Any flies on the Shield?
- Thread starter Arizonan
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Your Blazer problem is probably the coating applied to the casing. It will tend to build up in the chamber and cause malfunctions. Always clean your chamber thoroughly after shooting Aluminum or steel cased ammo.
george burns
Member
I have had one and prefer my Kahr, but the 9mm is a good little gun, just not the 40.
wally
Member
One pass on the plate rack proved the superiority of my Shield over my Kahr (which I'd been shooting since 2006) for me. My recent experience with Kahr customer service was totally negative, while S&W has been nothing but outstanding.
Why not the 40?
I practice with the 9mm and carry the .40, at 50 rounds a week the 9mm pays for itself in practice ammo savings. On the plate rack I find my performance with the .40 is close enough to the 9mm that I prefer to carry the the harder hitting round, but for practice my hand likes the 9mm better after three or four mags
Why not the 40?
I practice with the 9mm and carry the .40, at 50 rounds a week the 9mm pays for itself in practice ammo savings. On the plate rack I find my performance with the .40 is close enough to the 9mm that I prefer to carry the the harder hitting round, but for practice my hand likes the 9mm better after three or four mags
RustyShackelford
member
- Joined
- Apr 27, 2006
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- 4,018
Range day.....
I fired about 100 rounds of factory made Winchester 124gr FMJ in my new S&W Shield no thumb safety.
The sub compact shot great & feeled solid in my hands(both right & left).
The new 9x19mm cycled & fed all the Winchester brand FMJs. The only 2 minor problems I had with the M&P Shield was that it did not really fire and cycle w/o a seated stainless magazine,
.
The Shield also seemed to choke a bit when I wanted to work the slide or load 124gr FMJs using my hands rather than the slide release.
I think the smaller size slide or maybe my method was to blame, not the Shield 9x19mm.
I've seen Youtube clips of Shield shooters who load, rack, switch mags, etc without any misfires or jams, .
I guess I need another 200/300 9mm FMJs to run thru it.
Overall, Id give the M&P Shield high marks(B+/B-) but it seems to be suited for a right handed gunner or CCW holder.
I'll hold on to the 9mm Shield for now but it will take some more rounds before Im 100% sure I like it.
I fired about 100 rounds of factory made Winchester 124gr FMJ in my new S&W Shield no thumb safety.
The sub compact shot great & feeled solid in my hands(both right & left).
The new 9x19mm cycled & fed all the Winchester brand FMJs. The only 2 minor problems I had with the M&P Shield was that it did not really fire and cycle w/o a seated stainless magazine,
.The Shield also seemed to choke a bit when I wanted to work the slide or load 124gr FMJs using my hands rather than the slide release.
I think the smaller size slide or maybe my method was to blame, not the Shield 9x19mm.
I've seen Youtube clips of Shield shooters who load, rack, switch mags, etc without any misfires or jams,
.I guess I need another 200/300 9mm FMJs to run thru it.
Overall, Id give the M&P Shield high marks(B+/B-) but it seems to be suited for a right handed gunner or CCW holder.
I'll hold on to the 9mm Shield for now but it will take some more rounds before Im 100% sure I like it.
wally
Member
Why do you say that for the "no safety" model? Shooting left handed its no trouble to work the mag release or slide catch lever with my trigger finger -- its easier than using the thumb when shooting right handed.
The safety being non-ambi *is* a problem for lefties, which IMHO is the only real fly on the shield if you are left-handed and want a pistol with an external safety.
RustyShackelford
member
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- Apr 27, 2006
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- 4,018
Right vs left....
The Shield worked fine with both hands but the controls & design seemed to favor right handed shooters. I shot the pistol at different ranges & it did fine.
The Shield worked fine with both hands but the controls & design seemed to favor right handed shooters. I shot the pistol at different ranges & it did fine.
wally
Member
Most auto pistols are designed this way.
I'd argue if it has an external safety it should be ambidextrous. But the mag release and slide lock levers in their "standard" locations are fine for lefties, in fact I'd argue are better for lefties as the trigger finger of the left hand can generally reach them better than the thumb of the right hand. If you prefer reversible fine, but IMHO for a duty gun standardization of controls is preferable should you need to grab the pistol of a fallen comrade -- this why non-ambi safeties bug me!
I do about 25% of my shooting left handed and my least favorite to shoot left handed is the Beretta Neos because the safety rotates the "wrong" way and they got creative with the mag release location so when shooting left hand only you can't reach it when gripping the pistol.
The trigger guard mag releases of some HK and Walther pistols are ambi but most US shooters shun this "feature".
Mauserguy
Member
The only thing I don't like about my Shield is the little yellow middle finger in the magazine well, but I'm in California so that's to be expected.
Mauserguy
Mauserguy
JB357MAG
Member
Just got my Shield 9 no thumb safety, and it is hard to
rack the slide but so what. This is a great IWB carry gun.
I have 50 trouble free rounds of 4 different types of ammo.
I now carry it every day, trust it with my life.
Jimmy
rack the slide but so what. This is a great IWB carry gun.
I have 50 trouble free rounds of 4 different types of ammo.
I now carry it every day, trust it with my life.
Jimmy
Previously to my purchase of a .40 Shield (no thumb safety), I alternated between a Glock 27 or a Kahr CM4043 for concealed carry purposes. The Shield’s overall length, height and weight makes it more comfortable to carry than either the Glock or Kahr.
The Shield fits my hands. Not every pistol does it as good. The Shield has great balance and is extremely accurate. I cannot comment on its reliability because I have had it only for two months. However, it has handled 400 rounds of mixed brands, types, weights and bullet shapes without a single failure to load, fire or eject. And, I might add, its recoil with all has been manageable.
My Shield does have the peculiarity of an extremely difficult slide to rack and lock using the slide lock. In the beginning of my ownership, moving the slide fully and I mean fully back as far as it can travel, has taken all of my concentration and strength. Its resistant springs are quite similar to that of my Les Baer Premier II when new. The process is now easier having sent 400 rounds down range but when new, racking and locking the slide was almost too much for me to handle.
The Shield is not a recreational target pistol. It is a conceal carry defensive weapon. I consider it to be the best for that purpose of any sidearm I have ever owned.
I would not necessarily recommend it for a new shooter but would do so without hesitation for a gun handler with experience.
The Shield fits my hands. Not every pistol does it as good. The Shield has great balance and is extremely accurate. I cannot comment on its reliability because I have had it only for two months. However, it has handled 400 rounds of mixed brands, types, weights and bullet shapes without a single failure to load, fire or eject. And, I might add, its recoil with all has been manageable.
My Shield does have the peculiarity of an extremely difficult slide to rack and lock using the slide lock. In the beginning of my ownership, moving the slide fully and I mean fully back as far as it can travel, has taken all of my concentration and strength. Its resistant springs are quite similar to that of my Les Baer Premier II when new. The process is now easier having sent 400 rounds down range but when new, racking and locking the slide was almost too much for me to handle.
The Shield is not a recreational target pistol. It is a conceal carry defensive weapon. I consider it to be the best for that purpose of any sidearm I have ever owned.
I would not necessarily recommend it for a new shooter but would do so without hesitation for a gun handler with experience.
cluttonfred
Member
OK, not being from California, I'll bite. What's the "the little yellow middle finger in the magazine well?"
When disassembling the pistol, one must lower the take down lever in order to remove the slide. This is what the manual states to do just before lowering that lever:
"Use a small screwdriver (or a
similar device) to lower the
yellow sear deactivation lever
down
into the magazine well
Note:
the sear deactivation lever is
the yellow part visible inside
the ejection port."
"Use a small screwdriver (or a
similar device) to lower the
yellow sear deactivation lever
down
into the magazine well
Note:
the sear deactivation lever is
the yellow part visible inside
the ejection port."
Mauserguy
Member
The little yellow middle finger is part of the magazine safety, mandated by our glorious socialist overlords in Sacramento. It just complicates the gun handling like Shepsan describes. It adds nothing but complexity. It's a middle finger to us California gun owners.
Mauserguy
PS: I like the Shield, I just don't like the mandates, my little gripe.
Mauserguy
PS: I like the Shield, I just don't like the mandates, my little gripe.
You have the option of
Dropping the mag.
Rack the slide a couple of times to insure an empty chamber.
Lock slide back and move the takedown lever on the gun.
Point the gun in a safe direction.
Release slide and pull trigger to remove the slide, ala Glock
No manipulation of the yellow lever needed if YOU choose.
RenegadeBI
Member
- Joined
- Jan 7, 2015
- Messages
- 2
I like that "little yellow finger", yes, you can disassemble ala Glock, but I'd rather leave the trigger alone! I've had my Shield 9 for over a year now, probably 1500+ rounds through it. The only problem was FTE's with cheap Russian aluminum ammo, which I'll never use again. Love it, it's not as nice to shoot as a full-size Glock, but it's still fun & it's size can't be beat.
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