2012 was a strange year. If you recall, it was the year Armageddon was going to occur, as predicted by a Mayan calendar. Prepping was at an all-time high. Several TV shows depicted the mayhem (okay, Doomsday Bunkers was pretty cool). The craziness even hit the silver screen with 2012, a fictional telling of the 2012 end of the world (released in 2009). And with all that going on, people forget that 2012 was the debut year of the Smith & Wesson M&P Shield.
The Shield may be one of the most essential handguns of the 21st century (not hyperbole), marking a new era of slimline concealed-carry firearms. Since its debut, nearly every other manufacturer has introduced a pistol to compete in this highly competitive market.
However, Big Blue has not rested on its laurels. As new trends and options emerged, Smith has continued to evolve and refine the Shield. Since its launch over a decade ago, multiple generations of the Shield have been introduced. The latest, the Shield X, recently received a Performance Center upgrade to elevate it as the ultimate in performance carry.
SPECS
The Smith & Wesson Performance Center Shield X Carry Comp retains many of the features of the previously released Shield X. Most notably, these new models have undergone enhancements to improve ergonomics and functionality. The standard specs are as follows:
- Models: #14270 (Thumb Safety), 14269 (No Thumb Safety)
- Caliber: 9mm
- Capacity: 13- & 15-round magazines
- Sights: Night Sights
- Optic Cut: RMSc
- Barrel Length: 3.6”
- Overall Length: 6.87”
- Width at Grip: .9”
- Height: 4.9”
- Weight: 20.6 oz.
- Price: $699.00 (MSRP)
FEATURES
The most notable feature of the Performance Center variant is the inclusion of the PowerPort compensator. This comp directs gas upward to reduce felt recoil. Likewise, it also vents gas away from the optic.
The optic cut is compatible with RMSc/K footprint optics, like the Vortex Defender-CCW, Holosun K-series, or the Sig Sauer Romeo Zero. Additionally, the slide has aggressive serrations for positive manipulation. Another key feature is the addition of an Ameriglo Trooper LumiGreen front night sight. All these enhancements aim to make a concealed carry pistol a worthwhile consideration.
Zooming Out
The Performance Center Shield X Carry Comp is the latest in a lineup of pistols that led the slimline revolution. Much of how the concealed carry market is shaped today is due to the introduction of the Shield. With this newest version, a shooter has all the modern features needed to be a strong and capable choice in a crowded market.
