Smith and Wesson M&P Shield Performance Center 9mm Review and Buyer’s Guide

Smith and Wesson is a popular gun manufacturer that has helped shape our modern-day firearm advancements, so it’s no surprise that both verteran and new gun owners like to take a look at what they have to offer on a regular basis.

When I first started researching and shooting micro-compact options for a personal concealed carry weapon, it didn’t take long for me to place the Smith and Wesson M&P Shield series in my proverbial sights.

Take a more detailed look at my reasoning in our Smith and Wesson M&P Shield 9mm review.

Smith and Wesson History and Overview

Smith and Wesson can trace its roots back to 1852, when Horace Smith and D.B. Wesson formed a partnership to create a fully self-contained cartridge. They were successful in 1854 when they introduced the first repeating American-made firearm capable of firing a self-contained cartridge, and the rest is history. This advancement in firearm technology began to change the way guns were manufactured and viewed by the public. Suddenly, a pistol became much easier to handle and shoot, and opened the doors to a bigger audience.

M&P and Shield Labels Explained

M&P stands for Military and Police, and although it is focused on marketing to civilians nowadays, in 1899 the original M&P genre was created with the introduction of the .38 S&W Special cartridge, which is still in production- with over 6 million units produced! This puts a powerful, compact cartridge in the hands of the law at the time, and provides you peace of mind in how your gun handles and fires in self-defense situations.

Although not officially labeled as M&P until 2005, this polymer series has become a popular weapon of choice for many law enforcement departments, with over 100 offices providing their officers with them as a department issue option within a year of release. In 2012 they added the Shield series to the M&P line, marketing them to civilians and providing a micro-compact pistol specifically for day-to-day conceal carry weapon holders.

Performance Center Pistols Explained

The Performance Center label was also introduced during this time period. Also seen as the PC label in comparison reviews, these options offer detailed upgrades and feature-rich details for top performance and precision firing comfort. In my own personal handling of various micro-compact pistols, the PC option kept moving towards the top of my list of favorites- and combined with the excellent price point for the quality I was shooting, it was a no brainer to me when I made my purchase.

Smith and Wesson M&P Shield Performance Center 9mm Introduction

Smith and Wesson had long had an awareness of placing firearms in the hands of women, and produced their M&P series for women in 1942. Dubbed the Victory model, it was made for the US Women’s Naval Reserve, and was another major step in creating a powerful, yet compact and comfortable to shoot design that has continued to carry forward in their more modern designs. 

The current M&P Shield Performance Center models are excellent examples of this. As a smaller framed woman with a narrow grip, I prefer something that can sit close to my body and is easy to draw and fire. And although my personal choice, the original model, is no longer in production due to improvements upon the design over the last few years, it still is widely found for sale and along with subsequent upgrades, provides you an excellent selection of handguns to choose from depending on your needs.

Alternatives

I can’t really say anything bad about these guns, but if you are looking to compare similar options, you might want to check out Smith and Wesson’s other 9mm compact pistol choices or the Glock 43. But, if you want to go even smaller in a .380 caliber, as you’ll see – Smith and Wesson provides M&P Shield PC options in this as well that offer similar performance.

M&P Shield PC Features & Benefits

As you can see, the M&P Shield M2.0 PC is most similar to my original model in overall size and use if you are looking for an enhanced option without a lot of bells and whistles. Of course, you have some great options across the board with all these choices. Everything from caliber options, to the inclusion of red dot systems, fiber optic sites, barrel length, and a ported barrel and slide are available for you to help customize your firearms from the get-go.

9mm Spec Chart Comparisons

Caliber

My tried and true little handgun was only offered in the 9 millimeter Luger, which was exactly what I wanted after shooting with various 9mm and .380 auto options made by different manufacturers. Since then, the series has expanded a bit to include a .380 auto, .40 S&W, and .45 auto options- giving a wider range of choices for both concealed carry and open carry preferences.

Personally, I prefer the 9mm since I carry purely for self-defense and want to know I have a caliber that offers true stopping power. Not that a .380 doesn’t, but I like knowing that one shot is definitely going to count. Plus, it is the largest caliber I personally feel comfortable carrying concealed (although never discount a good ‘ol .38 special revolver).

Safety Features

Available with both a manual thumb safety and without, you have your preference depending on your style of carry and awareness of gun use. Safety has almost always been included on all handguns, but it does slow down your reaction time when in a self-defense situation. Novice shooters should stick with safety, but many adept shooters know their gun is safe from misfire when properly holstered and are comfortable without a safety option.

Personally, I prefer safety because I like having the option to have it on, or off, when holstered. I also like to know the safety is on when I am on the range and place my gun down. With consistent practice, it only takes a fraction of a second to release the safety as well- but practice is key to this movement.

The gun also has a loaded chamber indicator that is visual, not lifted. This helps avoid issues with sliding a chambered gun in and out of your holster, but still allows you to double-check you are unloaded when breaking it down.

Grip and Texturing

I have a small hand and wrist, and my grip is quite narrow. I like being able to shoot without having the grip push back into the bottom of my pointer finger bone, and one of the reasons why I liked this particular model. At only 0.95 inches, this fits snug into my hand and is incredibly comfortable to shoot. I am able to easily absorb the recoil and reacquire a target in just seconds. I also am able to easily shoot one-handed as well.

The texturing is perfect, in my opinion. It is not too aggressive but helps you keep a good hold on the weapon even if you are seated and have a slick grip (which regularly happens here in Southern New Mexico).

Weight and Recoil

Along with the excellent grip it offers, it has a great weight for shooting a 9mm. Sure, lighter versions do exist, but with the power a 9mm offers I feel a bit more weight helps balance out the recoil and target acquisition. It is much easier to relevel and fire again with some heft to your gun rather than being blown completely off target with a lighter choice.

For a heavier, stronger person, this might not make a difference, but for a person with a smaller frame, it makes sense to take advantage of the extra ounces this model provides.

Magazine Capacities

The maximum magazine capacity is 8+1, proving you 9 chances to hit your target; 8 more than what you should need. Sure, larger magazines exist with the Shield Plus model, but this is a concealed carry option- so I want lightweight and less bulk. It also comes with a 7+1 magazine as well.

Sights

The great thing about the Performance Center series are the options provided. I choose the fiber optics sights as I feel they work best in both bright light, as well as low light situations. All models also come with a night sight choice, and even a red dot system is made available for a few as well (depending on the size and preferences you choose).

Trigger Pull

The 6.5 lbs of pull is pretty standard across the board. I find it a good match for my comfort level and it doesn’t feel like it hangs up or sticks: moving in a smooth motion before firing. It’s also easy to follow up with a second shot and run down your magazine without any effort.

Maintenance

Taking care of this firearm and cleaning it is completely effortless. It breaks down easily and goes back together without an issue. I’ve had no issue with my gun gumming up or misfiring even after shooting a long day at the range and not getting it cleaned right away.

I have found the magazine springs to be CRAZY difficult to load all the way, and despite figuring they would begin to give a bit more with more use, this just doesn’t seem to be the case. On one hand, it makes for smooth feeding, on the other, it is almost impossible to load the last 2 bullets without a speed loader (at least for me, but men in my life have also commented on this issue with some strong words).

Comfort

Although there are slightly more compact firearms out there in a smaller caliber, I find this narrow design to have a very low profile inside the waistband holster. I carry an appendix or at my 6, and it fits comfortably in the small of my back, or along my hip without any discomfort. I find I don’t have to wear too baggy a shirt to keep it from showing either, and it fits well under a t-shirt as well as a buttoned shirt. It also fits well in conceal carry purses (although that isn’t a preference of mine.

What People Are Saying

This is a great performing series of pistols and additional features and details added through the years has only enhanced its use and range of abilities for various needs. I haven’t come across any negative reviews concerning the quality of the firearm, or use on the range. Of course, some people get comfortable with one type of gun and will still prefer those options over the Smith and Wesson Shield series, but a ton of factors play into that as well including a person’s body type, shooting style, and personal needs- just to name a few.

Bottom line, it’s a choice worth checking out, especially for new and existing CCW license holders or anyone looking for a micro-compact option. It is user-friendly and in high demand for new shooters, young shooters, and women due to its size and simplicity.

To Wrap It Up

If you are looking for a budget-friendly option that offers quality that competes with other top manufacturing models- the Smith and Wesson M&P Shield PC series is one you cannot afford to ignore. This is a perfect concealed carry choice for both men and women, and is a favorite for the girls due to the narrow, comfortable grip, well-balanced weight, and compact design that makes it easy to carry.

We’d love to hear about your experiences with the brand below, and as always, please share to help spread the word.