The first M&P model came out in 1899, and it started as a revolver. Due to its immediate success, D.B. Wesson started making a more powerful version of its pistols. This is when the .38 Special was born. Through the years, the revolvers were revised to enhance their features, including the innovative hand extractor system that led to a full lineup of Smith & Wesson revolvers by 1936.
In 1942, the M&P revolvers were updated and were used by the British military in World War II. This new version has a prefix V in its serial numbers, and it is widely known today as the Victory model.
Because of its popularity, it was broadly projected that about 80% of the world’s law enforcement agencies carried a .38 M&P revolver. However, it wasn’t until 2005 that they joined the polymer-frame pistol race. By this time, the firearm market is saturated with polymer pistols, and Glock reigns supreme in this department.
Nevertheless, Smith & Wesson took the fight to them and came out with a tried and tested version of Bodyguard, Shield, and the modern sporting rifle. Within its first year, over 100 police departments carried their new line of M&P pistols, and they are still holding strong.
Even though history speaks for itself, no pistol is insusceptible to problems. The list below shows the most common issues reported online for the Shield version.
1. Trigger Problem
2. Feeding Issue
3. Slide Issue
4. Magazine Problem
The trigger problem originated back in 2013, when Smith & Wesson identified that the trigger bar pin could potentially damage the trigger’s drop safety feature, which could result in an accidental discharge. They issued a safety notice and promptly offered a fix to eradicate this flaw.
The feeding issue was reported when the pistol’s slide kept locking back when there was still ammunition in the magazine. It seems like the pistol is sensitive to dirt because, as per the post, as soon as the users cleaned the pistol and used a better type of ammunition, the problem went away.
As for the slide, some people experienced a major problem, and it happens after you shoot the entire magazine. As the slide locks back, you then eject the empty magazine to put in a new one. As you rack the slide to release it, the slide won’t budge, and the slide stop won’t release. It was recommended to clean and lube the pistol, but a few still reported the same problem despite the recommended fix.
The magazine problem comes down to how hard it is to load. After two rounds in the magazine, people reported that it was very difficult to put in more ammunition, even when using a special tool. I would recommend loading and unloading the magazine as much as you can to loosen up the spring and/or load them up and leaving it for a week or so.
Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s proceed to our testing. I have a stock Smith & Wesson M&P Shield 9mm subcompact. This firearm has an average trigger pull weight of 5 lbs. and 13 oz. I will be using Winchester Target 115GR JHP, and Federal Champion Training 115GR FMJ for both the accuracy and reliability tests, and we’ll see which ammunition gives me the best result. I also put roughly 3000 rounds through it over the years, so we’ll see how it goes.
The target that I’ll be using was made by Todd Louise Green specifically for RDS. The pistol that I am testing doesn’t have any optics on it, but I’ll be using this target anyway to see if I can keep it within the 2-inch circle. I can easily make my 2-inch target, but since there are so many available online, I might as well just use them and give them credit for it.
The Range
The current temperature here in California is a scorching 87 degrees Fahrenheit, with a relative humidity of 40% and an elevation of about 1,053 feet.
Before we started the accuracy test, I shot over 350 rounds in 2 hours to warm up the barrel and relearn this pistol. It is a subcompact version, and I know that the POA and POI won’t be the same as a normal full-size or compact pistol. The whole warm-up/reliability session went okay. I had numerous failures to feed and eject, but even without cleaning it, the pistol still works for the most part. I won't be doing a 25-yard test because it is a subcompact pistol, and it won't perform well at that distance.
Accuracy Test
At 10 yards using Winchester Target 115GR JHP, I shot eight rounds at the center of the 2-inch circle, and I managed to get some good groupings out of it except for one flyer. Without the flyer, the measurement of the grouping would have been an impressive 1.7 inches. But as you know, we need to account for every round of ammunition fired, so the final number is 3.1 inches from end to end. Please see Figure 1.2 below for the result.
At 10 yards again using Federal Champion Training 115 FMJ, I aimed at the center of the 2-inch circle, and I got a 2.2-inch grouping. (See Figure 1.3 below)
I need to emphasize that I concentrated hard to get these results from this pistol. When I was warming up the pistol, I couldn’t get a decent grouping without exerting too much effort on my end. Just to give you an idea, if I point and shoot with less concentration, I’ll be getting around an 8 to 10-inch grouping. With average concentration and focus, I can get that down to 3 to 5 inches. With tremendous effort, steady hands, and controlled breathing and trigger pull, I can only manage 3.1-inch and 2.2-inch groupings, respectively. Handling a subcompact pistol is easy, but if you are aiming for the bullseye all the time, it can get very tiring and annoying in no time.
Performance
The M&P Shield is a decent pistol to shoot. It feels like everything is made out of plastic. Even the trigger isn’t enjoyable to pull. With a decent amount of concentration, the accuracy is good enough. It will do its job and hit the target constantly. But if you want to hit a 2-inch bullseye over and over again, then this pistol will require you to go back to your fundamentals and pay attention to your breathing, trigger pull, stance, and discipline. Because of its size, a little movement will have a huge impact on the result of your test. You won’t be able to shoot at a decent pace if you are aiming to get everything inside the 2-inch circle. It may differ if I have an optic on, but since I am using its stock sight, I can honestly say that it is pretty challenging. I am considering changing the sights to either an adjustable rear sight or an RDS, but for now, I’ll keep it as it is.
Ergonomics
The size is what I expect from a subcompact pistol. It is small and thin, and it will give you ample traction. However, I would prefer if Smith & Wesson did more for this pistol so that the shooters could have a very good amount of traction. This version 1.0 has a very minimal grip texture. The trigger guard is smooth, so if you put your left index finger over it, you won’t get any grip at all. There is no texture on the side of the frame for your left thumb (I’m a righty), so you won’t be able to achieve complete positive control of the pistol during recoil management. Since it is a subcompact, I expected the recoil to be snappier, but it is within the acceptable range. The slide texture is horrendous. I can’t count how many times my fingers slipped trying to rack the slide. The serration isn’t deep enough, and it’s only located on the rear of the slide.
Just a side note: the 2.0 version seems better in the picture, but without testing it, I really can’t say if they’ve improved its ergonomics. If I am going to base it on the pictures, it is probably safe to say that they fixed the textures on the grip. It looks like you will get more grip out of it than the 1.0. The slide serrations are practically the same, apart from the little ones located on the front bottom of the slide.
Appearance
The pistol looks very modern and capable. I like the simplicity of it, but I think Smith & Wesson went a little too far as far as simplicity goes. A little work on the grip, trigger guard, and slide would have been a great addition.
Customization
Upon checking online, there are only a few trusted vendors out there. Moreover, there are also a few things that can only be upgraded with this pistol, so that narrows your options significantly. I’m thinking about upgrading this pistol, but I don’t think that I will gain much by doing so. Hence, it may not be worth the extra expenses.
Conclusion
This subcompact pistol earned an abysmal 6.91 out of 10. Almost everything about it is average. It is surprisingly accurate if you put 100% effort and concentration into it. The ergonomics are very basic, and the recoil is snappier (normal for this size of pistol). The grip isn’t great, and the slide serration is horrendous. Reliability is decent, but I can’t trust it 100 percent.
The pistol will perform as expected, but I cannot recommend this version of the M&P Shield. I would look elsewhere if I were looking for a subcompact pistol and would highly consider a SIG Sauer P365 over this.
TEST RESULT
Reliability: 7/10
With several failures and its sensitivity to dirt, I cannot say that I am fully confident about its reliability day in and day out. However, the pistol continued to perform even after those failures, so that’s a plus in my book. If you’re using this as your CCW, please make sure that you maintain it well to avoid or minimize the potential failure that could arise.
Accuracy: 8.5/10
For a subcompact pistol, it performed as expected. With average concentration and discipline, this pistol can get groupings of around 3 to 5 inches. With tremendous effort, steady hands, controlled breathing, and trigger pull, this firearm can get at least a 2.2-inch grouping. However, in the real world, you don’t have all time and discipline to make the pistol perform as you want it to. Due to the fact that it is challenging to get a very good result out of this subcompact pistol, I cannot give it a higher score than this.
Performance: 7/10
It is a decent pistol that will do its job when you ask for it. It is challenging to use this pistol if you are aiming for a bullseye all the time. But if you just want to hit your target, then this pistol is good enough for the job. The recoil is snappier, but it is a small pistol, and that is very normal for its size. Recoil management is minimal since you have less real estate with a subcompact pistol. The stock grip texture and slide serration didn’t help either.
Ergonomics: 6/10
Just like what I mentioned above, the grip texture is minimal, and this didn’t provide good traction for me. Since there aren’t any grooves on the side of the frame or the trigger guard, this limits your options for managing the recoil. The slide serration is bad. It is not deep enough that my fingers keep slipping so many times trying to rack the slide. On top of that, the serration is only located at the rear of the slide. The trigger is made of plastic, and it feels very cheap. The same can be said for the frame. The pistol is small, so expect that you won’t have enough real estate to wrap your hands around it.
Appearance: 8/10
It has a modern feel to it. I would say average for an overall look. I suppose Smith & Wesson made the pistol smooth for the most part so people could conceal it better.
Customization: 5/10
Only a few trusted vendors are selling basic upgrades. Customizing the pistol is very limited and upgrading it may not yield a significantly better result.
Overall Score: 6.91/10
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