Are there any upgrades that you guys find essential to the shield (9mm to be specific) that you would recommend to anybody who has one? Magazine upgrades, trigger, barrel, etc?

From your screen name, I assume you are relatively new to shooting.

If that's correct, spend you money on good instruction and ammo. You may also benefit from some additional magazines (not upgraded magazines).

Once you've put 500 rounds down range, then decide what additions you need (if any).

At this point, ammo and instruction should be your focus.

I totally agree with Rpg. Proper instruction, safe practices and ammo...lots of ammo. Clean & lube the gun per the Owner's Manual. 9mm Shields tend to come from the factory pretty dry with only some rust portectant on em. Clean & Lube it properly. It will save you a lot of grief. Once you get 400-500 rounds down range, you'll have a much better feel for what you might need, if anything. I'm a big fan of Talon Grips and Heine straight eight sights. I put the Talons on when I bought my 9mm Shield and the Heine sights won't be available till fall. The 500 rounds will break the gun in nicely. I did pick up some extra 8-round mags only because I caught em on sale. Otherwise, I'd just use what came with the gun. Mags are stiff when new. Load em up and leave em that way to relieve some of the spring tension. A UpLULA loader is a nice friend to have when loading those stiff mags.

This.

There is no substitute for training and practice. Break in your gun, break in your grip, break in your trigger finger, break in your shooting eye.

I would avoid all steel cased and all Russian ammo. You can find brass cased ammo at affordable (~20¢/round) prices from CCI (Blazer), Speer (Lawman), Remington and Winchester if you shop online. Stock up, and go to the range with a good supply each trip - NOT with a singe 50 round box you had to go shop for on the way to the range. You want to be in a position to shoot a lot if you decide you want to. And if you decide not to, unshot ammo is easy to carry home and is ready for the next trip.

Most of all, once you have enough training to know you're a safe shooter - HAVE FUN.

As advised, once you have shot your gun a while and feel how it works for you, you will be in a position as a new shooter to compare to other guns. Borrow or rent guns with different set ups, feartures, sights, triggers, etc., and see which of those features helps you shoot better.

Add upgrades to your gun one at a time to see if you get the desired effect. If not, remove them. The best to try first should be replaceable with original parts.

Most mass manufactured guns become better shooters with upgraded parts, or at least easier to shoot or operate well. Adding upgraded parts is not an indictment against the stock gun. It is personalization that makes you a better shot, therefore safer with that gun.

It's fun and interesting to add rims/tires to a new truck, along with a cold air intake and a freer flowing exhaust. Special seat covers, wiper blades, enhanced steering wheel--all enhance your experience with your truck.

Same with the gun. Be ready to start coughing up some change if you really get into upgrading--as much or more than the original cost of the gun. Always be sure first that each upgrade produces the same or better performance. Some can actually make you go backwards on reliability.

Heres 49 opinions....enjoy.

"MustHave" Shield Upgrades

I currently own 4 Shields and will probably buy another couple this week. Other than extra FACTORY magazines, the Talon rubber grips are always my first M&P upgrade.

Check the "Similar Threads" section at the end of this thread.

Only things I bought when I picked up any of my handguns were additional mags, an Uplula loader (one covers all my 9's) and of course plenty of ammo. I like to practice, and I like to shoot for fun.

So if one is new to gun ownership, as others have noted spend the coin on ammo, practice and training. Said ammo would include the usual range/practice stuff; and as one gets closer to being ready to use their gun for carry (and or home defense), practice with the self-defense ammo that will be loaded for that purpose.

I dont modify my guns, others do; but before a new shooter looks to modify a new gun they should become proficient with it first. Then make the decision to accessorize or modify as desired.

Is there a quick loader besides uplula made specifically for the shield mags?

There is a Caldwell mag charger, but I don't believe it's shield specific.

As for upgrades, the most valuable and longest lasting are those made to the shooter. Investing in ammo and training is a good thing.

About the only upgrade to a shield I would consider is sights. That would be after I sent a few hundred rounds down range and decided I needed them though. My shield still has stock sights, my glocks do not.

I have the Uplula and love it. Pretty essential for my 17-round magazines but I don't always bother with it when loading Shield magazines. For sure it does work with the Shield.

Ammo! Shoot it a lot to see what you NEED!

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

A mag loader is essential IMHO.

Next is a mag extender for a seven round mag for your pinkie finger.

After that you are in high cotton.

__________________
Mike
S&WCA #3065

Talon grips and an UpLuLa loader.

Hogue 18400 Handall sleeve Grip and UpLuLa loader. But, my wife likes the grip stock. The grip is too thin for me, so I add the Handall.

I'd suggest to stick with the Uplula ( Universal) loader; it works for my full size MP's double stack mags and my Shield's single stack as well. Sort of a "one size fits all"....

If you have the loader that can cover a wide range of mags to use on your Shield now, you're likely covered for any future gun purchases... cuz there will be future purchases.
Just sayin'

I did the Handall also. We got our initial guns back when they didnt have the Beavertail.

You'd love the beavertail even better

TG mentioned pinkie extentions. Nice for those of us with large hands.

UpLula...good for your 9's up through your 45's

Crazy not to have one

Only problem with an UpLula is your sooooo efficient reloading that you can flat go through a buncha ammo on a range outing!

Please do not take this the wrong way, but I have never understood the reasoning for buying a budget level pistol then spending countless $ to try to make it perform like a top tier gun would when in the long run you still only have a budget gun with extras. Those extras rarely increase the resale value and never increase trade in value at a gun shop. If you want a top performing pistol buy one from the start and you will always have a top performing pistol that should you grow tired of later will have a much higher resale value than a hopped up Shield ever will. In the end it's cheaper to just go for the better model. Please don't ask how I know this.. There's no substitute for experience.

UpLula, ammo and training. After that Truglo TFX Pro Night Sights

Does the 7 round mag pinky extension make the gun print anymore than with the flat base? I do like the 7 round mag

And I will get an uplula! I've seen the name a million times, it must be good. I would love too get a grip but I like the thinness of the tub stock for carry and shooting isn't too bad, but maybe that will change. I do like the fullness of my walther grip single stack...

I think there's little way to predict how specific one pistol will print compared with another. My experience is that it depends on the pistol (including size of the magazine and extension, if any), holster, cant (inclination of the pistol in the holster), location & positioning on the body (IWB vs OWB vs ankle, etc.), the person's form (tall, short, skinny, large, etc.), the clothing (light, heavy, layered, tight, loose, etc.) and I've probably not listed some other factors.

Speaking of the 7 round magazine, I carry with that one and have an 8 round in my pocket. This is because I have fat hands and find my palm interferes with dropping the 8 round unless I make a big change in my grip (which is something I don't need to be worrying about if I'm ever needing to reload under stress).

Next time you're at the range, ask around and see if anyone has Talon grips and will let you hold their gun. The grip material is less than 1/2 mm thick and I don't think it makes any difference at all in how thick the gun feels. In my case, it simply lets me get a much better grip and I've found I can shoot the Shield much better with than without.

There isn't a whole lot of risk with trying a Talon. It will cost you $18 and take you 3 minutes to install (maybe 5 the first time). If you don't like it, it will take you 30 seconds to remove it and clean the adhesive off. Of course, at that point, you've lost the $18 because it can't be reused.

I think you'll have trouble finding people who have tried them and don't love them.

Honest question, have to give an honest answer. Of course it does.

It adds about a half inch sooooo while easily hidden with adjustment it DOES add to length some.

Pic#1 the 7rd......pic #2 the 8rd

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	IMG_1434.JPG (106.4 KB, 51 views)

Other than: Buying a Sig 238,239 to start with.
Seriously, I agree with the others, see how you do before trying to spend MO $.

a ton of ammo and a ton of practice. I would suggest you get your preferred sights before spending all that money on ammo and training. Why not get the upgrades you like so you can train with them. Makes no sense to me to train and shoot lets say 500 rounds and the realize you need better or new sights. Then spend more money on another 500rounds to train with the new sights.
But thats me
1SG
Out

Anybody tried the Mag-Guts? Adds an extra round.

I've got the factory m&p tritium sights on the gun currently

no offense intended to anyone, but the Shield9 (and 45) are as close to perfect as concealable production pistols go. After you shoot it a few hundred rounds, you may want to add Talon Grips or something similar to better fit your hand, and different sights (night sights or similar), depending on what you're using it for, BUT, the trigger, recoil spring, etc, "enhancements" are unnecessary and might introduce new issues. JMO.

Shoot it a while (a lot...500 rounds of factory ammo) and then see what, if anything, you think needs improvement.

__________________
Loving retirement!

I don't think there is anything essential to add to the Shield, but I can tell you what has made mine the perfect gun. I added the TruGlo Pro Day/Night Sights which are great. I also installed an Apex Sear and Ultimate Striker Block which gives me the sweetest trigger ever and I now like shooting this gun probably more than any other. Like I said, non-essential but I don't regret purchasing any of it and I'm more than glad that I did. Regards, Elliot45

On my 9, I put a Crimson Trace on when I bought it and extra mags so I wouldn't have to reload as much. After a few trips to the range, I put Talon grips on it and the mag extender on the smaller magazine.

On my 45, I've put the Crimson Trace on, the mag extender and extra mags. The stock grips feel pretty good to me, even when I'm sweaty, so I don't think I'll put Talons on this one.

I just put a pearce mag extension on my 7 rounder. Great add on for that mag.

Yes, I have the +1 and the +2 Magguts kits. Both have functioned flawlessly in my 7 round 9mm mags. The +2 does add about 1/8 inch to the bottom of the mag, but it's barely noticeable, and well worth the 2 extra rounds.

I'm hoping they will soon make a +1 for the 45 Shield.

=======================

MagGuts Info <[email protected]> May 23 at 2:24 PM
To 'Shane'
Message body
Hi Shane,

We are working on conversions for the Shield 45 magazines now. It will be a little while, though, before we have them.

We will add you to a list of interested customers to be contacted when they are available.

MagGuts Support
=========================

My wife started with the 8 round mag but is moving to the 7 since she said it is more comfortable to carry.

For me, I don't see a big difference. So, I have been carrying the 8 lately. I always shoot both since I go back and fourth. The 7 does keep the Shield nice and small like its meant to be, although most people seem to hate it. You just have to practice shooting it a little. I have big hands and can shoot it about the same as the extended mag.

I was talking to a holster making that told me he usually carrys the extended mag but when he wants more concealability he carrys the flush mag. He carrys the ruger sr9c. This makes sense to me.

I don't use the pinky extension because I think it defeats the purpose.

I tried a 7-round magazine with both Pearce and NDZ extensions and ended up just carrying an 8-round magazine when I wanted a place to park my pinkie. The thing that surprised me was that I did not experience any loss of control or speed when using a 7-round magazine with a flat base plate.

neither have I but it's very comfortable. And the extention faces down in holster so it prints no more than the flat plate

I don't mean to pick on this poster, but I see advice and opinions a lot on this board and others to the effect that springs will "sag" or "relax" over time if kept deflected. I'm a mechanical engineer, though I did not specialize in mechanisms, but did manage to get through metallurgy and mechanics of materials courses. I remember enough about elastic deformation and creep rupture to know that spring steel does not sag or relax over time at ambient temperatures in time frames less than geological. But the myth persists among gun enthusiasts, car and motorcycle buffs, etc., that one must replace old worn out springs that have sagged or softened over time, that magazine follower springs will weaken over time if kept deflected, and hammer springs must be relaxed before storing a gun. Small industries trade on the notion.

If a spring, or any solid body, is deflected less than its elastic limit, it will return to its zero stress dimensions when the strain is relieved. If there is hysteresis deflection or loss of spring constant, the spring was either improperly designed, or stressed beyond its elastic limit.

I have a modest collection of firearms of all types, many well over a century old, and none show any sign of weakened springs, through all have springs pre-loaded and under constant deflection, i.e. a tubular magazine springs, hammer springs, etc.

Can somebody with more metallurgical chops than I set me straight if there really is a problem with springs losing their elasticity? I know age hardening is a known phenomenon in ferrous castings within a period measured in a few months or years, but I presume that the strength modulus of ferrous springs is essentially constant forever.

There are many stories of magazines stored fully loaded for decades and functioning perfectly when finally put to the test. I recall a specific one about a fully loaded 1911 magazine, known to have been untouched (in the back of a dresser drawer) for something like 70 years, working properly when tried.

The posts I've read (on other forums) from engineers who DID work professionally with springs are consistent with ggibson511960's recollection - a properly manufactured spring subject to an individual deflection (load it up and let it sit) that is less than the material's elastic limit does not weaken the spring - over normal human time frames. What does weaken the spring is repeated deflections - lots of 'em. Which is why the serious, high volume, run 'n gun shooters are known to replace their magazine and hammer or striker springs periodically.

That said, I have had the experience of the hammer spring on a Bisley Model Colt Single Action going soft after about 100 years. The gun was made in 1897 per factory letter, my father bought it in 1941 and eventually gave it to me. We shot it regularly although not extensively over the years - probably over 500 but certainly less than 1000 rounds total. By sometime around 2005 it began partially cocking the hammer after each shot. The cylinder would be found partially rotated toward the next chamber after the shot, and the hammer became notably easy to cock. A new hammer spring brought it back to normal functioning.

For my 9mm Shield I got Pearce extensions for my 8 round mags and NDZ for the 7s, they don't hang down as far as the Pearce.

For my .45 mags just a Pearce on the 6 round.

A good loader is a must, for me an Uplula is the best.

I have Talon and AGRIP wraps on several pistols but the Shield texturing is above average for both the 9 & 45 so I leave them as is.

Spare mags, ammo & range time is the best way to spend $$$.