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Rod
M&P 22A, 40c, 15A, 15-22

Well, there's the M&P9 shield and the LC9. To me, there's enough difference between the two, they really aren't in the same catagory.

The LC9 feels slimmer and will carry with less intrusion than the M&P9 Shield. I'm probably one of the few that actually like the LC9 trigger, albeit long, mine is super smooth and I'm very accurate with it. The M&P breaks much quicker and is a great trigger, but it's really hard to compare the two here.

Using the flush fit magazine, as it is now, I prefer the feel of the LC9 in my hand. While the grips are similarly slim, the grip on the M&P has more depth, making it feel a bit slimmer, somewhat out of proportion compared to the LC9.

Recoil between the two seemed nearly identical. To keep things even, I shot some of my 115 gn Rainier plated reloads in both. Already knowing the LC9 shot them well, the M&P had no trouble with them at all. Shootability felt better with the extended magazine in the M&P and gave me a full grip.

Fit and finish of my M&P seem to be excellent, no pitting anywhere that I could find. The sight's dots are a bit bigger on the M&P and are very nice for staying on target. Honestly, I'd heard about the 'audible' click with the trigger reset, but I didn't notice it.

I tried the M&P in the Desantis Soft Tuck holster that I use for the LC9, and while I was able to force it in, it's just not going to work as the bulkier barrel end just grabs the holster and hangs on. I'm thinking a form fitted leather or kydex holster will be the way to go for the M&P due to the blocky slide. It doesn't lend itself well to sliding in to a holster such as the Desantis Soft tuck as much as the LC9 with it's slender tapered slide.

The M&P really does feel and look like it's big brothers other than being much slimmer in the grip. It's definately a keeper and gives the impression of being more work oriented than the LC9.

The take down lever stays in place, as opposed to the take down lever on my M&P40c.

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Rod
M&P 22A, 40c, 15A, 15-22

Thank you very much for the pictures and insight. This is the comparison I've been looking for.

You're welcome! I don't know if it'd help anyone decide between one or the other, they are two different animals. Striker fired vs. hammer fired. A lot of people, for whatever reason, don't like or have trouble with the long trigger pull on the LC9. If they are solely looking for something with a shorter trigger, the M&P is definately the ticket in that department.

It's not going to carry easier or conceal better than the LC9 though. If you love the M&P or the M&Pc, but just looking for something smaller, than this pistol is for you.

I'm not just a gun nut, I'm just a nut in general, so that's why I have both....

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Rod
M&P 22A, 40c, 15A, 15-22

Thanks for sharing.

W.

Thanks for the comparison, I own a couple Ruger pistols that I really like. The S&W's I own are revolvers. I haven't handled the shield but I have the checked out the M&Pc and really liked it. I want a new compact 9mm but am having a hard time deciding on which one.

Your review does help..

joe

If you have the M&Pc, it'd be a natural transition to the shield in function, trigger feel and disassembly.

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Rod
M&P 22A, 40c, 15A, 15-22

I just fixed the take down lever in my compact, it takes about 3 minutes with a file. Really easy to do.

Not even a whole week as gone by and we have the shield vs almost every compact gun made lol

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Don't look, reload and shoot!

Nice pics, thanks for posting.

Just wait until Glock comes out with a slim line/single stack then you will see the same or wait the SA XD-S is suppose to be out soon and that will have the same effect on threads.

Competition in the ever expanding concealed carry market is a great thing for we the consumer. With so many options out there we have a lot to choose from. Smith & Wesson took their time developing the Shield and to my mind they really got it right. The Shield will be hugely popular with both civilians and LEOs and deservedly so. S&W wisely built up their inventory before releasing this pistol. Now that they are out there the interest in them has really spiked, so lets hope they'll be able to keep up with demand. I look forward to getting mine.

Attached Images

DSC05225.jpg (46.6 KB, 467 views)

The Shield has the same low recoil as my M&P9c .. shoots identical to it which IMO is nicer than the G26 I used to own. My MAIN priority is shootability, next wearability. It's the GRIP that prints more than the slide on me and the Shield is slimmer. I want a gun with the best functionality for SD. I have a friend that installed a sear that he makes that brought the trigger weight to 4lbs. and he *cleaned* up other issues that are known with all of the M&Ps. I like that I can easily rapid fire with the trigger that the Shield has for better consecutive shots on target. For me the Shield is a better SD choice over the LC9 since I already run a M&P9c. For those who carry Rugers, you probably should go with the LC9. Then again .. might want to experience the Shield and what it offers.

That is standard with iPads vs Xoom and every other tablet that enters the market. Same with guns .. you name it and expect it. IMO a good thing that makes people think and research.

I agree with the OP. The LC9, CM9, PF9 etc are pocket pistols. I don't think the Shield qualifies. It's more like the Kahr CW9 or Walther PPS. For IWB it seems to be a great option. I'm still on the fence. I pocket carry my CM9 but I also carry it IWB frequently. Unfortunately the boss(wife) won't permit another gun purchase right now without selling or trading one I currently have. I'm not sure I'm ready to give up the versatility of the CM9.

That's the nice things about the shield, it carries over from the other M&P pistols. The LC9 doesn't have any big brother, only the little brother in the LCP.

The LC9 would be best suited for those carrying a LCP, but wanting to get a bit bigger round to fire. Down sizing from the SR9c, the Shield would probably be a better and easier transition.

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Rod
M&P 22A, 40c, 15A, 15-22

I don't consider the LC9 a pocket carry unless you don't mind a brick in your cargo shorts. I definitely wouldn't consider the Shield a pocket carry. Both are great in a IWB holster.

My observation as well. The Shield is NOT a pocket carry firearm and would not replace my CM9 for that purpose. If a person was going to carry IWB only and not pocket, or ankle, carry, then the Shield would be a good choice.

If I didn't have a 9C and a CM9, would have walked out with the Shield last saturday. Still may own one because I love M&Ps, but not sure what role it would take other than occasional carry and plinking.

How much for the chicken???????

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Forum consigliere

That CHICKEN is not forsale!!! I looked high and low for that things I had one in blue, but my young Rat terrier is methodically tearing it up, so saving this one for one the other one is totally destroyed....

BTW, those two candles in the pot was a school project to determine which melts faster, a colored candle or a white one. I think the results speak for themselves

And yes, I'd sell those! Eggs too, I've been meaning to shoot those.

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Rod
M&P 22A, 40c, 15A, 15-22

Lets see, people started waiting for this in 1988 and now its 2012. So I am pretty sure it's either never going to happen or it's still so far off in the distant future that no one alive today will ever see it.

I really like my LC9, but Ruger didn't make an "LC40" and S&W will make a Shield40. Can't wait to pick one up.

CRRacer 712, thank you for some darned useful pix.

Just courious... can you add a picture or pictures of what area exactly you filed the take-down lever?

Thank you
Wil.

I own an LC9 and have been happy with it since it's been totally reliable. If I didn't already own it (or if I knew I wasn't gonna take a huge loss if I tried to sell it), I'd buy a Shield. But the LC9 IS smaller and lighter, and i DO carry mine in my pocket from time to time. The Shield won't allow that.

And while I agree the LC9 doesn't have the best trigger, at 10 yards (the LC9's intended purpose), the target is sufficiently "dead" for me.

So if Deantis, or someone else came out with a new holster to fit the Shield, why do some, including S&W clam it shouldn't be used for pocket carry?

From the pics it looks not much bigger at all than my LC9, which is a fantastic pocket gun?

I shoot M&P's for competition and have a full size next to the bed. Seems like an M&P formfactor pocket friendly gun would be a much better pocket gun for me than the LC9.

It's quite a bit more bulky at the muzzle end. I guess if you have big pockets it'd be ok. But then again, I can't imagine pocket carrying the LC9.

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Rod
M&P 22A, 40c, 15A, 15-22

The CHICKEN..... He wants to buy your Chicken.. How Much For The Chicken???

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SWCA #2306
DAV in honor of POP

I do it all the time.

Yup! No way will the Shield replace my 9c.

Have to agree that if you are used to carrying/running a striker fired that the Shield is a far better way to go. There is practically no *transition* between my 9c and the Shield being they are SOoo close.

I had a 9c and a .40c and didn't care for either of them. Something about how the grip hit the heel of my had just didn't sit right with me. I love the way the full size fits and still have a FS 9 and FS .40 (although may be selling the .40 as the recoil bothers the arthritis in my wrist) but after holding the Shield, it fits my hands way better than the compacts did and I think it will work just fine either IWB, OWB, or in a pocket (I tried it for pocket fit before I decided to buy it). If it shoots as well as has been reported, it will also replace my LC9 as primary carry.

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Gary

I like my LCP .380 for pocket carry, but Ruger's warranty is limited compared to S&W Lifetime. I am inclined toward the S&W Shield 9 as my other 9 (Beretta 9000s/f) is much heavier for IWB carry.