SMITH & WESSON PERFORMANCE CENTER M&P9 SHIELD PLUS EDC
Posted May 26, 2023
The modern handgun market is packed with a seemingly endless variety of choices that can make the search for the right shooting partner a difficult ordeal. Whether you're in the market for competition, concealed carry, or just an all-around reliable firearm, it's hard to know what gun is going to perform the best, given an individual's specific needs. Smith & Wesson's Performance Center M&P9 Shield Plus EDC is an impressive offering that exudes quality craftsmanship and top-notch performance. This review will provide an in-depth look at the features that make the M&P9 Shield Plus a remarkable handgun for self-defense, competition, and everyday carry.
For starters, the M&P9 Shield Plus features a slightly larger frame than a standard Shield model, giving it increased grip and control, allowing the shooter to fire more accurately and confidently. The EDC (Every Day Carry) designation provides full-size features in a compact design, meaning this handgun is superbly robust yet well-suited for concealed carry. It's constructed with a durable black armornite-treated stainless steel slide and frame, with the trademark scalloped slide serrations and sleek, contoured design providing an aesthetically attractive pistol. The performance-enhancing additions also include an extended magazine for more rounds on the go, and an integrated rail for accessory customization.
The M&P9 Shield Plus is equipped with a 3.1-inch stainless steel barrel for quick target acquisition and enhanced accuracy. The trigger is designed with a smooth, crisp pull for much the same purpose and pressure of 5.5 to 7.5 pounds. Additionally, the trigger guard is undercut to increase control and manage recoil much more effectively. Three-dot sights feature a robust white dot front and rear, ensuring the shooter has a great sight picture for accurate performance.
For all-round convenience, the M&P9 Shield Plus comes with two magazine options; an extended 8-round magazine which makes for a much more comfortable grip and more rounds on the go, and a flush-mount 7-round magazine for concealability. The ergonomic design of the gun ensures you have better control. It features interchangeable grip inserts that allow for a custom grip that best suits your hand size and shape. The pistol also comes with a 10-degree relief cut which provides a better hold of the slide.
The M&P9 Shield Plus EDC utilizes Smith & Wesson's Pro-Series striker-fired system, combined with an aggressive trigger guard undercut which increases leverage, making the trigger pull much easier. This system yields a much simpler and quicker processing time and enhances the shooting performance of the user intuitively. Additionally, the Pro-Series design allows for drift-adjustable sights, making it much easier to keep your sights correctly aligned with your target each time you take aim.
In terms of safety, the Smith & Wesson Performance Center M&P9 Shield Plus EDC features an impressive set of safety features. It has an integrated trigger safety, magazine disconnect safety, and an extractor pin that acts as an additional drop safety. It also features active trigger reset and an Impact Dispersal System, that helps reduce the recoil felt by the user.
The M&P9 Shield Plus EDC is an impressive offering from Smith & Wesson, and its extensive list of features make it an excellent choice for those looking for an all-around solid handgun for self-defense, competition, and everyday carry. It is expertly crafted and comes with a full suite of custom and purpose-specific features that help enhance performance. The trigger is smooth, crisp, and foolproof, the ergonomic design provides a better foothold on the firearm, and the Pro-Series system allows for advanced accuracy. Additionally, the safety features are superior and allow you to operate the firearm with confidence. All in all, the Smith & Wesson Performance Center M&P9 Shield Plus EDC is a fantastic handgun designed for those seeking a dependable gun with top-notch performance.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Lightweight and compact design, making the Performance Center M&P9 Shield Plus EDC ideal for concealed carry purposes.
- Extremely reliable and safe due to increased accuracy, smooth trigger, and improved ergonomics.
- Attractive aesthetics, featuring stainless steel slide, G-10 grips, and an optics-ready slide.
- Additional features such as manual and grip safety, and red-dot-ready optics support.
Cons:
- High price – the Performance Center M&P9 Shield Plus EDC is more expensive than a standard M&P9 Shield.
2.The standard magazine for the gun only holds seven rounds, making it less powerful than other firearms if capacity is desired.
- Lack of aftermarket parts and accessories, making it more difficult to customize and personalize the Performance Center M&P9 Shield Plus EDC.
Who Should Buy
Those who should buy the Smith & Wesson Performance Center M&P9 Shield Plus EDC are those who are looking for a reliable self-defense firearm with advanced features and enhanced recoil control. This pistol is designed with shooters of all calibers in mind, and it is well suited to target shooting as well as defensive scenarios.
Those who should not buy this firearm are those who are unwilling to invest the time and money required to train with a high quality pistol. Additionally, this firearm may not be suitable for those who may lack the necessary experience with firearms to use it responsibly. In addition, this pistol is not designed for simply recreational use; it should only be purchased by experienced shooters who have the understanding and discipline necessary to operate this pistol responsibly.
Comparisons
| Product | Caliber | Capacity | Weight | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S&W Performance Center M&P9 Shield Plus EDC | 9mm | 10 | 22.4oz | 6.1" |
| Ruger Security 9 Compact | 9mm | 8+1 | 20.3oz | 6.5" |
| SIG SAUER P365 | 9mm | 10+1 | 17.8oz | 5.8" |
| Walther PF-9 | 9mm | 7+1 | 18.1oz | 6.3" |
| Springfield XD-S | 9mm | 8+1 | 21.5oz | 6.3" |
Features / Specs
•Caliber: 9mm
•Barrel Length: 4"
•Overall Length: 7.125"
•Weight: 24.7 oz
•Trigger Pull: 5.5 lbs
•Safety: Thumb Safety and Grip Safety
•Frame: Stainless Steel with PVD Coating
•Slide: Stainless Steel with PVD Coating
•Capacity: 12+1 Rounds extended
•Sights: Optic Ready Hi-Vis Green Fiber Optic Front Sight
Popular Accessories
KIT?
- Smith & Wesson Performance Center M&P9 Shield Plus EDC Kit Extra Magazines
- Smith & Wesson Performance Center M&P9 Shield Plus EDC Kit Holster
- Smith & Wesson Performance Center M&P9 Shield Plus EDC Kit Magazine Loader
- Smith & Wesson Performance Center M&P9 Shield Plus EDC Kit Compact Flashlight
- Smith & Wesson Performance Center M&P9 Shield Plus EDC Kit Cleaning Kit
- Smith & Wesson Performance Center M&P9 Shield Plus EDC Kit OWB Magazine Pouch
- Smith & Wesson Performance Center M&P9 Shield Plus EDC Kit IWB Magazine Pouch
- Smith & Wesson Performance Center M&P9 Shield Plus EDC Kit Soft Gun Case
- Smith & Wesson Performance Center M&P9 Shield Plus EDC Kit Wax Removal Fluid
- Smith & Wesson Performance Center M&P9 Shield Plus EDC Kit Concealed Carry Belt
Accuracy
The accuracy of the Smith & Wesson Performance Center M&P9 SHIELD PLUS EDC is incredibly precise. The M&P9 takes advantage of its high quality components and modern engineering to deliver great accuracy. The accuracy of the gun is enhanced by the included 4 inch barrel, high-profile sights, competition trigger, and zero-trigger-over-travel feature. The result is a smooth trigger pull and a firearm that is capable of remarkable accuracy. The windage and elevation are adjustable via the included windage and elevation turrets, allowing the shooter to precisely tune the gun for optimal accuracy. Additionally, the overall size of the gun makes it very easy to carry and to handle while in use. All in all, the Smith & Wesson Performance Center M&P9 SHIELD PLUS EDC is an incredibly accurate firearm that provides shooters with excellent performance in all types of shooting scenarios.
