Smart people choose S&W

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I did have an M & P 9C but didn't like it and sold it. I now have an M & P Shield and have held on to it for about a year. Have only recently started to carry it. Today I got some Talon grips for it and now I like it. The really thin grips are a bit too slick and yes too thin also. I don't like the sharp edge on the back of the sights. It is dangerous and could cut a hand. I would like to replace it. I took the safety off and put a dab of fiberglass on it to give it a little knob and to cover up the sharp edge at the top. The gun is reliable and I haven't had any failures of any kind. I did break my thumbnail off into the quick loading the magazine. I may fix that by removing a coil from the magazine. The trigger needs some work because it is about 6 lbs. now. All in all I like it but have too more carry guns that beat it for carry an LC9 and CM9 but I like the feel of the Shield. But small it isn't. It is a thin G 26 with improvements of course. I sold the G 26 too. Goodbye Glock you don't need me any more. They are utterly reliable but lack a lot in the engineering dept. Yes I am very picky and I haven't found a gun yet that beats the 1911 on all points of comfort.

I bought a new Shield 9 several months ago, and COULD NOT get the slide off to field strip it. Took it back to the local dealer and their expert worked with it for about 20 minutes and failed (he did get it off once, but then not again). Said to call S&W Customer Service. They sent me a mailing label electronically and it went back to the factory. The little insert in the back of the slide was catching on the frame. S&W fixed it (I suspect put on a new slide) and I had it back in a few day. Excellent Customer Service. Hasn't failed since.

I am still awaiting receipt of my Shield as there's a 10-day waiting period here.

What insert on back of the slide was catching on the frame? Could you be a bit more specific?

Thanks to all of the positive posts here I also have ordered a Talon Rubberized Grip setup for my Shield 9.
The free shipping is a plus when ordered from the Talon web site.

He's probably talking about the plastic striker pin cover at the back of the slide. This design is common to most striker-fired guns. Shown here in orange:


(Image from Ghost Triggers)

hokiefyd- Thanks for taking the time to post a photo and respond.

Well, if that is what he's referring to ('slide end cap'/slide end cap assembly'?), I just don't understand. Those things are under spring pressure and set in well-defined 'rails' aren't they?

It appears that most people who have problems with their firearms are due to user-error or misdiagnosis, and the manufacturer's don't really help in identifying the exact problem remedied, probably for PR or liability reasons.

Same shield but no safety. Is that correct.

yes but remember they are cut very distinctly at the bottom to provide clearance. For example have you ever been putting your slide back on and the ejector sticks up just a little and catches on that 'slide end cap'? This happens to me all the time and I just kinda jiggle it a little and it clears, but it just demonstrates that it's already a tight fit.

If that plate/cover was just a milimeter out of spec who knows what kind of problems it might cause

100% correct.

S&W M&P Shield first time fired - YouTube

Had mine a few weeks... vid is prolly after only about 30 or 40 rnds... at a metal target @10 yds... maybe a 10" square.....

I didn't think I could enjoy a compact plastic 9.... but this is almost my favorite pistol!!!

This was one of the pistols I used to qualify for my CCW a week ago.... the spread out pattern is with my wifes SD9VE.. :O
the chewed out area between the 8 and 9 is with the Shield!!
The target is a B37 at 5 yards.... with the white outlined area designating the aim point...

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Seems to me these guns must undergo one or two inspections before they are even test-fired. I just don't understand the problem occurring in the first place (assuming arguendo that indeed was the problem), but maybe my opinion might change upon delivery of the Shield to me later in the week! Shall see... I think most of these threads should be taken with a grain of salt because the operator's activity can have a lot to do with gun problems. Heck, so many don't even bother to read the manual and I am one, for instance, who always reads it thoroughly, especially when it comes to the NAA mini-revolvers, which if handled and loaded in a manner other than stated in the said manual can have adverse consequences. These threads are to be taken with a grain of salt because causation is always an issue, it seems, in them. We are not qualified gunsmiths who have personally inspected each firearm which is the subject of a thread, so speculation to a significant degree, must prevail. It goes with the territory.

Nice thread on the Shield I am thinking about trading one of my Glocks for one. The prices on them have been very good recently; what have you guys been paying?

$419.98 sale price here, but gun has more safety features, whether you like them or not.

Sometimes, but rarely, $399.98, $409.98.

Local gun shop in NC sells Shields for $379. I paid $359 for mine on sale from the same place a few months ago.

I paid $344.99 at Ky Gun company and $5.00 insurance. Free shipping

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Bishop

$399 at Keith's in Portland, Oregon

well, after a lonnnng delay (death in the family included), I FINALLY got to go out and shoot my Shield 9mm.

wow! I love this gun! from the first two magazines, it was dead on. I shot both inexpensive range ammo FMJs and some Gold Dots HPs (all in 124 grain). every round fed perfectly, no FTF or FTE. I practiced drawing from my Overwatch holster, and I had no trouble acquiring my sight picture. I was amazed at how mild-mannered the 9mm is compared to the .40 cal model 410 I had before. repeated "double taps" grouped together great. the reset was very short, and clearly audible, which really helped. I thought the trigger was plenty smooth, and not nearly as heavy as some have described (maybe I just got lucky).

I had already worn it around as a CC weapon, so I knew how great it carries and how well it conceals, so I was very pleased to find that its shooting capabilities match up to its ergonomics.

all-in-all, I'm very pleased with this gun and the way it shoots for me, and I hope it holds up for a good long time. it'll be interesting to see how I feel after 1000 rounds or so through it.

I just picked up my 9mm Shield yesterday. It has the shell fire date of 5/17/2014. (in the new box design) Have yet to fire it yet since I'm recovering from elbow surgery. I did have a Ruger 9mm but it wasn't very easy to conceal so I went with the shield..

You can field strip it without an empty mag in the gun. I tore it down to clean and was able to without putting a mag into gun. I did use the trigger pull rather than moving the lever inside.

I did notice the mags being very hard to load with shells. Hoping this frees up after more use. I will be getting a Mag loader to help.

What do you all use to adjust the front sight? Brass punch, wood dowl, Ect..

the mag springs do loosen up a good bit after some loading. I bought an Uplula loader last night anyway, haha! I have not adjusted my sights at all (haven't needed to). I'm sure you will love that gun.

I am not personally aware of any firearm where a field strip can be accomplished with a magazine in the firearm. It is also an apparent safety measure.

And I highly suggest that you strip it according to the manual.
No trigger pull!

With that said, congratulations and really happy for you with yur new Shield! Enjoy!

Sorry, the sight question is beyond my knowledge.

I just got my brand new shield back from S&W. The sear lever malfunctioned out of the box. Seems to be all fixed. Was wondering if anyone else thought the recoil spring seems a bit cheap? I had to twist the spring off the end to get it back in. The recoil spring on my Springfield Armory XDM Compact is much more solid. I have yet to fire the Shield, maybe tomorrow. For now I am under whelmed.

When you shoot it, I don't believe you will feel as you do now. I must say your sear deactivation lever issue with the new firearm seems to be somewhat rare and I've never heard such report before, but I am actually new to the firearm myself.

The flat base of the captured guide rod that rests near the lugs doesn't impress me, but that is relatively minor, and I have had no issues and think that it will last a long time. Maybe it's not as impressive as the one that you referenced, but to balance that out and FWIW, I shoot the Shield better than the XD, and that is saying something.

I did a first range report on mine-
First range trip, pics, CA Compliant S&W 9mm Shield

Hope that you have fun at the range with your new Shield!

just a follow up to this post. I just used this thing for the first time. holy cow, what a great invention! amazingly easy to use, and amazingly fast to load a magazine. they will sell millions of these, if they haven't already.

I took it to the range and it was very accurate. Added the Talon grips and loved it. Easy and accurate I have to say. I did have an FTE on the third mag but think it was a mag loading issue. Can't wait to CCW with it soon. Felt solid in my grip with the Pierce Exton.

No longer 'underwhelmed'!

Cool, man!

You will love it. I put 150 rounds through mine last weekend. Great shooter.

Ty

I don't know if they've sold millions yet but they've been around for years!

They sell a very good one for the AR-15 called, I believe, a 'MagLula'. It works great once one learns and understands how to use it.

Cheers,

Congrats on the new Shield! I ordered one a couple months ago from Smith & Wesson Pistols for Sale and it came with same black box w/ silver lettering. It is a great CCW and now my wife is wanting one.

I just bought a Shield last week in Spokane, WA. Came in the black box w/silver lettering. The LGSs in Spokane are selling them for $388.00 - $390.00 and have good supplies of them. One of the LGS stores near where I live in the Seattle area is selling them for $470.00!

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gunfighter48
NRA Life Member

Frankly, the new black with gray lettering CARDBOARD Box does not impress me. Perhaps it is a significant improvement over the previous CARDBOARD! As far as CARDBOARD boxes, go, though, it is decent and not embarassingly ugly, but it is still CARDBOARD! lol

Congrats! That grip looks great. I have a friend with his Shield wrapped in the exact same stuff. It works great, unless like me, you need just a little extra girth to the grip. I'm far from having giant hands, but no matter what I did, I kept pulling my shots to the left.

I wrapped mine with grip tape (the kind used on tennis rackets...available for $1 at your local store). It adds just a little extra girth and great grip. It doesn't look as clean as the Talon grips, but who cares? I CONCEAL the weapon so function over form any day.