The hardest part of getting used to a red dot on a pistol is teaching yourself to ignore the irons and concentrate solely on the dot. After shooting with irons for many years, you automatically want to use the irons. I have a P365XL with a Romeo Zero and I'm learning to use the dot. I also love my Shield Plus. No red dot on mine, just the standard short version. It shoots great and has an excellent trigger. One of my favorite carry pistols.
Your eyes should be focusing on the target while superimposing the dot over the target. It becomes extremely fast and natural once you get it down. It actually helped me a lot with accuracy once I started focusing on the target instead of the dot.
@@libra7624 I’m aware all eyes are different. I’m not talking about dot vs irons. I’m saying when shooting with a red dot your eyes should be focused on the target and placing the dot over the target.
If your clearing rooms i.e your house you should never be looking down the iron sights, reflex shooting, you should be pointing the pistol and using the top of the slide to get a rough point of aim, in Iraq and Afghanistan we never used irons always reflex shooting when kicking in doors cqc
Just got my shield plus; optics ready with tritium night sights. Already love it! It's just as I had imagined it, and so much better than trying to carry my old full size, all metal 1911! Thanks for your videos!
Just purchased a new Shield Plus in FDE. Took it to the range after cleaning it, and must say it exceeded my expectations. I will say the main reason I purchased this firearm was based solely on your videos. I have had four different shields in the past, 9mm, 40cal, 9mm performance center, and EZ .380. I do regret selling the .380 but... Sold all of them. I was never able to shoot them well. In all fairness I most likely never gave them a chance by shooting them a lot. But the shield plus? Very impressive. I Put 135 rounds through it (standard and defensive ammo) and it worked flawlessly, and was accurate, and fit my hand just right. As an added bonus it came with four magazines! This one is a definite keeper. I really appreciate your commentary and videos. Thank you for directing me back to the shield. Could not be happier.
I carry the 'short' version of the Shield + Performance Ctr that matches the std. plus in size. I upgraded it with Trijicon HD Nite sights. It does not have the Dot, but it does have the ported barrel. When I practice with Subsonic defensive ammo, (147 gr, 150 gr) I can put every round in the red at 8-10 yds. Very low recoil, no muzzle flip so you can follow up quickly and on-target. I agree: The Performance Ctr. versions offer noticeable improvements over the standard model and it's only slightly more costly. Highly recommended! Thanks for the follow up video...
The shield definitely shoots better than I feel like it should for its size. I still carry the original shield regularly, but it might be time to get the plus model.
I carry the Shield Plus performance center 3.1" barrel....absolutely love it and very accurate with it. I bought the Nimrod Wares Pearce grip extension for the 10 round mag and now I can get my pinky fully on the grip. Highly recommend......Great vid Hegshot and soon Smith & Wesson will be in my backyard.....Maryville, TN
i love these slimmer double stack 9s. i probably wouldnt want to carry a glock 19 all the time and it gives you a more shootable gun than the pocket sized guns from years ago
In my opinion I picked the shield plus optic version over the shield plus performance center for the sole reason that Performance Center Has a ported barrel. Which in a self-defense case shooting it at night could possibly distract your view with the flash From seeing the target.
@@danielrodriguez5463 I have the Hellcat and P365X along with so many more. The Masada Slim is so amazing, it shoots very accurate and has less recoil than the 2 I mentioned. Plus it holds more with their flush mags in. Israel knows how to make firearms extremely well.
I also have a 4" Shield Plus Performance Center but better. It's milled for a direct EPS Carry mount and has a TLR6. Getting the Green MRS EPS Carry soon. I replaced the rear fiber optic rods with black to reduce the cluttered sight picture. HI-Viz sells the inserts separately. I might also black out the front with a sharpie or black paint. Having a dot plus a fiber front sight can be confusing. Demo'd it on my channel in July.
I was happy to hear the started to Cerakote the frames. That's why they look darker and are textured now with the more recent serial variants. I have the plus, Optical Ready, and Tritium sights as well. Being short at 5'6", this is way more managable than my full size M&P 2.0. I've only been feeding it 115 grain. I'm going to get some 124 and "give it a shot".
I can't see what the height has to do with it. My friend is 5'2" with huge hands bench presses close to 400 lbs. This gun would probably be too small for him.
I have the 4”. In retrospect, I wish I just got the 3.1” and had it milled for an rmsc. The crimson trace optic included is awful. You cannot tighten the screws too much or it will cause the battery to lose contact. The fiber optic sights are nice but tritium would be better. Nobody wants to drop more money on sights when you just dropped $800 on this package. Expect to drop $400 extra in tritium sights and a shield rmsc optic to really bring this thing up to snuff
I have S&W 9mm Shield Plus. Installed a 3 5/8 inch True Precision Treaded Barrel. Better lockup, Stability and Accuracy. Also Hogue Grip. I also have a S&W Shield. I upgraded the Trigger and installed a 3 5/8 inch Faxon Barrel. Also Hogue Grip. Reliability no change. Very accurate .Shooting 12 ounces hanging beer cans 20 yard easy and at 40 yards Body size Targets. I don't need the PC 4 inch Shield Plus. I also Have a SD9VE. Installed Apex Trigger, Slide Bar and Slide Lock upgraded to Stainless Steel. No Malfunctions. I also have a Great Condition S&W M&P 40 Police Trade in. The police officer must have upgraded the Trigger Springs. Still has the Henge Trigger, But it shoots very well and the Trigger feels good. Bought a Gun Light for it.
You got me in the beginning...i'm not gonna lie lol I was thinking, "What? Hegshot you LOVE the Shield Plus...what could replace it? Oh. Another Shield Plus."
Man I watched all your shield plus videos, just got it yesterday after watching all your shield plus videos and carefully deciding... imagine my heart drop when I saw the title LMAO Looks like I'll get one of these too!
Haha. I can assure you unless I have some catastrophic failure, something way better comes out(in my hands at least) or I kick the bucket, I'm carrying a variant of the Shield Plus. I do keep guns in rotation for my videos here but always have the Plus ready
I bought a Shield Plus PC 4" ported barrel with the CT optic as they gave you no choice when they 1st came out. What a nice gun! Accurate, nice trigger, but extremely hard to rack the slide with a full 13 round magazine. The Sig P365 series is easy compared to the Shield Plus. Also the Sigs do a better job of striking hard primers to get them to go off. My CZ P10C & Shield Plus would not fire this 1 round after striking them about 6 times. Thought it was a dud until I put it in my P365XL & then it fired. Back to the Shield Plus: Used the optic, then took it off, shot it for a while, then put on my Holosun 407K optic, shot that for a while, then took it off & am now just using the irons. I also have a P365 (Excellent gun), a P365XL (another Excellent gun), Kimber Micro 9 (not so excellent gun), Ruger SR9C (another Excellent gun), 1st gen, then 2nd GenP10C (2nd Gen has the excellent trigger, while the 1st Gen does not), Ruger LCP2 (Excellent small & lightweight for pocket carry, so I carry this the most. You literally have to feel for the gun as you do not feel it at all when carrying, pocket or at 3:00 IWB). I've had trouble with all these guns except the Ruger SR9C & had to send them back when they all stopped working properly for a boat load of reasons. I love to shoot all these guns minus the Micro 9 (gun for me doesn't group well & recoils like I'm shooting my 10mm pistols).
Yeah got the shield plus 4-in performance center ported barrel when it first released last year. The Ported barrel make a difference. If you get a gun like this you have to buy the whole kit kaboodle if you do that the gun is nice out of the box no need to upgrade. Smith & Wesson's only gun like that so far other than the 357 carry comp.
At least they did away with the shiny plastic lower.. personally, I prefer the 3.1 inch barrel so I’ll stay with my 2.0 until they put a rail on the firearm.
After shooting the full-size m2.0 the shield plus feels like the same gun to me. The difference in recoil is negligible and it's just about as accurate.
I disagree, but then again, my full size has a WML and WMO, which is probably why I notice a difference. Both my S&Ws are PCs. I dunno what a "regular" S&W trigger feels like.
The performance center shoots flatter, and if you get your hands on a ported, uff you would love it,hence more time to Aim, that 4" is SO underrated, great video P.s that is my edc the ported 4" 💯
Shield+ OR 3.1” with a Faxon barrel/comp and a Holosun 507K. About the same size as the 4” Shield+ and shoots really well. Hard to believe it’s 2 rounds short of an M&P 2.0C.
@@SliderFury1 open bottom holsters allow the comp to just slide out the bottom. The two holsters I have were initially purchased for the 3.1” but were open at the bottom. I’ve done some checking and my setup is just a tad longer than the 4” version. A 4” open bottom holster would probably fit nicely and have the comp barley stick out.
I bought my wife this piece. Red dot didn’t work, contacted S&W said they would fix issue at first, been a phone tag, if they answer… still no luck replacing red dot. Far as the piece. It shoots fantastic. Really nice
I have a Holosun 508T red dot and I turned mine off and use the iron night sights I upgraded on my M&P 2.0 10mm with a 4.625 inch barrel. The red dot is for fun the iron sights for duty.
You really got me wanting the Plus more and more Man! Gonna start shopping around. Think I’ll pass on the Performance Center model though and stick with the original. Thanks Brother 👊🏻
I stopped carrying my Shield Plus in favor of my trusty P99c. I like the Shield Plus and carried it this summer over my PPS M2. The only issue I have with it is the small trigger guard. I’ll probably pick it back up when it gets warm again.
I own both. I do feel like the performance center feels more like a full size firearm. It is an excellent shooter. I have the bug out version of the regular shield plus with night sights it's also pretty good can't go wrong either way. Of course now you have a 15 round capability with both
They are great aren't they!! The shield plus though accepts the shield 40 slide and barrel and spring- if you would like a shield plus 40. Problem though, no 40 magazine. I tried getting some 40 rounds into the shield plus magazine. Almost got it gunked up good. But the shield plus slide and barrel will also fit the original shield 40, if you just want a plain Jane shield 9.
Looks as though they went back to the frame finish and grip texture of the first 2.0 series, rather than the glossier look of the original Shield Plus, is that true?
The optics ready night sight version of the standard 3.1" Shield Plus also did away with the Cerakoted frame in favor of the rougher matte finish. An improvement IMO.
@@Hegshot87 Strange. Did you have any preference for one finish over the other? Both my Shield and M&P 2.0 subcompact have the matte finish with pretty aggressive texture. Is the glossy finish like your Shield Plus noticeably different?
The optic with visible glow irons is always going to mess you up. Less so if you had true black iron sights. It’s a bad setup under any circumstance but especially in a conceal carry situation. Lose the optic. Or put on true iron sights. But my bet is you’ll still shoot the regular Shield plus better.
Not for nothing, you need to work on dipping your head to the gun and just bring the gun up to your line of sight. Otherwise you are introducing a variable. Your complaint of not being consistent at your second range trip, I promise you, has to do with you dipping your head when you draw. I would also recommend getting the very inexpensive book, “mastering the red dot”
LMAO . First thing in law enforcement academy 26.5 years ago. Bring the weapon to your line of sight and don't dip your head or you be slapped in the back of the head after the exercise.
I literally just switched back to my Shield Plus. I carried it all summer and recently went back to my P99c. I realized after several days that I prefer the slimmer double stacked Shield now for more than just shorts weather.
Your experience here is exactly what Ken Hackathorne is talking about in a recent video on the Wilson Combat YT channel. He was spot on in his assessment and reasoning from your results here.
You tricked me pretty good I thought well he must’ve went with the Sig Macro then you pulled out the Shield performance center. I own the 3 inch performance center Shield and it is a real nice shooter. Thanks for the video.
It's nice it's a little bit bigger but being a performance center should have a picatinny rail under barrel and porting on the slide 🤔 just saying just an opinion
If I'm going to move to a 4" barrel I'll just commit to a double stack. I prefer a double stack anyways, the only reason I ever carry a micro frame is for the convenience on a quick trip. I understand the allure of the extra performance and features but have always felt they're better placed on a compact as opposed to micro. But to each their own.
No disrespect but what's your rush to re holster on your one shot draw from the holster practice. Stay on the dot and target a few seconds after the shot you'll develop a quicker natural point of aim with the dot and in a life or death situation I wouldn't want the muscle memory to do a .30 re holster after my first shot of the engagement.
I got a springfield hellcat which I actually like better but it came with a Viridian E series red laser and I've only found one holster for it so I still mostly carry my shield plus
I have the same issue. I can be accurate with the dot as long as I take my time. I've tried dominate eye only...both eyes open...etc etc....and I'm not nearly as fast and accurate with the dot. I know its just a matter of training....but I try to be too precise with the dot placement before I pull the trigger...which slows things way down. When I use the iron sites....I'm looking for the target first...not so much the sites. When I use the dot...I look for the dot first then the target.
Great video Hegshot. Dry practice daily with the red dot and you’ll get there. Beautiful thing about the dot is that it goes where your eyes go. So once you learn how to get the dot to drop in from 12:00 you’ll begin to appreciate and love it. Makes shooting fast and accurate extremely easy and fun. It will also make you a better irons shooter.
Hegshot87 thanks for all your videos I have really enjoyed them all this years. I had the shild plus performance center 4inch. I owned it for about a year then I got rid of it. All 5 magazines had issues. When loaded with 13 rounds I could not rack the slide. Even with a gorilla grip I still had a hard time racking the gun. If 12 round loaded had no problems racking the gun. Contacted s&w and they said keep all the magazines load for while and that should improve the spring tension on the magazines. Even after keeping the magazines loaded all the time it didn't help. I really like the gun but for that main reason is why I sold it. Again thank for the outstanding videos you put out keep up the great work.
I do notice that last round is tough but never had an issue chambering the gun. Sorry it didn't work for you but theres a ton of options out there. Thanks man
What's your opinion on the CT optic? I have always run Holosun 407/507 and really like them, but would like to run an optic mounted directly to the slide once. I just picked up a Shield plus optics ready cut in burnt bronze and I love all my M&P's. Been running them since the day S&W released the line.
Love mine and it shots great. Only negative is the trigger stopped working last range trip to the range so it's off to S&W for repair. Bummer for sure.
Hated the Shield Plus! Bought one and never shot it before I sold it. The slide release was so stiff I couldn't use it without using both hands and still was very iffy it would drop the slide. It's the only gun I've ever bought and never shot it before selling it. It's a HARD PASS for me!!!
The Shield PLUS is a serious concealed carry or backup piece with the double stack mag versus the excellent original shield with just a single stack lower capacity magazine! Lots of aftermarket support for shield & shield plus! You can run the stock triggers and have a reliable and good system or upgrade to the awesome Apex Tactical trigger kit and have the best!!! In the early 2000’s we didn’t have awesome options like this that where affordable for a working person.
I have owned shield 1.0,2.0 with laser, EZ & a plus. Sold em all and bought an optics ready plus. Finish is different that previous plus I had. More of a matte finish and not cerakoted. Trigger is different than other plus. No idea why! I think these are the best ccw options out there. At least for my big hands. I know there’s some sweet guns out there but for me the plus is just awesome. S&W should make a plus with integrated laser. Would be the best ccw
I have the smaller ported sw performance. Even though you give up an inch, it’s not that much snappier or less accurate. Carrying an inch less in barrel is huge
I think I almost have the best of both worlds. I had a Performance Center Shield single stack.. no optics. Then I bought the Shield Plus with optics and put the same red dot Crimson Trace as you have. After comparing them side by side I realized that the slides were exactly the same in every way. So I tried changing them and sure enough they are perfectly interchangeable. I only wish I had the optics for the performance center as I have an astigmatism and unless I have my flip down reading glasses on I see about 3 sights stacked together. Now that’s okay because I’m used to it and just pretty much point the three as a group as a bigger sized sight. Still pretty accurate with it. But the red dot solves that problem for me perfectly… The only thing with the red dot is it takes a lot of practice because the dot is sometimes hard to find quickly. So my EDC for now is the plus !!
Massad Ayoob, said to get your prescription glasses with the bifocal reversed. Close reading on top. That way when you look forward or down your ok. He said you will just have to really look down to read. Makes you look more into your reading. Just passing that on.
You started thinking about it. I do the same thing when shooting clays with my shotgun. If I just shoulder it and let my brain stay in neutral and let my eyes track the target I hit. If I think about it I slow my swing.
Ha! You got me. I read that and said, "WTH?" You switched to my choice. I went from the original to this one. Was afraid you'd gone over to the dark side!
Good stuff. I sold my Shield Plus Performance Center with all the bells a whistles a few months back. Carried it for a year but just a little to snappy when shooting for me. Overall a great firearm though.
They need to figure out how to combine fiber optics with night sights. And why on the shield plus do they just have the three white dots. I like sig for putting the night sights on the 365 straight out of the box.
Great video! I have a shield plus 3.1” performance center and just had it milled for a holosun 407k. I also replaced the irons with some ameriglo night sites. There’s a noticeable difference in the trigger reset and smoothness of the take up in mine from the standard shield plus. It also shoots flatter and softer with the ported barrel. Definitely one of my favorite carry guns!
I once had a Shield in the past and discovered I shoot better with a larger Glock 19 sized gun. Carrying a G19 in a t-shirt in the warm summer months for several years has never been a problem as far as concealment is concerned, and it's not at all heavy.
I have the original. We can't get the plus here in cali but got a +2 spring for the magazines which makes my OG shield more relevant with a 10+1 and 9+1.
Popping shots and dropping bombs lol. Absolutely love the Shield. I have the older style PC and it shoots great. Next Shield will be the new plus. Not gonna worry about the PC just yet.
Additionally, you’ve introduced a new aiming system, one that will absolutely improve your shooting, and you are going full speed. How about a couple hundred dry/live fire evolutions at quarter/half and full speed.
If I understand correctly, the red dot was the only reason you went back to the original for now. The Performance Center is available with fiber optic sights only - in case anyone is interested. Just ordered mine from Cabelas.
I love my Shield plus PC. I just bought the 4" OR PC model with the ported barrel. I shoot the shield way better then the snappy Hellcat and 365. No brainer for me
Love your videos. Just train with a macro, and when you can instantly find the dot, you’re good to go. If and when they make in 30 super carry, you can get 21 rounds in that bad boy.
I have both . The Tarus GX4 is a great gun but the Shield Plus is just the best. If you can get the Shield but the Tarus isn't a bad choice either. Both have been flawless !
@@barrygoodson4952 lol, they are so good they can't keep up with demand from professionals. I spent 12 year of my life either in thevMarine corps, or contracting. Never met anyone who would carry a taurus by choice lmao
Felt recoil improvement between the performance center ported 4" and a 3" non-ported shield plus is very noticeable. Muzzle flip reduction is where you see and feel it the most. Not sure that the non-ported 4" (13252) vs a non-ported 3" would be that noticeably different unless they were shot back to back. I have never had the opportunity to shoot the 3" ported. If you shot 124 gr or even 115 gr Gold Dot with a ported 4", you should be about as soft as you can get with a shield plus. It is definitely worth renting one at a local range and giving it a try if your arthritis is the major decider.
The hardest part of getting used to a red dot on a pistol is teaching yourself to ignore the irons and concentrate solely on the dot. After shooting with irons for many years, you automatically want to use the irons. I have a P365XL with a Romeo Zero and I'm learning to use the dot. I also love my Shield Plus. No red dot on mine, just the standard short version. It shoots great and has an excellent trigger. One of my favorite carry pistols.
Your eyes should be focusing on the target while superimposing the dot over the target. It becomes extremely fast and natural once you get it down. It actually helped me a lot with accuracy once I started focusing on the target instead of the dot.
@@libra7624 I’m aware all eyes are different. I’m not talking about dot vs irons. I’m saying when shooting with a red dot your eyes should be focused on the target and placing the dot over the target.
Thats how I am with my AR. My eyes go to the front triangle sight which is why I want to switch it out for a flip sight.
If your clearing rooms i.e your house you should never be looking down the iron sights, reflex shooting, you should be pointing the pistol and using the top of the slide to get a rough point of aim, in Iraq and Afghanistan we never used irons always reflex shooting when kicking in doors cqc
@@Cain-IVI You were kicking down doors in Afghanistan with a pistol drawn??
Just got my shield plus; optics ready with tritium night sights. Already love it! It's just as I had imagined it, and so much better than trying to carry my old full size, all metal 1911! Thanks for your videos!
Still a Shield Plus just a bit juiced up a bit. You had me worried for a moment.
Just purchased a new Shield Plus in FDE. Took it to the range after cleaning it, and must say it exceeded my expectations. I will say the main reason I purchased this firearm was based solely on your videos. I have had four different shields in the past, 9mm, 40cal, 9mm performance center, and EZ .380. I do regret selling the .380 but... Sold all of them. I was never able to shoot them well. In all fairness I most likely never gave them a chance by shooting them a lot. But the shield plus? Very impressive. I Put 135 rounds through it (standard and defensive ammo) and it worked flawlessly, and was accurate, and fit my hand just right. As an added bonus it came with four magazines! This one is a definite keeper. I really appreciate your commentary and videos. Thank you for directing me back to the shield. Could not be happier.
I carry the 'short' version of the Shield + Performance Ctr that matches the std. plus in size. I upgraded it with Trijicon HD Nite sights. It does not have the Dot, but it does have the ported barrel.
When I practice with Subsonic defensive ammo, (147 gr, 150 gr) I can put every round in the red at 8-10 yds. Very low recoil, no muzzle flip so you can follow up quickly and on-target.
I agree: The Performance Ctr. versions offer noticeable improvements over the standard model and it's only slightly more costly. Highly recommended! Thanks for the follow up video...
YEP!!!!
The shield definitely shoots better than I feel like it should for its size. I still carry the original shield regularly, but it might be time to get the plus model.
That’s why no Red dots for me on small guns like this, is better to use the regular sights and if they are night size better!!!!
Exact reason I switched from p365 to the XL. I can still conceal the XL very well and the slightly larger gun handles 9mm very well
The 3.1" shield plus shoots better and flatter than most full-size guns.
@@dtps_champion6016 🤣🤣. That’s laughable and I like the Shield
I carry the Shield Plus performance center 3.1" barrel....absolutely love it and very accurate with it. I bought the Nimrod Wares Pearce grip extension for the 10 round mag and now I can get my pinky fully on the grip. Highly recommend......Great vid Hegshot and soon Smith & Wesson will be in my backyard.....Maryville, TN
i love these slimmer double stack 9s. i probably wouldnt want to carry a glock 19 all the time and it gives you a more shootable gun than the pocket sized guns from years ago
I carry the Shield Plus 3.1” barrel PC and love it. I’m so old school though and bought the iron sight version.
In my opinion I picked the shield plus optic version over the shield plus performance center for the sole reason that Performance Center Has a ported barrel. Which in a self-defense case shooting it at night could possibly distract your view with the flash From seeing the target.
You can opt for non-ported 4” PC Shield Plus. If I remember correctly, it’s only the 3.1” PC Shield Plus that has only a ported option.
Carried a P365X mainly but recently the IWI Masada Slim took over my main concealed carry for that size category.
Thank you for posting this comment as I had not heard of that gun yet.
@@XxMrBossxX29 it's new, it recently was released.
The Masada slim is an interesting choice, along the Hellcat pro size and the new Sig macro. We have great choices today uh….
@@danielrodriguez5463 I have the Hellcat and P365X along with so many more. The Masada Slim is so amazing, it shoots very accurate and has less recoil than the 2 I mentioned. Plus it holds more with their flush mags in. Israel knows how to make firearms extremely well.
Always heard, 'Learn how to use what you've got!' Instead of chasing 'the latest' model!
I also have a 4" Shield Plus Performance Center but better. It's milled for a direct EPS Carry mount and has a TLR6. Getting the Green MRS EPS Carry soon. I replaced the rear fiber optic rods with black to reduce the cluttered sight picture. HI-Viz sells the inserts separately. I might also black out the front with a sharpie or black paint. Having a dot plus a fiber front sight can be confusing. Demo'd it on my channel in July.
Could find your Shield plus video. Can you supply a link ?
I was happy to hear the started to Cerakote the frames. That's why they look darker and are textured now with the more recent serial variants. I have the plus, Optical Ready, and Tritium sights as well. Being short at 5'6", this is way more managable than my full size M&P 2.0. I've only been feeding it 115 grain. I'm going to get some 124 and "give it a shot".
I can't see what the height has to do with it. My friend is 5'2" with huge hands bench presses close to 400 lbs. This gun would probably be too small for him.
I have the 4”. In retrospect, I wish I just got the 3.1” and had it milled for an rmsc. The crimson trace optic included is awful. You cannot tighten the screws too much or it will cause the battery to lose contact. The fiber optic sights are nice but tritium would be better. Nobody wants to drop more money on sights when you just dropped $800 on this package. Expect to drop $400 extra in tritium sights and a shield rmsc optic to really bring this thing up to snuff
I've been carrying a shield for 8 years. When the shield plus came out, I bought one and that's what I carry to this day.
I have S&W 9mm Shield Plus. Installed a 3 5/8 inch True Precision Treaded Barrel. Better lockup, Stability and Accuracy. Also Hogue Grip. I also have a S&W Shield. I upgraded the Trigger and installed a 3 5/8 inch Faxon Barrel. Also Hogue Grip. Reliability no change. Very accurate .Shooting 12 ounces hanging beer cans 20 yard easy and at 40 yards Body size Targets. I don't need the PC 4 inch Shield Plus. I also Have a SD9VE. Installed Apex Trigger, Slide Bar and Slide Lock upgraded to Stainless Steel. No Malfunctions. I also have a Great Condition S&W M&P 40 Police Trade in. The police officer must have upgraded the Trigger Springs. Still has the Henge Trigger, But it shoots very well and the Trigger feels good. Bought a Gun Light for it.
You got me in the beginning...i'm not gonna lie lol
I was thinking, "What? Hegshot you LOVE the Shield Plus...what could replace it? Oh. Another Shield Plus."
He got me too lol
The red rear sight is stupid. Also crimson trace red dot sucks.
Else, they did a good job on the pistol
Man I watched all your shield plus videos, just got it yesterday after watching all your shield plus videos and carefully deciding... imagine my heart drop when I saw the title LMAO
Looks like I'll get one of these too!
Haha. I can assure you unless I have some catastrophic failure, something way better comes out(in my hands at least) or I kick the bucket, I'm carrying a variant of the Shield Plus. I do keep guns in rotation for my videos here but always have the Plus ready
I use LaBelle 102 PTFE lube on the trigger mechanism on my Shield Plus. It took away all grittiness and brought the pull down to 4.3 lbs.
I bought a Shield Plus PC 4" ported barrel with the CT optic as they gave you no choice when they 1st came out. What a nice gun! Accurate, nice trigger, but extremely hard to rack the slide with a full 13 round magazine. The Sig P365 series is easy compared to the Shield Plus. Also the Sigs do a better job of striking hard primers to get them to go off. My CZ P10C & Shield Plus would not fire this 1 round after striking them about 6 times. Thought it was a dud until I put it in my P365XL & then it fired. Back to the Shield Plus: Used the optic, then took it off, shot it for a while, then put on my Holosun 407K optic, shot that for a while, then took it off & am now just using the irons. I also have a P365 (Excellent gun), a P365XL (another Excellent gun), Kimber Micro 9 (not so excellent gun), Ruger SR9C (another Excellent gun), 1st gen, then 2nd GenP10C (2nd Gen has the excellent trigger, while the 1st Gen does not), Ruger LCP2 (Excellent small & lightweight for pocket carry, so I carry this the most. You literally have to feel for the gun as you do not feel it at all when carrying, pocket or at 3:00 IWB). I've had trouble with all these guns except the Ruger SR9C & had to send them back when they all stopped working properly for a boat load of reasons. I love to shoot all these guns minus the Micro 9 (gun for me doesn't group well & recoils like I'm shooting my 10mm pistols).
Yeah got the shield plus 4-in performance center ported barrel when it first released last year. The Ported barrel make a difference. If you get a gun like this you have to buy the whole kit kaboodle if you do that the gun is nice out of the box no need to upgrade. Smith & Wesson's only gun like that so far other than the 357 carry comp.
At least they did away with the shiny plastic lower.. personally, I prefer the 3.1 inch barrel so I’ll stay with my 2.0 until they put a rail on the firearm.
Thanks for showing the struggles of practice.good job.
After shooting the full-size m2.0 the shield plus feels like the same gun to me. The difference in recoil is negligible and it's just about as accurate.
I disagree, but then again, my full size has a WML and WMO, which is probably why I notice a difference.
Both my S&Ws are PCs. I dunno what a "regular" S&W trigger feels like.
The performance center shoots flatter, and if you get your hands on a ported, uff you would love it,hence more time to Aim, that 4" is SO underrated, great video
P.s that is my edc the ported 4" 💯
Shopping for my first pistol and so far after some rentals this is in the lead. I wish you could purchase the 4" ported without the red dot.
Shield+ OR 3.1” with a Faxon barrel/comp and a Holosun 507K. About the same size as the 4” Shield+ and shoots really well. Hard to believe it’s 2 rounds short of an M&P 2.0C.
What do you do for holsters with the comp on there? Will holsters meant for the 4 inch shield plus work?
@@SliderFury1 open bottom holsters allow the comp to just slide out the bottom. The two holsters I have were initially purchased for the 3.1” but were open at the bottom. I’ve done some checking and my setup is just a tad longer than the 4” version. A 4” open bottom holster would probably fit nicely and have the comp barley stick out.
You had me there in the first half
No Ragrets here either bro
I bought my wife this piece. Red dot didn’t work, contacted S&W said they would fix issue at first, been a phone tag, if they answer… still no luck replacing red dot. Far as the piece. It shoots fantastic. Really nice
I own/carry both of those as well, and its mostly the reset distance and feel that is improved with the PC.
Love a short reset 😍
I have a Holosun 508T red dot and I turned mine off and use the iron night sights I upgraded on my M&P 2.0 10mm with a 4.625 inch barrel. The red dot is for fun the iron sights for duty.
You really got me wanting the Plus more and more Man! Gonna start shopping around. Think I’ll pass on the Performance Center model though and stick with the original. Thanks Brother 👊🏻
I got one a couple month's ago and love it get one you won't be sorry!!
If you never got it they're doing 50 dollar rebates right now
I stopped carrying my Shield Plus in favor of my trusty P99c. I like the Shield Plus and carried it this summer over my PPS M2. The only issue I have with it is the small trigger guard. I’ll probably pick it back up when it gets warm again.
I would stay with iron sights for carry. Meprolight green/green are my preference.
I own both. I do feel like the performance center feels more like a full size firearm. It is an excellent shooter. I have the bug out version of the regular shield plus with night sights it's also pretty good can't go wrong either way. Of course now you have a 15 round capability with both
Looks nice. I can't justify changing out my old Shield 40 and Shield 45 2.0 version.
They are great aren't they!! The shield plus though accepts the shield 40 slide and barrel and spring- if you would like a shield plus 40. Problem though, no 40 magazine. I tried getting some 40 rounds into the shield plus magazine. Almost got it gunked up good. But the shield plus slide and barrel will also fit the original shield 40, if you just want a plain Jane shield 9.
Hi-viz does have black lite pipes if you want to swap out the rear ones
Just picked up the 4" ported version with the red dot. Gotta say, i really love the thing. It shoots great, right out of the box.
Looks as though they went back to the frame finish and grip texture of the first 2.0 series, rather than the glossier look of the original Shield Plus, is that true?
The optics ready night sight version of the standard 3.1" Shield Plus also did away with the Cerakoted frame in favor of the rougher matte finish. An improvement IMO.
My Shield Plus was an earlier model too. I saw Plus come out locally just a month after mine and they had that matte finish
@@Hegshot87 Strange. Did you have any preference for one finish over the other? Both my Shield and M&P 2.0 subcompact have the matte finish with pretty aggressive texture. Is the glossy finish like your Shield Plus noticeably different?
The optic with visible glow irons is always going to mess you up. Less so if you had true black iron sights. It’s a bad setup under any circumstance but especially in a conceal carry situation. Lose the optic. Or put on true iron sights. But my bet is you’ll still shoot the regular Shield plus better.
There’s always gonna be a better gun than the last. I carry a shield 9mm gen 1 original. It’s what I’m used to
Getting a kidex holster for my Hellcat which will be my most daily carry. Still not done buying pistols. I'm hooked on holosun green dots
Not for nothing, you need to work on dipping your head to the gun and just bring the gun up to your line of sight. Otherwise you are introducing a variable.
Your complaint of not being consistent at your second range trip, I promise you, has to do with you dipping your head when you draw.
I would also recommend getting the very inexpensive book, “mastering the red dot”
LMAO . First thing in law enforcement academy 26.5 years ago. Bring the weapon to your line of sight and don't dip your head or you be slapped in the back of the head after the exercise.
I literally just switched back to my Shield Plus. I carried it all summer and recently went back to my P99c. I realized after several days that I prefer the slimmer double stacked Shield now for more than just shorts weather.
P99c nice man can we get a pic? Never shot Theo compact
Your experience here is exactly what Ken Hackathorne is talking about in a recent video on the Wilson Combat YT channel. He was spot on in his assessment and reasoning from your results here.
Interesting I'll have to check it out
@@Hegshot87 Awesome. It should be there latest video. It premiered on yesterday evening.
The ported shield plus 3.1" is the best/most shootable carry gun on the market. M&Ps just don't have souls so they get passed up.
You tricked me pretty good I thought well he must’ve went with the Sig Macro then you pulled out the Shield performance center. I own the 3 inch performance center Shield and it is a real nice shooter. Thanks for the video.
No problem man lol
This helps. I wasn't sure which way to go. I like the looks and size of the standard model more so it looks like its the winner.
It's nice it's a little bit bigger but being a performance center should have a picatinny rail under barrel and porting on the slide 🤔 just saying just an opinion
If I'm going to move to a 4" barrel I'll just commit to a double stack. I prefer a double stack anyways, the only reason I ever carry a micro frame is for the convenience on a quick trip. I understand the allure of the extra performance and features but have always felt they're better placed on a compact as opposed to micro. But to each their own.
No disrespect but what's your rush to re holster on your one shot draw from the holster practice. Stay on the dot and target a few seconds after the shot you'll develop a quicker natural point of aim with the dot and in a life or death situation I wouldn't want the muscle memory to do a .30 re holster after my first shot of the engagement.
I got a springfield hellcat which I actually like better but it came with a Viridian E series red laser and I've only found one holster for it so I still mostly carry my shield plus
I like my Hellcat a lot too. I shoot it as well as my Shield Plus. Both are in my carry rotation.
Been rocking the shield plus performance center With the 4" barrel and RMR since the day it came out
I have the same issue. I can be accurate with the dot as long as I take my time. I've tried dominate eye only...both eyes open...etc etc....and I'm not nearly as fast and accurate with the dot. I know its just a matter of training....but I try to be too precise with the dot placement before I pull the trigger...which slows things way down. When I use the iron sites....I'm looking for the target first...not so much the sites. When I use the dot...I look for the dot first then the target.
Great video Hegshot. Dry practice daily with the red dot and you’ll get there. Beautiful thing about the dot is that it goes where your eyes go. So once you learn how to get the dot to drop in from 12:00 you’ll begin to appreciate and love it. Makes shooting fast and accurate extremely easy and fun. It will also make you a better irons shooter.
Hegshot87 thanks for all your videos I have really enjoyed them all this years. I had the shild plus performance center 4inch. I owned it for about a year then I got rid of it. All 5 magazines had issues. When loaded with 13 rounds I could not rack the slide. Even with a gorilla grip I still had a hard time racking the gun. If 12 round loaded had no problems racking the gun. Contacted s&w and they said keep all the magazines load for while and that should improve the spring tension on the magazines. Even after keeping the magazines loaded all the time it didn't help. I really like the gun but for that main reason is why I sold it. Again thank for the outstanding videos you put out keep up the great work.
I do notice that last round is tough but never had an issue chambering the gun. Sorry it didn't work for you but theres a ton of options out there. Thanks man
Sounds like a bummer but still a keeper if it worked great with 12 rounds.
What did you replace it with?
I replacing it with the Hk vp9 sk and it came with the Holosun scs red dot. Amazing firearm have had no issues with and thank you for reply back.
What's your opinion on the CT optic? I have always run Holosun 407/507 and really like them, but would like to run an optic mounted directly to the slide once. I just picked up a Shield plus optics ready cut in burnt bronze and I love all my M&P's. Been running them since the day S&W released the line.
I LOVE this. It's one my carry guns along with myamazing revolver 19 Classic S&W
Love mine and it shots great. Only negative is the trigger stopped working last range trip to the range so it's off to S&W for repair. Bummer for sure.
Shield plus still my favorite
Hated the Shield Plus! Bought one and never shot it before I sold it. The slide release was so stiff I couldn't use it without using both hands and still was very iffy it would drop the slide. It's the only gun I've ever bought and never shot it before selling it. It's a HARD PASS for me!!!
If you would’ve shot it the slide stop would’ve loosened up. Mine loosened up after 2 mags
@@YoungstaticDJ Wasn't going to take that chance and not be able to sell the gun as never shot outside of the factory.
Lol, you know it loosens up the more you use it right?
Why didn't you go with the 3.1 preformance center
... earlier this year I picked up a Shield Plus, love it, loved it so much I then bought a Shield Plus PC ( sans the red dot) and enjoy them both ...
Amen Brother! Keep on keeping on!
I hate to say it, but the Sig p365 x-macro won my heart even though those performance centers are great.
I saw this gun at a gun store. I see why you like it. The Smiths have an excellent reputation.
That Performance Center you have in your video is also a Shield Plus so what is the title saying.
The Shield PLUS is a serious concealed carry or backup piece with the double stack mag versus the excellent original shield with just a single stack lower capacity magazine!
Lots of aftermarket support for shield & shield plus!
You can run the stock triggers and have a reliable and good system or upgrade to the awesome Apex Tactical trigger kit and have the best!!!
In the early 2000’s we didn’t have awesome options like this that where affordable for a working person.
I have owned shield 1.0,2.0 with laser, EZ & a plus. Sold em all and bought an optics ready plus. Finish is different that previous plus I had. More of a matte finish and not cerakoted. Trigger is different than other plus. No idea why!
I think these are the best ccw options out there. At least for my big hands. I know there’s some sweet guns out there but for me the plus is just awesome. S&W should make a plus with integrated laser. Would be the best ccw
I have the smaller ported sw performance. Even though you give up an inch, it’s not that much snappier or less accurate. Carrying an inch less in barrel is huge
I think I almost have the best of both worlds. I had a Performance Center Shield single stack.. no optics. Then I bought the Shield Plus with optics and put the same red dot Crimson Trace as you have. After comparing them side by side I realized that the slides were exactly the same in every way. So I tried changing them and sure enough they are perfectly interchangeable. I only wish I had the optics for the performance center as I have an astigmatism and unless I have my flip down reading glasses on I see about 3 sights stacked together. Now that’s okay because I’m used to it and just pretty much point the three as a group as a bigger sized sight. Still pretty accurate with it. But the red dot solves that problem for me perfectly… The only thing with the red dot is it takes a lot of practice because the dot is sometimes hard to find quickly. So my EDC for now is the plus !!
Massad Ayoob, said to get your prescription glasses with the bifocal reversed. Close reading on top. That way when you look forward or down your ok. He said you will just have to really look down to read. Makes you look more into your reading. Just passing that on.
You started thinking about it. I do the same thing when shooting clays with my shotgun. If I just shoulder it and let my brain stay in neutral and let my eyes track the target I hit. If I think about it I slow my swing.
Will note you can get the shield plus PC in a 3.1in barrel
I LOVE MY SHIELD PLUS!!! It replaced my Hellcat. My Hellcat never gets carry time!
I think the 5 inch height on the Performance Center Shield is with the extended magazine. I think the flush fit magazine height is the same.
Planning on getting a performance center shield plus as well just trying to find a non optic ready model as I have no use for dots.
And now you can get 15 round Equalizer mags for it.
I don't know why people cheap out on optics. Ct makes a garbage red dot.
I definitely wouldn't be running that CT
Ha! You got me. I read that and said, "WTH?" You switched to my choice. I went from the original to this one. Was afraid you'd gone over to the dark side!
Good stuff. I sold my Shield Plus Performance Center with all the bells a whistles a few months back. Carried it for a year but just a little to snappy when shooting for me. Overall a great firearm though.
They need to figure out how to combine fiber optics with night sights. And why on the shield plus do they just have the three white dots. I like sig for putting the night sights on the 365 straight out of the box.
Great video! I have a shield plus 3.1” performance center and just had it milled for a holosun 407k. I also replaced the irons with some ameriglo night sites. There’s a noticeable difference in the trigger reset and smoothness of the take up in mine from the standard shield plus. It also shoots flatter and softer with the ported barrel. Definitely one of my favorite carry guns!
Where did you get it milled? Thanks.
@@burlatsfut dp custom works. I think turnaround time was 6 weeks.
@@2aTommy thank you so much!
Amen brother all the way. 🤝🏼
I once had a Shield in the past and discovered I shoot better with a larger Glock 19 sized gun. Carrying a G19 in a t-shirt in the warm summer months for several years has never been a problem as far as concealment is concerned, and it's not at all heavy.
I have the original. We can't get the plus here in cali but got a +2 spring for the magazines which makes my OG shield more relevant with a 10+1 and 9+1.
Get out of my head. That is my next move. I have the PC 3.1. But I want the 4" Shield PC like the one you have.
Nice man! I bet that extra barrel really helps.
I was always an M&P but I honestly like Sig and Glock better now...
Popping shots and dropping bombs lol. Absolutely love the Shield. I have the older style PC and it shoots great. Next Shield will be the new plus. Not gonna worry about the PC just yet.
Additionally, you’ve introduced a new aiming system, one that will absolutely improve your shooting, and you are going full speed.
How about a couple hundred dry/live fire evolutions at quarter/half and full speed.
If I understand correctly, the red dot was the only reason you went back to the original for now. The Performance Center is available with fiber optic sights only - in case anyone is interested. Just ordered mine from Cabelas.
And the FO sights ROCK!!! I have a PC Shield 2.0 in 40S&W. Got the 4" barrel because I knew the extra weight would help with recoil control.
LOVE the shield, but I feel like the 4" is just too damn long for cc. Thanks for the video bud.
I love my Shield plus PC. I just bought the 4" OR PC model with the ported barrel. I shoot the shield way better then the snappy Hellcat and 365. No brainer for me
Love your videos. Just train with a macro, and when you can instantly find the dot, you’re good to go. If and when they make in 30 super carry, you can get 21 rounds in that bad boy.
Love my shield plus which I've had for 2 months now..but do y'all notice the trigger has a fair amount of wiggle range side to side?
I have a 3.1 Performance Center. Its fantastic. It has porting which in my opinion makes a massive diffrence.
Appreciate your brutal honest. Im still torn between the shield plus and taurus gx4 micro
Unmmm, its quite obvious the winner here. Anything but taurus
I have both . The Tarus GX4 is a great gun but the Shield Plus is just the best. If you can get the Shield but the Tarus isn't a bad choice either. Both have been flawless !
@@JR-wo3sn the Tarus is a very good pistol. I have both and no issues with either !
@@barrygoodson4952 lol, they are so good they can't keep up with demand from professionals. I spent 12 year of my life either in thevMarine corps, or contracting. Never met anyone who would carry a taurus by choice lmao
You gotta put a 50 yard zero on that dot
my biggest question is the a difference in felt recoil between the 3" and 4" models? i have bad arthritis in my wrists.
Felt recoil improvement between the performance center ported 4" and a 3" non-ported shield plus is very noticeable. Muzzle flip reduction is where you see and feel it the most. Not sure that the non-ported 4" (13252) vs a non-ported 3" would be that noticeably different unless they were shot back to back. I have never had the opportunity to shoot the 3" ported. If you shot 124 gr or even 115 gr Gold Dot with a ported 4", you should be about as soft as you can get with a shield plus. It is definitely worth renting one at a local range and giving it a try if your arthritis is the major decider.