M&P Shield Magazine Showdown: Elite Tactical Systems vs. OEM vs. Hyve
Nicolas Lenze 07.27.23
Aftermarket magazines can be hit or miss. Extended baseplates aren’t without fault either, but the point is, when we add one thing, we have to take away another. This is more true when it comes to concealed firearms, since the size of your gear matters so much. Most new carry-sized handguns carry 12 or more rounds. Not long ago, a gun of the same size was holding just over half of that. My Smith & Wesson M&P Shield 9mm has a capacity of eight rounds. To make up for this, I’m looking to add capacity. I have two aftermarket options that I’d like to compare, along with the OEM magazine. Let’s take a look at the Elite Tactical Systems Carbon Smoke 12-round S&W Shield magazine and the Hyve Technologies +2 Mag Base Pad.
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Let the Testing Commence!
I’ll be evaluating these three magazines based on three criteria:
- Size
- Reliability
- Durability
The test is a simple one. I’ll be putting as many rounds as I can afford to through my Shield using all three mags. I’ll be taking note of malfunctions, as well as damage sustained from regular (and maybe some irregular) use. All the ammo used was Super Vel remanufactured 115-grain 9mm. I would have liked to shoot more, but this is all coming from my personal stash, so the firing schedule was light.
Elite Tactical Systems Carbon Smoke 12-round S&W Shield Magazine
When inserted into the gun, The ETS Carbon Smoke magazine protrudes 2 1/2″ from the grip. The magazine weighs 1.3 ounces when empty. Aside from the spring, the whole mag is made of polymer. One interesting feature is that the magazine is compatible with Glock baseplates. This means that you could theoretically extend your capacity even further. This could complicate things by requiring new springs. You could also change your baseplate without adding capacity for other reasons, like numbering or more surface area for stripping mags. The smoke color is more visually pleasing than the completely clear mags, in my opinion, but it still allows you to see your remaining ammo quickly. Each magazine costs $14.99.
Over the course of this test, I put 132 rounds through my Shield using the ETS magazine. In that time, there were no malfunctions. Something interesting to note is that my ejection pattern changed. Brass was flying almost directly behind me, which even led to two of the spent casings settling on my left side. Loading all the way to 12 was a piece of cake.
The 132 total round count, divided by the 12-round capacity, means that I’ve dropped this mag on the ground 11 times. I also kicked some dirt on it and dropped it a few extra times for good measure. It may have been thrown a few times, too. Elite Tactical Systems also claims that the polymer mag has superior heat, cold, and UV-resistant properties, so at the 48-round mark, I left the Carbon Smoke magazine outside in the direct sunlight for a day before shooting it again. That led to no changes in reliability.
Smith & Wesson OEM Magazine
The Smith & Wesson magazine weighs 2.3 ounces. When inserted into the gun, only 3/4” is added to the grip. It has eight witness holes for seeing how many rounds are in the magazine. The flush-fit magazine holds seven rounds, so to account for the extra space needed for the eighth cartridge, the stock magazine uses a sleeve. This fills the gap between the grip and baseplate. These magazines are between $32.99 and $39.99, depending on where you get them.
The OEM Smith & Wesson magazine saw 88 rounds. I had no malfunctions with this one either. However, the slide didn’t always lock back on empty, and it failed to do so four times during this test. This was pretty surprising, considering this is the magazine that came with my pistol. I thought it was due to my support hand pressing against the slide catch, so I did some one-handed shooting. The problem persisted when shooting strong-side and support-hand only.
This magazine was also dropped 11 times, on top of the drops it’s endured since I bought the gun. The metal body gives me confidence in its ability to withstand normal use, and I’m not concerned with cracks or breaks.
Hyve +2 on Smith & Wesson OEM Magazine
The Smith & Wesson magazine with the Hyve +2 weighs 3.3 ounces. The baseplate adds 1 1/2” to the grip, and a little pop of color. Since this is added to the OEM magazine, you won’t have enough witness holes to show a full magazine. This mag was in the running for easiest to load, but after round seven, things tighten up. The dimensions of the baseplate make the sleeve that comes on the eight-rounder unnecessary. The baseplate as shown costs $29.99, but they require an S&W magazine, which adds $30-$40 to the cost.
After 110 rounds of varying speed and grip styles, the Hyve-equipped magazine had no stoppages, yet failed to lock back three times. I tend to stay away from extended base pads because the added number of parts makes them, in theory, more susceptible to failure. This test didn’t confirm this, but 110 rounds (plus previous use) should not be enough to cause that kind of failure. An added benefit to having so much weight at the bottom of the magazine is that it consistently drops free every time I hit the magazine release.
I dropped this magazine 11 times during this test, plus a few more times when I first got it. Even with a bit of added abuse, the Hyve baseplate performed just fine. The stock magazine body carries over my same level of confidence that the magazine won’t crack or break. However, the Hyve plate itself is made of more than one piece, and more parts mean more opportunities to break.
Which One Am I Carrying?
Overall, all three magazines performed great. Considering their added size, and this being a pistol designed for concealed carry, I’m evaluating these mags as spares that are carried in addition to your already seated magazine. The only one small enough to be used as a primary magazine from this article is the OEM S&W mag. Unfortunately, it only buys you one more cartridge than the flush-fit seven-rounder.
From the spare magazine perspective, the ETS Carbon Smoke 12-round mag is my favorite. It’s easy to load, feeds reliably, and is very lightweight. It is long, which could make it less comfortable, depending on how you carry it, but that’s a small price to pay. You’ll probably need a NeoMag or something similar to carry it. It’s just too long to carry completely concealed in the 5.11 Defender Flex jeans magazine pockets. I also appreciate that it doesn’t have a weird shelf to deal with. The other two magazines have large baseplates, and while carrying them in the proper configuration means the bullets will be facing the right direction, I always have a brief moment where I question it. The ETS looks and feels more like a basic stick mag and is more familiar. I also really appreciate that it uses Glock-compatible baseplates.
The Hyve is a good product, but it’s just a bit outdated. They’ve been offering the same product since I bought this one in 2012. It’s heavier than it needs to be and only adds two rounds. It proved to be reliable, so you’re not wasting money, but when there are options like the Elite Tactical Systems available, I can’t imagine buying another baseplate.
Whatever you decide, make sure that you train with it before you put your life in its hands. If you’d like to check these out for yourself, head to the ETS Group, Smith & Wesson, and Hyve Technologies websites. Be sure to follow all three companies on their socials, as well. Carry often and stay safe!
