M&P Shield Plus
The Shield Plus kept the original Shield's thin, easy-to-conceal single-stack grip footprint while sneaking a double-stack magazine into it, which is the whole reason it replaced the original as the default recommendation. The aftermarket is thinner than a Glock's, but the two things every owner actually needs, a proper holster and real night sights, are both well covered.
Start with these three
A holster molded to the Shield Plus's own 3.1-inch barrel, and tritium night sights so the gun is usable in a dark room, not just at a lit range.
Everything for the M&P Shield Plus
Range Bags & Gear
4 items
Cleaning & Maintenance
7 items
Tools & Bench Gear
2 items
M&P Shield Plus questions
Does a Shield Plus holster fit the older M&P Shield?
Not reliably. The Shield Plus has a slightly different slide and frame dimension than the M&P 1.0/2.0 Shield it replaced, and a holster molded specifically for it (like the CYA Supply Co. Base IWB) accounts for that. A holster listed for the original Shield can be loose or bind on the Plus's trigger guard.
Does the Shield Plus have an accessory rail for a light?
No. Like the original Shield, the Plus's dust cover is smooth, which is a deliberate concealment tradeoff on a gun this size. A weapon light isn't an option here the way it is on a full-size M&P; a good flashlight in the support hand is the actual answer.
Is the Shield Plus's extra capacity worth the switch from the original Shield?
For most owners, yes: 10 or 13 rounds in roughly the same footprint as the old single-stack's 7 or 8, with no meaningful increase in carry bulk. The grip is fractionally wider to accommodate the double-stack magazine, but it's a difference most hands don't notice.