“The name Shield tells us the size and proportions of this pistol. Our measurements put the M&P 380 Shield a little larger with an overall length of 6.64 inches and 4.98 inches in height, with a width of 1.43 inches. It would measure 1.15 inches if you omitted the width added by the ambidextrous manual safety levers.
By comparison, the last M&P9 Shield M2.0 with a thumb safety that Guns & Ammo had on hand for testing measured 6.1 inches in overall length, was 4.6 inches tall and was only 1.03 inches wide.”
Read more: http://www.gunsandammo.com/first-look/first-look-easy-to-rack-sw-mp-380-shield/#ixzz5QKU7pVq4
Easy to build an easy recoiling gun. Make a big gun and shoot a small bullet. That gun might conceal well in a purse, but it isn’t remotely a good concealed weapon. Not when you can have a 9mm Shield that is SMALLER.
Glock 26:
Length 6.5” / Width 1.26 / Height 4.17” / 10+1 rounds 9mm
M&P 380:
Length 6.64” / Width 1.15 / Height 4.98” / 8+1 rounds 380
Height is pretty important in a concealed gun.