Purchased a Shield 9mm back in early December. New shooter, first gun purchase. Put over a 1,000 rounds through it, but I just wasn't happy with my accuracy. And this is just shooting at self-defense range. So, I traded it toward a bigger pistol that I shoot much better.

This weekend, I decided to rent some small pistols and try them out. I shot the Sig P365, Ruger LC9S, Glock 43, and just to see, a Shield.

Even though I'm much more familiar with the Shield, it was dead last on accuracy in comparison to the other three. I actually thought I would shoot it the best since I had experience with the model.

It seems as if most people find the Shield 9mm to be an accurate pistol, but I just never could improve much with it . Any ideas why I would shoot everything else better than the Shield?

Your own physiology and anatomy. This is so much more important than most believe or understand.

This is also why, when experienced individuals make recommendations, they should, in my opinion, say "brand "x" is my preference and here's why". Experienced users should know enough to ad, "however, there are many similar brands in this similar configuration you seek, and you should also try brands "a", "b" & "c". Whenever I see a post that says: "Get a Glock (or any other brand), 'nuff said", I think, this is someone from whom a newbie should never get advice.

On another note, you, my friend, are going about it the correct way.

Yeah, it comes down to what fits you. Despite that though, you can train with a gun like the Shield and learn to shoot it well. I know I did. I was shooting multiple times a week and got very good with it. Now, after not being able to shoot for a while, problems cropped up a but again, not as bad as initially, but I had to work at it a bit more. Adding a Hogue grip helped me immensely. Once again, a fit issue, not the gun itself.

You didn't shoot 'everything else,' you shot three individual firearms. Everyone is different, everyone has different eyes, and every individual gun is different. Shoot what you shoot best, and don't worry about it.

"Flat out, I am more accurate with the Shield at distance than I am with the Glock, and it has everything to do with the damn sights. The stock Glock sights confuse my eyes from time to time, making me less accurate than I would be with a three-dot setup on the Shield." - Colion Noir

America's 1st Freedom | Noir Review | Glock 43 vs. Smith & Wesson M&P Shield

It's the most overall perfect gun I've ever seen. It's molded to fit my hand, the trigger is great, the sights are great, everything's great except that I can't shoot it consistently. I can get three Bullseyes then miss the target three times. I'm trying to figure it out. Most any other gun I have I can shoot pretty well, but the XP????

If I have a gun that is flat INACCURATE, the Kel Tec P 11 qualifies. The instructions say that it's accurate out to seven yards. I can use it for close in SD, but the group starts expanding big time in a few yards of range. I don't think there is anything wrong with the gun. It's just a small gun with a short barrel that is really hard to shoot well. I'll bet Hickock45 would be able to shoot it.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

I bought a Benelli B76 a few years back.. couldn't shoot it worth a hoot..

Got a trade offer, took it, and sold the trade package for an $800 profit..

fond memories..

For clarification, my "everything else" term is in reference to all the pistols I've shot since I first purchased the Shield, and not just the three this weekend. Once I decided to trade the Shield, I tried out several other models. Including this weekend, I tried out 9 different pistols, and shot them more accurately than the Shield. To be fair, 6 were larger framed pistols and I didn't try any smaller models until this weekend.

And I do shoot the Shield better than my 442 airweight.

If a gun doesn't work well for me it's history in short order..

Too little time to many guns..

My one gun I keep coming back to is a 110 (nearly) year old design..yes, the 1911..

conceals well and deploys to my liking.

Keep going until you find your gun.. we and they(guns)are all different.

As mentioned in other threads, this is why I won't buy a handgun which I have not first tried (tried friend's, rented, even tried someone else's at the range).

Most inaccuracy issues stem from Trigger Control and some things that can effect trigger press are:
* Distance from the trigger to the backstrap... This can effect where your trigger finger naturally lands on the trigger and which part of the finger pad you use to press straight rearward.

* Width of the grip: This can also effect how your trigger finger lands on the trigger, as well as how much gap there is between the grip and the palm of your hand. This gap can effect the possibility of twisting the handgun a fraction of a second before trigger break (causing POI to be left, or right of POA)

* Type of trigger: True (revolver style) DAO, SA, 'Traditional DAO' (DA/SA), Striker-Fire. None of these 4 styles press the same, nor should they be expected to.

*Weight of the handgun: Many times, while weight makes a handgun easier to conceal and carry, It can adversely effect Recoil Control, which increases time needed to reacquire the target, as well as causing one to need to constantly readjust their grip on the handgun.

When trying each handgun, pay attention to how often you need to adjust your grip. If you need to readjust after every (or every other) shot, that handgun may not be a good fit for you.

Getting people's opinion on the forums is a great Starting Point, in order to learn the Common Complaints, but Forum Research should only be considered a Starting Point and nothing more. One needs to see how the handgun feels to shoot (in their hands), before placing their card on the counter.

Not a one size fits all scenario. Find one that works for you. My Shield 9 is as accurate as I let it be.

A handgun is a very personal thing, at best when it fits you as an individual. We all have guns that we shoot better. They aren't more accurate, they just suit us better.

You can learn to shoot the Shield well, but that may not be the best approach for you. I spent three months learning to shoot my S&W J-Frame snub nose revolver. But I was mad at myself, and stubborn, and felt real good after I did. However; it's just not worth it if all you do is get frustrated.

Sometimes you're just not dating the right one, and it's time to move on.

I have been away from shooting for about 35 years. S&W model 19-3 was my gun of choice. Absolutely accurate as all get out and easy to shoot/control. Got back into shooting about 6 months ago......with a newly acquired 9mm shield. It has taken me all this time to adjust so I wasn't shooting low & left. No more issues....just take patience and practice. Shield makes a great edc. I have never had a FTF, fte, or any other issues with about a dozen different loads and about 2000 rounds. One thing I do is hand and arm exercises daily. Makes all the difference in world

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk

I couldn't hit 6" steel at 10 yards with the Shield when I got it. Much dry and live fire practice and I feel I can hit what I want with it just as well as a larger pistol.

Yep, larger frames, thinner grips, longer barrels, different sights, stock triggers, third party triggers, like I said, they're all different; you could have shot 9 different Shields and found some of them to more accurate than the others. It's also possible that the sights on your particular Shield are off, not sure if you considered that, but it's possible. I have two M&P's and the Shield is more accurate for me than the full size. I can't explain that. Notice I said "for me." I wouldn't expect that to happen to everyone, there are just too many variables.

Before I bought my Shield-9, I rented the G-43 to compare because lots of reviews said it was the 43 competitor. I was just as inaccurate with each, but bought the Shield because I have never been a fan of the grip angle on the Glocks. My accuracy has improved by exercising trigger control and concentrating on grip tension.

I'have modified the grips by adding leather panels so they are a bit wider - like the double stack on the 2.0, in fact.

For faster, double tap practice, the grip panels help a lot for me, but there's not much help for the stock trigger. I just trained-up to it and I put everything in a pie plate at 5-7 yds as fast as I can. Slow firing got me a ragged hole at 7yds of about 2", low and left. I ended up drifting the front sight rather than try to discipline myself with a basic combat pistol. Now, it hits dead on, if an inch low at 7. I'm calling it good.

To me, that's accurate because it's a combat pistol and I don't expect sterling accuracy unless I shoot a heck of a lot more and/or have the gun modified, and I won't do that.

It could be that some folks expect too much from a snubby, and that's basically what the Shield is - a gun with a 2-1/4" barrel, or so. I have an old M-60 that I shoot a lot, but I know the limitations of both the gun and the shooter. It's fun and accurate in single action, but in double action, it's no better than 5 holes in a pie plate at 5 yds - fast. Still that's good enough in a house, or near my vehicle, or at work late at night.

Accuracy is relative. My old Model 17 is relatively more accurate than most handguns, out of the box, as it is. But perhaps not as accurate as the same gun, with a scope mounted.

That's disappointing when your 'dream gun' isn't what it's cracked out to be. I guess you can just as well say, dream 'car' or dream 'boat' or anything. Many, many moons ago, I wanted a Jack Kramer tennis racquet. By the time I got one, wooden rackets were at the end of their life. It gave me one heck of a case of tennis elbow and I 'sold' it for a pittance. The guy was begging me to take more for it, but I told him I just wanted it out of my sight.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

Thanks for sharing the Noir article, he is always a great read and provides substantial information data to support his opinions.
In response to the original post, I too , struggled with the Shield on my initial purchase. Slide issues (solved by breaking in and proper cleaning & lube) & accuracy (solved by focused training and practice).

The Shield , as well as the Glock 43 are purpose built , SD-carry guns. I do have a 43 in my house as well, although that is the carry gun of choice by my wife.
She doesn't doesn't like my Shield and I really do not care for the 43 , or any of the other models. The 19 was my first purchase and it was rapidly traded in for a PX4 Storm Compact.

I handled a Sig M11a1 (P229) at Academy and fell in love with feel of the gun in the hand. I was stoked to buy the gun and took it to the range. I could not shoot the gun very well on several outings even after swapping grips. This was strange because I can shoot the P226 as good as any other gun. I’m most accurate with the Beretta 92 series followed by the 1911. I can shoot the 9 Shield pretty good and better with the 45. I can shoot Glocks and M&Ps good enough to qualify but won’t win any awards. Larger guns tend to shoot better because of better grip, longer barrel and sight radius, but my Shield 45 shoots darts for me. Moral of the story is we are all unique and shoot better with different guns. Enjoy whatever works for you.

When I first got the Shield, I thought that it was ok but not great. I bought a new sear from Apex and it smoothed out the trigger. Next I got the Apex Ultimate Striker Block and the trigger became smooth as silk. My accuracy greatly increased, so much so, that I can hardly shoot anything else. Tried the Sig P365 last night and it wasn't even close. Neither have hardly any other guns with the exception of my '83 Colt Gold Cup 1911. I can't say enough about the Apex stuff. I also put a whole Apex trigger kit in my M&P Pro with the 5" barrel. I love it too but really like the Shield better. You might at least consider the Apex Sear, that's a replacement part that you can do yourself and it's not very expensive. The target below are 1 target out of 5 on a larger sheet. Regards, Elliot45

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Interested in this subject as I warmed to the Shield for some reason and always wondered why. Nice gun, just not for me. Reverted back to a Walther PPS which seems a much better fit for my hands.

I still liked the Shield when I traded it. Good size, easy to carry, and ran without issues. Nothing but good things to say about it other than my accuracy.

What do guys consider "inaccurate"? Shooting tight groups is fun and rewarding, but unless you are doing major training every week, minute of goblin is usually close enough when things go bad.

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Release the Kraken

I have owed full size and compact M&Ps all in 40 cal., sold the full size because I could shoot the compact just as well. bought a shield in 9mm and could not hit anything with it. I put 600 rounds thru it and was ready to sell. I went to a friends and we shot many handguns that day, i was accurate with all of my guns and pretty good with his. After finishing up and putting everything away I remembered I brought the shield along, and told my buddy I was going to shoot the pistol I couldn't hit squat with, I could not miss with the shield that always shot low left for me. My friend says "now I will shoot the gun I cant hit squat with" thinking I saved the best for last. Not sure what happened or why things changed but I am real glad I never sold my shield, now my M&Ps are the 40c and the 9 shield both are EDC accurate enough for me

For the past 5 years, nothing but Shields 9's and 45 for me....

I only practice SD shooting (from front site site picture only) from 15 and 20 yards..The Shields have always been accurate enough to put 90% of rounds in the black on a silhouette target.

Don't care about tight groups but they are nice to see.

If you can't shoot the shield well, get rid of it when you find
the handgun you can shoot well.....Shields are not for everyone...

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Hipcocked45

I have pretty large hands and have a problem getting a firm grip on my shield with the short magazine so my accuracy is not as good as when I use the extended magazine. I carry the shield only with the extended magazine for that reason.

I think I may try the hoge beavertail handall sleeve. It is less then $12 on Amazon. And if I dont like it or doesnt help accuracy I take it off. Would not be the first nor the last $12 I pissed away.

Hogue hand all is very very tight, I gave up and got a refund. Pachmayr Tactical grip glove fits well and easy to remove if needed.

A lot of people have problems with them. I had trouble holding on to my 40 Shield 1.0 and shot all over the target. I applied rubber Talon Grips and improved immensely. They are thin but fills out the grip nicely and gives you a good hold on the gun. They’re affordable and easy to apply - just make sure to use a hair dryer to set them.

Just remember: In defense shooting, you are not looking for "tight groups", you are looking for "on target".

The only semi-auto pistol that fits my hand is a 1911.

I like 'em , too. I miss my old Combat Commander. Superbly balanced pistol. Surprised that I feel the same about the 2.0C. I use the smallest grip panel and it reminds me of another excellent pistol - the Browning Hi-Power.

Very simply put...different people shoot different guns...differently!

Physiological differences (hand size, hand/arm strength, posture), previous experience(s), comfort-level, etc....are all contributing factors to how well and individual shoots a particular gun well or not so well.

Just keep in mind...if you don't shoot a particular gun well, oh well! Keep working at it until you find a manufacture + model that you do shoot well...and work with it.

I prefer Glocks...not because they're Glocks...but because I grew up shooting SA revolvers...and the grip angle of the Glock pistol mimics the grip angle of the revolvers I grew up with...so it's 'natural' for me.

I have friends who grew up shooting 1911's...and they love how one fits/feels in their grip...because they're used to it. I can shoot a 1911...but not as fast nor as consistently accurate unless I slow way down and work with it. BTW...I usually out-shoot them with my Glock 36 single-stack .45...but only because it is more accurate than I am...heh heh!

It doesn't make a 1911 a bad pistol...it's actually a really great pistol...it's just not a 'preferred' pistol for me...at least not for what I would consider a top choice for something to use in 'critical-shooting' situations!

My wife shoots her HK P2000SK 9mm much better than the Glock 19 pistol...she likes the grip better and prefers the 'smoother' slide action of the HK over the Glock...and her 'on-target' shooting at 21' is 1/2 the diameter with the HK vs the Glock.

Everyone has a preference...9mm, .40, .45...Beretta, Glock, Ruger, S&W...find what fits you...and practice!

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Amishman44

I also found the Shield's 7-round magazine to be a bit short and the 8-round magazine to be longer than I wanted at times.

My solution was to cut and shape a Pierce magazine extension until it fit my hand perfectly.
.

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I like guns and shoot a variety of different brands. I think I shoot with so many guns it's hard to be really good with any one.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

"Fear the man with only one gun"

I've strayed from this as it is and I'm torn about it.

I did something similar when I bought my Shield, I bought tons of ammo and shot +7,000 rounds out of it so far. The trigger is smooth. Stock, but used trigger.

Here is a target practicing defensive fire, shooting one magazine rapidly, then dropping the mag and inserting a new one, then rapid fire again, at 15'. Needless to say, I like it.

I put Hogues on everything I can, my big hands like some meat to hold on to!

Here's a pic from my last trip to the range, using my Shield and my G26.
I was doing the 'Rastoff's Challenge' (TX CHL Qual) scenario.

5 shots to the left target with my Shield, 5 shots to the right target with the G26 at the following distances: 3yds, 5yds, 7yds and 10yds. I also added 15yds.

I've been shooting Glocks since the G19 came out in 1989 and have had my Shield since May 2012.

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The truth has been spoken.


Defensive shooting, depending on what statics you read and who calculates them , this could be anywhere from 9 - 12 feet?
Defensive shooting , I would be led to believe is point shooting.
3 yards - 4 yards , easy training @ the range. plus it is good fun

The Springfield XD Mod 2, 4.0 is a surprisingly accurate weapon. It replaced my 1911 as an EDC pistol.

I have a Shield , no safe and its a tac driver , my son has one and its the same , never a problem .

Only Baptists shoot Shields well.

Nanney1, you're probably not a Baptist.

I'm a Baptist and I shoot my Shield very well.



Thanks for not taking my nonsense serious.

God bless,
Birdgun

2 mags did this??????

That's so funny!!!

Have a blessed day,

Leon

Definitely not. Quite a number of mags did this.

Well, after I'm done at the range, my targets are holy...

And here I thought it was ergonomics and practice. Seriously.

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I need ammo, not a ride.

I took my Shield out the other day, fired 100 rounds at a target 100 yards down range. I could cover every shot with a quarter. That's right. We Baptist know how to shoot.

.
.
.

Of course, it only took 100 quarters to cover all those holes. But ever shot could be covered by a quarter.

And that's almost the gospel truth.

God bless,
Birdgun

P.S. Hope my neighbor doesn't mind me shooting at the side of his barn.

The broad side?

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I need ammo, not a ride.

Nyuck, nyuck, nyuck !