Source: smithandwesson.com
The Smith & Wesson M&P Shield Plus is a popular and reliable handgun designed for personal defense and concealed carry. This micro-compact 9mm weapon features a 3.1’’ long barrel. Its overall length is 6.1’’, its overall height is 4.6’’ and the frame’s width is 1.1’’. Unloaded M&P Shield Plus weighs 19.3 oz. The gun is designed with a flat face trigger for consistent trigger finger placement that allows for more accurate and repeatable shooting. Improved grip texture allows the shooters to manage recoil, keep a firm grip, and it delivers comfort when concealing. M&P Shield Plus comes either with a flush-fit 10 rounds magazine or with an extended magazine that offers 13 rounds capacity. There’s always room to upgrade your M&P Shield Plus and a red dot sight is the best accessory you can choose. Consequently, today, I’m going to discuss the 5 best red dots for your superb handgun, their pros, and cons so that you can choose the most satisfying one for you.
Best red dot sights for M&P Shield Plus
In October 2021, Smith & Wesson came with an upgraded Shield Plus model, and the line was extended with a new version, M&P Shield Plus Optic Ready that is designed to accommodate red dot sights directly on the slide of the firearm. Red dot sights offer a number of advantages and take your shooting to the next level. If you wish for fast target acquisition, improved accuracy, and a greater field view, choose one of the optics listed in my article. And of course, don’t you dare forget to pair your upgraded pistol with a custom made M&P Shield Plus holster with red dot.
This red dot sight is widely considered one of the best on the market, offering a clear view, adjustable brightness, and durability. It has a compact design and is compatible with most firearms, making it a great choice for the M&P Shield Plus. The sight features a long battery life, with a single CR2032 lithium battery lasting up to 4 years in normal use. The Trijicon RMR Type 2 sight features a clear sight picture with a 6.5 MOA red dot that is easy to see in a variety of lighting conditions. The sight has an adjustable LED that allows for precise brightness control, making it easier to see the dot in different environments. It’s an excellent red dot sight. If you get this one, of course, get yourself an M&P Shield Plus Trijicon RMR Type 2 Adjustable LED Sight holster.
- Dot size - 6.5 MOA
- Batteries used - 1x CR2032 Lithium Battery
- Runtime - 4+ Years of Continuous Use at Setting 4 of 8
- Material – Forged Aluminum
- Brightness Setting - Automatic and 8 Adjustable Settings
- Mounting type - Picatinny Rail, Weaver Rail
- Cost
- Small Window
- Small viewing window
- Quite expensive
The Vortex Venom is another popular M&P Shield Plus red dot sight choice. It offers a large field of view and rugged construction that can withstand heavy recoil and harsh weather conditions. The Vortex Optics Venom has a long battery life, with up to 150 hours of use at maximum brightness and up to 30,000 hours at the lowest brightness setting. The sight features a 6 MOA red dot reticle that provides a clear sight picture for fast and accurate target acquisition. The sight has a 10-level brightness setting that can be adjusted manually or set to auto-adjust based on ambient lighting conditions so you can use it in various lighting environments. If you get this one, don't forget to grab an M&P Shield Plus Vortex Venom holster.
- Dot size - 6 MOA
- Batteries used - 1x CR1632 Battery
- Runtime - 30,000 hours at the lowest brightness setting
- Material – Aluminum
- Brightness Setting - 10 levels
- Mounting type - Weaver/Picatinny
- Affordability
- Clear Optics
- Adjustable Brightness
- Comprehensible
- Limited Battery Life at a maximum brightness setting
HOLD ON FOR A WHILE ... AND GET YOURSELF A CUSTOM SMITH & WESSON M&P SHIELD PLUS HOLSTER
When looking for a holster for your Smith & Wesson M&P Shield Plus with a red dot sight, you have to consider a few things, such as custom fit, retention, comfort, and concealment. Therefore, pick one of the M&P Shield Plus with red dot holsters that fit like a glove, provide proper retention, and are comfortable to wear. Your Smith & Wesson with red dot attachment or without any accessory deserves a custom made M&P Shield Plus holster that is designed specifically for your weapon and delivers accessibility and comfort for everyday carry. You can read more about the best holsters for your pistol in the Top 5 Smith & Wesson M&P Shield Plus CCW Holsters article. And if you would like to find out the most irritating obstacles you can come across while using this handgun, check out The 4 Most Smith & Wesson M&P Shield Plus annoying issues [and how to easily fix them] article.
The Burris FastFire 3 is a compact and lightweight red dot sight offering a 3 MOA dot reticle that provides a clear sight picture and fast target acquisition. It has an adjustable brightness setting and is compatible with most firearms, including the M&P Shield Plus. The Burris sight is extremely compact and lightweight, making it an ideal choice for concealed carry or use on small firearms just like M&P Shield Plus. The sight has a durable construction that is both waterproof and shockproof, ensuring reliability in rough shooting locations. It's a great reflex sight and if you get one, don't forget to get your M&P Shield Plus Burris FastFire 3 holster.
- Dot size – 3 MOA
- Batteries used - 1x CR1632 Battery
- Runtime - 5 years
- Material – Aluminum
- Brightness Setting - 3 manual brightness settings
- Mounting type - Picatinny Mount
- Compact Size
- Several Reticle Options
- Easy to Use
- Strong Construction
- Battery Life
- Limited Brightness Settings
This M&P Shield Plus 9mm red dot sight has a compact design and offers a clear sight picture. It has an impressive battery life and features an advanced reticle system that allows for quick and accurate target acquisition. The sight has a long battery life, with up to 50,000 hours of use on a single CR1632 battery. The sight features a 2 MOA dot and a 32 MOA circle. The Holosun HS507C X2 is also waterproof and shockproof, making it a great option for those who want a durable sight. The sight has a solar failsafe that automatically switches to solar power when the battery runs low or dies. Thinking about getting this sight? Then don't forget to get yourself an M&P Shield Plus Holosun HS507C X2 holster.
- Dot size - 2 MOA
- Batteries used - 1x CR1632 Battery
- Runtime - 50,000 hours
- Material – Metal
- Brightness Setting - 10 DL&2 NV
- Mounting type - Picatinny Mount
- Solar Backup
- Various Reticle Options
- Durable Construction
- No Auto-Brightness
- Only 2 MOA dot size
The Leupold DeltaPoint Pro is a rugged red dot sight that offers a wide field of view and a clear sight picture with its 2.5 MOA dot reticle. It has an adjustable brightness setting and a durable construction that can withstand heavy recoil. It's also waterproof and fogproof, making it a great choice for all weather conditions. The sight features a motion sensor that automatically turns on the sight when it senses movement and turns it off after 5 minutes of inactivity, preserving battery life. The sight is easy to use and features intuitive controls for adjusting brightness and power settings. It also comes with a battery life indicator that helps you keep track of battery usage. And, of course, don't forget to grab your M&P Shield Plus Leupold DeltaPoint Pro holster.
- Dot size – 2.5 MOA
- Batteries used - 1x CR2032 Battery
- Runtime – 1600 hours in low intensity, 300 hours in high intensity
- Material – Aluminum, Alloy Steel
- Brightness Setting – 8 Illum Settings
- Mounting type - Picatinny Mount
- Multiple Reticle Options
- User-friendly
- Solid Construction
- Motion Sensor Technology
- Short Battery Life in high intensity
- Limited Field of View
Benefits of a Smith & Wesson M&P Shield Plus red dot sights
Having a red dot sight on your Smith & Wesson M&P Shield Plus will bring you many benefits. Check out the most important:
- Faster target acquisition: Red dot sights are designed for quick target acquisition, allowing the shooter to aim accurately and quickly.
- Improved accuracy: Red dot sights eliminate the need for precise sight alignment, which can help improve accuracy, especially in fast-moving targets.
- Parallax-free: Red dot sights are parallax-free, meaning the shooter can aim accurately regardless of the position of their eye.
- Works well in low light conditions: Red dot sights can be used effectively in low light conditions, making them ideal for hunting or shooting in dimly lit environments.
- Wide field of view: Red dot sights provide a wide field of view, allowing shooters to maintain situational awareness while aiming.
Of course, every coin has two sides, and I am also analyzing the main drawbacks of the red dot sights below:
- Limited magnification: Most red dot sights have no magnification, making it challenging to shoot accurately at longer ranges.
- Limited battery life: Red dot sights require batteries to operate, and the battery life can be limited, requiring frequent replacement or recharging.
- Can be affected by weather conditions: Red dot sights can be affected by extreme temperatures, humidity, and other weather conditions, which can reduce their effectiveness.
- Expensive: High-quality red dot sights can be expensive, making them inaccessible to some shooters.
- Can be challenging to use with both eyes open: While red dot sights are designed to be used with both eyes open, some shooters may find it challenging to get used to this technique.
CONCLUSION – What’s the best red dot compatible with your M&P Shield Plus?
So, there are many high-quality red dot sights available for the Smith & Wesson M&P Shield Plus, and the best one for you will depend on your personal preferences and shooting needs. You won’t do a mistake selecting any of the red dot for M&P Shield Plus on my list. My personal number one is The Vortex Venom red dot sight. Its low profile is ideal for your Shield Plus, it features an incredible 6 MOA dot size, and what is more, it’s affordable. Did you make up your mind? If so, don’t forget a truly custom Smith & Wesson M&P Shield red dot holster that is molded to fit your gun with the red dot as well.