I'm thinking of getting one in 9mm or 45 ACP. Just how much better do they shoot compared to the plain models? Thanks.

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Life Member NRA
Acts 2:38-39

I never really spent time with a std Shield before buying my PC model (in 9mm). I wanted the various "improvements" including the FO sights and liked the feel of the PC trigger so picked one up (and love it).
A couple of my bro-in-laws grabbed std Shields during the big sale/rebate period. One, who actually runs a sporting goods dept and handles a lot of guns, did shoot mine after his and had some interest in getting a PC as well.

I'm sure many will say the changes are minor, some will notice as bigger diff esp in the triggers and perhaps muzzle flip.

For me the only con to the PC is it will get dirty, due to porting. Doesn't bother me as it was expected. And some range ammo brands recommend to NOT use their ammo in ported barrels. Just something to check into, again no biggie for me.

But overall the PC model is great to shoot.

My first Shield is PC, the second is not. You can definitely tell the difference in the trigger on the PC model.

I rented a standard Shield 9mm at the range to try it out, and then checked out the PC at Cabela's and decided to go with the PC. The range rental pistol might not be a fair comparison, but I did like the trigger on the PC better, and based upon my past experience with PC models, sort of clinched the decision for me to go with the PC. I know Apex and maybe others offer upgraded triggers, I have just come to greatly trust S&W PC firearms.

But, I have to say, given the great prices, I have been considering getting the standard model Shield, just to satisfy my own curiosity on comparisons.

Bottom line, based upon my own experiences, and what I have read, I think you will most likely be happy with any of the Shield variations.

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DAV Life Member

I have the PC in 9 and 45. I have not shot a standard model. Both my PC models shoot so well I would never think of getting a standard model. I like the sights and the enhanced trigger. They are a joy to shoot.

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Endeavor To Persevere

No better at all unless the shooter has the skill to take advantage of the difference. For me personally, I like the PC trigger, you can have the porting. I have one (old) beginner with a beautiful gun, but he still insists on yanking the trigger and suffers from CHS. YMMV
My IDPA BUG gun is a standard Shield with a Dawson .100 FO front sight and a bit of polishing on the action. Porting is banned in IDPA.

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Science plus Art

My PC 45 is much more accurate then my 9mm std.

I have more $ in my regular 9 with Apex kit and fiber optics then I do in my PC 45. The Apex trigger is a littler better then the 45 but my 45 trigger is nice. I Am ok with porting but not a fan. Watch when someone else shoots it and you can see some blast. Fiber optics are nice.

I bought the PC 9mm 4.25" and it was good stock, but since the. I have made improvements to it and defeated the purpose of the PC in some aspects. Mainly the trigger, I installed an Apex flat faced trigger kit which IMO greatly improved it. By doing so the adjustable trigger stop became useless and the previous trigger work from S&W was now eliminated. I also changed the sights, since three white dots pretty much sucked IMO. I installed Dawson fiber optic sights, which I love, but need to dial in still. I like the ported barrel and slide not only for the aesthetics but also the reduction "flip". On that note, you notice the improvements of the porting more with a hotter load and it makes for a cool picture, haha.


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I bought the PC 9mm 4.25" and it was good stock, but since the. I have made improvements to it and defeated the purpose of the PC in some aspects. Mainly the trigger, I installed an Apex flat faced trigger kit which IMO greatly improved it. By doing so the adjustable trigger stop became useless and the previous trigger work from S&W was now eliminated. I also changed the sights, since three white dots pretty much sucked IMO. I installed Dawson fiber optic sights, which I love, but need to dial in still. I like the ported barrel and slide not only for the aesthetics but also the reduction "flip". On that note, you notice the improvements of the porting more with a hotter load and it makes for a cool picture, haha.


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My first Shield was a PC .40. I wanted that caliber first as my FS M&P is in .40 as well.
Then I got a .45 Shield, and now, a 9mm.
The 9mm will be given to my daughter soon.
I'm shooting it for a few weeks, have ordered a TRL-6 for hers and holsters to fit them.
I imagine a standard Shield in .40 would be a handful, with the porting, mine is pretty enjoyable to shoot.
It has some recoil and muzzle rise, but is much closer to my 9mm than my FS .40.
I went to the range three times to shoot the .40 PC and .45 Shield's side by side, and each time I clearly liked the .40 PC better.
There are a lot of guys out there that love their .45 Shields, maybe the PC model spoiled me.
I believe, whether you get a PC model in 9mm, .40 or .45, they will have a nice out of the box trigger, and the porting does help.
Less recoil, and we all shoot better with a mild caliber than a bear crusher.
Less muzzle rise, so you get back on target quicker.
Too much velocity loss ? Too hard to clean ? Too much flash out of the ports at night ?
I've chronographed the PC, shot it after dark, and have to take maybe an extra four or five seconds when cleaning to wipe the carbon soot around the ports and inside the slide where the gas jets up.
I wish some of these guys that badmouth the barrel porting, would actually get a PC Shield and do some testing before proclaiming the ports worthless or more trouble than they're worth. Maybe they're just jealous.

I have a Shield 40, not PC. I also have a Shield PC 45. The 45 handles, feels and shoots better than the 40 to me.

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I don't care for ported guns for myself, especially for a carry piece. Try shooting your ported barrel in a compressed position, ie not extending your arms and you will quickly find out why. Besides a shield is not a target gun, dont worry about muzzle flip, aim center of mass and pull twice.

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I have and its not a problem. I assume you have tried it too or are you just listening to the few biased people who don't like ported guns? Heck you would have to stick your face right over the ports. LOL

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Endeavor To Persevere

I can assure you that the P.C. Shield has a better trigger! Obvious, but important observation imho. I just started carrying it in place of my stock Shield!

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NRA Certified Pistol Inst.

I recently purchased the PC version and regretted having the porting on the first trip to the range. When clearing a loaded chamber after knocking down the plates I like to grab the front half of the slide so the live round ejects into the palm of my hand instead of into the air and onto the ground. I very quickly learned what a bad idea that is with a ported gun. I do like the trigger though as the non PC version I shot had a horrible trigger.

My post from last winter.

****** The Great Shield Shootout ********

Here's the results of my side by side shootout. Certainly nothing scientific, but more first impression and feel. Unfortunately I don't have pics or video this time out.

First off, the Standard Shield which was a friend of mines probably has in the neighborhood of 2-3 thousand rounds thru it vs my 350 on the PC version, so possibly in that time the trigger pull on his may have smoothened out some, I dunno.

Using 115 gr FMJ ammo, each of us shot 50 rounds thru each gun, one magazine at a time alternating back and forth between guns. One magazine at a time working the trigger very slowly to gauge the quality of each trigger pull.

Then... it was a one magazine at a time (alternating between guns) shooting rapidly to gauge muzzle flip.

On trigger pull: I definitely felt a difference in pull weight, not a great difference, possibly a pound or so less on the PC ?? but it was noticeable to me. aside from that a slightly shorter take up to nice crisp break as well. Mind you it was not a great difference, but noticeable. My buddy thought the same. Winner. Noticeable, but not a lot. Edge goes to the PC version.

Muzzle jump: This was probably the toughest test to decipher. Rapidly firing 6 rounds from one gun, then immediately grabbing the other gun and doing the same. Slight difference at best from what each of us said. If you weren't being conscious of it, you may not tell a difference at all. Slight edge to the PC version but very subjective.

Accuracy wise, both guns shot surprisingly well for light 3" pistol. Rapid fire gave a slight edge to the PC version, but the difference is negligible IMO if one was involved in a defensive situation at close range.

One thing both of us absolutely agreed upon was that it was much easier to reacquire the FO sights of the PC version vs the stock sights on the standard version shooting rapidly. The PC shield sights were far superior.

In Summary,

For the extra $75 - $100 for the PC Shield, I think the enhanced trigger and much improved fiber optic sights makes the PC version worth the money IMO. Let's face it, adding good set of FO sights alone on the standard shield may put you over the cost of what the PC would run you and even more to improve the trigger. But from a purely EDC gun, one in which you may have to defend your life with in a short distance gun fight, I see no real advantage by going to the PC version. There simply isn't enough difference to matter. Doesn't mean you shouldn't buy one if you like the extra bells and whistles of the PC version, just not needed for what it was intended for.

There you have it, one mans opinion.