or those who have experience with both.

I have a compact 9 that I really like and carry IWB. My brother-in-law may buy it from me and I'm considering replacing it with a Shield. I wouldn't be doing this except that the one going to my brother-in-law would double for him as a home SD and maybe carry (his first handgun).

For those who have experience carrying both, how do they compare?

Thanks!

I carried the 40c for awhile. Then I bought my wife a shield. The following Saturday, as I was running errands, I was going by the house about half way through. I carried the shield first, then the c. I bought a shield for myself the next Saturday. I've carried a shield almost every day since.

Carrying both on the same day, weight difference was noticeable as well as the difference in thickness.

Here are some pics for you to compare...

Shield left, compact right




Shield front, compact rear...


Shield top, compact bottom


shield top, compact bottom


shield bottom, compact top

__________________
SDMF

I started with a compact and sometimes carried it IWB.
I fondled a Shield one day and ended up buying one. I found that I shot the Shield better than the Compact and I preferred the thinner profile for IWB, so I ended up selling the Compact.

The Shield is obviously shorter and thinner. Both guns are roughly the same height.

Side by side pics:


The difference between the length and thickness is very noticeable.

Great pictures, thanks!
I have a Shield and did a test similar to speedyquad but with my Glock 27. Yes the Shield is lighter and thinner but I find myself carrying the 27 more often, so I'm looking at getting a compact for the 1913 rail.
I handled a FN fns9c at the LGS yesterday but he didn't have the M&P to compare.

I shoot the compact better and, therefore, carry it about 70% of my CCWing. It has a longer sight line, more weight, and bigger grip - which all aid my shooting performance. That said, I can do well enough with the Shield, that when my compact doesn't conceal enough, I am confident and comfortable carrying it. I only carry the Shield if I can't conceal the bigger M&Ps. It is thin and shorter (unless you use the 8 round mag, which actually makes it taller than the compact, and thus defeats the uber-concealability of it) in height and length, which makes it harder for me to control. I like the feel of the FS and compact, and the extra rounds (including spare magazine). The way I approach CCW is I start with the biggest gun, and if it doesn't conceal well, then I step down. I can comfortably carry the compact in 95% of my typical attire (khakis and polo), and I shoot it better.

I have a Shield 9 and a 40c. I shoot both equally well whether it's slow or rapid fire and very confident with them. I do shoot both slightly better when using the longer magazine versus the shorter mag but in a true SD situation and providing I stay cool headed I would have no problems hitting center mass either way. Both conceal very good but in lighter summer clothing the Shield has a slight edge for me when the shorts and t shirt come out. The extra width and weight of the compact are noticeable but not enough to be a factor and for me both are comfortable enough for all day carry.

In a nutshell, I carry both but due to the warmer weather we have here the Shield sees more carry time than the compact but that's because it conceals better for me. I have a buddy who hides a full size Glock under shorts and a t shirt so that really comes down to body type.

Good points and I tell you, I really like the compact. Personally I think it carries well and the extra rounds are a plus. I've held the Shield and really am not that fond of it. Now maybe, I'm hoping my brother-in-law doesn't like the compact and I can get it back, (he's borrowing it)

PS-I'm giving him a heck of a deal...so it's probably hasta la vista baby...

I love my Shield, but find that with arthritis I am more comfortable shooting the M&Pc which I have come to prefer, since I can practice for extended periods with less continuing pain afterwards than with the Shield.