A couple ?? for 9mm Shield owners

[bedbugbilly]

To start with, I've always been pretty much a "revolver" guy - have and shoot vintage 38 spl Smiths. I do own one 9mm semi - a Ruger SR9 which I love, it shoots well, etc. However, I am interested in getting a smaller 9mm for CCW purposes.

Normally, I carry a Smith Model 36 snub. I carry on the belt on my strong side - covered with either a shirt tail or jacket. I sometimes also use a shoulder holster. I have CCW permits for both AZ and MI as we winter in AZ and summer in MI.

As far as the Ruger SR9 goes - I like the striker fired pistol. I do carry it when we are out in the boonies in souther Arizona (we are 40 miles north of the border) - primarily for capacity purposes. The drawback is that I'd like something smaller - a single stack magazine preferably for general "carry". I'm 61 and have trouble loading the double stack SR9 mags with my fingers without the mag loading tool.

So . . my questions on the Shield.

It appears it is pretty much what I am seeking for a smaller 9mm for carry purposes. I have trained myself to thumb the safety off on the SR9 as I draw from the belt holster (no finger on trigger obviously). It's just my personal preference to carry with one in the tube and the safety on. How is the safety on the Shield? Is it "sticky" or hard to thumb off? I'm assuming it's polymer - any breakage problems?

I've done a lot of reading on here on the Shield posts and what I'm picking up is that the slide can be stiff to rack. I'm assuming this improves over time so I'm not too concerned about that unless it is a problem to do to clear a round if necessary in a hurry (as in SD situation?).

For SD rounds in my SR9, I carry FMJ HP SD ammo. I reload and for the SR9, I use a cast lead bullet out of a Lee 356-120 TC mold over 3.5 grains of Bulls Eye and that's what I shoot for range time. These cycle well in the SR9 with no problems.

On a Shield - any problems with lead bullet reloads? Any reason not to use them in a Shield? I always clean my handguns very well and especially after shooting lead before loading with SD FMJ rounds.

Maybe some pretty simple (stupid?) questions but I have no experience at all with Smith M & P semi-autos. The only Smith semi I've shot is a friends .380 Bodyguard. All of my practice / range rounds would be lead reloads and usually I shoot 50 to 100 rounds at a session and then switch to revolver shooting.

From what I'm seeing on posts, the Shield is a very popular pistol and there has to be a reason for it. Size wise, feature wise, etc. it appears to be the best thing to meet what I'm looking for. I'm comfortable with the 7 round magazine along with a spare for CCW purposes. I'd just like to hear from some who shoot lead reloads as far as how they function for them and any plusses or minuses there might be with the Shield. I also realize it takes a number of rounds to "break in" a new semi.

Many thanks for your thoughts and information. Greatly appreciated!

[GregoryJ]

I have no problem manipulating the safety on my Shield. The safety is made of metal and I have not heard of any breaking.

Racking the slide takes only moderate effort and I am only a little younger than you.

Can't help with the reloading question. Only shot jacketed rounds through mine.

[Morey]

The safety on the shield is very low profile, so that it doesn't snag in anything when carrying. With that, it is not difficult to switch off, but it does take a little different movement then a gun with a larger safety. More of a sliding motion with your thumb down the side of the pistol. Very easy, natural, and trainable.

My dad is 67 and he racks his .40 shield just fine. My 9mm racks fine. My mother in law, similar age, had trouble with mine. It is just a LOT stiffer then her walther p22...

Can't help on reloading. Haven't gotten bitten by that bug yet.

Welcome to the forum. 5 CPL holders for MI here.

[USMCshooter]

Shield 9 is everything I wanted in an EDC. Reliable, concealable and a comfortable carry, holsters considered. My previous was my beloved G36. But the Shield trumps it for carry. It's tight out of the box, but breaks in nicely. The mags springs so far are still a challenge for me, but a speed loader solved that problem completely. Couldn't be more pleased except I paid MSRP.

[OldCat]

I'm a bit older than the OP and have no problem racking the slide but many people do have a hard time with it. The safety has a very solid detent but is easy to flick off with a deliberate thumb swipe.

As far as reloads go I wouldn't use them with my SD gun because practice with FMJ 115gr.

The shield shoots like a full size (due to the strong recoil spring).

[Offshell]

I reload and have shot lead reloads through it. I don't see where there'd be any problems as it has standard rifling. I still mainly only reload jacketed rounds though.

The safety is a bit small but I've never fumbled with it. I usually carry with the safety off, but I still practice trying to swipe it.

[TDC]

I hand-load and cast my own bullets for both a 9mm and a 40 Shield.

With hand-loads and cast bullets used in auto-loaders it is important you use factory crimp dies and check your finished ammo with the "clunk test."

For me that means checking each round in the disassembled barrel to make sure any swollen cases fit freely into the barrel (they make a clunk sound if they fit properly). If you use a variety of different head stamped range brass fired in different guns this is critically important, IMO.

Keep in mind there is a smaller window of usage for powder charges in the smaller cases. Finding a load that dependably cycles the pistol, provides good accuracy, yet doesn't exceed maximum pressures can be more of a challenge than with larger calibers. Bullet seating depth can have a significant impact on pressure....

I cast three bullets for my 9mm Shield. A 120 gr Lyman Truncated Cone, a 105gr Lee SWC .358 sized down to .356 and a 103 gr Lee Round nose. All are sized to .356 and lubed with Carnauba Red. All cycle well after thousands of rounds without malfunction with the Lee SWC being the most accurate..

I use four different powders (depending on what's available). They include WW231, Red Dot, Unique and Power Pistol... I believe all powder charges should be worked up for each handgun they are used in so I don't offer data for that.

Hope this helped a bit... They work well for me...

[OldCat]

I stopped using reloads when I had a case split during a combat match. Fortunately it only cost me a few points but in real life.......

At $15 or less for a box of 9mm (Federal 115gr FMJ at Walmart) I can't see the economic benefits of reloading for me anymore. (I sold my reloading equipment years ago and I don't think I would ever recoup the sunken cost of replacing it.)

[bedbugbilly]

Thank you all for the great information - I greatly appreciate it.

TDC - thanks for the re-loading info. For the SR9, I size to .357 and tumble lube in alox/paste wax and have no problems with leading. For my SR9, it works very well.

As you point out, every gun is different though. I load on a 4 hole Lee Classic Turret and use the 4 die set with Lee's Factory Crimp Die. I know some folks don't like them but for me, it works great. I do a random "plunk test" as I load but I also check each cartridge in a cartridge gauge as it comes off the press as well.

I do have a .356 sizing die if the slug would need to be that for the Shield. I figured that when I started loading for it, I'd start off low and work up as you would for any gun until I found what cycled best and worked the best. I'm not big on loading "hot". Right now, I use Bulls Eye but I do have some Unique and I'd also like to try Red Dot. It all depends on what I can come up with but it would be nice to be able to work up some loads with a variety of powders.

I also realize that I may end up loading two different loads in 9mm - one for the SR9 and one for the Shield. Not a biggie though as that can easily be done.

I have saved some boxes of "factory ammo FMJ" and put it away and I thought I would use that for the "break in" and then try the reloads and get a load worked up that would cycle well and shoot straight.

I also believe in practicing with the SD ammo but with the price of the factory ammo versus what I can reload for, the reloads are going to win out for range time.

I appreciated the thoughts on the safety and the racking - it sounds like neither of those would be an issue for me and I was pleased to hear the safety is metal. I know that the trigger pull varies according to the model (as in what state allows what). I'm to really concerned with the trigger pull so much as I believe that a person needs to "learn" their handgun, and that is done through regular practice sessions at the range. To not do so is just plain foolish, especially in a handgun that you'll be carrying for conceal carry/SD.

They say there is never the "perfect" handgun - it's a give and take proposition. However, after looking at the Shield, I'm impressed with the features, size, etc. and it looks to me like it meets just about everything I'm looking for. I'm anxious to give one a try!

Many thanks for the info and would certainly appreciate hearing more thoughts on it. Thanks!

[Alangaq]

I haven’t had my Shield 9mm very long and have not gotten around to picking up dies, but I’ve been saving all of my brass and scrounging up additional 9mm brass when at the range. I am interested in trying TDC’s load with the Lee 105 gr SWC bullets as I cast a bunch of those for use in my 38 special.

If you are mechanically inclined, it’s a fairly easy job to disassemble the Shield and polish up the Feed Ramp, Trigger Bar, Sear, Striker and Firing Pin Block. After which, you will have a much smoother feeling trigger while maintaining most of the pull weight and all of the original travel. Many guys seem to be going to the Apex trigger kits, however I didn’t wish to alter the pull weight or trigger travel, and I am cheap!

[Khurrle]

How is the safety on the Shield? Is it "sticky" or hard to thumb off? I'm assuming it's polymer - any breakage problems?

The safety is metal as opposed to polymer and I see no way it could break except for severe abuse. It's out of the way enough that I couldn't ever see it getting caught on something. Its easy to sweep off with the thumb but takes a little more effort to engage.

I've done a lot of reading on here on the Shield posts and what I'm picking up is that the slide can be stiff to rack. I'm assuming this improves over time so I'm not too concerned about that unless it is a problem to do to clear a round if necessary in a hurry (as in SD situation?).

It's a little stiff to rack at first but that goes away after a couple boxes of ammo. I would not say its so stiff as to deter anyone from purchasing it.

On a Shield - any problems with lead bullet reloads? Any reason not to use them in a Shield? I always clean my handguns very well and especially after shooting lead before loading with SD FMJ rounds.

I reload, I have not had the opportunity to use standard lead bullets and have mostly dealt with plated bullets and some jacketed. I load mostly Berry's plated 115gr as well as 124gr over 4.2gr Bullseye. I have never had any issues.

From what I'm seeing on posts, the Shield is a very popular pistol and there has to be a reason for it. Size wise, feature wise, etc. it appears to be the best thing to meet what I'm looking for. I'm comfortable with the 7 round magazine along with a spare for CCW purposes. I'd just like to hear from some who shoot lead reloads as far as how they function for them and any plusses or minuses there might be with the Shield. I also realize it takes a number of rounds to "break in" a new semi.

I have had my shield for about six months and in that time have put around 300 rounds through it. I have never experienced any issues with factory loads or reloads and am extremely impressed by the lack of perceived recoil as well as the comfort to carry and accuracy. I continue to be imor and more impressed with my shield every time a put rounds through it. I have absolutely no troubles trusting my life to it as a carry piece.

[OldCat]

^ What he said.

[jajo]

I have both the Shield and a full size M&P 9mm. I've owned the FS for about 2 years and the Shield for just over a year.

I carry the Shield in DeSantis sof-tuck IWB. It's very small and thin and you can just about forget it's there. I carry it with the flush fitting mag. The weight seems pretty good to me too.

I'm very happy with my choice.