This is my fist review, so bare with me. I wanted to include some pictures, but they kept coming out fuzzy, so I just left them off.
I wanted to post a review here on my newest acquisition, a S&W M&P Shield 9mm. First how I got here. I had been using a Ruger LC9 for that last several months as my CCW. I had it out shooting again this weekend, and after almost 1000 rounds and months of shooting, I still could not do better than 6 inch groups at 7 yards. While that is probably good enough for a subcompact defensive pistol, I wanted better. With my larger pieces, Glocks, Sigs, and Baretta, I can easily shoot 2 inch groups of less out to 15 yards without difficulty. So I was looking to replace my LC9. I happened by my regular LGS and the first thing Dave hands me before I even tell him what I am looking for is the Shield. Needless to say, I didn’t put it down until I had to fill out the paperwork to take it home.
The ergonomics are perfect. It is a single stack that easily fits in the hand, but the palm swells give you enough to hold onto. The stippling provides traction without leaving marks or taking skin, and it doesn’t catch on clothes either. While it does not come with the interchangeable back straps, the grip seems to “fit” everyone that has held it, large and small. Like all Smiths. The fit and finish is excellent, and I believe that it will be durable like the rest of the line. The sights are of the 3-dot variety, and set as far to the ends of the slide giving the shooter the best possible sight radius. I found them to be highly effective and could shoot a 3 inch group out to 15 yards. Now on to the best part of this pistol: TRIGGER! If you are familiar with the M&P line, then you know that the trigger is acceptable, but nothing to write home about. That is after all one of the main reasons for the introduction of the M&P Pro Series. The stock trigger on the Shield is better! There are rumors about an enhanced APEX carry package for it, but I cannot possibly see why you would change anything. The trigger is smooth, short, crisp, devoid of any stacking, and has a very positive reset, pretty much everything you always wished and M&P trigger would have. Smith really got it right with this one! It comes with 2 factory mags. One is a flush fitting 7rounder that lets about half my pinky to catch on. The other is an 8round with built-on gap filler to provide a full firing grip.
A lot of research and planning clearly went into the development and release of this pistol. Some of the major holster manufacturers were given advanced molds to begin making holsters even before the pistol was released. I current am using a yaqi style holster, but am looking at options from Galco, Desantis, and Blackhawk! Extra mags are hard to find right now, but that is workable as the pistol comes with two. I have no doubts that more accessories will pop up as I predict this will become a very popular choice for CCW and LEO BUG.
At the range I fired 100 rounds of 115gr PMC fmj to break it in. Zero malfunctions, zero FTFs. Everything worked exactly as it should. I found the recoil to be surprising tame for as light as the pistol is. Rapid fire was easy and controllable. At 5 yards I would dump a mag into 1-2 inch hold. At 15 yards, 2 inch groups or aimed fire were the normal. I then tested my usual carry round, 125gr Remington Golden Sabres. Like the 100 rounds before them, 25 of these went off without a hitch, and shot just as the accurately as the PMC.
In all, I could not be more pleased with this pistol, and would recommend it to anyone looking for a 9mm CCW of BUG. There are rumors that a .40SW coming in the future if you like a bigger hole.
I wanted to post a review here on my newest acquisition, a S&W M&P Shield 9mm. First how I got here. I had been using a Ruger LC9 for that last several months as my CCW. I had it out shooting again this weekend, and after almost 1000 rounds and months of shooting, I still could not do better than 6 inch groups at 7 yards. While that is probably good enough for a subcompact defensive pistol, I wanted better. With my larger pieces, Glocks, Sigs, and Baretta, I can easily shoot 2 inch groups of less out to 15 yards without difficulty. So I was looking to replace my LC9. I happened by my regular LGS and the first thing Dave hands me before I even tell him what I am looking for is the Shield. Needless to say, I didn’t put it down until I had to fill out the paperwork to take it home.
The ergonomics are perfect. It is a single stack that easily fits in the hand, but the palm swells give you enough to hold onto. The stippling provides traction without leaving marks or taking skin, and it doesn’t catch on clothes either. While it does not come with the interchangeable back straps, the grip seems to “fit” everyone that has held it, large and small. Like all Smiths. The fit and finish is excellent, and I believe that it will be durable like the rest of the line. The sights are of the 3-dot variety, and set as far to the ends of the slide giving the shooter the best possible sight radius. I found them to be highly effective and could shoot a 3 inch group out to 15 yards. Now on to the best part of this pistol: TRIGGER! If you are familiar with the M&P line, then you know that the trigger is acceptable, but nothing to write home about. That is after all one of the main reasons for the introduction of the M&P Pro Series. The stock trigger on the Shield is better! There are rumors about an enhanced APEX carry package for it, but I cannot possibly see why you would change anything. The trigger is smooth, short, crisp, devoid of any stacking, and has a very positive reset, pretty much everything you always wished and M&P trigger would have. Smith really got it right with this one! It comes with 2 factory mags. One is a flush fitting 7rounder that lets about half my pinky to catch on. The other is an 8round with built-on gap filler to provide a full firing grip.
A lot of research and planning clearly went into the development and release of this pistol. Some of the major holster manufacturers were given advanced molds to begin making holsters even before the pistol was released. I current am using a yaqi style holster, but am looking at options from Galco, Desantis, and Blackhawk! Extra mags are hard to find right now, but that is workable as the pistol comes with two. I have no doubts that more accessories will pop up as I predict this will become a very popular choice for CCW and LEO BUG.
At the range I fired 100 rounds of 115gr PMC fmj to break it in. Zero malfunctions, zero FTFs. Everything worked exactly as it should. I found the recoil to be surprising tame for as light as the pistol is. Rapid fire was easy and controllable. At 5 yards I would dump a mag into 1-2 inch hold. At 15 yards, 2 inch groups or aimed fire were the normal. I then tested my usual carry round, 125gr Remington Golden Sabres. Like the 100 rounds before them, 25 of these went off without a hitch, and shot just as the accurately as the PMC.
In all, I could not be more pleased with this pistol, and would recommend it to anyone looking for a 9mm CCW of BUG. There are rumors that a .40SW coming in the future if you like a bigger hole.
