Shield plus as first centerfire handgun

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balto68

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I am about to buy my first centerfire handgun. When I first decided to buy one, my intent was to get a handgun to keep in a bedside safe at home for defense mostly. Therefore I was leaning towards a full size pistol, something the size of a Glock 17 or similar, or maybe a Glock 19 size if it fit my hand better.

After doing a ton of reading, I am leaning towards an option that will enable to me concealed carry as well as be useful for home defense. Specifically, I have read that the Smith and Wesson Shield and Shield Plus is not much more difficult to shoot than a larger pistol and is still fun to practice with (my two big concerns with a smaller handgun).

For those of you with experience with these different sizes of handgun, and especially for those of you used to working with newer shooters, would you say I'm heading in the wrong direction getting a Shield or Shield Plus? Should I instead try to find something larger but still more concealable, something more in the Glock 19 size class?

Unfortunately I am not living near a shop that will let me fire these guns, so I am basing my choice on internet research as well and just the feel in my hand from handling them without shooting.

Thanks!
 
If there is ever a possibility of carrying, get the Shield Plus. Very respectable capacity, small enough to carry concealed comfortably, and very comfortable to fire. Full size guns have become range toys and home defense only for me. Sure, some people do carry them, and I have as well, but no reason to anymore unless that’s all you have.
 
It’s really about picking a flavor that appeals to you. Advantages to consider are something dehorned (no sharp edges), sights you like (or healthy aftermarket support options), holster availability, magazine replacement cost/capacity. Plenty to mull over.

Dad bought an M&P Shield EZ and retired his 1911 Govt. At 73 the ergos simply worked better for him; easier to charge, big TFO sights, etc. I can conceal my M&P 40 Full Size just fine, same as my 1911s but that hinges on holster selection and custom stuff ain’t cheap. Worth it though.
 
If you are committed to CC (day in day out) buy a carry gun.

I’ve been carrying a Shield since 2018 and I would recommend the 2.0 or plus.

If you want occasional carry then something like a G19 or M&P9C, but I found that an M&P9 subcompact to be the perfect marriage of carry size and shootability with full size down thru to SC mags.
 
My opinion is if you are only ever going to own just one centerfire pistol in your life, and you intend to conceal carry it, the S&W Shield Plus is the better choice.

On the other hand, many folks own more than one centerfire handgun. If that is your eventual intention, and if your goal is to learn how to shoot centerfire handguns comfortably and accurately, and have a current need for a home defense gun, but perhaps not for a concealed carry gun quite yet, I'd get a full size pistol rather than the sub-compact gun. The full size gun will be easier to shoot accurately and more comfortable to shoot, especially if it is your first centerfire handgun.

If you like the Glock family (I'm not particularly endorsing them, just using them as an example), I'd choose from the easiest to shoot members of that family, the G34 or the G17. I'd get good with those, and then branch down to a smaller version if you want a smaller gun to carry concealed.

Here is the G19 (which is a small gun) compared to the M&P9 Shield Plus

https://www.handgunhero.com/compare/glock-g19-vs-smith-wesson-m-p-9-shield-plus
 
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I have a Shield Plus that I EDC in rotation with my SigP365XL. It fills my hand comfortably, points well, is easy to shoot and mitigates recoil well. It has a trigger that rivals my Sig's flat trigger. I carry mine IWB appendix in a leather Defender holster from Relentless Tactical. I use the 10+1 mag for carry for maximum concealment with the 13 +1mag as backup. It's a dependable gun that I recommend highly.
 
MY EDC is a S&W Shield 9X19mm with the (8) Rd capacity magazine. I have other handguns, but again the Shield is my EDC. Simply said, I do not do the carry rotation thing either.
 
The Shield Plus is a good gun. However, since this is your first centerfire handgun, I recommend that you shoot a 9mm handgun that is similar in weight to the Shield Plus (~18 oz.). Maybe a shooting range nearby or a friend has something similar. The reason I mention this is that I don’t know how much experience you have with shooting handguns, and a 9mm in an 18 oz. gun might feel a bit too snappy for a new handgun shooter. You can learn to manage it with practice over time, but I would hate for you to get the Shield and feel like you made a mistake after firing it the first time.
 
Thanks everyone for the advice. I sort of figured there was no one right answer to this unfortunately.

I am leaning now towards a full size-ish pistol, with the possibility of getting a dedicated concealed pistol later on. I feel like a larger handgun with a 15 round capacity, full size grip, and a light mounted on it would make for an excellent home defense choice, which right now is my number one priority. I also hear that concealing a Glock 19-size pistol is not as hard as I'm imagining, and I can still have the option to carry concealed with the right holster and clothing.

I really enjoy shooting rifles and own several - I have a feeling I won't stop at just one 9mm pistol.
 
I would recommend doing a 4" Shield Plus. You can have extended magazines on that so you have I think 13-round capacity, and the extra 0.9" on the barrel and slide and sight radius would make it more shootable. That would be a good compromise between a Glock 19 and a regular Shield. The width of the gun more than its length is a concealment and comfort issue in my experience, and the Shield Plus is substantially skinnier than a double-stack Glock.
 
Ideally... get a 22 handgun and get used to shooting it. Then get a full-sized service handgun in 38 special or 9mm: Model 10, Glock 17, M&P, etc. and get used to shooting that.

Having good technique and decent accuracy are important.

Start thinking about smaller handguns and/or more powerful cartridges after you can shoot 22's and moderately-powered, full-sized service handguns easily and well.

That's IMHO, the easiest way to learn handgun shooting.

If someone is a natural and/or used to different kinds of shooting, they may not need all of those steps.

But that's probably how most of us leaned in the olden days.

As a young man during the Stone Ages I went from 6" Single Six (22lr), to 4" medium-framed 357 (that I shot 38's out of mostly), to snub j-framed 38.

I have shot other kinds of handguns since, but those gave me the basics.

Ironically, those three would still do a decent job of fulfilling my basic handgun "needs", but if or when it becomes a hobby, it's not about needs anymore. :)
 
You CAN conceal and carry about anything, the question is, what WILL you carry? How much bulk and weight will you put up with? A good belt and holster will help a lot.

What about training and practice? Is there someplace convenient you can get more training than the usual CCW class? Is there a place where you can put in some practice?

I say, not entirely in jest, that the guys on Pistol-forum will ALWAYS recommend a Glock 19.
My preference in that category is a S&W M&P which is just a smidgen larger, the size of the rather obscure Glock 45 (G19 barrel length, G17 butt.). A friend is high on Springfield XD, made in several sizes. And there are many more in the broad family of striker fired plastic pistols; Walther, CZ, and now HK make them.
 
Not to complicate things too much, but handgun modularity is a great thing. You could get a SIG P320 in what's called the "Carry" configuration, which is a full-length grip and compact slide. It will hold 17 rounds of 9mm. Then down the road you could buy a "Compact" grip frame, which holds 15 rounds and is more carry-friendly. The switch-over is quick and easy.

You could also do it the other way around -- buy the Compact pistol and then the Carry grip frame. That might be easier to find on the market.

Here's a comparison pic -- just be advised that the pictures that make up this composite are apparently not scaled exactly the same.

P320s.jpg
 
balto68

I will throw another one out there you might want to consider: a CZ P07. It's more compact in size than a Glock 17, is hammer fired, has the ability to go from DA/SA with a decocker to a SA with a thumb safety (and the parts come with the gun and you can do the conversion yourself!). Another big plus is a .22LR conversion kit is available too!
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For those of you with experience with these different sizes of handgun, and especially for those of you used to working with newer shooters, would you say I'm heading in the wrong direction getting a Shield or Shield Plus? Should I instead try to find something larger but still more concealable, something more in the Glock 19 size class?

The Shield has been proven by several million owners. I bought one immediately after they were released and another when the model without a thumb safety was introduced. While Shields are great guns for concealed carry, they have trade-offs. The grip is short enough that my pinkie dangles with a 7-round magazine, requiring more concentration to shoot well and resulting in more muzzle flip. The 8-round magazine is just enough longer to give me a solid 3-finger grip and increases capacity while making the pistol easier to shoot well.

My takeaway from the Shield is a pistol that is a smidgen taller is ideal for me. After several years of carrying a Shield as my EDC, I also discovered I could carry certain double-stack pistols with a good holster and belt as easily as a Shield.

If I could only have one pistol, I would choose the goldilocks size a tiny bit bigger than a Shield to get the benefits of a better grip, a rail for a light, and improved capacity while giving up practically nothing in concealability.
 
I am about to buy my first centerfire handgun. When I first decided to buy one, my intent was to get a handgun to keep in a bedside safe at home for defense mostly. Therefore I was leaning towards a full size pistol, something the size of a Glock 17 or similar, or maybe a Glock 19 size if it fit my hand better.

After doing a ton of reading, I am leaning towards an option that will enable to me concealed carry as well as be useful for home defense. Specifically, I have read that the Smith and Wesson Shield and Shield Plus is not much more difficult to shoot than a larger pistol and is still fun to practice with (my two big concerns with a smaller handgun).

For those of you with experience with these different sizes of handgun, and especially for those of you used to working with newer shooters, would you say I'm heading in the wrong direction getting a Shield or Shield Plus? Should I instead try to find something larger but still more concealable, something more in the Glock 19 size class?

Unfortunately I am not living near a shop that will let me fire these guns, so I am basing my choice on internet research as well and just the feel in my hand from handling them without shooting.

Thanks!
Over the past 10 years or so, I've CC'd pistols ranging from a full-sized 1911 on the large end to a Shield on the small end. I cc'd a Shield 1.0 for about 3.5 years, and then I replaced it with a Shield Plus. IMHO, the Shields handle recoil remarkably well, and they shoot very much like larger guns for me. With that said, it remains true that bigger, heavier guns tend to have softer recoil, and a longer sight radius helps, too. If you're in a location where you can't rent pistols, you're either: (a) in a Gun Control Central location, where getting a carry permit will be tough; or (b) you're in a rural area, where it's unlikely that anyone will care if you have a pistol.

Do you have a .22 pistol? If not, consider one. They make a great, economical way to get time on the trigger. I am a big fan of the Shield line of pistols, but I'm not sure I'd recommend one for a first centerfire pistol, but part of that calculus depends on your financial situation and the odds of your actually carrying it. If $$ is tight, but you know you'll be carrying, go with the Shield Plus. If you think you can swing a second pistol in a few months or a year, or you're not real sure you'll carry, go with something a little larger.
 
The shield plus is a great option. Of all the 9mm pistols I have and that they've shot both my girls go with the shield. They were 13 and 17 each when they fired my 9mm's.

If you decide to go 22lr then the Taurus tx22 is hard to beat.
 
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