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Old 05-01-2016, 02:48 PM
Joe7 Joe7 is offline
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Got my Shield 9mm this week. I got the Sig p238 about a month ago.

I've put 200 rounds (Winchester white box) through both weapons and each one worked perfectly. Not one malfunction with either. Of course on both occasions I broke them down first to clean em up a bit and get some lube in there.

The P238 is very easy to field strip and racking the slide is obviously pretty easy. The Shield out of the box was TIGHT! It took some effort to get it far enough back just to engage the slide lock. Once I broke it down, lubed it up and got it back together I just kept racking the slide for a while. Got a little better. 200 rounds later, even a little better.

So for the little P238 I have the holster that comes with it, Blade Tech Klipt, Desantis Nemisis and Alien Gear 3.0.
So far for the Shield I got another shell for the AG 3.0.
A member here put up some pics and info about the Stealthgear FLEX that looked real good.
I also like the idea of the N82 Tactical as it has a full "shell" for a perfect fit and nice "click" but still has a soft backing. Downside here is I heard they are on the thicker side with the belt clip right over the slide.
You guys have any opinions?
Or links to the many threads that are already here I assume. (I have a hard time using the search function on these forums for some reason.)

And finally, How many rounds do you like to go through before considering edc of your new firearm. Although I've only gone through 200 in each, I feel pretty good with how perfectly each performed.
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Old 05-01-2016, 03:16 PM
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...And finally, How many rounds do you like to go through before considering edc of your new firearm. Although I've only gone through 200 in each, I feel pretty good with how perfectly each performed.
My requirement is that my EDC must fire a minimum of 100 consecutive problem-free rounds of my chosen brand of self-defense ammo before I will carry it. With my Shield 9mm, I had to try several brands of SD ammo before I found one that met that standard. The round I've ended up carrying is Hornady Critical Duty 135g +P. I've fired 150 rounds with zero problems.

Was it expensive to do all that testing? You bet. But how expensive would it be to experience a jam with an SD round when you really need it to work?
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Old 05-01-2016, 05:14 PM
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When I bought my Shield 9 I ran 150 rounds of Speer Gold Dot LE 124 grain HP rounds through it. It functioned flawlessly. Yes, as swsig said it was expensive but I felt after the 150 rounds I felt confident enough to carry it. Now every other month I fire a couple of magazines and then give it a good cleaning. So I'm rotating new ammo in and checking reliability. If I had a problem during the firing of any of the magazines I would go back to my 150 rule before I carried it again.

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Old 05-01-2016, 05:29 PM
Ballistic147 Ballistic147 is offline
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I've got both the Alien Gear and the N82 Tactical Pro model. Both are very comfortable but the N82 is the one I use all the time. I carry at the 3 O'clock position and on two different occasions the rear clip popped of of my belt when bending over. Luckily both times nobody was around so I was able to fix it without causing a scene. Since then I've quit using it.

The other issue I had with the Alien Gear was without a t shirt tucked in behind it the grip would contact my side and after about half a day there it would rub me raw. The N82 completely separates the gun from contacting your skin so at least for me it is more comfortable. My N82 is easier to get on and off and even though it's a single clip it never moves around or has come loose.

A friend of mine swears by the Stealth Gear holster although he has never tried anything else. For me it's on the pricey side for what it is.
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Old 05-01-2016, 06:58 PM
Joe7 Joe7 is offline
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Thanks for those responses. 100+ rounds of SD ammo would certainly cost a few bucks but yes, you want to be confident when carrying for sure. I'll have to see what I have for options as far as ammo goes around here as I feel that may be the limiting factor in what I chose.

Ballistic147 - Thanks for that also. Although I have not had a clip come loose yet I have only carried the P238 in it. However the other issue you mentioned about the rubbing is AWFUL with that gun as the grips are super pointy.
The full guard is what caught my eye most about the N82.
Now on positioning - I too prefer the 3 o'clock spot but the AG doesn't really seem to like to sit there. The AG is much more comfortable when the weapon sits just over my back pocket.
Do you feel the N82 is "bulky" at 3 o'clock?
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Old 05-01-2016, 07:10 PM
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I have a N82 and FOXX (hybrid and clam) for my Shield. I love them, and wear them all, but the N82 is by far the more comfortable and versatile. It feels good anywhere, and because it has a great adjustable clip, it can be worn anywhere. Also, it doesn't have the annoying metal clips, which is a nice bonus too. I do not feel the N82 is bulky, but the design is bulkier than others which have offset clips. I would get the N82 again.
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Old 05-01-2016, 07:51 PM
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Thanks Motorsporting. What position do prefer the N82 in?
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Old 05-01-2016, 08:17 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by swsig View Post
My requirement is that my EDC must fire a minimum of 100 consecutive problem-free rounds of my chosen brand of self-defense ammo before I will carry it. With my Shield 9mm, I had to try several brands of SD ammo before I found one that met that standard. The round I've ended up carrying is Hornady Critical Duty 135g +P. I've fired 150 rounds with zero problems.

Was it expensive to do all that testing? You bet. But how expensive would it be to experience a jam with an SD round when you really need it to work?
The expense of a chosen PD ammo is one thing. Availability, is a whole nother issue. Most of the real good ones out there are bordering on unobtainium.

I have three acceptable ones I want to use: Federal LE HST 124, and 147. Speer Gold dot 124+P. and CorBon PDX 115 +P. I have had to trim what I wanted to do (fire one or two hundred rounds as you have done) my problem was that I could not round that many up of any of them. I nervously have been trying a box at a time or at least 10 rounds of a 20 round box until I am confident they are 100% reliable. point is that each of us has to build confidence in our own way. I am now at over 100 rounds of CorBon (was pretty easy to get, but now is harder), 80 rounds of each of the Federals (always hard to get), and just 60 of Speers (the hardest here to find. Just the view from the PNW.
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Old 05-01-2016, 08:19 PM
Ballistic147 Ballistic147 is offline
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I definitely don't think the N82 is too bulky. I'm 6'3" and about 190lbs and wear shorts and a t shirt most of the time. With the Shield and N82 I have no problems concealing it at all.
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Old 05-01-2016, 08:33 PM
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Thanks again.
Leaning that way as it seems to fit all the things I am looking for. Funny, it's one of the first ones I considered when I started researching.

Oldfart64 - exactly. My local Walmart only carries one kind of SD ammo (that I have seen). I still have to check a few of my local gun shops to see what they have and I know they will be over priced as well. O-well I guess.
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Old 05-01-2016, 08:49 PM
Ballistic147 Ballistic147 is offline
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SGAmmo has HST's in 124 and 147 and the Gold Dots in 115 and 147 all in the 50 round box. Their prices aren't bad and shipping is fast too. I've bought over 10k rounds of various ammo from them and never been disappointed.

SGAmmo.com | Family Owned and Operated Ammo Sales, Stillwater OK
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Old 05-01-2016, 09:19 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by oldfart64 View Post
The expense of a chosen PD ammo is one thing. Availability, is a whole nother issue. Most of the real good ones out there are bordering on unobtainium.

I have three acceptable ones I want to use: Federal LE HST 124, and 147. Speer Gold dot 124+P. and CorBon PDX 115 +P. I have had to trim what I wanted to do (fire one or two hundred rounds as you have done) my problem was that I could not round that many up of any of them. I nervously have been trying a box at a time or at least 10 rounds of a 20 round box until I am confident they are 100% reliable. point is that each of us has to build confidence in our own way. I am now at over 100 rounds of CorBon (was pretty easy to get, but now is harder), 80 rounds of each of the Federals (always hard to get), and just 60 of Speers (the hardest here to find. Just the view from the PNW.
Ballistic147 is right on. When I look for those hard-to-find SD rounds, the first thing I do is start checking the sgammo.com website. If they are out, I go to ammoseek.com, to find out where else I can find them.
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Old 05-01-2016, 09:20 PM
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I checked out that site, thanks!

Check this out too:
https://www.blackarchholsters.com/pr...r-single-point
Also, pretty much what I am looking for. Full "kydex retention" but leather comfort backing. Nice, but pricey especially if you add in the Suede backing. Aside from price, looks about perfect!
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Old 05-02-2016, 11:15 AM
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I usually wear the Shield either at 1:00 (appendix) or 3:00. It is super concealable.

As for ammo, I run 200 rounds of practice and several mags of defensive (testing each mag I have a few times) ammo, failure free, until I carry it. I specifically use a variety to make sure different types of ammo will not be a problem, but for defensive rounds I usually have Federal HST 147 and/or Hornady Critical Duty 135g. I don't think my Shield has ever had a malfunction in near 1000 rounds.
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