Best M&P Shield Upgrades & Accessories
What are the best Smith & Wesson M&P Shield upgrades and accessories? This article will cover exactly that. The M&P Shield is a great little pistol for concealed carry but can be improved with some M&P Shield upgrades.
Because of their popularity, there are a ton of aftermarket parts made for them.
By adding the best M&P Shield upgrades and accessories you can unlock the full potential of the pistol and increase its usability and effectiveness.
This article will cover the best M&P Shield upgrades and accessories that will work for all calibers and all models of the gun.
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What Is an M&P Shield?
The M&P Shield is an easy-to-conceal pistol that offers professional-grade features with simple operation and reliable performance. The original model was released in 2012 and Smith & Wesson has sold over one million of them.
They are extremely popular, especially for concealed carry. They were made in 9mm, 40 S&W, and 45 ACP.
The M&P Shield is a striker-fired style of the semi-automatic pistol and there are versions with thumb safeties and without thumb safeties.
These guns have a single stack magazine making the slimmer and more concealable and lighter. Again, these pistols are great options for concealed carry. They have a very reliable track record.
Where To Purchase an M&P Shield?
If you do not already own an M&P Shield that you can still purchase one used. Some stores might even have new in-the-box shields on the shelf.
Many people like the newer 2.0 upgraded version and those are readily available and should be easily found at just about any gun store.
If you are looking to buy a new Smith & Wesson M&P Shield 2.0 then they can also be purchased online and shipped to your local FFL.
Click Here to check the current prices and availability of the M&P Shield 2.0
Best M&P Shield Upgrades & Accessories
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All of the items in this article will work for all the calibers and different versions of the M&P Shield.
Even if you have the performance model or the pro series M&P Shield these upgrades and accessories will improve the pistol.
Without further ado, these are the best M&P Shield upgrades and accessories.
M&P Shield Trigger Upgrade
One of the very first things you should upgrade on this pistol is the trigger. The standard trigger feels gritty and has a lot of room for improvement.
There are a few triggers on the market for this gun but there is only one trigger upgrade that I recommend.
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Apex Tactical Enhanced M&P Shield Trigger Kit
The absolute best trigger you can get for the Smith & Wesson M&P Shield is the Apex Enhanced Trigger Kit.
The Action Enhancement Trigger & Duty/Carry Kit for the original version of the Shield delivers a significant improvement in the feel of the trigger pull while maintaining its performance as an everyday carry pistol.
When installed properly, the Apex Tactical Specialties trigger kit will reduce the trigger pull weight by 1-2 lbs and reduce the trigger pre-travel and over-travel by 20 percent.
These have a very smooth uptake and reset also with an extremely crisp trigger break. They will maintain the factory safety values also.
The Apex tactical specialties trigger kit is a direct drop-in trigger kit that requires no gunsmithing or fitment.
Click Here to check the current prices of the Apex Enhanced Trigger Kit
M&P Shield Pistol Grip Upgrade
The original M&P Shield has a hard polymer pistol grip with little to no retention. They attempted to make a rougher plastic portion but this is not adequate.
On a pistol, you want a rough or rubberish texture to hold the weapon securely in your hand. If you have sweaty palms or your hands are wet, you still need to make sure you have a positive grip.
M&P Shield Talon Grips
The best M&P Shield upgrade for the pistol grip is the Talon Grips. These are perfect and provide the correct amount of texture and grippyness.
They are very thin and do not add any bulk to your pistol like some of the Hogue Rubber sleeve grips.
These will also not be intrusive for any holster. They are easy to install and can get a better cure with a heat gun or a blow dryer.
You can also remove them in the future and they will not damage your frame. These are a cheap and easy upgrade but make a huge difference.
I highly recommend these for the M&P Shield, the talon grips work great on other pistols as well.
Click Here to check the current prices of the Talon Grips
M&P Shield Optic Upgrade
Next up on the upgrade list is a better rear sight and front sight. Like most pistols, the M&P Shield just comes with standard three-dot sights.
Adding a night sight or a fiber optic sight will be easier to see at night time or if your eyes aren’t that great.
HiViz LiteWave H3 Tritium/Litepipe Pistol Sights
My favorite aftermarket sights for the M&P Shield are the HiViz LiteWave H3 Tritium/Litepipe Pistol Sights.
These are fiber optic sights and tritium nights sights combined in one. The fiber optic tubes are great for daylight and bright situations.
The Tritium inserts will glow in the dark which is great for low light or no light settings. Tritium night sights last about 10 years before they lose their glow, and with these, you still have fiber optics that will last forever.
The rear sight on this is an orange color and the front sight is a green with an orange outline. The two different colors and contrast help your eye find the rear sight and front sight.
These sights are the best of both worlds and work great on the Smith & Wesson M&P Shield.
I recommend and prefer these over the Trijicon Bright & Tough HD sights and they are not as expensive.
Click Here to check the current prices of the HiViz LiteWave H3 Tritium/Litepipe Pistol Sights
M&P Shield Barrel Upgrade
Adding an aftermarket barrel that is threaded will allow you to add a muzzle device.
Also, a barrel can increase accuracy slightly but in a small compact pistol like the M&P Shield, you will most likely not notice a difference.
The biggest benefit of a threaded barrel is adding a muzzle brake.
TRYBE Defense M&P Shield Match Grade Threaded Barrel
One of the best options for adding a threaded barrel is the TRYBE Defense Match Grade Threaded Barrel.
This is a great-looking barrel and is well made. It is made from 416R stainless steel and has a 1:10″ RH rifling.
The thread pattern is 1/2×28″ and this barrel has a Gold TiN finish.
Adding this barrel to your M&P Shield will give it a new look and also allow you to add a muzzle brake to the end of your pistol.
Click Here to check the current prices of the TRYBE Defense Match Grade Threaded Barrel
M&P Shield Muzzle Brake Upgrade
Now that you added a threaded barrel, you can add a muzzle brake. Some people think these are unnecessary, especially on a 9mm and I disagree.
Adding any part to a firearm that will make it function better is a good thing. Yes, a 9mm doesn’t have much recoil, but taming it, even more, is a benefit.
Also, in a small compact gun with a short barrel like the M&P Shield, a muzzle brake will make the pistol less snappy and allow you to have more accurate follow-up shots.
Samson M&P Shield Pocket Compensator
One of the best compensators that will work on your M&P Shield is the Samson M&P Shield Pocket Compensator.
This muzzle device will help manage the recoil while firing and allow you to have faster and more accurate follow-up shots.
It is a 1/2×28″ thread pattern and will not interfere with the cycling and operation of the M&P Shield.
It is made from aluminum and is lightweight so you can barely even feel it on the end of your pistol.
Click Here to check the current prices of the Samson M&P Shield Pocket Compensator
M&P Shield Weapon Light
One of the best M&P upgrades and accessories is a good weapon light. Seeing your target is critical.
Because this pistol will most likely be a concealed carry weapon, having a good light will allow you to see and let you identify your target.
Streamlight TLR-6 Tactical Light
The best weapon light for the M&P Shield is the Streamlight TLR-6 Tactical Light. I like this light because it is well made, reliable, and mounts up seamlessly to the M&P Shield.
The operation is very easy and intuitive. Because of how popular this light is, most holster companies will make a holster specifically designed for the M&P Shield with the Streamlight TLR-6 attached.
This will overall complete the look and make it a more balanced gun.
The light puts out 100 lumens that will last 50,000 hrs on two CR-1/2 batteries that are included.
The activation is ambidextrous and it is very easy to mount this light.
Click Here to check the current prices of the Streamlight TLR-6 Tactical Light
M&P Shield Magazines
Now that all of the main M&P Shield upgrades and accessories are out of the way, you will need to pick up some extra M&P Shield Magazines.
I usually like to have at least 7 magazines per firearm at a minimum. You never know what laws will change and what bans might happen in the future.
When buying more, always try and get the factory Smith & Wesson magazines and the larger capacity ones.
Click Here to check the current prices and availability of M&P Shield Magazines
M&P Shield Ammo
The final piece to the puzzle is ammunition and you need a good amount. I always tell people that when they think they have enough ammo to buy 1,000 more rounds.
Ammo is the most important thing to buy and stockpile. Prices are only going to keep going up too so I try to buy a few boxes consistently.
I am going to assume that most people will have the 9mm version of the M&P Shield and will leave a link to some deals on 9mm Ammo.
When it comes to ammo, the more you have the better.
Click Here to check the current prices and availability of 9mm Ammo.
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M&P Shield FAQ
Is the M&P Shield a good carry gun?
Yes, the Smith & Wesson M&P Shield is a great pistol for concealed carry. It has a good balance of features, capacity, reliability, and affordability. They are offered in a few different models and calibers.
Is the M&P Shield 2.0 good?
I love the original M&P Shield and now with the newer 2.0 version, I love it even more. I don’t think you need to sell your old M&P Shield and upgrade to the new version. You can add some M&P Shield upgrades and accessories to customize it to your own personal preference.
Why is the M&P Shield so popular?
The M&P Shield has all the features of a full-sized pistol in a package small enough for concealed carry. Smith & Wesson also offers the pistol in a wide variety of configurations, from caliber to ergonomics and aiming devices, allowing prospective buyers to pick the version that’s right for them. The price is also very affordable and there is a lot of aftermarket support.
What does M and P stand for?
Smith & Wesson designed their M&P models of pistols for the military and police. These are great guns and very reliable.
Is the M&P Shield obsolete?
No, it is not obsolete, Smith & Wesson will no longer make them and switch to only producing the 2.0 models. The original M&P Shield is one of the most popular guns they have ever produced.
Complete List of Items Mentioned
(Click the links for the most up to date prices)
- M&P Shield 2.0
- Apex Enhanced Trigger Kit
- Talon Grips
- HiViz LiteWave H3 Tritium/Litepipe Pistol Sights
- TRYBE Defense Match Grade Threaded Barrel
- Samson M&P Shield Pocket Compensator
- Streamlight TLR-6 Tactical Light
- M&P Shield Magazines
- 9mm Ammo
Have you added any upgrades and accessories to your Smith & Wesson M&P Shield?
Did you initially start with a better trigger?
Let me know in the comments below.
Further reading on Firstworldcrusader.com: Are you interested in learning more about guns and gear?
This list of the Best Gun Safes can help you choose the best safe for your firearms collection.
In addition, here are the Best Glock Upgrades that can help you get more out of your Glock pistol.
I have the M&P Shield 45. I had a gunsmith perform the Apex trigger upgrade along with TruGlo TFX pro sight upgrade. What a difference. Especially the trigger upgrade. I highly recommend both. The 45 ACP is a bit of a beast and I would like to lower the recoil a bit. A longer threaded barrel with compensator is probably my next upgrade. The M&P Shield 45 doesn’t have the support that the 9mm has which I understand. I would love it if S&W would offer the 4″ barrel and slide with optics capability as an upgrade! Good article. Thanks!
In a small compact package that is chambered in 45, the shield is great! I honestly love M&Ps and for some reason people overlook them.