S&W M&P Shield is a keeper!

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GunnerShotz

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I finally made it to the range today with the Shield. First time buying a gun as recently released as this one; but I can now confidently confirm all the good things being said about it in the more comprehensive reviews.

Keynotes:

1. It's slim and lightweight enough to easily carry IWB or even pocket. I'll carry IWB myself.
2. It feels good and points well in my small to medium size hands.
3. It's obviously well made (good job S&W!).
4. The trigger break and reset are as short and brisk as you've heard. Very nice!
5. The recoil is astonishingly light for a pistol this size!! I'd go so far as to say it's pleasant, no joke.
6. It's at least as accurate as I am, which isn't saying all That much; but I Will assure you I was getting some good groups.
7. Piece of cake to strip and clean.
8. Reliable... ? Yep. I'm more than confident now that it will be!

Just 150 rounds today but zero FTF. I expect that will continue. Only one small hitch experienced when switching out mags. That had entirely to do with the spacer on the extended mag slipping up a bit from the base and not allowing it to seat with a 'normal' slap (as demonstrated by sturmgewehre in his Excellent review). Honestly, the 'pinkie rest' wasn't making much of a difference for me in overall accuracy or comfort. Any extra mags I get for this will probably be the flush fitting 7 round.

I couldn't help posting this folks... because I'm a Very happy camper :)
 
I did note that the extended magazine spacer has a tendency to pop out for some reason. It would be nice to have stronger retention on that.
 
I got the M&P Shield 40 last week, I fell in love immediately. I have had ZERO reliability issues with it and it's very accurate. It quickly became my favorite pistol. I'm currently in the market for a 9mm Shield for my wife but they are impossible to find right now. If you find one of these guns, don't hesitate, they rock! :D
 
Well, not to rain on everyone's parade, but:
1. I don't care for the extended magazine design - it would be better if the sleeve was part of the bottom plate and could not move.
2. Not really impressed with the trigger, despite what everyone says. The internals may have a crisp action, etc, but that darn articulated / plastic? trigger feels a bit on the spongy side to me. I have an LC9, and despite the long trigger pull, it's smooth, and you can tell what's going on at every point in its travel.
I'd rank the LC9 slightly above the SHIELD AFA triggers.
3. Wish the magazines were black like my M&P 357 SIG. I prefer concealed / discreet carry, and those darn silver magazines are real eye catchers when in a pouch on your belt. If they were black, they'd be much less noticeable.

And yeah, I do own a 9mm SHIELD.
 
Thanks for the post Gunner, and I agree with you completely, especially gun handling. Just for kicks I shot my LCP and Bersa 380, then shot my Shield 9mm. The Shield is so much better to shoot, and with a better self-defense round! I carry different guns depending on destination and wardrobe, and the Shield will probably get the most carry time of all.
 
basicblur said:
Well, not to rain on everyone's parade, but:
1. I don't care for the extended magazine design - it would be better if the sleeve was part of the bottom plate and could not move.
2. Not really impressed with the trigger, despite what everyone says. The internals may have a crisp action, etc, but that darn articulated / plastic? trigger feels a bit on the spongy side to me. I have an LC9, and despite the long trigger pull, it's smooth, and you can tell what's going on at every point in its travel.
I'd rank the LC9 slightly above the SHIELD AFA triggers.
3. Wish the magazines were black like my M&P 357 SIG. I prefer concealed / discreet carry, and those darn silver magazines are real eye catchers when in a pouch on your belt. If they were black, they'd be much less noticeable.

And yeah, I do own a 9mm SHIELD.
Click to expand...
1. Agreed
2. Have you used a Glock? Talk about spongy. The Shield has that beat in spades.
3. Who's staring at your mags? If someone can see light glare off them, then you are obviously not being too discreet. Black, stainless, or even purple; can't see them, no matter what color or finish if they're concealed properly.
 
Go do it. It is by far my fav subcompact I have ever owned. I am up to 850 rounds thru mine in just three range trips
 
Who's staring at your mags? If someone can see light glare off them, then you are obviously not being too discreet. Black, stainless, or even purple; can't see them, no matter what color or finish if they're concealed properly.
Click to expand...
While not against OC, before they changed the law in VA, I had to remove my coat just before I walked in the door before eating at certain restaurants since you could not CC (but could OC) in restaurants that served alcohol.
My gun, holster, and pants are all black, and as such, I doubt anyone in the restaurant even noticed - if I'd had those shiny mags on my belt at the time, they would have stood out like a sore thumb.

For it's intended purpose (for most folks?), you'd think someone would have thought to make the mags all black -I wonder why some in the M&P line are and some aren't? I bought a used police special M&P 357 SIG, and the magazines are black - wonder if some LE prefer / specify black mags?

I just bought a few Wilson Combat magazines for my 1991-A1 Compact. I notice at Wilson, if you buy the magazines with the extended base plate (I assume these are for competition shooters?), the magazines are silver. If you buy the same magazine in black, it also comes with the smallest extended baseplate Wilson makes - apparently, Wilson realizes folks wanting to conceal / be discreet would prefer black magazines and minimalist base plates? (You can purchase 3-packs of baseplates of your choice to mix / match).

I'm just sayin'...looks like someone at Wilson has put a little thought into this - mebbe S&W should also?

I've yet to find a mag pouch holder with a flap to completely cover the magazine unless you get into duty type magazine holders.
 
Have you used a Glock? Talk about spongy. The Shield has that beat in spades.
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Never shot a Glock - way back when I bought my first polymer gun, I handled 'em, came home and did my research (research first, buy second!), and walked out with a Sigma!

I wish these folks would just get away from the plastic / articulated triggers as on the SHIELD. Folks whine 'bout triggers like the LC9, but there's a lot to be said for a metal trigger and hammer fired gun (I guess they keep trying to make striker-fired guns feel like hammer fired?)
 
Save more money and get a Sig.
Click to expand...

Nice to see you again. Let's see - you said the same thing here on Page 2:

http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_5_16/125697_Are_there_real_issues_with_the_Shield_.html&page=2



Then, there was post #6 here:

http://www.glocktalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1423303




There was also the 2nd to last post here:

http://sigforum.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/430601935/m/6950036982



So, this thread here makes 4 total that I have seen in the last day or so. Maybe all of us should go search out Sig 239 threads and suggest to everyone that they should buy a Shield? Hmm?



EDIT - oh wait - you're here too on post #4:

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=489214&highlight=shield


Really making the rounds I see... What else should we hurry up and do?



Double Edit - oh wait - one more :) Oh, and one more (#31):

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=660083
 
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Just as a side note, . . . I happened to pick up and handle another pistol that WAS in the running [with the Shield], . . . the Sig P938, . . . and after handling it and doing a dry fire, . . . . . I would NOT be interested in buying that Sig. I have yet to hold and dry fire a Shield, and have no preconceived notions about it. If there is something I don't like about it, I will pass it by. However, all this to say, . . . someone can make a suggestion all they want, but each person has their likes and dislikes.
 
I picked up a Shield today and plan to put some rounds through it tomorrow. I am excited. It feels pretty good in my hand.

Todd


Sent via Todd's IPhone using Tapatalk.
 
I passed as it won't pocket carry, the lc9 will. that was the decision maker. I have enough small guns, the lc9 will replace the lcp. It goes bang every time and has a laser. The shield looks nicer, but is a bit too large to pocket carry. that was the deal breaker. For me there was a specific purpose for it, of the Nano, sig, ruger and M&P, the lc9 is the only one that I can carry as a bug in my trouser pocket. Using a "sticky" holster it sits on the inside edge of my everyday pants and allows a hands on weapon, if you think you may have a problem on the way.I need a gun that goes into action in an instant.I almost bought the shield but both countermen and I shook our heads, at the idea of sliding it in a front pocket.
 
Shipwreck, . . . thanks. More evidence that this guy is myopic.

The guy after him made an excellent point.
 
I passed as it won't pocket carry, the lc9 will. that was the decision maker. I have enough small guns, the lc9 will replace the lcp. It goes bang every time and has a laser. The shield looks nicer, but is a bit too large to pocket carry. that was the deal breaker. For me there was a specific purpose for it, of the Nano, sig, ruger and M&P, the lc9 is the only one that I can carry as a bug in my trouser pocket. Using a "sticky" holster it sits on the inside edge of my everyday pants and allows a hands on weapon, if you think you may have a problem on the way.I need a gun that goes into action in an instant.I almost bought the shield but both countermen and I shook our heads, at the idea of sliding it in a front pocket.
Click to expand...

I didn't know they were that big. I can't find one in this area to handle.

The LC9 seems too large for pocket carry to me.

Is anyone carrying the shield in a front pocket?
 
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