M&P Shield Review: Best Gun For Concealed Carry
This review will go over the pros & cons of the Smith & Wesson M&P Shield and I will explain why I believe this is one of the best handguns for concealed carry. I have carried this pistol for about 3 years now and have put over a thousand rounds through it. I have made some modifications to the M&P Shield over time and will show them later in this article.
M&P Shield Overview
Smith & Wesson offers a ton of variations of this handgun. The different calibers they make this pistol in are 9mm, 40 S&W, and 45 ACP. There is now also a second generation version or M2.0 is what Smith & Wesson call it, and a performance center model.
My experience has been with the 9mm standard model but it is the same exact size as the 40 S&W only the 9mm holds one more round in the magazine. The 45 ACP is slightly larger and comes with more aggressive texture on the pistol grip.
What you get for your money
The M&P Shield can be purchased with or without an external thumb safety. I own the model with a thumb safety but in hindsight, I wish I would have purchased the version without. The thumb safety slows me down when drawing the pistol and firing. However, some people might prefer the safety and its good that Smith & Wesson offers it.
This handgun comes with two magazines, one flush fit 7-round, and an extended 8-round magazine. The pistol definitely feels more comfortable with the extended magazine while gripping and firing, but the flush fit magazine is more concealable (always a trade-off).
Smith & Wesson gives you standard 3-dot sights on the regular version, and they offer the performance center version with night sights or hi-viz fiber optic sights. I still have the standard 3-dot sights but will be upgrading to night sights in the near future.
I’ve heard a lot of people complain about the slide on the gun or rather the spring, saying that it is too difficult to pull and rack to chamber a round. I will say the slide is stiff but I believe this is a good thing and adds to the reliability of this pistol, and that leads me to the next part of the review.
Is the M&P Shield Reliable?
So like I mentioned earlier in this article the M&P Shield has been my primary EDC (everyday carry) pistol for a few years now. I have shot over a thousand rounds through it and I haven’t had a single malfunction.
At first, I shout 300 rounds of Federal American Eagle 115gr ball ammo just to break it in. I have also ran Federal HST through it since that is my personal defense round I prefer (look up some ballistic videos of it on YouTube).
I am confident that the M&P Shield will work if I ever need it to in a self-defense scenario. Next, let me talk about carrying it and what my setup is.
Using the M&P Shield for concealed carry
One of the best things about this pistol is how concealable it is. The slim single stack design makes carrying it on your person very comfortable. I have two different holsters that I use for the M&P Shield.
The first one is a G-Code Incog Holster that I use for IWB (inside the waistband). It was designed for appendix carry, however, I personally use it at about the 4 o’clock position. I know that appendix is very popular nowadays and does making drawing your pistol faster but I find it uncomfortable and I can’t get over the fact where the muzzle is pointing.
The second one I use is an OWB (outside the waistband). This one is a custom one I made myself and I use it more in the winter months when I’m wearing a hoodie or jacket. Definitely a lot more comfortable but less concealable. The M&P Shield is the perfect size for carrying in my opinion.
M&P Shield Upgrades
- APEX Trigger
- Talon Grips
The factory trigger is okay but I upgraded mine to the APEX trigger and it made a huge improvement. The original factory trigger was gritty and had a heavier pull which I didn’t care for. The new APEX trigger is lighter and smoother and definitely worth it in my opinion. My install video will be added at the bottom of this article if you want to check it out.
The grip was lacking a little bit as far as how aggressive the texture. I have seen so many people having their handguns stippled and thought about having it done on my M&P Shield, but was slightly worried the texture would rub up against my skin and irritate me. I decided to go with Talon Grips and loved the end result.
The Talon Grips added a rubberized feel to the pistol grip and added the perfect amount of texture. The installation was also super easy and the Talon Grips only cost about $15 bucks. Well worth it for the price. I’ll add my video of me showing the install process below.
The M&P Shield is very affordable
I purchased mine for $400 at Gander Mountain (which is no longer in business) a few years ago. The price has since come down a little and I think it is very affordable and you get a great handgun.
Like I mentioned early, Smith & Wesson has now come out with the M2.0 version of the M&P Shield which costs a little more, but I still think it is worth it.
Final Thoughts
This handgun is customizable with lots of aftermarket support, it is reliable, affordable, and very easy to conceal. The M&P Shield made it on the top of our list for Buying Your First Handgun & 10 Recommendations
If anyone owns this handgun let me know in the comments what you guys think of the M&P Shield? If you want to see the current price click the button underneath.
Specifications:
Caliber: 9mm
Weight: 20.8 oz / 589.7g
Barrel Material: Stainless Steel
Slide Material: Stainless Steel
Barrel Length: 3.1” (7.9 cm)
Overall Length: 6.1″
Action: Striker Fire
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My wife owns the M&P Shield 9mm without the safety and she loves it. I’ve shot it myself a number of times and agree that it’s an excellent gun, but I don’t like it as much as my Springfield XDS 9 & 45. This is mainly due to size, rather anything functional about the gun itself. The XDS fills my hand better than the Shield 9 and is more comfortable because of it. The reverse is true for my wife.
Functionally speaking, it’s excellent and a solid EDC option. I’ve even used it as my own EDC a couple times, and I’ve recommended it as a purpose option to friends.
Mine is the first generation Shield w/o a safety love it, easy to carry and I carry it in a pouch so no body can see it.
I believe without a doubt the M&P shield is the best semi-auto pistol on the market. The ergonomic design is like none other. It’s also a delight to shoot. But there’s only one thing that I haven’t been able to nail down. Is it safe to carry with a chambered round?
Thanks!
Yes it is safe to carry a round in the chamber. However, I recommend a good kydex holster to carry it in.
Best you can do is talk to people !
Get a good belt and you will have everything you need for your rig. These best holster for m p shield m will last a lifetime and so will your Shield. You should settle for nothing less when your own personal safety and the safety of your loved ones could be on the line.
A person looking for a slim, svelte carry gun is likely to weigh the Glock 43 vs Sig P365. Both are wildly popular these days and for good reason.
Shootability (****) Definitely a shootable pistol, though less comfortable to shoot than most m subcompacts. The grip texture does a good job here.
Next, I want good retention since it does not have a snap. I have seen holsters with a better fit, but for the price, this one does the job and holds tight. Carried on your side it will work better than appendix but both are secure enough.
However, there has been a significant development in the fullness of time. If you asked me, I’d get the first-gen Shield. They’re still in production at the time of this writing, so you can still get a new one including all the parts and so on. But what is the major difference?
I know this is an old thread, but still so relevant. I carry the Shield 99% of the time as it is very easy and comfortable to conceal. I am primarily a Glock person and shoot my Glocks better but I also trust my Shield. I carry with the 7rd mag with one in the chamber and carry an 8rd spare. I use a simple comptac dual concealment holster and I have no complains. I have ran it in IDPA competitions with my carry holster and it has never failed me. Shoots whatever I feed it. A few issues I encountered…Magazine reloads pinching my pinky when I slam the mag in, but in a simulated stressful situation you don’t even think about it. Also need to make sure your right thumb does not rest on the slide lock; it is quite sensitive to pressure and will not lock on last round if your thumb unintentionally rests on it, no different from the Glock. But those are really non-issues because I practice to be proficient with my carry gun.
Out of all the guns I have, I still carry my shield 90 percent of the time. I know newer options have better features and more round capacity, but I have been carrying the shield so long that it seems natural. I’m used to it and shoot it pretty well.