Looking to replace my shield with a 3913 (or single stack 9mm 3rd gen. variant). Anyone have experience with both? The only 3rd gen I have is a 1026...

Have looked for someone to do a side by side of the 2... but no luck. Any insight or advice is welcomed. Thank you in advance.

How about a S&W Shield and a S&W 3953? I have owned two 3913's and two 908's...I prefer the DAO 3953. I bought this Shield and another for my daughter and daughter-in-law, both in 9mm. It is comparable in size to the 3953, slightly thinner, a few ounces lighter. The safeties on the 3913 make it wider by at least 1/2". I enjoy carrying the Shield, and may buy one for myself, but in .40 S&W. Such a gun would be for hiking in north GA, not for CC.

If I were you, I would save up for a 3913 and keep the Shield.

I have become a fan of DeSantis gun leather.

I have a Shield 9 and a 3914 and I've carried both. The Shield is lighter and more comfortable to carry. They both go bang every time.

I know its a S&W forum, but instead of the Shield I ended up with a Ruger LC9s. The trigger on this small Ruger is excellent, and the size is perfect for concealed carry (I mostly carry OWB, but do pocket carry as well and with a Remora holster this gun easily is concealed but drawable even in jeans). The 7+1 is a reasonable capacity, especially compared to the S&W j-frame that is my other carry gun. Plus, the Ruger was very reasonable in price.

Here's the side-by-side.

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My suggestion:
Save up for the 3913...keep the shield.

Ransom. Good to see you back posting!

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Stay protected my friends.

Never ask gun guys if you should sell or trade a gun - they'll always tell you to get the other gun and keep the first one. That's why I love gun guys.....

So many of us are 3rd Generation fans I'm surprised you didn't get bombarded with comments to get the 3913. That's really all I was going to add - because I love 3rd Gen S&Ws!

***GRJ***

I really like the size/feel of the 3913 but I no longer have any da/sa semis. I just prefer the same trigger every time, though never liked the dao versions either. Have 1911s, M&P full size (has the Apex duty/carry kit) and just picked up a Shield (will get the Apex).

It's a personal thing so go with what you can shoot the best.

Thanks! I've been mostly lurking lately.

I agree, it's nice to have both. It's good to have a second gun available. If you should ever have to use your gun, it might be taken by the police as evidence. And what happens if the person you shot has family or friends set on revenge? You wouldn't want to be caught defenseless.

Edit: Oh yeah, you said you have a 1026 too. So you wouldn't be defenseless, but that might be more gun than I'd want to carry around concealed.

I own both a 3913TSW and a 9mm Shield. Love them both. Carry the Shield more. Shoot the 3913 more.

As someone pointed out earlier, they both go bang every time. I think you need at least one of each.

[I just picked up a 3904 that I didn't "need" because I think the 3rd gen guns are a great value so I am kind of biased]

I'd go with the 3913, but I prefer DA/SA trigger over a striker fired trigger. YMMV.

The shield ain't a bad gun and I've almost picked up one in 9mm for CC but haven't yet as my snub m64 and Shorty 45 MK2 have me covered.

Prefer the 3913 to the Shield .40 I tried out.

They're both pretty good pistols, it's more of what style you prefer. I'm the opposite of S&W Fan, as I want the long DA pull on a carry gun. Colby's suggestion of the 3953 might be the best of both worlds, but I wasn't ready to start another collection. Obviously, you would then need a 5946, and so on...

Even though it's lighter, I found the Shield to be slightly harder to conceal when I "experimented" with one. The only way to explain it is when you put the trigger guards side-by-side, where they would sit in a holster. The Shield sat higher on my hip IWB.

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Because of the metric system?

I own a 3913, but haven't gotten around to wanting to buy a Shield 9. I've spent some range time trying out a Shield 9 & Shield 40, though.

I think the Shield 9 is a handy cross between the 3913 and the CS9. It has a similar overall size and feel to it as the 3913, but a barrel more like the CS9 (3.1", versus the 3" CS9 or 3.5" 3913), and the magazine capacity of both (7 & 8-rds).

I found the Shield 9 I tried (belongs to another instructor) to have a nice balance, lively handling and an acceptable trigger. Very accurate and controllable in fast paced drills. Pretty good replacement for the discontinued 3913/variants & the CS9. The thinness of the backstrap is interesting, and I didn't mind it, but some folks might find it almost too thin. Dunno.

Now, my SW999c (think P99 AS 9mm compact) feels slimmer than my 3913/CS9, and has a better trigger, weight and lively balance than my 3rd gen TDA's, the Shield 9 or the M&P 9c (but the M&P 9c has a very controllable felt recoil, because of it's fatter grip/backstrap and heft). Very accurate. Then again, I've spent so many years having to use TDA (DA/SA) guns for work, that I'm quite comfortable with good ones.

If I didn't already own my 3913, CS9, SW999c and a pair of G26's, I'd pick up a Shield 9 and find it more than acceptable.

As it is, I came across what appeared to be a NIB 908S at a gun store the other day. Absolutely pristine and perfect in all respects (and I didn't see it listed as consignment or used). Considering they aren't making them (or any of the 3913 variants) anymore, I was briefly tempted to go back and buy it (asking price was $649?) if it's still there later, as I have a fondness for the 3913 series. I'd probably end up looking around for some steel replacement sights for the original plastic ones, maybe (but I'd leave the plastic guide rod in it, unless it ever actually required replacement). Dunno. If I didn't plan to carry it and run it as roughly as I have my 3913 over the years, it probably wouldn't matter if I left the plastic sights on it, anyway.

Maybe I'll go back and see if it's still there next month. I've already got 'enough' 9mm pistols.

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Ret LE Firearms inst & armorer

J,

Why would you give up the consistent trigger pull on the Shield for the DA/SA trigger on a 3913, and have to deal w/ a decock lever after shooting it?

Is your intention to get away from the striker fired action?

I don't have a 3rd gen Smith, nor have I shot one, but I find something very comforting and familiar about an all-metal, single-stack carry piece. Although I've owned a Shield, and it is a wonderful gun, I would definitely entertain that trade. I hear nothing but good things about the 3rd gen Smiths and am also on the look-out for one of my own. I say go for it.

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Matthew 5:9

Finding a good 3913 is going to continue to become increasingly harder since they aren't in commercial production anymore.

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Ret LE Firearms inst & armorer

I have had this 3913LS for 7-8 years and carry it some. It's very accurate with about any 115 grain JHP and pretty easy to conceal. I LIKE DA/SA and don't care for striker fired handguns, so no Shield for me; even though it may be a bit smaller --- the LS is small enough for a 9MM.

I have had a 3913 since 01 ish. I don't remember the last time I carried or shot it. I recently purchased a Shield and I see it becoming my EDC. I have carried a Glock 19 for quite some time and prefer striker fired vs DA/SA. I think the shield is going to be a great combo of the two. Smaller than the 3913 (7rd vs 7rd) and thinner than the 19 with a consistent trigger