Some help regarding my next purchase (G19 vs G17 vs Shield)

[MikePGS]

Hello. This weekend I'm looking to buy a pistol. I want something that can be carried but if its a bit large or uncomfortable that's fine. I'm looking at the G19 4th gen, which I haven't held yet, the G17 4th gen and the M&P shield in 9mm. I've shot both the G17 and 19 in 3rd gen quite a bit but never the shield. I am not recoil sensitive in the slightest so I doubt it would be unmanageable. I checked out the G17 at the store and liked how it fit my hand. I will not have the opportunity to test fireany of these before purchasing. My questions are:

Is the 19 so much smaller than the 17 that it makes a considerable difference while carrying?

Is the shield so much smaller than the 19 that it makes sense to get it instead?

If it helps I'm 6' 2" and 250#. Any insight would be greatly appreciated

 

[StrikeFire83]

I'm 5' 10'' and 220 pounds (with a bit of a gut) and I have no problem pocket carrying a Glock 26. The Shield is smaller, thinner, lighter than a 26 in every dimension except height.

But I think you have a lot of soul searching to do, because the Shield/G19 are worlds apart when it comes to carry.

 

[ritepath]

Large and uncomfortable aren't fine when it come to CC.

 

[autospike]

Is the 19 so much smaller than the 17 that it makes a considerable difference while carrying?

For me, yes. The butt of the G17 makes it harder to conceal on me. The bbl length makes my preferred method of carry (AIWB) very difficult - It is better at 4:00. YMMV.


Is the shield so much smaller than the 19 that it makes sense to get it instead?

Designs like the Shield (and the Walther PPS which I also own) are my perfect carry gun. A slim, single stack 9 with an abbreviated grip pretty much disappears on me and fits my hand perfectly.

Keep in mind that you can get a longer magazine for the Shield. I just confirmed that the S&W extended magazine makes the butt of the gun the same size as my G19 with a mag inserted. For me, it's all about the slimness of the pistol (for concealment) and grip (for concealment and fit).

If it helps I'm 6' 2" and 250#.
And that's what makes this so difficult. You have almost a foot on me and you've got over 100lbs on me too. Definitely try to hold and dryfire the S&W to make certain your hand isn't cramped. The Walther PPS has three different mag sizes available and doesn't have the Shield's external safety.

 

[Fred_G]

Can't help you with the Glock guns, but I carry a Shield, daily, love it. Carries well, and has shot well.

It is really the choice of what works best, or is the most comfortable to YOU. Glocks don't work for me, but they work well for millions of people. Maybe shoot a few, possibly try on a couple in a holster?

 

[horsemen61]

Glock 19

 

[viking499]

The Shield is a great carry gun.

 

[Hamfisted]

I own both the G19 and the Shield 9. My vote would be for either the G19 or G26 if it's a serious carry gun. I like the Shield for summer or light clothing carry when you don't have a lot of options. I don't have a gut to hide anything in so it hides under a tee shirt well when carried IWB. The Glocks just shoot better, hold more, and there's no external safety to think about. All of them can benefit from a trigger job though.


-Mike


Shield summer carry in Desantis N87 ....



G26 in Galco "Stow in Go" IWB holster...

 

[Fred_G]

Forgot about the Shield safety... A little dremell, work, and that safety is gone. Drop of black paint, and the Shield is much better.

IMHO, S&W messed up big time on the Shield safety. Honestly forgot I removed it.

 

[dbp]

Forgot about the Shield safety... A little dremell, work, and that safety is gone. Drop of black paint, and the Shield is much better.

IMHO, S&W messed up big time on the Shield safety. Honestly forgot I removed it.

How does that safety work way up there on the serrations?

I had a Glock 26 and liked it a lot. Sold it and got the Shield. Much slimmer and more comfortable for me to carry. I like it a lot even with the safety. I practice drawing and swiping off every day. To each his own I guess.

 

[powwowell]

I've owned two Shields and sold both of them. A Shield may be comfortable to carry, but when it comes to actually firing, they compare sadly with my G17 and G19. Stock Shield triggers make stock Glock triggers shine!

Why wouldn't anyone be more comfortable with 15, or 17, rounds vs. the max of 8 rounds from the Shield?

 

[JDGray]

I own a 17, grip fits my hands better than a 19. I prefer the slightly wider grooves on the full size. As far as carry goes, lighter the better! I like a full grip for shootability, and went with a CW9. YMMV, but I don't like safeties on my carry guns...

 

[bullseyebob47]

am i the only one who bought a shield because it has a safety! i could never get comfortable carrying a glock with one in the chamber.

 

[hentown]

I don't know why the Shield is even in the mix!?? Why not choose between the G19 and G26? While you're at it, the best thing you could do for your personal well-being and safety would be to knock off about 50#!

I carry a G26 daily. Just got a threaded barrel for it from Lonewolf, so I can shoot it suppressed.

 

[Hunter991]

Not even in the same league. The shield is smaller an easier to carry than the 19 or 17. I vote shield. I have one and iys one of my favorite carry guns.

 

[jjones45]

Well for ccw the 17 is definitely out, it's a full size service weapon that can be carried concealed, but why? 19 is the perfect package of size vs capacity. I want a shield really bad but some reason my last two gun purchases I chose other weapons. These are all great weapons. But really comparing a 17 to a shield is apples to oranges

 

[dbp]

I've owned two Shields and sold both of them. A Shield may be comfortable to carry, but when it comes to actually firing, they compare sadly with my G17 and G19. Stock Shield triggers make stock Glock triggers shine!

Why wouldn't anyone be more comfortable with 15, or 17, rounds vs. the max of 8 rounds from the Shield?

They compared sadly for you. For me, I was more accurate the first time out with the Shield than I was after two years with the G26. I just recently put an Apex trigger kit on my Shield and that has been an absolute great addition.

Listen, I loved my Glock, but the Shield just works better for me personally. And with the 7 round mag and 8 rounder in my pocket, I feel adequately armed.

am i the only one who bought a shield because it has a safety! i could never get comfortable carrying a glock with one in the chamber

Amen to that. Hope you never get anything caught up in the trigger guard while holstering your Glock.

 

[AK103K]

Is the 19 so much smaller than the 17 that it makes a considerable difference while carrying?

I have both, and carry a 17 daily.

When you lay one on top of the other, there really isnt much difference in size, or at least to me, its not enough to be noticeable.

I do find the 19's grip to be cramped, and somewhat uncomfortable for me.

Personally, I really dont get the 19's place in the scheme of things. I can easily carry it or a 17, so why not the 17? Its also bigger than the 26, and enough so, that it cant go places the 26 does, so again, why the 19?

 

[JTQ]

Personally, I really dont get the 19's place in the scheme of things. I can easily carry it or a 17, so why not the 17? Its also bigger than the 26, and enough so, that it cant go places the 26 does, so again, why the 19?

That's always been my thought, but I'll readily admit I'm in the minority. The G19 is nearly always praised as being the perfect size. It's possible you and I are the only ones that think differently.

 

[Godsgunman]

Quite a difference in the guns you are considering. I'm not a fan of Glocks because of the crappy triggers. If you like them I would say the 19 would work the best for still being concealable and high round count. If you go with a m&p I would actually suggest a m&p compact over the shield. Basically the same dimensions as the shield except the shield is taller and carries 5 less rounds. Height is the main factor in concealability so the compact has more rounds and more concealable. Size wise it falls right in between the G26 and G19. Just my opinion though. See which one fits you the best.

 

[MikePGS]

Really my big issue is that I have no reference point as to what would be comfortable for carry. I have no expectations that I'll be able to try on a holster or anything. I really appreciate the input so far, I'll have to add the M&P compact to my short list.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using Tapatalk 2

 

[c0nspire]

I own all three of these, so let me take a stab...

"Is the 19 so much smaller than the 17 that it makes a considerable difference while carrying?"

A: I'm 6' 1", 220lbs. I would not want to conceal carry a G17 daily. It's doable, but for me not ideal. For one, where CC is concerned, there isn't anything the 17 does that the 19 doesn't do just as well (2 extra rounds of 9mm not withstanding). Obviously the 19 is going to be smaller and lighter. Second, I am almost always going to be sitting in the car when I carry, and with the gun in the 3-3:30 position, the butt of a G17 interferes too much with my car seat.

Is the shield so much smaller than the 19 that it makes sense to get it instead?

A: That depends. There have been rare occasions when I would like to carry something smaller than the G19 but I have never "needed" anything smaller than the G19. Your daily routine and the way you dress is going to play a huge part in this decision (if you wear a suit, the Shield may start to become more attractive). The difference in ammo capacity between these two is significant as well. With my spare mag I have nearly 30 rounds at hand when I carry the 19.

If it were me, I'd go with the G19. The shield is a great gun, but capacity is significantly less than the 19. The 19 is also a bit easier to shoot, and reload, and has slightly less muzzle flip, making it faster to shoot accurately. I'm slightly more accurate with a 19, and I enjoy shooting the 19 more than the Shield.

YMMV. Good luck!

 

[guyfromohio]

Before you purchase, take a good look at the Walther PPS. I picked one up today and put 225 flawless, accurate, comfortable rounds through it.

 

[Rexster]

I find a G17 conceals well enough, on my body, if worn just behind the point of the hip, so the drape of the concealing garment, hanging from my fairly wide shoulders, conceals the grip frame. Indeed, the most likely part of a Glock to "print" against my clothing, at this carry position, is the outside corner of the rear of the blocky slide. The only difference the G19 would make, in this case, is I would be more free to lean a bit forward than with a G17.

For carry on the point of the hip, or more forward, on my body, concealing a G17's longer grip becomes hopeless, unless I am wearing something like a large voluminously-cut raincoat. A G19 is the largest pistol I can conceal in the "appendix" position, and I just bought my second Gen4 G19, after started again with Glocks, with a G17 in 2012. (My prior Glock period was ten to twelve years ago.)

I have no experience with the Shield, and until S&W starts making them without the thumb safety, I will continue to disregard the Shield. I reliably engage a 1911's thumb safety, upon the draw, but am concerned I will fail to properly engage the safety on a down-sized pistol. I prefer carrying hand-filling pistols, anyway; the Shield looks a bit diminutive.

FWIW, I am 6' 00", and weigh about 165-175#. If I did not have extra curves in my spine, (kiphosis and scoliosis) I would probably be an inch or two taller, like my brothers, so I am leaner than the author of the original post.

 

[BYJO4]

I shot all three plus a few others before buying. I shot the Glock 19 Gen4 best and decided to buy. After 2000 rounds, I'm very happy and feel that I made the right choice for me.