I have both the 9mm compact and the 9mm shield. I got the 9c first. I carry strictly for concealment. It was pretty easy to conceal the 9c with the 12 round compact mags. I also bought the X-Grip sleeve to be used on the full size 17 round mags. Then I was able to find the 9mm Shield. To me, it felt better in the hand, the recoil was more manageable because of the dual spring guide rod compared to the 9c, and it feels better concealed because it is not as thick as the 9c. Yes you do lose rounds if you decide to carry the Shield. But hopefully you'll be able to stop a threat with 8 rounds including an extra mag. But it's all about how they feel to you and how comfortable they are to you. Just because I prefer the Shield over the 9c, doesn't mean that you're going to feel the same. Try them both out to see how they feel at your LGS or if you have a range close to you that rents them then you could test fire to see how they shoot and the feel of the recoil. Just my $.02
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