Firearm: Smith & Wesson M&P9 Shield Plus Carry Comp Performance Center (MSRP: $649)
Smith & Wesson has invested significantly in the compensated handgun arena. We’ve covered the M&P9 Compact Carry Comp previously, noting the unique grasping grooves on the slide for added purchase and, of course, the Power Port compensator. The M&P9 Shield Plus Carry Comp maintains these same upgrades, only applying them to the smaller Shield Plus. Here the Power Port offers greater recoil mitigation in the smaller and lighter Shield Plus.
The Carry Comp Performance Center Shield Plus is slightly larger than the standard Shield Plus: barrel length increases to a full 4 inches over the 3.1 of the standard, which brings overall length to 7 inches, again slightly longer than the 6.1 of the standard. The gun’s width is the same – 1.1 inches – and ironically, the larger Carry Comp Shield Plus is lighter than the standard, 17.9 ounces to the 19.4 of the original. Where the Carry Comp Shield Plus comes with an optics cut for RMSc-footprint optics, it’s going to be carried inside the waistband, so that extra length isn’t going to significantly change how the gun is carried.
The extra cost of the Performance Center upgrades by themselves would be justifiable: The blacked out rear sight for better contrast, improved grasping grooves and tuned trigger alone would add more to the total cost of the Shield if upgraded separately. Add in that the Performance Center Shield Plus comes with three magazines rather than two – the original comes with a flush-fit 10-round mag and an extended 13-round version; the Carry Comp adds an extended 15-round magazine as well. There’s also a cleaning kit included with the Performance Center model. Extra mag, cleaning kit and a host of upgrades for $100? That’s a no-brainer.
As to the Power Port compensator? There’s really a simple way to look at it: Even if you don’t find the recoil mitigation particularly noteworthy, it doesn’t have any drawbacks aside from the slight increase in barrel length. Given that the recent trend has been toward slightly longer pistols in this class – for example, the SIG P365 XL and Taurus GX4 Carry – Smith & Wesson is wisely keeping a sharp eye on the market and on the firearms for which people are searching. In any case, the Shield Plus Carry Comp is a solid piece of gear that should be up for consideration as your everyday carry pistol.
Holster: JM Custom Kydex Quick Ship AIWB Wing Claw 2.5 holster (MSRP: $75)
We’ve opted for the JM Custom Kydex Quick Ship AIWB Wing Claw 2.5 holster to carry the new Smith & Wesson M&P9 Shield Carry Comp. We’ve used a number of JM Custom Kydex holsters in previous episodes of “I Carry,” and every one of them has been well made, rugged and worked perfectly. The AIWB Wing Claw 2.5 holster we have today is no exception, with single-sheet, taco-style construction, screw-adjustable retention, low-profile DCC monoblock belt clip and, as the name suggests, a claw to keep the rig tucked into the body to aid in concealment.
Don’t let the “Quick Ship” designation fool you. While there might be greater options in the “Custom” section, the “Quick Ship” holsters still offer a wide range of color, belt-attachment choices and extras. As you can see from the holster we have in this kit, we’ve opted for a gray color as well as an optics cut; these add $6 and $5 to the price, respectively, which isn’t a ton of extra money for custom touches. Quick Ship products represent popular choices and can ship within five to 10 business days, meaning you can have your holster the way you want it in a couple weeks at most. That’s an excellent deal.
Accessory: Gideon Optics Judge green-dot sight (MSRP: $269)
Since the M&P9 Shield Plus Carry Comp has an optics cut for an RMSc-footprint optic, we’ve chosen the Gideon Optics Judge sight to sit atop the slide. However, it’s not a red-dot sight; it’s a green dot, which some find easier to acquire in brighter light and can also be sharper, particularly to those with astigmatism. The Gideon comes with a 3-MOA dot, tactile buttons on either side of the optic to increase or decrease brightness and even has a Pictanny-rail compatible mount should you want to use the dot on a carbine.
There’s another nice little bonus in the package with the Judge optic. In addition to the standard dust cloth, allen wrenches and CR2032 battery, there are several packages of screws that can be used to attach the optic to the mounting plate. What’s especially helpful about this is that all of the screws are guaranteed to work with the optic itself. Not every screw head is compatible with every optic - sometimes the screw holes are beveled or impinged; having screws guaranteed to fit makes adding the optic much easier. It’s a nice touch that makes the process better, and it’s little things like screws that fit that can make a difference.
