Shield 9 or XDS9?

Status
Not open for further replies.
stchman

stchman

Member
Joined
Jun 13, 2009
Messages
2,617
Location
Saint Louis, MO
With the rebate for the Shield and Springfield giving away 4 free mags, I am considering these two guns.

I like the XDS better as it feels more solid and better built, but the Shield is hard to pass up for that price. I've always thought that M&P guns always felt a little on the cheap side, but the price is good.

I have until Friday to decide as both company's offers expire.
 
The XD-S pointed better for me, so that is the one I went with. On the other hand, the grip texture is quite aggressive. Pro if you are sweating or stressed, con for extended range periods. There are fixes, though (see: inner tube, Hogue slip-on, etc.).
 
My partner purchased a shield but I'm still in the xds camp. I rented both, shot better with the xds from the start and have been carrying it ever since. It's still my preference after more experience with the shield. The only thing I like better about the shield is that it feels a bit better smoother and softer in the hand. Triggers feel different and my xds is far more broken in so I can't give a fair comparison. Fit and finish feel better on the xds, factory sights are better, it has an ambi safety (non-issue for me), strong mag release, polished steel mags, and a more usable slide stop/drop lever (also not a big deal depending on user preference), and I have a strong preference for the grip safety on the xds over the small thumb safety on the shield. My xds has been reliable with all ammo. The shield has not been as well tested but it is unreliable with silver bear 115gr fmj, though it runs perfectly in my xds. Both seem to have fine accuracy for their intended use. I could live with either but am not tempted to switch over.
 
I handled both and ended up with the Shield. It pointed better for me than the XDS and sat lower in my hand.
 
Both are what I call "half guns". I would want entire gun instead. You know, the one that will take at least ten round magazine with ability of using full size counterpart magazines as spares.
 
I have been carrying an XDs in 45 for several years. It feels a lot better in the hand than a shield to me.

Forget the price and the rebates and make your choice based on which one feels better, points better, and let the bonus be just that, a bonus.
 
I have absolutely no experience with the Springfield XDS. As for the S&W Shield 9x19mm, my example has consumed 700 plus rounds of which 400 rounds were 147Gr-JHP (Federal HST +P and Winchester Ranger) with no failures to feed, fire and eject. Accuracy at 10yds fist size groups from standing mix of slow and rapid fire. I like it as a backup as opposed to a primary for concealed carry which the MP9c is the primary.
 
Taking the current prices into account I don't think the XDs can even compare to the Shield, seeing as how you can get a Shield for $275ish after the rebate.
 
460Shooter said:
Forget the price and the rebates and make your choice based on which one feels better, points better, and let the bonus be just that, a bonus.
Click to expand...
I agree with this.

On the other hand...
stchman wrote,
I like the XDS better as it feels more solid and better built, ... I've always thought that M&P guns always felt a little on the cheap side, ....
Click to expand...
I feel the complete opposite. The XD line always seemed cheaper to me than the M&P line. In addition, the XD line-up always seemed like a group of folks got together and brainstormed ideas on what should be on a striker gun, and then put them all together without really thinking the process through. Just a hodgepodge of ideas not particularly well executed.
 
bassjam said:
Taking the current prices into account I don't think the XDs can even compare to the Shield, seeing as how you can get a Shield for $275ish after the rebate.
Click to expand...

I agree, I paid a lot more for my stainless slide XDS, but Springfield Armory is also running a very nice mag rebate that helps bring the price in line with the S&W rebates.
 
stchman said:
With the rebate for the Shield and Springfield giving away 4 free mags, I am considering these two guns.

I like the XDS better as it feels more solid and better built, but the Shield is hard to pass up for that price. I've always thought that M&P guns always felt a little on the cheap side, but the price is good.

I have until Friday to decide as both company's offers expire.
Click to expand...
Can you shoot both before you buy?
I traded a year old Glock 43 for my Shield because I didn't shoot the Glock before I bought it. Once I got the Glock 43 home, I found out its recoil was too "snappy" for me, and its trigger pinched my finger every time it went off. I tried for a year to get used to it, even bought a magazine extension and one of those stretchy rubber things to put over the handle to provide finger grooves. Still, I developed one heck of a flinch because I knew I was going to get hurt every time I pulled the trigger.
At any rate, a couple of months ago my daughter bought herself a Shield, so I asked her if I could borrow it for a day or two and try it out. And I loved it from the first shot. The following weekend I traded in my Glock 43 for a M&P 9 Shield of my own. And because of the rebate, I actually got a few dollars back.
You're right though - I'm not sure about the XDS, but my Shield doesn't feel as solid and well built as the Glock 43 I had. Heck, I can even see daylight through it looking underneath the Shield's slide. But when it comes to most guns, I'm all about function, not form. I don't mean "function" in terms of it not going "bang" every time I pull the trigger either - the Glock did that alright, just like my Shield. But every time the Glock 43 went "bang," it snapped my 69 year old wrist and pinched my trigger finger. My shield goes "bang" every time too, and because it doesn't hurt me when it goes "bang," I've gotten over the flinch that Glock 43 caused.
Anyway, that's my advise - shoot both if you can, then decide.:)

Disclaimer - I'm not knocking Glocks, Glock Fans. My wife loves her Glock 42. It goes with her everywhere it's legal for her to carry it.
 
Last edited:
SeanSw said:
I agree, I paid a lot more for my stainless slide XDS, but Springfield Armory is also running a very nice mag rebate that helps bring the price in line with the S&W rebates.
Click to expand...

It's only a nice rebate if you plan on buying that many mags for the Shield. I very rarely buy extra magazines for my handguns so it's not really a selling point for me.
 
I have a Shield and XDs. I like the front site on the XDs better. It is a fiber optic type. Very easy for me to pick up quickly.

But for the price of the Shield and around $30 for a fiber optic front sight I would go with the Sheild. Also Shield mags are under $20 now.
 
.308 Norma said:
Can you shoot both before you buy?
I traded a year old Glock 43 for my Shield because I didn't shoot the Glock before I bought it. Once I got the Glock 43 home, I found out its recoil was too "snappy" for me, and its trigger pinched my finger every time it went off. I tried for a year to get used to it, even bought a magazine extension and one of those stretchy rubber things to put over the handle to provide finger grooves. Still, I developed one heck of a flinch because I knew I was going to get hurt every time I pulled the trigger.
At any rate, a couple of months ago my daughter bought herself a Shield, so I asked her if I could borrow it for a day or two and try it out. And I loved it from the first shot. The following weekend I traded in my Glock 43 for a M&P 9 Shield of my own. And because of the rebate, I actually got a few dollars back.
You're right though - I'm not sure about the XDS, but my Shield doesn't feel as solid and well built as the Glock 43 I had. Heck, I can even see daylight through it looking underneath the Shield's slide. But when it comes to most guns, I'm all about function, not form. I don't mean "function" in terms of it not going "bang" every time I pull the trigger either - the Glock did that alright, just like my Shield. But every time the Glock 43 went "bang," it snapped my 69 year old wrist and pinched my trigger finger. My shield goes "bang" every time too, and because it doesn't hurt me when it goes "bang," I've gotten over the flinch that Glock 43 caused.
Anyway, that's my advise - shoot both if you can, then decide.:)

Disclaimer - I'm not knocking Glocks, Glock Fans. My wife loves her Glock 42. It goes with her everywhere it's legal for her to carry it.
Click to expand...

I did shoot both. I liked the XDS better, but the Shield is pretty nice too.


bassjam said:
It's only a nice rebate if you plan on buying that many mags for the Shield. I very rarely buy extra magazines for my handguns so it's not really a selling point for me.
Click to expand...


Really? I try to have 4 mags minimum per pistol.
 
stchman said:
Really? I try to have 4 mags minimum per pistol.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I like having 2 mags for my full sized hand guns, but I'm fine with just a single mag for each of my conceal carry guns. I don't mind having to re-load the magazine after every 7 or so shots at my range.

And if I ever actually NEEDED more than that, well, I have about 10 AR15 mags loaded and ready to go if S ever HTF.
 
bassjam said:
Yeah, I like having 2 mags for my full sized hand guns, but I'm fine with just a single mag for each of my conceal carry guns. I don't mind having to re-load the magazine after every 7 or so shots at my range.

And if I ever actually NEEDED more than that, well, I have about 10 AR15 mags loaded and ready to go if S ever HTF.
Click to expand...

So only 1 magazine per concealed carry pistol. What if your only magazine breaks at the range?
 
I ended up with the XDS and it's quite accurate. With a little practice I was keeping the better part of a magazine inside an 8 inch target at 25 yards. I had to send it back in for an issue with failure to fully return to battery, which I later learned through searching various forums is a rare but not uncommon issue. Sent it in and they had to tune the extractor to get it 100%.

I actually liked the feel of the Shield better but liked the idea of a grip safety.
 
I've owned both as well. For me, the XDs (mine is in .45) is the one I kept. Nothing wrong with the Shield, I just shoot the SA bettter. All that said, Shields are crazy priced right now. It's kinda difficult to pass up a deal like that.
 
bassjam said:
It's only a nice rebate if you plan on buying that many mags for the Shield. I very rarely buy extra magazines for my handguns so it's not really a selling point for me.
Click to expand...
stchman said:
Really? I try to have 4 mags minimum per pistol.
Click to expand...
My personal rule is to never have less than 3 magazines (more is better) for any gun I own that uses removable magazines. My thought process is that I always want to at least have one in the gun plus a reload, and one additional one in case a magazine gets damaged in some way.

I don't own a Shield or XD-S, but my wife has an M&P, and I've shot other XDs. All are good carry guns. My personal choice is a Ruger LC9s Pro, though I know that's not listed as an option. It's great to have many good choices, at good prices, too!
 
Last edited:
I have an XDs 45 and it has proven to be accurate and reliable, however in light of what Springfield Armory did to Illinois gun owners I could never in good conscience recommend a SA gun to anybody at this point. I own several SA guns, but will not purchase another.

To add to your reading: http://www.captainsjournal.com/2017...s-manufacturers-association-licensing-scheme/

As for other options, the Shield is not a bad gun, and it's price incentives are pretty insane right now.
Ruger's LC9s pro is also good choice
 
PPS M2 is much more comfortable and has a better trigger out of the box IMO, and Walther also has a good rebate on now ($100). I would get the non-LE version and put XS bar-dots on it. LE has an extra mag and glow sights.

XDs gets an advantage for being ambi but the grenade grip is truly awful and trigger is meh. Shield trigger is better meh and the ergos nicer, and you can get +2 Magguts for it bringing it to near double stack capacity.

In the end I have a SCCY and a P938 and felt no need to compromise again for something not quite what I want (basically a single stack RAMI or XDE about 25% smaller).
 
stchman said:
So only 1 magazine per concealed carry pistol. What if your only magazine breaks at the range?
Click to expand...

Then I'd walk 100 feet from my range to my house and grab a different gun.

I'm not really concerned, in 20 or so years of shooting the only mag failures I've had has been 10/22 factory 10 round mags which was fixed by spraying them out with cleaner.
 
bassjam said:
Then I'd walk 100 feet from my range to my house and grab a different gun.

I'm not really concerned, in 20 or so years of shooting the only mag failures I've had has been 10/22 factory 10 round mags which was fixed by spraying them out with cleaner.
Click to expand...

The purpose of a CCW pistol isn't for the pleasure shooting on your property. A lot of people don't care about magazine failure until one fails, and Murphy's Law will dictate that it will fail at the worst possible time.

Spare mags for your CCW pistol aren't that expensive.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

G
  • Locked
Now is the time for S&W Shield
Replies
11
Views
889
Good Ol' Boy
Good Ol' Boy
V
  • Locked
XDS and Shield Alternatives
2
Replies
36
Views
3K
Skribs
Skribs
C
  • Locked
S&W Shield 9mm vs XDs 9mm
2
Replies
42
Views
5K
gym
G
maxxhavoc
  • Locked
XDS vs Shield
2
Replies
27
Views
3K
TrickyDick
TrickyDick
WheelGunMan
  • Locked
Shield Plus - "Patience Hell"
Replies
15
Views
1K
WheelGunMan
WheelGunMan
Back
Top