One of the few S&W semi autos that an ordinary person can buy here in California is a Shield.

Plus they are on sale, available everywhere and come with rebates.

I'm mainly a revolver person, but I'm thinking this might be a good time to get a semi-auto as a carry option.

Question is, 9mm or 40?

I have a 9mm revolver, but have no 40 cal guns of any kind.

But adding another caliber doesn't bother me.

Any thoughts on the trade offs?

(note, the 45 caliber isn't available here in CA, so that one's out.)

The .40 S&W is my favorite defensive handgun round in a full size pistol but it is pretty powerful and kicks a bit in tiny lightweight guns so I just bought the 9m/m Shield from Brownells for $219 including shipping and rebate. Ammo is also little cheaper.

I have the 9mm Shield, so you get the 9mm Shield. But seriously, get the 9mm.

I got the 9mm Shield 2 weeks ago. I'm loving it.

I have both. The 9 is definitely more pleasant to shoot. There have been more reported kabooms with the .40. At least that is my perception. More rounds with the 9. You see where this is going......

I'm a happy .40 Shield owner. Not at all the most popular one, but suits my needs well. YMMV

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America First

Recently bought the .40. Don't think it kicks any more than my full size Glock in .40. It's a more powerful defensive round, which I prefer. Love the gun.

I don't like the .40 cal it is snappy and kicks like a mule specially on small frame guns, for that reason I choose the shield9 and recently just added the 45. Try to shoot a rental I do it every time before buying a gun.


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M&P 9, Shield9.

I bought the 40 because it was all that was in stock the day that I bought it. And I didn't have a .40 at the time. Would prefer the 9mm. The 40 Shield isn't bad at all, though it is snappy and follow up shots are slower. In the end I always shoot better with a 9mm, have about 5 others so they would all share ammo instead of having to feed the b@stard .40 something else.

I'd trade my .40 for a 9 if I didn't have night sights on it already. Would take a loss and for what it is used for, I'm ok with it. Still in hindsight would have gotten a 9mm.

I carried a S&W Tactical model 3913 I believe in .40 for a few years and then sold it and got a 9MM Shield. I'd never go back to a .40. The 9MM is just so much nicer to shoot and carry. Reasonable price on ammo as well. I know some guys prefer a .40, but not I. Shooting the .40 was a much rougher experience for me.

Good 9MM ammo is hard to find but there are rumblings the .40cal may start to see it's last days because of recent advances in the 9x19 cartridge. 9X19 is cheaper, not has heavy, and MUCH easier to control (esp. on a light weight frame). I tried to make the 40S&W round work for me back when I carried an SD40VE and ended up selling that Entire system because I could never force myself to get comfortable with the force or muzzle flip. The 9 Luger is JUST as lethal, so why lengthen the time it takes to re-establish site picture in a defensive situation for the sake of firing a slightly more powerful round?

Just my opinion.

I have tried several firearms in .40, and find it to have an ugly twist that hurts my arthritic wrist.

I have a 9mm Shield, and it is now running 100% for me. I am not unhappy with the 9mm (it is now my EDC), and would not buy the .40 because of the twist.

I would disagree, having a local outlet of GT Distributors nearby. They carry range to LE Only varieties at reasonable prices. Look up them, or SGAMMO online, for a lot of good options.

Mag capacity in 7 +1 in the .40 = 8 rounds

Mag capacity is 8 + 1 in the 9mm = 9 rounds

That's one whole cartridge more. Of course an extra mag can help that.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

I HAD the 9mm Shield, then I went out and shot the 9mm Shield, and then, rebates, so I bought ANOTHER 9mm Shield...

....and you should too, get the 9mm Shield


Tomorrow we tackle the 45

LE surplus handguns are plentiful on the interwebs. I'm guessing LE is bailing on the 40S&W. However, with the Army adopting the modular handgun, it's anybody's guess where the 40S&W is going to end up. I'm going to speculate that not many of the Army's SIGs will end up as 40 cal. I feel that most will end up either 9mm or 45ACP. There are a lot of reasons I feel this way. In my brief flirtation with 40 cal (SW40F), I really wasn't convinced the extra power was worth the loss of a round or more. A Shield in 45ACP with the OEM extended magazine, one is back to the same capacity (7+1) as an issue 1911 or 1911A1 but lighter and with way better sights.

So, for me, it wasn't a choice between 9 & 40, but between 9 & 45. I chose the 9.

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NRA Benefactor

I would suggest you at least hold a Shield 45. Much better feel over the 9 and 40. You give up a round or two but the holes are much bigger.

With the CA limitations, the .40 gives you more power with limited ammo and the Shield is sized to the single stack magazine. On the other tentacle the 9mm gives you one more round per magazine.
Geoff
Who carries a single stack 9mm Kahr 9094 with low recoil Hornady 9mm because the wife can shoot it well, just in case.

I am a long time fan of the 40SW and found some very good service pistols for this caliber. The Shield 40SW would not be my choice. I have the 9mm Shield and find that the pistol has very soft recoil. Taken with recent advances in 9mm ammo, the 9mm Shield is a nice choice.

There is nothing in it between the 2 rounds. I guess if you are set up load the 40 or something along those lines it would make sense otherwise no reason not to go with the 9

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K & N S&W revolvers

I'd consider the 45 Shield, but it's not on the California approved list for new guns.

I could buy one used from another Cal resident, but there aren't many in the state.

I'd have to find someone who moved here and brought the 45 Shield with him, or an LEO who bought one and wants to sell.

I will take your advice and at least hold one if I get a chance.

Same, shot a Shield 40, not any more kick than my Sig SP2022 in 40.

Though with more experience with 9mm, that makes more sense. I do like the caliber though. If prices were the same I'd practice more so with the 40 (though price difference is minimal)

Hey Cal44, I didn't see you are in Kalifornia. In that case I'd go 9mm. Cheaper, lighter and will probably be more available down the line. The 40 just has too much snap for me.

I concur with all those who advise 9mm. I shoot 9mm now after shooting 45 ACP for decades. Before I made that switch I did a massive amount of research into the ballistics of the 9mm loads and the various types of loads available. I also researched fatality rates for both calibers and for the 40 cal too. The 9mm accounted for more lethal shootings airy fewer rounds fired than both th 45 and 40.

The lower recoil Of the 9 zprovides faster reacuiring of target and more accuracy. There is a reason the FBI dropped the 40 and went to the 9. The military dropped the 45 for the 9 back in 1989 if I accurately recall.

Before you decide and buy check out the results with different types of ammo and ballistic results. When I did that I discovered the Lehigh and Underwood Extreme Defender (one Defense) round. It is not a HP bout it creates a larger permanent wound cavity than any HP on the market. There're are amazing tests of those rounds on YouTube. There is even one that shows that the round went through a car door and penetrated gel to the same extent as it did without going through a car door.

The round has a specially designed 90 grain bullet that is extremely dynamic based upon it design. It's is amazing. It is more expensive than HPs but it is better. It is my edc round. I wouldn't be without it.

Do I feel less secure than when 45 cp was my choice? No. I actually feel more secure because my accuracy improved due to the lower recoil, and because I carry a round that will do what you need it to do.

I have fairly strong arms and hands, but .40 in a small gun kicks harder than I want to deal with. My Shield is a 9 and I love it, but if you need the caliber to start with 4, you should look at the Shield .45. Only speaking for myself, I much prefer the kick of a .45 over a .40 in a small gun.

A friend has it in .40 and I recall liking shooting it. I got the 9, however because I didn't have a 9mm, yet. I also like the idea of the Mag Guts kits which add another round to either mag.
I don't think you would regret either.

I have the SW .40 Shield. I agree that the recoil is a definite factor to contend with. But I found that getting a lighter, faster bullet can help reduce the recoil. The 180 Gr. bullets that seem to be so popular have a harder recoil. The last time I shot for qualification I used American Eagle 165gr Syntech. those rounds were extremely fast and clean. For SelfDefense rounds I carry the new .40 Inceptor Polycase 107g. which is not an HP round. Unfortunately, I have to buy of these rounds online, which will not be permitted by Kalifornia after July. So I have had to stock up a supply.

I can't comment on the 40 as I haven't had the opportunity to shoot one of those yet, but I do have a 9mm shield. I can say that it is a very nice gun for EDC. I've probably put around 700 rounds through mine so far, and only a couple of malfunctions due to a problem with the recoil spring (which S&W quickly replaced).

I, personally, have had no issues finding ammo for both plinking and self-defense. My personal favorite SD ammo is the Federal HST, though there are are several good options that work well with the 9mm shield.

If I were to buy another shield (which, with the rebates is a distinct possibility), I would personally probably go with either another 9mm (with the 2nd being a performance center) or a 45 acp.

To go along with my Shield 9mm I bought a Promag 10 round magazine on eBay. It works great. I have had no issues and plan on getting another. Of course I only use the 10 round mag for range firing.

I just ordered another promag 10 round magazine. &20.00 on eBay.

The 9mm is a fine round -- there are many good ones (e.g., the Gold Dot, Golden Saber, HST, Critical Defense, Ranger, etc.).

I like the extra round in the Shield's 9mm magazine, and that 9mm is easier to control - with faster recovery. Nothing wrong with the .40 S&W, and despite some downturn in popularity it is here to stay.

I feel pretty good about 7+8 compared to my J frame with 5. Given today's world, I think it is a good idea to have a little more ammo along. All previous revolver vs. pistol debate points are still valid; but with increasing crime and the potential for terrorism and mass shooters, a little more weight has been added to the "firepower" (additional bullets) point.

The current price on the Shield - with rebate - is incredible for a pistol of this quality. As low as $240, plus $25 FFL fee. Hard to pass that up.

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S&W Rover

9MM.
More capacity. Cheaper ammo. Softer shooting. Less wear and tear on the frame. Don't have to stock a new caliber.

With Whittakers "moving" sale....210.00

My wife and I have 3 handguns, only been in this game since October 2016. A 4 inch 65-3, RM380, and I'm 100 rounds in to the Shield 9. My hands are average to smallish, and I love the 9 so far. Absolute joy to shoot. Fast recovery, very manageable recoil, and a nice satisfying bang. FWIW.

Hands down. I sometimes find it more enjoyable sometimes than my compact Sig pistols. I wonder if the M&P line feels similarly.

I had the 9 sold it & got the 40. I don't think you can go wrong with either 1. I'm just partial to 40

My first pistol was a 40 so I'm kind of partial to it. Was going to go with a PC Shield 40 and use a 9mm barrel for best of both worlds. Ended up with a 9 due to availability/rarity in my area LOL.

This, plus the .40 offers no significant advantage in terminal effectiveness. I carry 124gr HST in my Shields:

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His Universe, His rules.

All my handguns, (except for my model 10-6,) are in 9mm. I tend to think the 9mm makes the most sense for this gun and its size/weight. One advantage of the 40 S&W is that when there was an ammo shortage, the 40 S&W was on the shelves while the 9mm was no where to be found. Buy now while prices are low and supply is up!

I'm late to the Shield-show but sorta always wanted one. I saw the Late Boy-scouts You Tube video about this rebate and put 20% down at Buds for the 9mm. I mean, really,... how could I possibly pass up such a good and proven cc gun for $255.00 after rebate. I realize there are slightly better prices out there but Bud's free shipping a Law Away helped me do it.

When in the backcountry, it'd be nice to have a bigger caliber so I checked recent prices and found the Shield 40 at $280 from P.S.A. and the 9mm at $290. Prices are getting so low it's crazy. And I'm even crazier for wanting another one.

My Shield is .40 caliber, and I am very happy with it. The recoil is noticeable, but not that bad. Apparent recoil is actually less than a .40 Browning Hi Power.

I also have 9mm pistols, larger and smaller than the Shield, and I wouldn't hesitate to carry a 9mm Shield either.

The manly thing to do here is to get the 40. All this whining about "snappy?" Jeez, gimme a break.

My one experience with .40 was enough. I was not consistent with the gun (SDVE), even after some basic trigger work. I prefer my 9mm over the .45 slightly. I am more consistent with it, especually on round 2 and 3 of a 3 shot rapid fire (2 to the chest, one to the head scenario). .45 is my hunting and home defense gun. Much lighter, easier to conceal and almost as accurate out to 20 yds. as my prior F/S .45 (F/S srarts to walk away at 25+ yds.) I do think the .45 is the better backcountry "utility" gun and it is just such a perfect size!

If you want to tackle snappy in a Shield .40, go get yourself some Cor-Bon 135gr. Christ. Bought about 4 boxes of different flavored .40 when I got mine a few years back, shot groups rested to see where it printed with each. Settled on 165gr Golden Saber (dead on for my gun). That Cor-Bon was some hot stuff. And shot consistently 6-7" low from like 7yds. Gave the rest to my cousin for his full size, then ended up buying my own FS40 a year and a half later and was ticked off that I did so. !#$%(#$%U#

With the SDVE, my hunch is that it was more the trigger than anything. I sold an SD9 after owning it for a couple of years. I liked the gun, but just couldn't master the trigger, even in 9mm.

Shields seem to have much better triggers than do the SD's.

I am looking to getting the 9mm. I have the 40 Shield and love it. I am set up to load in 40 cal. and not 9. With the price of the Shield, it makes sense to get the 9 also. It is more pleasant to shoot, however I am thinking of converting the 40 to 357 sig, if I can find a barrel, which I also am set up to reload. I just love shooting and practicing.

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NRA Endowment Member

I have been very happy with my .40 Shield, and after considering the current sales and rebates, I recently acquired a 9mm Shield. After 150 rds. I like it also. Time will tell which, if either, I will prefer.

whatever works best for you!

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I like the Shield 9mm, I have the .45 but want to get the Shield 9mm too. I think either one is a good choice. Good luck and let us know which gun you decide on.

Got a couple of both. Love em.

That GunBuyer deal with 2 mags etc ciphers out to 166 final price. THATS CRAZY. I swear Im gonna try to get a couple more. Currently working days AND nights

Cant speak on the .40 We dont do .40

Better do the math before I get questions....
299 price, free shippin sooo...
75 rebate gets us to 224
18 call it for shippin so it matches PSA gets us to 206
40 bucks for 2 mags (@20ea) makes it all the way down to......

166

I think we're in the same boat but maybe there's a cost you haven't considered and which my wife pointed out to me.

The cost of adding on to the garage to have space for storing all the Shields. I haven't yet considered the cost of building a dog house to sleep in.