Ordered M&P Shield, but having second thoughts

[Droid]

I must have held the Shield and 9c for 20 mins and really couldnt decide. The one thing that was turning me off to the 9c was the shorter grip with the 11 rd mag. I couldnt quite get used to the shorter grip on the 9c when the shield had the 8 rd mag and the 9c had the 11 rd mag. While thats better for concealment, it just didnt feel as good. To try and solve this, i would use the bigger mag with the 9c......but then that would make the 9c grip longer than the shield(thus harder to conceal). How far am i willing to go to dress around the gun?

So thats why i ordered the Shield.

The one thing thats giving me second thoughts is round capacity. I will be taking the TDI handgun course next year and it woukd be nice to have larger mags for the course. One of these two guns will be the one i take with me. Also, the more the merrier if i were actually in a sd situation.

I also own an lc9. This is not the gun i want to take to tdi because of the trigger. I suppose i could just dump the lc9 and grab both the 9c and the Shield lol.

So thats my rant and conundrum. Any thoughts would be welcome. I realize this has probably been covered, but i havent been able to find this condensed in one topic.

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[xICEMANx]

Seems like a no brainer. Dump the LC9 and buy both!

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[kris7047th]

Seems like a no brainer. Dump the LC9 and buy both!

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^^ This.

 

[Martimus]

Personally I'd get the weapon that feels most comfortable to you... and that you are comfortable firing.

In terms of capacity, it shouldn't be much longer before S&W releases spare magazines for the Shield. If you want additional capacity you can always invest in some spare 8 round magazines to carry with you.

Otherwise I agree with the others... consider selling the LC9 and purchase both the Shield and the 9C!

 

[blkpitbull]

I don't know. I do not see owning both a shield and a 9 or 40c.
Why? Because the compacts are barely bigger than the shield, goes with out saying the shield is barely smaller than the compacts. So, IMO the little bit of weight, and size the compacts have do not make the shield a viable option for me.
The shield is a good gun, (I have held and shot one now) but it doesn't fit. I mean its to big to be a great pocket gun, sure you can "make" it work but there are other options that do work without trying. Its just smaller than the compacts, so I don't see where any advantage is gotten there since, IMO, both will be holstered.
The shield should've been smaller. One less round, shorter grip, and alittle off the end, and this would fit. It would go from a good gun lost with nowhere to go, to a great pocket rocket with the option to use a holster also.

 

[Smith357]

Rent both and run some lead downrange, after 100 rounds each you will have your answer.

 

[Lee in Quartzsite]

I have a Shield and 9 Compact. My wife had a LC-9 that she carried everyday, and also a 9 Compact. The first time she shot my new Shield she wanted one. We traded the LC-9 the next day on her own Shield. She disliked the LC-9 trigger, plus the fact you had to put the "Safety" on "Fire" to clear the gun. Having both gives you options when it comes to dressing for the weather. The Compact is easy to carry in Winter clothes...easier to conceal in heavier clothing. The Shield is perfect for summer carry...fits in my front pocket of my shorts, carried in a Blackhawk pocket holster. I don't worry too much about magazine capacity. If I can't end the threat with the rounds in the Shield, I doubt if anymore in the Compact would help. Self defense should not turn into an all out gunfight like the OK Corral........

 

[ponchsox]

I own both the Shield and the 9c. The Shield is quite a bit slimmer and is a great a carry gun. If you add a full size mag and x-grip adapter the 9c feels like more of a full size 9mm. It also has a rail to add a light/laser. I would get both since they are both great pistols. I dumped my LC9 when I got my Shield and I'm not looking back.

 

[Ram48]

I have a 9c sitting at my LGS waiting on my getting the purchase permit from the state of NC
I went with my wife to the LGS yesterday and although they did not have a shield in the case a salesman let us hold his personal shield. Lets say it will not be hard to get the Shield also after my wife handled it. But she also liked the 9c. Life is good.
I do not think you can go wrong with either. Shooting both is the way to go but there are no Rental shields around it seems.
If you decide to cancel your shield Just put my Name on the line.

 

[Shielded]

In reading this thread and others and also watching youtube I have to wonder just how many Ruger LC9's have been sold or traded in for the Shield. I would go with the Shield, of course I might be bias Perhaps get the compact later, you can never have too many

 

[Droid]

I think i agree with what blkpitbull said. They are so close in dimensions, i think it might be a waste having both(owning more guns is never a waste lol)
I keep wanting to love my lc9, but firing a few fast rounds off is way easier on my single action guns. I hear wheelgun guys tend to enjoy the lc9 more.
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[Dave686]

I wish I could find a Shield 40 to have second thoughts about. Having said that…. Everything is application driven.

The Shield is a belly gun in a belly gun class (Micro). It is not designed as a duty weapon or even as an all-around carry gun.

TDI is a serious tactical training facility for serious civilians, Police and military. I wouldn’t take a Shield there as my primary weapon. I would use my full size M&P 40 as my primary with my M&P 40C or 1911 as a back-up if something catastrophic happened to my primary.

I won’t be getting rid of my full-size or compact when I get the Shield. It fills a void in the Smith & Wesson product line that is currently filled by my Kahr MK40. (Every handgun I own is a Smith & Wesson with the exception of the Kahr.)

 

[Nakanokalronin]

The Compact is as thick as the FS M&Ps in the slide and grip. The Shield's advantage is for IWB carry and for pocket carry for those that have the pockets for it. For me, it will be a year round IWB carry gun as long as it proves itself. I've tried to carry thicker double stack guns and I don't feel like buying pants and shirts a size or two bigger than what I normally wear.

The video ad for the Shield shows people in everyday normal clothes concealing and carrying the Shield and that what it's geared towards. I'll throw an extra mag in a DeSantis Mag-Packer in my front pocket (like I do with my Ultra Carry 1911) if 7+1 rounds don't seem to be enough.....which means I'm in big trouble.

 

[Droid]

I wish I could find a Shield 40 to have second thoughts about. Having said that…. Everything is application driven.

The Shield is a belly gun in a belly gun class (Micro). It is not designed as a duty weapon or even as an all-around carry gun.

TDI is a serious tactical training facility for serious civilians, Police and military. I wouldn’t take a Shield there as my primary weapon. I would use my full size M&P 40 as my primary with my M&P 40C or 1911 as a back-up if something catastrophic happened to my primary.

I won’t be getting rid of my full-size or compact when I get the Shield. It fills a void in the Smith & Wesson product line that is currently filled by my Kahr MK40. (Every handgun I own is a Smith & Wesson with the exception of the Kahr.)

I had a brief conversation with one of the instructors at tdi. He seemed pretty high on the shield, although we didnt talk about it going through the class. I have a .40 xdsc, but am not willing to buy 1800 rounds of .40. He stated, most of them use 9mm anyway. He also mentioned helping out some local trauma professionals shooting pigs and letting them treat them. He said the wounds between the .40 and 9mm were indistinguishable. Thats another topic though. I want to bring the gun im going to carry most often. If that means buying another one later, so be it.

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[catcus-jack]

Buy a full size M&P 9mm or 45 acp get a good holster iwb preferably.Get used to carrying it.The shield to me is more of a backup gun than a primary carry weapon to me.I will always pick a full size over a sub compact or even a compact for daily carry.Not that much harder to conceal,has more ammo capacity and easier to shoot.My back up is a j frame 340 pd carried in a pocket holster on my off side.

 

[TxM&P9]

Droid:

How big are you? The 9c isn't hard to conceal. What kind of belt and holster are you using because those are critical components to carrying concealed properly.

I'm 5'7" 150lbs. By no means a large person and I can conceal a 9c with extended basepad for my pinky even with a Hanes t-shirt.

To me the shield is just too thin for my tastes. Looks like the premature baby of the full size M&P's on crack.

Buy a full size M&P 9mm or 45 acp get a good holster iwb preferably.Get used to carrying it.The shield to me is more of a backup gun than a primary carry weapon to me.I will always pick a full size over a sub compact or even a compact for daily carry.Not that much harder to conceal,has more ammo capacity and easier to shoot.My back up is a j frame 340 pd carried in a pocket holster on my off side.

Exactly.

 

[Beat Trash]

I've owned a 9c since about 6 months after they were available.

I bought a Shield the week after they were announced. Both are great guns. But to me, different guns for different purposes.

I carry my 9c as an off-duty gun (issued a M&P9). The Shield is my new BUG for when at work. The 9c was just too thick and heavy for the method of carry for my BUG.

The Shield is a sub-compact gun for deeper concealment, that I just happen to be able to shoot like a bigger gun. This is something I can not say about many of the other sub-compact guns I've owned and/or shot.

Personally, I can easily justify owning both.

 

[tocohillsguy]

I had a brief conversation with one of the instructors at tdi. He seemed pretty high on the shield, although we didnt talk about it going through the class. I have a .40 xdsc, but am not willing to buy 1800 rounds of .40. He stated, most of them use 9mm anyway. He also mentioned helping out some local trauma professionals shooting pigs and letting them treat them. He said the wounds between the .40 and 9mm were indistinguishable. Thats another topic though. I want to bring the gun im going to carry most often. If that means buying another one later, so be it.

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You might want to rethink this. Not sure you really want to shoot 1800 rounds out of bug while attending a training class. This is why folks often own more than one gun. For example, they may train with a full size 1911 and then carry a compact 1911. Of course, you might sometimes use the compact for training, but not for the lion's share of the work. I'd bring a bigger version of the M&P and then maybe rotate into the Shield for some, but not all, of the training. At the very least I would suggest you talk to the instructor, tell him your plans, and see what he has to say. My guess is you will be buying a full size 9mm M&P.

 

[Droid]

Droid:

How big are you? The 9c isn't hard to conceal. What kind of belt and holster are you using because those are critical components to carrying concealed properly.

I'm 5'7" 150lbs. By no means a large person and I can conceal a 9c with extended basepad for my pinky even with a Hanes t-shirt.

To me the shield is just too thin for my tastes. Looks like the premature baby of the full size M&P's on crack.



Exactly.

Ive tried carrying a xd40 4" and just didnt like it. Not comfortable at all. My lc9 is very comfortable. Xdsc40 is pretty comfortable also.

Im 5 9 190lbs, but a fullsize pistola just aint comfy for me. I will only get something i will carry day in and day out.

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[Droid]

You might want to rethink this. Not sure you really want to shoot 1800 rounds out of bug while attending a training class. This is why folks often own more than one gun. For example, they may train with a full size 1911 and then carry a compact 1911. Of course, you might sometimes use the compact for training, but not for the lion's share of the work. I'd bring a bigger version of the M&P and then maybe rotate into the Shield for some, but not all, of the training. At the very least I would suggest you talk to the instructor, tell him your plans, and see what he has to say. My guess is you will be buying a full size 9mm M&P.

I see what ya mean.

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