WAS going to get a Shield until I held on and operated it.

[kris7047th]

One handed racking, off your clothes, for clearing malfunctions quickly .. A lot easier for me to grip the slide for racking back. I have weak wrists/fingers and this takes the slippage out of it. Now the other guys who get their gun serrated through Doug do it because they train hard with a local trainer and they get their hands grubby, sweaty wet. I had my M&P9c done two years ago .. so much easier to grip the slide without slipping. Many women, like myself have weak hands and racking a semi auto is often an issue.

From what I hear, S&W will be producing M&Ps with the full serrations in the future. This guy came up with the idea for one handed racking and took it to Doug at ATEi for production. The vid below was an impromptu done two years ago at Doug's shop.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGp5MGi_w7w&feature=player_embedded

 

[batmann]

Have you thoght about a Kahr P-9? Lighter, just as flat and no external safety like a Glock.

 

[Roadking Rider]

I had a shield in my hands yesterday at the gun range, it seemed like a nice pistol with a nice feel and balance. Having said that though it isn't anything I'd ever trade my PM9 for. Now the XDs in a 9mm that could be a possibility. Time will tell.

 

[PabloJ]

The gun seems to be suitable for folks with tiny hands and big circumference around the waist area. Other that select group most would be better served with S&W M&P9c or better yet Glock 26. I can see usefulness of something like R9 but not the Shield.

 

[Orion8472]

Pablo, I would have thought that a skinny pistol would be better for skinny people, not those with "a big circumference around the waist area".

 

[Roadking Rider]

That's one of the benifits of having a 36 inch waste ,you can carry pretty much anything. Seriously I have no problems carrying a PM9 a Glock 26 or a 1911 IWB.

 

[jfrey]

To each his own. I have fairly large hands, normal wrists and the Shield fits me just fine. I wouldn't have a G26. Too short a grip. G19 and G36 suit me much better. I got my Shield because some of us have "love handles" and OWB is the best way for me to carry. The Shield or a PPS completely disappears OWB and the Shield has a better trigger. YMMV

 

[LightningMan]

Orion8472 Quote;Pablo, I would have thought that a skinny pistol would be better for skinny people, not those with "a big circumference around the waist area".
It's not that simple, it has to do with body shape than thick or thin. I have a 32" waist, but wear XL shirts because after years of weight lifting my chest & shoulders are wider/larger than most men of my size. I only weigh 180 lbs. anymore, but because of my body shape, I can easily carry a full size pistol with an inside the waist band type holster, and let my shirt tails hang out, thus covering up my CCW. You just have to figure out what works for your body's shape, that's why what works for you may not work for me. LM

 

[kris7047th]

The gun seems to be suitable for folks with tiny hands and big circumference around the waist area. Other that select group most would be better served with S&W M&P9c or better yet Glock 26. I can see usefulness of something like R9 but not the Shield.

Seriously? I happen to be thin, and the friends that I have who own the Shield are built the same way. I have also owned the M&P9c for more than two year, but the Shield really does conceal better on us skinny people and know this from personal experience.
I just love how people state opinions like they are factual, but have never seen a Shield let alone shoot one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7pmjCWSgJU&feature=relmfu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcPr5UwP-Zw

 

[breacher]

Taurus Pt709 or 740. Inexpensive, reliable, accurate, and sweet trigger. (about 3.5 to 4 lbs and crisp) I bought it (PT740) on a whim for an off duty/ backup gun after a bad experience with a Kahr cw9 and have been very impressed with it.

Just for grins I took it to the NRA PPC nationals to compete in the off duty pistol category (3.5 in. barrel or less) against some very pricey custom 1911 style pistols.
There were some strange looks and a few snickers but that all stopped when I collected my 3rd place trophy. It easily hangs with my Glock 22 out to about 15 yds.

I don't plan on pumping umpteen thousands of rds downrange with it, I have bigger Glocks for that, but for everyday carry and a few mags at the range now and then I think it's a nice little pistol.

 

[WRGADog]

I went to my LGS today intending to purchase a Shield or

A Sig P239 SAS. However, after handling both I could find no appreciable advantage in either gun over my Walther PPS. So, I decided not to purchase either. The Shield did not fit my hand as well as my PPS and the PPS is easier to conceal as it is thinner and comes with either 6, 7, or eight round magazines. The P239 is much heavier than the PPS with the same capacity. I realize the weight of the P239 vs PPS is a bit of an unfair discriminator as the P239 is all metal and the PPS is polymer, but carrying the PPS daily will be much easier than the P239. Not knocking the Sig or the Shield it's just that I already own the PPS and didn't see a particular need or advantage with the other guns.

 

[Orion8472]

The Walther PPS is in my running.

 

[vba]

To the OP. Your post is why I chose the M&P9c over the Shield. Too thin in the grip and the 9c was slightly more compact height wise.

 

[Orion8472]

Indeed. I'm still unsure which way I'm going to go. It really put a damper in my potential carry option. I'll figure something out, though.

I DID get a chance to dry fire an SR9c and thought the trigger and reset were very good, so that, along with the fairly thin double stack design, makes it right up there in the running.

 

[jbrown50]

Another gun that you might consider is the Sig P290. It's DAO but the pull is short and hammer fired instead of striker fired. They're around $500 - $600.

A co-worker of mine owns one and I fired it at the range. It's a little heavier than my PM40 and the grip is a little thicker. A nice shooter though and very accurate.

 

[Orion8472]

If the Sig P290 trigger is anything like the Kahr, I will tell you that I won't like it. I want a precise and crisp trigger with little travel. Thanks anyway for the suggestion. BTW, saw Jeff from Gunblast do a review on this gun this week.

 

[YJake]

PPS.

-Jake

 

[Orion8472]

The PPS really IS a good feeling gun. I'd have to get night sights for it, raising the already high price of the gun.