My input....
If you are new to the shooting sports & CCW, you can get a few products & services to guide you.
First, Id suggest obtaining proper classroom training or skills(tactics). Standing in front of a paper target is
not the same as knowing how to properly use a firearm in a critical incident.
Learn & understand the gun/lethal force laws in your area too. Having a plan or a criminal defense atty available
before a lethal force event is a good idea. I'd look at a pre-paid legal network like
www.CCWsafe.com too. Some forum members may knock them but I can see the merit(s) of it.
Buy or get decent holsters & gear. Don't go cheap!
As for holsters, there are many choices. Id suggest a horsehide rig if possible. It's long lasting & works great. Many armed professionals use horsehide holsters for the duty weapons/CC gear. Custom shops are great too but be ready to wait a few weeks to several months for high end holsters.
I like the Wright Leather Works Predator series. It's a leather strong side holster that offers a side-shield(that protects the gun & keeps it from bumping your side/clothes) & a band to allow one-handed reholstering.
Being able to holster a firearm one handed w/o effort or holstering without looking at the holster is a requirement for a carry/duty holster.
Some gun owners or forum members may say; "hey, so what" but
they aren't going to be anywhere near you in a real lethal force incident.
Keep your M&P clean and check it often before you carry-use it. In 2014, there are many, many top gun care items available. Dirt, rust, lint, dust, etc
can work into any carry gun. A semi auto pistol
will fail if not properly cleaned/serviced. Good CLPs for a M&P Shield include these brands; Slip2000, LPX, FrogLube, Weaponshield, Ballistol, Gunzilla, IGG.
A Hoppes Bore Snake Viper is handy & speeds up barrel cleaning.
Some gun owners & cops think M&Ps need a lot of custom work to run correctly. Other than after market night sights like the Trijicon HDs or XS Big Dot tritium Id say no. Can they help? Sure. Are they a requirement? Nope!
In closing, Id suggest using only
factory made high quality rounds for carry or defense. No reloaded rounds or hand loads. Some reloaders or hunters say they can make great pistol loads but are they going to come testify in your court trial?
Major brands like Speer Gold Dot, CorBon, Hornady, Winchester, Black Hills, HST, etc are all good for defense. I'd avoid the Remington Golden Saber rounds. I purchased a 185gr +P JHP box($28.00 USD
) in central PA(11/2013) that were sub-par. The nickel cases & brass looked dented/deformed. They bullets had a strange red-brown tinge on them too.
The newer Critical Duty .40, .45acp, .357sig, 9mm & the Corbon DPX series would do very well. My friend uses DPX .38spl rounds in his Ruger LCR revolver.
Rusty
www.nra.org www.natchezss.com www.midwayusa.com www.gunvideo.com www.handgunlaw.us www.gunlawguide.com www.deltapress.com www.galls.com www.policehq.com www.miltsparks.com www.usgalco.com www.donhume.com www.blade-tech.com www.safariland.com www.tedblockerholsters.com www.uscav.com www.massadayoobgroup.com