Smith & Wesson M&P Shield X high capacity micro-compact pistol
Smith & Wesson introduces the M&P Shield X semi-automatic micro-compact pistol, a concealed carry oriented design featuring service-grade capacity and ergonomics
Smith & Wesson M&P Shield X high capacity micro-compact pistol
Officially announced on July 29, and currently available only on the US market, the Smith & Wesson M&P Shield X 9mm Luger semi-automatic pistol is the last of Smith & Wesson's long-anticipated new products for Summer 2025: a service-grade micro-compact handgun that aims at cutting itself a slice of the market for concealed-carry, personal defense, on-duty backup and off-duty carry pistols.
That's a quite crowded market nowadays, which the M&P Shield X approaches with the strength and credibility that naturally comes under the Smith & Wesson brand and the fame of solidity and reliability of the M&P pistol series.
As its own name implies, Smith & Wesson's new M&P Shield X pistol represents an upgrade of the original M&P Shield line, first introduced in 2012 and upgraded to the Shield Plus design in 2021.
The new Smith & Wesson M&P Shield X pistol is built around a black reinforced polymer frame patterned after the standard M&P frame with a lengthened grip, a set of checkered slip-proof contact surfaces for a firm grip in all conditions, a squared and high-undercut trigger guard for a higher grip that keeps the shooter's hand more in line with the bore axis to improve control, and a railed dust cover for tactical accessories.
Smith & Wesson M&P Shield X 9mm Luger semi-automatic pistol – right side
Smith & Wesson M&P Shield X 9mm Luger semi-automatic pistol – left side
The Smith & Wesson M&P Shield X pistol features a standard M&P striker-fired working system with a flat-face trigger, a "Glock-style" trigger safety, and optionally a manual safety located on the left side of the frame, at easy thumb reach for right-handed shooters: a perfect feature for users who prefer additional peace of mind when carrying.
The Smith & Wesson M&P Shield X pistol feeds through double-stack metal magazines with a black polymer floorplate and orange polymer follower, holding ten, thirteen, or fifteen rounds of 9mm Luger, plus one in chamber, depending on local laws and regulations; the M&P Shield X thus offers service-grade, full-size pistol capacity in a fully concealable package.
Standing at 17,44 cm / 6.87" in overall length and weighing in at approximately 589 grams (20.8 oz), the new Smith & Wesson M&P Shield X pistol features a stainless steel, black Armornite finish 9,1 cm / 3.6" long barrel with six right-handed grooves and a 1:10" twist rate.
The slide of the Smith & Wesson M&P Shield X is machined out of steel, and features the same black Armornite protective finish on all surfaces along with a set of aggressive front and rear serrations for easier manual cocking. A small hole at the rear end of the ejection window dubs as a loaded chamber indicator, allowing users to visually confirm the presence of a round in chamber.
Other features of the Smith & Wesson M&P Shield X pistol include an AmeriGlo Trooper LumiGreen day/night front sight; a blacked-out, serrated notch rear sight; and Smith & Wesson's own ClearSight micro red dot interface machined directly on to the slide, right behind the ejection port.
Compatible with all Shields RMSc/K footprint sights, Smith & Wesson's ClearSight interface is shaped and set into the slide in a way that facilitates iron sight cowitnessing with the optic's center dot while at the same time keeping any gas that may naturally vent off the ejection window well away from the red dot sight's lens, allowing shooters to maintain a clean, clear and unobstructed field of view at all times.
MSRP for the Smith & Wesson M&P Shield X semi-automatic pistol on the US market is set at $599.00 for all variants; visit the official Smith & Wesson website for further information and address all inquiries about international availability and pricing to the authorized Smith & Wesson importer and distributor for your Country.