We have the 9mm shield and we love it. I need one for myself. Female and 51 years old and I'm wanting to carry and for home defense. Would like to know if the performance shield 9mm is worth the extra money for what I'm needing it for. If you have a performance please give me your experience with the performance shield. Trying to decide what would be better the performance shield FO or the performance shield with night sights.

I bought the M&P Shield 9mm about 4 weeks ago for both purposes. I am 60yr old and female. I did a lot of research on this forum and the web first. I went to my local gun range and tried out a little of everything the M&P was the best for me. Good luck with your hunt and have fun!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Not familiar with the shield performance. I do have a full size 9 Performance that I love but not a carry gun. For what you are going to use it for I wouldn't spend the extra cash. I would buy what feels good in my hands and what I shoot best. If you like the night sights you can add them on. Hit the range and shoot a few other makes too! you never know what is best for you until you shoot a few!!

The visibility of the two sights depends on the available light they are used in. More light, FO, less, night.
For a civilian carry, it's important to practice point shooting, because if you need to deploy your gun, it will probably be in a hurry at short range, and having time for carefully aimed fire is unsure.

I have a shield 9mm but not a PC so I can't comment on that, but I bought my shield with trijicon night sights. I think most bad things happen at night and I personally would not be able to see the sights if someone broke in my house at night, even with a flashlight.

I have the Shield PC w/ FO and love it. 400+ rounds so far and its been perfect. I've been able to use the sights in a darker indoor range ok (and if it comes up in discussion due to the PC's porting, any muzzle flash has not been a problem for me either).
Can't compare it to a regular Shield, though I let a range officer try it (he carries a Shield at times) and he thought the trigger was nicer than his stock version and the muzzle flip was less as well for a quicker follow up shot. He too didnt notice any flash while watching me shoot it, that would concern him anyhow.
If it means anything, my wife on occasion hits the range with me and has shot my compact and full size MP's fine for one who rarely shoots. But she prefers to plink with the .22's instead. The first time she tried the PC Shield? After the mag went empty she asked if she could shoot it again. So for her, that said something.

Back on track, I personally like the FO sights but that's just me. Never had a gun with night sights, a laser, etc....
If i am ever in a situation that is so dark the sights aren't of any help, I either would be point shooting or if the target is hard to see as well, likely wouldn't be firing in the first place. Just my .02 of course as there are many variables in that conversation.

The PC Shield must be a pain to clean! Bet it gets really dirty!
Jim

yeah she does lol, but a range trip for me can be 100-150+ rounds thru anything I take so I clean them anyhow when done. I do have some wipes i'll carry with me, in case i intend to do some real serious round counts i can give it a quick wipe down and even run the boresnake thru it if needed. But i have yet to have any issues just shooting it until i'm done.

Just not sure about the ported barrel and the FO. That's why I'm thinking about the original 9mm shield and not getting the performance shield with FO. Some folks like the ported barrel and some sure don't care for it at all. Still thinking on which one to purchase.

Perhaps, if you both like the standard Shield you already have, then just go with another similar model. Keeps consistency between the 2 guns if that has any importance to both of you.

Having a original 9mm shield and to purchase a new performance shield might be the answer. It's just the one I purchase will be the one I carry for myself. Still just not sure if the performance is worth the extra money.

For self defense purposes it matters not what the weapon looks like....only that the projectile exiting the barrel finds it target.

The performance center versions of Shields will in no way make that happen any better than the non performance center versions.

Yes they have more eye candy appeal but functionally not much difference.

And yes when the performance center Shield 45 is introduced I will trade in my current Shield 45 for that version and yes I only use mine for self defense cc.

Everything clear now ???????

__________________
Hipcocked45

I think my main concern is that I may not like the ported barrel. So that's mainly why I'm concerned about paying the extra money for the performance 9mm shield.

I just bought the PC Shield because of the looks of it. I will comment on the internals of the slide and barrel exterior getting very dirty very quickly due to the porting. It also dirties the sights up a lot faster. You will definitely have to bring a cloth or some wipes to the range to wipe it down while shooting. As far as muzzle flip, I find that there is very little difference between the 2 models.
I really like the trigger on my PC model over my Shield 45 standard model. I can see myself one day buying another barrel (Non-Ported) for my PC Shield. Just to cut down on the dirt inside the slide and on the front sight while shooting.
Either model are an excellent choice. Good Luck on you're decision.
Just my 2 cents on the difference

I think I will most likely go with the standard 9mm shield and save money and not get the performance bc I'm just afraid I won't like the ported barrel. Thanks all for the help.

I had a Shield that I bought for my wife and loved so decided to get my own. Read everything I could, videos etc...on the PC Shield. Ended up with regular Shield but installed Apex trigger and Trijicon HD sighs. I think this is a better setup. Trijicons are not cheap but great sight for day or night. I don't like the Hi Vis sights on the PC. And I think most would say Apex better than the PC trigger. Ended up costing me a little more but like I said, I think it's a better setup.

You do know that for about 30-40 bucks more you can get the Shield 45 in the just about the same footprint as the 9.....
Sorry...I just love the Shield 45...if you want the 9 yeah go for it.

__________________
Hipcocked45

I have a Sig Sauer 226 Elite in .40 S&W and Beretta F96 in .40 S&W that I love shooting and I just bought my first 9mm M&P Shield and love this gun. It shoots well, accurate and a sweet gun. It is my EDC. I think you will like the Shield.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I would not want to shoot a ported handgun in low light condition and/or close range.

Ported guns are for range and hunting only IMO.

Buy a regular gun that you like and put some good sights on it. Spend more money rather on ammo and range than fancy options...

__________________
Jorge

It's amazing how often this myth gets repeated by otherwise knowledgeable gun folks. Ports do not noticeably increase muzzle flash with quality self-defense ammo which uses low flash powder. What ports will do is help decrease muzzle rise thus helping the shooter control any follow up shots. Therefore ported guns are absolutely usable in self-defense situations.

Whether you need to spend more on a ported gun is up to you, OP, but don't let internut myths dissuade you from going for the PC version. I'd recommend renting them at your local range if you can and see which you like better.

I think it is wise going for the standard version from the start. Ported barrels come at a cost of slower bullet speed, and shorter barrels do the same vs. longer barrels. The Shield if pretty soft-shooting already. I don't care at all for ported barrels . . .

Thus, in a 9mm, I bought the standard Shield.

The money you save can be spent on an Apex trigger, which will really make the pistol shoot sweeter. A great trigger is almost everything to me. No, my stock one doesn't have an Apex YET, but will.

Also, both fiber optic sights (aka FO) and tritium night sights are also available to help the Shield reach its full potential. FO is great in the sunshine, Tritium is incredible at night (and excellent too during the day).

I'll be going the Tritium night sight route on mine. I love night sights, and in virtually total darkness you can put the night sights on a very faint target and shoot great groups . . . without tipping off an invader you are even there!

The Shield is a winner, and with the Apex trigger it can hit its full potential without costing you and arm and a leg. Good Luck!

About 10 to 50 fps, according to this PC Shield test that compares velocity of the Shield to an LC9 with the same length barrel.

Smith & Wesson M&P9 Performance Center Ported Sheild Review: Part 1 -
Introduction, Specifications and Summary

I can only speak for myself and based on my experience I'd not want to shoot a ported pistol from position 3.

__________________
Jorge

The Shield is a very comfortable gun to shoot. So much that it is even a 'fun gun' in addition to an SD weapon. I don't see any advantage to ports at all. The Shield is very slim, which I normally wouldn't like, but it doesn't bother my medium sized male hands at all. My Shield has an excellent trigger, that is very near to a Single Action. If you want to enhance it even more an Apex trigger may help.

__________________
"He was kinda funny lookin'"

My wife carried a Sig P238 and after we had issues with it jamming we sent it back to the Sig for a service. Even after a feed ramp polish and an inspection the gun still would jam occasionally. Reliability is a must in self defense. After speaking with an NRA instructor who often would teach all women's classes told us he often had multiple jams with the P238 during class we decided to sell the Sig. After much thought and consideration to my wife's wellbeing (her life really) we purchased a S&W Bodyguard 38+P revolver with a Crimson Trace laser. Practically no chance for a jam, no hammer to catch on anything, always ready, lighter than a shield, no limp wrist issue, and it hits harder than a 9mm especially with a +P round. I know you were only asking to compare the regular shield with the PC but I thought you might like a different perspective. Good luck in whatever you choose. One more thing, the handle on the Bodyguard has a squared edge and it hurts to shoot the gun. This is a common opinion and caused us to buy a Hogue Tamer grip. They are not expensive but a must if you intend to shoot more than a few bullets at the range.

I bought the Performance Center Shield when it first came out and have carried it every day since. I can't tell a difference in muzzle flash between a regular Shield and a PC Shield. I wouldn't worry about carrying with a ported barrel on the Shield. People say ported guns have crazy flash and shoot gasses in your face but that is simply not the case with my PC Shield. The porting does help a little bit with recoil management but hardly noticeable. IMO the biggest benefit the PC has over the ported is the trigger. The PC trigger is much smoother and a cleaner break. Shield does get dirtier faster than the normal Shield. I would get the night sight version if you plan on carrying it though. The biggest thing I would consider is do you want the gun to have a safety? As far as I know the PC Shield only comes with a safety. Where the regular Shield Can be bought without a safety. Around here you can find regular Shields on sale for pretty cheap. If you don't really care about the PC version upgrades, then save the money and spend it on ammo and training. I also highly recommend Apex triggers for any M&P pistol. I can't stand that hinged trigger that S&W uses!!

I see a lot of discussion on ported barrels. I have one on my PC 9 W/5" barrel have shot thousands of round thru it and with a 5 " barrel there is a big difference in muzzle flip. But I don't think there would be that much difference on a shield. And also I had a friend with me watching the muzzle flash with my PC compared to his standard full size M&P and he could see a difference between the two using the same ammo.

I did purchase my new shield yesterday. Finally after asking a lot of questions and reading and watching videos I finally decided. I purchased the 9mm shield with tritium night sights and with NO safety. Haven't shot it yet but we already have an orginal shield and absolutely love it. My eyes are getting older and we checked out the nights sights last night in the dark and my husband agreed I chose the right gun for me/us. Thank you all for your input bc it helped me to decide on which gun to purchase.

Congrats on your new shield!! Sound like you made the right choice for yourself. Enjoy and as always be safe!