iron and fire some rounds.

I wonder if you held each of my Shields in your hands if you would agree with my assessment? My problem is I don't have anything else to compare them to, as you do.


I was impressed by its smooth trigger, and the feel of the grip in my hand, and its magazine capacity. .[/QUOTE

I didn't mention the obvious new features covered by all the other reviews such as capacity because I figured everybody already knows that.

Strangely enough it bothers me somewhat that I'm not seeing what everybody else does, such as yourself. I would not dismiss the fact that I am not as an experienced shooter as are many of the highly proficient shooters on this discussion board.

It really could be that I'm just not experienced enough to know a good thing when I have it.

 

[Shield 9 WV]

Now I want a Shield Plus.

Now that you know that, the question is "which Plus?"

Before I went to the local gun shop I had decided on the Plus Performance Center but I was undecided between it and the base model. I wanted the hand finishing on the internals that I think the Performance Center does. I'm not sure that they do what I think they do.

I changed my mind in the shop after asking the shop owner his opinion on the PC vs the base model. He previously was an Army weapons instructor.

He didn't have anything good to say about the fiber optic sights which he viewed as fragile. He was adamant about them breaking if the gun were dropped.

He also said he was involved with a ported gun not the Shield where the V shaped exhaust port literally caught on fire the jacket of someone who fired from the low retention position. He had to put out the fire on the jacket by beating out the flames. He was very sure the base model was the best version for me.

I found it hard for someone like me with non-professional experience to argue with or go against the opinion of a professional.

I'm sure I will like the Plus, my only regret now is I wonder what I might be missing with the PC.

 

[Lee in Quartzsite]

I failed to mention that yes, I did have the original Shield when they first came out as well as my 9 compact. I only kept the shield for a short time because there were things I didn’t like: very narrow grip, small mag capacity, and a mag release that was so sensitive that there were times in drawing the gun from the holster the release would activate by rubbing on the holster leather backing and the mag would fall to the ground. I never felt comfortable carrying it as my CCW gun.

The Plus seemed to address all of those issues and it was (is) very similar to my 365. I don't’ have one complaint against this new version and am happy with my purchase, although I had wanted to get the model with night sights because the specs said it came with 3 mags. Never could find one in stock anywhere.

 

[waffles]

I have quite a hard time believing a ported gun is going to set clothing on fire, even if you'd been hanging out in the gas, oily rag, and fireworks manufacturing plant. That's some fun gun store lore for sure.

That said, I don't love porting either. While I might believe that the concerns are overblown, I also fail to see much of a benefit in any ported gun I've used. Sights are easy to change, so I'd not be too worried about the FO sights, the one benefit I see that I would really, really put in the PC shield's favor is the fact that its optics ready. Dots on handguns are a pretty big deal now, and are going to be a bigger deal in the future as the tech improves.

If you want a good small pistol with light and optics compatibility at a cheaper price than the PC shield, and with standard tritium night sights, I'd suggest taking a look at the P365XL. I cannot say enough good things about it.

 

[Lee in Quartzsite]

I have quite a hard time believing a ported gun is going to set clothing on fire, even if you'd been hanging out in the gas, oily rag, and fireworks manufacturing plant. That's some fun gun store lore for sure.

After shooting my 642 and my Blackhawk .38 in complete darkness there is no way I would be interested in having a ported barrel. Fire came out of everywhere and it was somewhat distracting, to say the least!

 

[waffles]

After shooting my 642 and my Blackhawk .38 in complete darkness there is no way I would be interested in having a ported barrel. Fire came out of everywhere and it was somewhat distracting, to say the least!

You're talking about light, I'm talking about setting fire to your clothing. Hell of a difference there. I've had the pleasure of doing a couple of low light events, and got to test out a G19 and G19C with the same ammo, same course of fire, same level of light, and I found little difference between the two, shooting anything in low light, and especially indoors, is going to rock your world in a most unpleasant way. I'd not worry too much about the difference.

 

[N4KVE]

Anybody who pays a LGS $650 for a standard Shield Plus is getting raped, as they’re $489 here. That being said, I have 2 Shield Gen 1’s that cost me $220 each, preowned. There is no way I’d sell either one, & pony up the difference for a Plus. I simply keep an extra mag on my other hip. GARY

 

[crosseyedshooter]

For me, the question between Shield Pluses isn’t ported vs non-ported, but 3.1” vs 4” barrel!

Also, on the topic of fiber optic sights, I don’t think fragility is an issue when compared to regular irons. If the fiber rods break, you’re left with regular iron sights anyway. It’s not like the fiber optic sights are more likely to completely fall off the gun.

 

[Lee in Quartzsite]

Anybody who pays a LGS $650 for a standard Shield Plus is getting raped, as they’re $489 here.

I paid $501 + tax for mine in Prescott, AZ. The SKU is: 13248

 

[sousana]

I first got into the Shield 9 2.0 when a guy on a forum I frequent posted it for a KILLER price with 1 7rd and 3 8rd mags. I liked it so much after putting rounds through it I purchased another 2.0 shield that popped up even cheaper than my 1st one. When a Shield 9 1.0 popped up yet even cheaper than the second one I got that one too. Normally I'm a 1911 type, my PC being a Kimber Raptor and BUG being of the Officer family, but with SD 9mm ammo these days, I may go to carrying the Sheild 2.0. BTW, these all have safety's, now, the M&P 9 Compact 2.0 15rd I like equally as much it hasn't a safety and can actually shoot it decently enough, better than my Gen 1 Glock 17.

 

[bulls-i]

the one benefit I see that I would really, really put in the PC shield's favor is the fact that its optics ready.

No its not. I have a PC ported 3.1" Barrel. NO provisions for optics. The optics ready versions are the 4" barrel versions and they come with the optics - you don't get to pick your own.

 

[waffles]

No its not. I have a PC ported 3.1" Barrel. NO provisions for optics. The optics ready versions are the 4" barrel versions and they come with the optics - you don't get to pick your own.

Looking at it, you're right. That's absolutely nuts, I have no idea why they bothered two make two separate long slides just to take away optics mounting options on one.

 

[mmb617]

There is of course no one gun that is perfect for everyone. We all have our own preferences and what one likes another hates. But anyhow here's my two cents worth strictly from my point of view.

I have a 1.0 Shield, but I've never shot it as well as I'd like, even after lots of practice. I have small hands but still think the short thin grip is simply too small for my liking. Even with the 8 round mag my pinky isn't solidly on the grip the way I'd like. I also always thought the grip was too slippery. I never really had any problem with the trigger though. It felt fine to me.

I moved on to a 2.0 Compact and it addressed all those issues for me. The fatter more aggressively stippled grip feels great, and right away my shooting improved a lot. It has a 4 inch barrel so that's an advantage over the 3.1 inch Shield as well.

Then my son bought a Shield plus and I was surprised to see that it's very similar to my Compact, in fact it has far more in common with that gun than it does the old Shield. Right away I could shoot it almost as well as the Compact that I have shot thousands of rounds through.

I would not want to carry my old Shield, but wouldn't have any qualms about carrying the Plus.

But that's me. Maybe it's not you.

 

[Echo40]

Good review, with unexpected results. I'm used to seeing folks who owned both the Shield and the new Shield PLUS expressing the opinion that the Shield PLUS is an all-around upgrade to the Shield, which I've never much doubted in the practical sense because it certainly seems to be more or less a straight upgrade which effectively serves as a replacement for the 1.0/2.0 models.

However, I've always thought that the Shield PLUS made more sense as a high capacity alternative to the Shield rather than an outright replacement, and I suspect that the name is intended to indicate that.
Folks often state that because the Shield PLUS is only just slightly thicker than the Shield, that effectively renders it a replacement for the Shield, but personally I think that the added weight, (when fully loaded) sort of hurts the Shield PLUS more than it helps it in the role as a replacement model, because obviously carry weight is often a decisive factor when choosing a carry gun, and for those who are specifically looking for a lightweight carry gun, the Shield PLUS actually loses points.

Case in point, I bought a Shield 1.0 just a few months prior to the announcement of the Shield PLUS, but it really didn't make a difference to me because I chose the Shield over the M&P Subcompact specifically because it was lighter in weight and the primary role that I had in mind for the Shield was as a lightweight Summer Carry gun that I could just carry in my pocket on hot Summer days without it making my shorts sag or slip down, so even if the Shield PLUS had been out at the time, I still would have chosen the Shield, and if I wanted higher capacity in a small gun then I would have sooner opted for the M&P Subcompact since it can take full-size magazines and thus carry more ammo than the Shield PLUS.

So yeah, the Shield PLUS is great as an alternative to the Shield for those who want more capacity than the Shield, but less weight/bulk than the Subcompact, but it doesn't replace either in my opinion.

 

[Lee in Quartzsite]

For comparison I just weighed my Sig-P365 and my Shield Plus, both with 13+1 rounds in the gun. Each gun is also equipped with an ArmaLaser green dot laser.

The Sig 365 weighs 25.4 ounces.
The M&P Shield weighs 27.5 ounces, 2.1 ounces heavier than the Sig.

Maybe someone can post the weight of a loaded Shield v1.

 

[Shield 9 WV]

Anybody who pays a LGS $650 for a standard Shield Plus is getting raped, as they’re $489 here. T GARY

Thanks for pointing that out T Gary, I wrote the price wrong.

I paid $550 and not $650. Apologies for my error.