Glock vs S&W Shield

[sirgilligan]

I just shot the Glock 43 and the S&W M&P 9 Shield, each one 100 rounds. I shot five rounds in one and then the other, over and over.

Disclaimer, I prefer my Browning HP and CZ's over all other semi-auto handguns. I have shot many different handguns and find them all to be interesting. I do not own a polymer frame handgun of any brand at this moment. I do want to shoot the Walthers and the new CZ.

After shooting them I personally wouldn't buy either over a revolver.

I do rank the S&W over the Glock.
1) Better Trigger
2) Better magazine release
3) Less felt recoil
4) Didn't whack my off hand with slide
5) No trigger finger "sting" like the Glock
6) Easier to hold. The Glock felt like it was going to flip loose at times.

Glock did have a better ejection pattern, but these were range guns and the S&W could be dirty. The S&W put a few on top of my head and down my shirt.

Those are just my opinions.

 

[FL-NC]

As a heavy Glock user, I agree with your assessment. I bought the shield years ago, stupidly sold it when a G43 became available. Shot the 43, and was totally unsatisfied (the only Glock besides the 42 I absolutely didn't like, at all). Happily sold the 43 immediately after locating a good deal on a used shield.

 

[HamSlamma]

,,,,,you should buy the .45 Shield!

 

[Ks5shooter]

Owned two Glocks sold them both....no remorse,they just didn't do it for me

 

[Peakbagger46]

That’s odd that you think the trigger is better on the Shield. The trigger reset and slick grips are my only real (and somewhat minor) complaints about the Shield.

 

[Wisco]

The trigger is the main reason I went from the Shield to the G43.

Shield is a great gun though.

 

[sirgilligan]

On these two I shot, the trigger was shorter on the Shield and the Glock gave me a sting to the finger much like an LCP.

 

[jonb32248]

Try the Walther PPS M2. I just got one from Buds and love it. $315. Comes with 3 mags 6,7,8 rds. Very well made.

 

[1KPerDay]

I prefer the Kahr PM9 over the glock or S&W, and is the only one of the three suitable for pocket carry IMO. But the shield with an Apex trigger kit is a dang good pistol.

 

[JohnBiltz]

Matter of taste and preference really. Both pretty good guns. I think the Shield edges out the Glock personally. I would not sell one to buy the other either way.

 

[jjones45]

The new sig p365 might have them all beat, we shall see

 

[bassjam]

Thanks for the assessment. It's just more of a reminder that I messed up by not buying a Shield when the huge rebate program was going on last year!

 

[JO JO]

“messed up by not buying a Shield when the huge rebate program was going on last year!”

I almost bought a second one during the rebate I have a shield 40 for edc no issues at all, I thought I read the shields on rebate were last version shield and the current one now is a shield 2 slightly different
Maybe that’s why such a huge rebate they had an overstocked of shield 1 and needed to draw down the inventory to make room for shield version 2 ,

 

[hAkron]

I've never fired the 43, but I have a shield, and I really like it. I have average sized hands, and I did have to put one of those rubber hogue 'Handall' grip deals on it to make it wide enough to my hand, but other than that, it shoots great, and you forget it's tiny gun when you are shooting it. The sights are better than most stock glock sights as well. My shield is a gen 1.

 

[joed]

I've owned a GLOCK 26 for a few years and purchased a Shield 2 years ago. My opinion? I'd take the GLOCK over the Shield. The GLOCK just keeps working regardless of how dirty it is. You could probably run it over with a truck and it would still work flawlessly.

The Shield? When I first bought it I spent 1 hour trying to load 2 magazines. After 2 years they haven't gotten any easier to load. The GLOCK did this when new but after a month I could load them by hand. I can't see the Shield being used by LE with the hassle of loading the mags. Someone will pop in here and mention you need a tool to load the mags. Why? I've never owned an auto that can't be loaded without a tool. My opinion is this is a design flaw.

Other then the ordeal of loading mags I have no complaints about the Shield. It carries well and is accurate.

 

[Klint Beastwood]

,,,,,you should buy the .45 Shield!

That’s my edc. I got rid of the shield 9 since I’m keep all my handguns the same caliber, but they improved the back wall/trigger on the shield 45 and it handles the .45 cartridge very well for its size.

 

[jdmb03]

I bought the 2.0 and it's awesome. The G43 is too small for my liking.

 

[jdmb03]

I've owned a GLOCK 26 for a few years and purchased a Shield 2 years ago. My opinion? I'd take the GLOCK over the Shield. The GLOCK just keeps working regardless of how dirty it is. You could probably run it over with a truck and it would still work flawlessly.

The Shield? When I first bought it I spent 1 hour trying to load 2 magazines. After 2 years they haven't gotten any easier to load. The GLOCK did this when new but after a month I could load them by hand. I can't see the Shield being used by LE with the hassle of loading the mags. Someone will pop in here and mention you need a tool to load the mags. Why? I've never owned an auto that can't be loaded without a tool. My opinion is this is a design flaw.

Other then the ordeal of loading mags I have no complaints about the Shield. It carries well and is accurate.

An hour, really?

 

[joed]

An hour, really?

Yes, it was that bad when new. I'm not sure what's going on but I think the springs in those mags are stiffer then the springs on my truck. I've actually thought about taking them apart to see what's going on. This gun is 2 years old and I can not load it without the help of a loader. Yet they feed fine when firing.

It's first gen and I saw they had mag problems initially.

 

[bassjam]

I've owned a GLOCK 26 for a few years and purchased a Shield 2 years ago. My opinion? I'd take the GLOCK over the Shield. The GLOCK just keeps working regardless of how dirty it is. You could probably run it over with a truck and it would still work flawlessly.

The Shield? When I first bought it I spent 1 hour trying to load 2 magazines. After 2 years they haven't gotten any easier to load. The GLOCK did this when new but after a month I could load them by hand. I can't see the Shield being used by LE with the hassle of loading the mags. Someone will pop in here and mention you need a tool to load the mags. Why? I've never owned an auto that can't be loaded without a tool. My opinion is this is a design flaw.

Other then the ordeal of loading mags I have no complaints about the Shield. It carries well and is accurate.

I can't see the Shield being used by LE either, but that's because it's a single stack micro-9 that's not really comparable to a duty gun.

But a Uplula is REALLY nice to have. I bought mine for my SIG P938 which was also tough to get the last round in at first, but now I use it all the time even on my larger guns. It really saves your fingers and extends your shooting sessions regardless of what you're shooting (especially in the winter when your fingers are cold).

 

[JDR]

Try the Walther PPS M2. I just got one from Buds and love it. $315. Comes with 3 mags 6,7,8 rds. Very well made.

Agree 100%, I’ve had mine 2 yrs. now and I’ve put over 5,000 rounds through it. I think the PPS-M2 is one of the most shootable small carry guns that I’ve come across.

 

[<*(((><]

Try the Walther PPS M2. I just got one from Buds and love it. $315. Comes with 3 mags 6,7,8 rds. Very well made.

Agree 100%, I’ve had mine 2 yrs. now and I’ve put over 5,000 rounds through it. I think the PPS-M2 is one of the most shootable small carry guns that I’ve come across.

I love my Walther PPS M2 it fits my hand like a glove and has a great trigger!

My three carry's are Ruger LCP for when I have a tucked in shirt (church), Walther PPS M2 my most carried and I just puchased a CZ PCR that I've been wanting to try out for winter carry when I can conceal something slightly larger with more capacity. But anticipate the Walther will still get the most use.

But since you like CZ's have you considered looking at a PCR. I can put my PCR in my Walther PPS M2 IWB holster and it fits just fine, just something to consider. It is heavier and fatter in the grip so it prints a little more.

 

[ATLDave]

I think we should all take a moment to enjoy the fact that we are living in the golden age of lightweight, sub-compact service-caliber pistols that combine reliability and shootability. None of these kinds of gun will ever be as much fun, nor as high-performing, to shoot as larger guns, but the industry really does have this technology figured out.

 

[<*(((><]

I know you had this thread up as a Glock vs Shield and those two are very good firearms in their own respect, however like @ATLDave said we are in the golden age of sub-compacts. The just released Sig 365 looks very good from a size / compacity standpoint. Something to consider if one can wait and see how those look when they come out, as 10+1 rounds in the size of the Glock and Shield you are looking at and my Walther for that matter is ridiculous. I've never owned a Sig but that got my attention to be sure.

I guess what I'm saying is there are so many great sub-compacts out there to get your hands on and see which one speaks to you and hopefully be able to test drive it at a range to make a decision. However, one is not out that much money if one purchases one and doesn't like it and sells it down the road. Most the time you are only losing $40-50, and if that helps in making a decision on a firearm you're potentially betting your life on then it's worth it.

And if you're set on either the Glock or Shield then no problems there, just throwing things out there. Out of those two it seems like the Shield fit you better, besides the errant ejection pattern.

 

[bassjam]

I think we should all take a moment to enjoy the fact that we are living in the golden age of lightweight, sub-compact service-caliber pistols that combine reliability and shootability. None of these kinds of gun will ever be as much fun, nor as high-performing, to shoot as larger guns, but the industry really does have this technology figured out.

Very true. I had no desire to own a double stack subcompact and even after I got my conceal carry license never carried until the LCP came out. Now the amount of choices is getting extremely good!!!