XDs 9mm $599 Shield 9mm $449 Which is More Value?

[RussC]

Is it me or is anyone else taking a pause at $599 for the XDs 9mm?

I am into my Shield $449 + $130 XS Big Dot Night sights (installed) = $579

I have a Shield with night sights and I am $20 less than the XDs 9mm with fiber optic sights.

OK Springfield lovers show me where the extra $20 of value is over my Shield with professionally installed night sights and the plastic case doesn't count because we all know they collect dust in the closet.

Russ

 

[MSG Glenn]

In my opinion the Shield is the better deal. Even so at $449 I feel it's overpriced. At the local police supply store they list at $399 for LEO/Security/Military but the wait is loooong.

 

[Arik]

Not a fan of either but i like XDs less

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

 

[S+W Newbie]

There was a time ....... not so long ago that for 449.00 the LGS would'nt let you fondle the Shield for that price forget buy it. I see this Debate as being a long and drawn out waste of time over the coming weeks and months. Each gun has earned it's right to be on the shelves. Each consumer has earned the right to buy the one they are comfortable with. So what is the " Real " debate here? Really? What is the down and dirty debate? ..... cus I don't see one. Just my humble opinion. Your results may vary.

 

[Lost Lake]

In my opinion the Shield is the better deal. Even so at $449 I feel it's overpriced. At the local police supply store they list at $399 for LEO/Security/Military but the wait is loooong.

I paid $335 for mine and at that price it is okay. Not as good as a compact in my opinion.

.

 

[mag318]

Russ, having both the Shield and XDs I have to say I prefer the XDs. True the Shield is a cheaper buy price wise and a good value. I justify the higher cost of the XDs because I just prefer it, to me it feels better in hand and is almost the exact same size. When S&W brought the Shield to market they wisely lowered the price compared to it's larger M&Ps. I bought 2 of them for $360 apiece making for a great buy. I then spent another $200 on each sending them to Robar for their NP3 finish. My Bitone XDs cost me $485 so it was actually a little less than my Shields by the time I was done.
Both are great pistols and I obviously like both, but if it came down to choosing one it would be the XDs.

Pictured it my XDs in 45 acp, my 9mm version hasn't been photographed yet. Anyone here that's knows me knows my belief that you can never own to many guns.

 

[bmyers]

I shot the XDS 9 last night. Nice gun, good shooting, and almost identical in size to my Shield. Is one better than the other? Not than I could tell. Will I buy an XDS? Nope, but I have a Shield. I don't think you could go wrong with either one, just depends on what you like. I like the M&P line, so that is what I have. My friend likes the XDM/XDS line and that is what he buys. Both manufactures have made some good guns and it is nice to be in a place where you have choices.

 

[mag318]

I shot the XDS 9 last night. Nice gun, good shooting, and almost identical in size to my Shield. Is one better than the other? Not than I could tell. Will I buy an XDS? Nope, but I have a Shield. I don't think you could go wrong with either one, just depends on what you like. I like the M&P line, so that is what I have. My friend likes the XDM/XDS line and that is what he buys. Both manufactures have made some good guns and it is nice to be in a place where you have choices.

I couldn't agree with you more.

 

[MSG Glenn]

I paid $335 for mine and at that price it is okay. Not as good as a compact in my opinion.

.

Agreed. I should have added that I think the Shield I was talking about selling for $399 comes with a third mag & night sights.

 

[RussC]

There was a time ....... not so long ago that for 449.00 the LGS would'nt let you fondle the Shield for that price forget buy it. I see this Debate as being a long and drawn out waste of time over the coming weeks and months. Each gun has earned it's right to be on the shelves. Each consumer has earned the right to buy the one they are comfortable with. So what is the " Real " debate here? Really? What is the down and dirty debate? ..... cus I don't see one. Just my humble opinion. Your results may vary.

S+W newbie:

"What is the real debate?"

It doesn't matter if it is a tube of toothpaste or an automobile. Most consumers want to know they are getting the biggest bang for their hard earned dollar.

I have handled and dry fired the XDs 45. No question the XDs stock sights with the contract color and front fiber optic is without question a superior sight. However, they are not night sights and my Shield in my opinion with XS Big Dot are superior sights to the XDs and I am still $20 less.

"The down and dirty debate" is as consumers we make toothpaste decisions everyday and we balance price with value. Most will pay more for brand x if the value is greater than the savings if we buy brand y, but before we can make a decision we must be informed and that is why I am asking the question because I am honestly trying to justify the extra cost and for me it just isn't obvious.

Russ

 

[S+W Newbie]

In the short term they are / were inflated in price. When it all levels out then you will have an even playing field. Until then it's just JIB JAB. Asking after the fact seems kind of moot, no?

 

[TDC]

I own and shoot both. I bought an XDs 9mm last week so I now have both guns in all available calibers.

As others have said they are both excellent guns. I don't believe anyone can be critical of anyone's choice when it comes to selecting one over the other.

I've been a S&W collector for many years so I have an obvious bias. I will say I prefer the 45ACP over the 40S&W caliber and find the XDs more comfortable to shoot in 45ACP caliber than the Shield in 40.

Both have functioned flawlessly for me with both factory and my own handloads. You simply can't go wrong with either gun IMHO.... Buy them all! You'll be glad you did!

 

[littleriver1]

I gave you a like cause of the pic. good job!

I own and shoot both. I bought an XDs 9mm last week so I now have both guns in all available calibers.

As others have said they are both excellent guns. I don't believe anyone can be critical of anyone's choice when it comes to selecting one over the other.

I've been a S&W collector for many years so I have an obvious bias. I will say I prefer the 45ACP over the 40S&W caliber and find the XDs more comfortable to shoot in 45ACP caliber than the Shield in 40.

Both have functioned flawlessly for me with both factory and my own handloads. You simply can't go wrong with either gun IMHO.... Buy them all! You'll be glad you did!

 

[Chuck Jones]

I have an XDs .45 and hope to get a Shield in 9mm. They're both polymer striker fired guns so for me it's a matter of caliber and ergonomics.

The main advantage of the XDs that I see is the caliber.

In 9mm I'd agree the Shield is a better value. You'd have a hard time convincing me the XDs is $100 better in any way.

/c

 

[QasoSwat]

Robar Shields

Those shields look great in NP3, Looks like Mine has to go now.

 

[Smitty357]

Shield, because u can convert it to .40 and u can do it for less than buying an XDS9. You just cant beat having 2 guns in one. Give the market time to ctahc up and you will be able to find all the parts u need to convert it (barrel and mag).

As for the XDS, it's just too bad we cant convert the .45 to 9mm. Then again we are trying to compare a S&W to a Springfield. It's an insult to S&W to even put them side by side.

 

[badjuijui]

In my opinion the Shield is the better deal. Even so at $449 I feel it's overpriced. At the local police supply store they list at $399 for LEO/Security/Military but the wait is loooong.

I guess I look at the wrong places. I see the Shield for no less than $450, and usually $500 and above. Sheesh. Where should I be looking in NC for places that don't come up on google or other search engines? My LGS does not take backorders with anything. It's the luck of the draw. I or my son go by there everyday, no luck so far. The good thing with them is that I can lay it away for 90 days if I can get lucky enough to find one there.

 

[badjuijui]

S+W newbie:

"What is the real debate?"

It doesn't matter if it is a tube of toothpaste or an automobile. Most consumers want to know they are getting the biggest bang for their hard earned dollar.

I have handled and dry fired the XDs 45. No question the XDs stock sights with the contract color and front fiber optic is without question a superior sight. However, they are not night sights and my Shield in my opinion with XS Big Dot are superior sights to the XDs and I am still $20 less.

"The down and dirty debate" is as consumers we make toothpaste decisions everyday and we balance price with value. Most will pay more for brand x if the value is greater than the savings if we buy brand y, but before we can make a decision we must be informed and that is why I am asking the question because I am honestly trying to justify the extra cost and for me it just isn't obvious.

Russ

Agree, don't want to overpay, then pay shipping, then pay my LGS $25 bucks to have it shipped there. By that time I have way overpaid.

 

[S&WProtected]

I have a Shied 9 and it is my favorite gun to shoot, but I would not mind having an XDs 9 as well. I don't think I would pay $599 for the XDs I will wait and see if the price comes down after they have been out a while.

 

[S&WForty]

I've shot a XDS 45, and I just couldn't get past the grip texture. If it had the same texture as the Shield, the compared same caliber to caliber it might be a toss-up for me.

I wish everyone wanting one of these two pistols had the opportunity to fire 50 rds through each then make their buying choice and share their thoughts. I imagine we'd be close to a 50/50 split. You can't go wrong with either.