The wait was too long for the Shield. (6 months now with no estimated delivery date.) I purchased the Walther PPS 40 for concealed carry because it is similar in size to the shield 40, I fired fifty rounds through the gun and found I have tighter groups than with my full size M&P 40. I had No idea how great this gun shoots’, so far I’m really happy with the choice.

The PPS is a very nice gun. Been considering getting the 9mm version for my wife - if I can ever find one for her to check out in person. I'd gladly take the PPS in .40 and give my wife my 9mm Shield but she has a really hard time racking the slide.

Can you comment on how the slide is on your PPS? I've heard it's one of the easier to rack but haven't had the opportunity to test it out side by side with my Shield.

The slide spring on the PPS is pretty stout, maybe a little more than my FS M&P. But I like the trigger on the PPS. When shooting the M&P I have to put my left thumb on the slid rail to keep from pulling to the left while pulling the trigger. I'm not going to get rid of my M&P, the thing holds fifteen rounds... I was just surprised how well the PPS shoots.

I can't recommend the PPS40, but only because my chubby finger wrapped around the trigger, and pinched me rather intolerably. Otherwise, though, it's not bad. I swapped mine for an M&P40C. (I didn't care about the "thin" issues, and the Shield didn't yet exist.)

The PPS guns use the backstrap and the magazine base as part of their "Hilary Lock", and I don't trust that, either. The backstrap may decide to pop off the gun during a magazine change, but mostly if you damage the magazine base, things get really iffy. This is easy enough to defeat, though, but not "in the field"....

IMHO, the PPS9 would be a great choice v.s. the Shield 9, but minus that goofy lock setup. Add an Apex kit or two, and you get a really nice gun that most people can handle.

(I have an M&P9C, too. Again, not "thin", but it's a fine shooter otherwise.)

No Shield yet - someday - but it appears that I'd like the 9mm at least as much as the M&P9C. I'm not sure if the Shield 40 would be as much fun, but at least it's essentially the same (wider!) trigger as the double-stack M&P's, and I can live with the rest of the problems - namely the thinner grip bashing my hand a bit.

I have no idea why there's a rail on any of these. A bayonet? I can't see a light on the gun for non-LE folks, and would prefer to avoid lasers that can't be more easily (and momentarily) activated.

Just IMHO, of course....

Regards,

__________________
Stu.

One of my friends is a Walther nut and I've fired several of his guns. I like the PPS and considered it, but went with the Shield because it felt better in my hand. I shoot both about the same.




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I have a PPS 9mm and the thing is crazy accurate. Most people use the large backstrap no matter what size your hands are.

It's practically the same size as the XDS, which is a little different than the shield. I believe the overall length is slightly longer than the Shield, but the handle is shorter, which is what I care about with my EDC gun.

I can't find a Shield either, but I'm really looking forward to seeing how the XDS 9mm shoots. If it's as good at the PPS, I'll trade in for the grip safety and the ability to mount a CT Laserguard.

I just purchased the PPS. Haven't shot it yet. You can carefully pin the backstrap if you are concerned. I am not. I wasn't interested in a shield (I have a 9C) mainly due to being a lefty and not wanting an external safety, eventhough others said it can't be easily switched by accident. No chance without one is better than little chance with one IMHO. The PPS feels great in my hand, has been around for a while with great reviews, and seems like an outstanding single stack firearm.

I owned a pps 9 several years ago. Very nice gun. Excellent quality. My only problem was... because of its small size and where the mag release was located, i kept dropping the mag while shooting. If it didnt drop it would disengage. I own HKs with a similar style release and never had a problem. This was a problem specific to me so i sold it but otherwise a great compact gun. Wish i didnt have that problem

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If the two guns were available, setting next to each other six months ago, I would have chosen the Shield because of its reviews. But now that I’ve fired the PPS, I’m not so sure, the PPS really shoots well. I think, better than my FS M&P. The reason I wanted the Shield is because of the thinness for concealment. The PPS is very close to the overall size of the Shield. The holstered gun is barely visible under an un-tucked tee shirt. I tried other guns like the LC9 but I don’t like the double action triggers. In response to Stu, if you take the grips back strap off of the PPS, the gun cannot be fired. I haven’t a clue why Walther did this. But, I’ve taken a good look at the mechanism and can’t see how the back strap can just fall off.
I just got tired of waiting for a Shield. One of the dealers told me “it could take two years judging by the way they’re coming in”. I feel it’s an excellent choice if you cannot get a Shield.

If you don't mind, tell us how much you payed. I would say you were very lucky to even find it.

I see quite often Shield .40 in Tampa area. Call Shoot straight Tampa. 9 mm are all rare, but i really like opportunity to convert .40 to 9mm.

I looked at PPS - it's nice and reliable, but what put me off that magazine needs to be dropped in order to release the slide.
With several pistols in the house and i carry all of them as CC depending where i'm heading I afraied to make a mistake in critical situation and not to drop the clip or something like that. (LCP in the pocket when jogging, bike riding or similar ("no/low clothes" activity), Shild the rest of the time and XDm 3.8 compact with full magagine on my night stand or 13rds mag on CC when i'm going photography, etc..)

Response too skip4309...
I payed $580.00, (about $100.00 more than the Shield) it came with two mags, one six and one seven, case, lock the usual. I did get the last 40 cal. I went with the 40 because my FS M&P is a 40 and my reloader is set up for 40s.

Not sure what you are talking about. Mine doesn't work that way.

My has a G19, but did like shooting my brother's Shield 9mm, as did I. I wanted to buy two of them, but I doubt I'll wait months for one. Heck, they aren't that special. I'll take a look at the Walther. Thanks for the heads up.

Honestly, and maybe this isn't the case, but I'm tired of companies creating false supply/demand, by short-changing on production. Hobby train companies always coming out with, Limited Edition this or that. It's BS and I'm tired of it. For the longest time, all I bought were used guns, just because I prefer steel, instead of plastic, didn't want finger grooves, didn't need light rails. It was challenging at times to find older guns that were no longer in production, but accepted it. But it's actually harder to find a new gun that's in current production??? That's rediculous.

If S&W truly didn't predict the popularity of the Shield, then someone should be fired. The M&P series has done very well. So when you improve the trigger on the M&P and you know that female shooters are the fastest growing market, why would you not expect that the 9mm version would sell well? All they did was feed the price gougers on the used or limited new Shield market. Thanks for that.

BTW, I've bought two other S&Ws in as many weeks, along with a field barrel for my 70s model 41, so it's not like I'm a hater. Bitter perhaps...but not a hater.

Cool...I would have also gone with same caliber for ammo purposes. Wasn't too fond of the mag release on PPS, it would take some getting used to. Paid $400 two months ago for mine. At least you got a case with yours LOL!

Meh... I bought an LC9 over 6 months ago because of the Shield being hard to find. S&W lost my money, and won't be getting more for a small CCW handgun anytime soon.

You did the right thing, and you should be a hundred or more dollars happier, since you got a hundred or more dollars worth of handgun.

And if you need a rail mounted light or laser, Streamlight and Lasermax have got ya' covered...

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Sorry Shield, you were a contender, but you ain't got rail.