I was at my lgs today, I tried out the m&p shield 9 on the range and I really liked it. They then showed me the m&p shield 9 performance center for slightly more. is it worth it, or should just stick to the m&p sheild?

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I like mine.

I've seen other threads on the PC vs Std models, seems most of us who have the PC really are happy with them, and there are those who would prefer not to have the ported barrel. Opinions on this, like with many items, can be strongly split one way or the other.
I'd say it will boil down to your personal preference, what you want out of the gun, and so on. I love my PC Shield and when i'm ready to carry it will be the one.

adding that my PC has the Hiviz sites which i preferred, there is also one with night sights.

I like the trigger on mine and high viz sights

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I've never had a ported barrel to have an opinion about them, what's the reasoning behind it and function?

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As I'm still a bit new to this hobby I'm still learning as well so others can correct me if i'm off on this; but from what I understand a "pro" in principle is that the porting helps to release gas which can limit muzzle flip (making a second shot 'easier'). The "con" to that could be the added muzzle flash thru those ports.
Visually i have not noticed much at all while at the indoor range (range is not real bright), and one of the range officers who carries a std Shield shot my PC and thought the flip was lowered and he didnt notice any flash that would concern him.

I've been thinking of grabbing both a sheild and full size till I looked at the price jump. Between the two. I think I'll just run the pc shield and be good for now.

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Someone mentioned that in a self-defense scenario you may be keeping an attacker at bay with one arm and unable to extend the firearm, leaving you with a shot from the waist and yourself in-line with the port blast.

Sounds reasonable considering the close range of many encounters.

I never really thought of that, it's really good to know since I've never had a ported barrel. But in turn with the not being able to fully extend the firearm, couldn't you still catch muzzle flash from a standard non ported barrel? I only ask because when I was shooting the regular shield I was getting muzzle flash on basically every shot fired down range.
Edit: I'm not trying to be argumentative I'm just weighing every option I can before I drop money on something, also the take down the pc is easier than the regular shield for cleaning since you don't have the depress that yellow thing on the inside with the pc. Sorry kind of thinking out loud if you will.

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i believe the difference will be a std gun's flash is moving forward (even my .22's can be caught on camera with a flash) while the ported barrel would have some exiting out the side

That makes sense, hands down though if you're that close in a violent confrontation I'm sure a burn wouldn't be as bad as losing that confrontation. Now I could see the pc being a very good home defense gun, due to its sights and light weight. So there's another option I need to weigh in for myself.

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Concerning the ported barrel... it's not so much the flash, but the possibility of unburnt powder and hot gases being directed into the eyes and negatively affecting vision when shooting from a retention position. That would not be a good thing to occur during a self-defense situation. There is also some bullet velocity loss.

Porting is fine on a range or competition gun, but nearly every single defensive shooting instructor recommends avoiding it on a handgun intended for self-defense purposes.

I'll admit that i have a permit but i dont yet carry so yes my PC is my intended carry gun but I also picked it up as i liked the trigger and sights (and thought the porting was a neat idea). I like how it shoots and feels, and my wife who only hits the range with me once in awhile liked it as well (compared to my compact and full size MP 9's).

Now when i start to train to carry, maybe I will find the porting is something I wont want in close situations and this PC will become a range toy and something to just carry on family property, etc. But for now it is in my plans for the future.

I think I'll just end up getting something else for carry and run a full size pc for range, that way I can avoid all problems. I was also reading else where about the fiber optic sights and they were saying they're really nice until you accidentally damage them, but on the other hand it's a smith and wesson and they carry one of the best warranty and cs out of all larger companies.

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Mister X explained what I meant. I've also read on this forum that sometimes small bullet fragments eject through the port with enough energy to sting someone.

Of course the odds are infinitesimal that you will deploy your firearm in self defense, and even less likely, during hand-to-hand combat. But among things we do have control over, we make informed choices to add to our potential advantage.

Now what's the difference between the mp and the pc aside from the obvious ported and sights and the ease of take down what else is in the mix there

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Sights and trigger if I remember correctly. I have the standard Shield 9mm as a backup carry and have not dug through the details of the PC.

sights and trigger set up are the main differences from my research. Not sure of any difference in takedown, SW still recommends using the small lever inside. Maybe some use the trigger method on their PC like they may do on other MP models, but i'm not aware of skipping the step just on the PC (Shield anyway)

the pc is suppose to have a better trigger.

__________________
M&P 9, Shield9.

I broke down the pc yesterday and the mp the pc would break down when you skip the step but the mp wouldn't.

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just wanted to add if you go a PC (ported) route, for practice ammo: I happened to notice in another thread someone commented that Blazer Brass is labeled as not for use with ported barrels. That's one of my 2 main ammo types (the other being Rem UMC) and then did notice their boxes with the warning. Contacted the manu and they did say it was correct, due to a very thin plating that could come off. Other ammo that manu carries under different brands was fine to use. And i've seen no disclaimers from Rem, Herters, etc

So just an fyi that while Blazer Brass has been a great practice round for my 9's, I wont use it in my PC Shield

I normally run freedom munitions, they don't have anything that says anything about ported, I guess I could call and see.

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I really like my PC Shield. The enhanced trigger, is very nice, and the better sights are worth the price difference IMHO. The ported barrel is the least favorite upgrade for me, the flip isn't much from 9mm to begin with, and the ports get the gun filthy very quickly at the range.

I've had a 9mm Shield and really liked it, but recently I got a chance to get a brand new, in the box .380 Performance Center Shield EZ. The arthritis in my hands was making this EZ necessary. Now my question is being hard to find ammo now and especially .380 I found some Buffalo Bore .380 plus P 100 grain. Will this new PF shield handle PF without undo wear? This is my first .380 weapon.