By R.K. Campbell | Contributing Editor
A huge portion of the concealed carry market from a few years ago has practically disappeared; the “slim line 9” market once cornered by the Smith & Wesson Shield, Glock 43, and a few others.
The Glock 43 X is still popular but today’s favorite carry guns are pistols the same basic size, sub-compact, but with a more attractive magazine capacity.
Smith & Wesson recently introduced the polymer frame striker-fired Sheild in a new version, the Shield Plus. It is so much better than the original in every way—reliability, accuracy, and handling—I find it a superb choice for concealed carry. Add the Performance Center Treatment and we have a great handgun with much to recommend. Let’s take a look at this Carry Comp sub-compact 9mm.
The slide wraps around a 4-inch barrel, which is longer than most sub-compact handguns. The result is a clean powder burn with most loads. Some velocity is lost due to the barrel port, but not as much one might think. Typically 12 to 25 fps is the average loss. That is about the normal variation between identical barrels.
The slide is slightly thinner near the muzzle with three lightening cuts on each side of the slide. A generous cut out rides above the barrel port. The slide features nicely cut forward and rear cocking serrations. These chevrons are different than the fish scale cuts on some S&W handguns and work well. There are grasping grooves on the top of the slide and they are for more than show as they are a help in manipulating the slide when carry optics are mounted. The left side of the slide wears a Performance Center emblem, while the prominent feature of the slide and barrel is a single port compensator designed to abate some portion of the pistol’s recoil.
Smith & Wesson pioneered state-of-the-art sights with Novak sights on factory S&W handguns. This heritage shows in the fixed sights of the Performance Center handgun. They are superb. The rear sight is a U notch with serrated rear face and the front features a green tritium insert. This bright ball leads the eye to the sight. The slide is optics ready for a direct mount RMSC platform.
Looking lower, the grip frame features a good pebble fit treatment, and the texture offers good purchase but isn’t so rough that it will abrade the body or skin during concealed carry. The area around the slide lock is left smooth, and it isn’t difficult to manipulate. The trapezoid magazine release is protected by a fence in the grip frame.
Take It Down
Take down is simple enough. Unload the pistol, remove the magazine, and rotate the takedown lever to allow the slide to run off of the frame. The magazine carrier, steel guide rod and spring, and barrel are easily removed from the slide.
An advantage over the earlier Shield is a modern flat faced trigger. There were occasional troubles with the S&W hinged trigger system, which have been addressed in this new generation of Shield handguns. The flat faced trigger is a considerable improvement in feel and the blade type safety is superior to the older hinged system.
The trigger breaks clean at 5.8 pounds, and there is an overtravel stop built into the polymer frame. Take up is light with a firm wall and then a smooth break. The trigger is consistent and smooth. A personal defense pistol doesn’t need a particularly light trigger with a trigger compression of 5 to 6 pounds ideal for a striker fired handgun.
A white and blue cardboard box held the pistol and three magazines- 10 round flush fit, 13 round and the tallest magazine a 15 round unit. The magazines taper to a single feed. These three magazines allow the pistol to be carried in different modes comfortably. The Shield Plus will fit some pockets such as crews with the flush fit magazine in place. In a quality pocket holster the Shield Plus is a good fit for vest pockets as well. The 15 round magazine is good for belt carry and for use in the pistol if the handgun is at ready for home defense.
Test Fire
It is good to proof a pistol with several different loads, although I have my favorites and often have these on the shelf, and I also have a supply of whatever is cheap and available.
Short slide sub-compact pistols are sometimes less reliable than full size pistols. With quality makers such as Glock, Smith & Wesson and Walther, this isn’t true. To cut to the chase, the S& W Shield Plus has proven reliable with every load fired.
Most of the ammunition used was FMJ from Federal, Speer, and Remington primarily. The Shield Plus Carry Comp gets on target quickly and is more controllable than expected. The barrel port really cuts muzzle flip. This is an 18 ounce pistol so recoil isn’t as mild as larger handguns but the 9mm offers modest recoil in most applications. I found the pistol to be more controllable than expected in its size and weight class. The barrel comp certainly does its job. As for absolute accuracy the S&W Shield Plus Carry Comp was tested with three types of ammunition from a solid benchrest firing position. I fired the pistol at the 15 yard line from a Birchwood Casey firing rest. I used proven loads that have given good results in other pistols. These are the results for five shot groups.
Load 15 yard/5 shot group
Federal 124 grain HST 1.5 in.
Speer 147 grain Gold Dot 1.25 in.
Remington 147 grain FMJ 2.0 in.
I mounted a Riton optics 3 Tactix MPRD to the S&W’s RMSc type direct mount interface. This is among my favorite red dot sights. The reticle is a circle around a dot. The reticle is bright on the medium setting and offers a super sharp aiming point. As is always the case the carry optic offers greater speed and combat accuracy. A few runs on target provided real confidence in the combination. This is a good setup for personal defense use. Ritonoptics.com
Carrying the Carry Comp
I deployed the S&W Shield Plus Performance Center pistol in a DeSantis Slim Tuk inside the waistband holster. With a rear belt loop and slim Kydex construction this is a truly slim holster.
I like the speed possible with this combination. The holster mouth does not collapse after the handgun is drawn and the draw is sharp. Overall a good combination and light enough for constant concealed carry.
Specifications
Caliber 9mm
Action: Striker fired
Sights Night sights/Optic Cut
Barrel Length 4.0-inches
Slide Stainless steel
Frame Polymer
OAL: 7.0 inches
Weight: 17.9 ounces
Capacity 10+1, 13+1, 15+1
MSRP $649
