I picked up the gun this afternoon and shot 6 rounds over the back fence into the cow pasture. The trigger is not gritty and feels less than 6.5 lbs. I like it. It makes a distinct click when the trigger resets, but the reset is longer than on a Glock. This trigger is a lot better than the LC9 trigger and not anywhere as long as a Kahr PM9 trigger. First impression: I like it. Recoil is not bad at all. I thought the grip was a little slippery and needed some grip tape. I paid $399 for the gun.

I will be taking it to the range either Monday or Tuesday and will update this thread with my range report.

One of my neighbors, an older retired lady, recently bought a Glock 26, so I let her handle the Shield. She was able to rack the slide, which she could not do on the Glock and she said the trigger was easier to pull also.

Here are a couple of pics comparing the Shield with a Glock 26.

Thanks for the comparsion pictures to the G26. I have been wondering that same thing.

yes, THX!, been looking for this exact comparision pictures.

Very helpful visual. Thanks for posting.

thank you for the info glad you like it

Thanks for the pics, enjoy the new gun

Thanks. keep us posted, thinking of buying 9mm or 40, haven't made up mind.

The Glock is a total brick by comparison. Having handled both, the Shield is very svelt.

glock 30 sf, sorry but its a .45 and holds 10. i'll make the sacrifice of larger caliber less comfort every day. i own a ton of s&w revos but have never been a fan of their autos. as soon as i get a chance, i'll handle this one. will be hard pressed to give up my .45 security blanket...

Thanks for the pics and review. Let's hear more after you fire it more. Do I need to trade my 9C in? What ammo do you plan on carrying? Your general impression is good, after you fire it more does it still feel good. Have fun and stay safe.

In all their infinite wisdom they put a safety on it which I could live with. The fact that it's not ambidextrous makes this gun useless to me since I'm a lefty. It's a shame...that feature is what drew me to M&P's in the first place. *** were they thinking? Oh well....

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Get off my lawn.....

A truly good and most informative post. Your comparison was excellent and since I have a G26 it is easy to visualize. Thanks.

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Defensor Fortis 814th CDS

Luscious owns an M&P 9C but has expressed interest in the Shield when the forty becomes available. For her the proof will be when she tries it with the mag extension. She is missing half of her ring finger and a full grip is a must.
She wanted very much to be a "Glock Grrrl" but their extended mag on the G26 pinched her every time she pulled the trigger. The 9C doesn't have that issue.

I dunno, Man. Forced ambidexterity has it's advantages. As a lefty I learned how to deal with it on my Colt 1911 and my S&W 3954. I would probably fumble with a safety or mag release on the right side!

I hear you...I've been forced to be a righty my entire life. But now that there are ambi options out there so I'm tired of it. I'll wait to see if M&P comes up with an option for me. If not I'll get by like I always have to.

My AR's are all rightys that I shoot from the left side and that's fine.

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Get off my lawn.....

I handled one at the local Cabela's. Nice pistol, easy to rack, good sights. Safety has a very nice positive engage/disengage, and despite another review, was easy for me to manipulate on and off. For that that don't like a safety, it's so slim, you could simply leave it off and forget about it.

The grip is REALLY narrow. Not having it side by with with my LC9, I doubt it's any more narrow, but the feel of it makes it so, at least to me. I only handled it with the extended grip, so having a full grip on it was easy even with it being narrow.

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Rod
M&P 22A, 40c, 15A, 15-22

I also got to handle one at me LGS yesterday. He had 2, one was already being bought by a customer. Price was $395+ tax. My CCP of choice is a Glock 26 and it feels like a brick in my hand compared to the Shield. I have been looking for smaller carry piece, and while the Diamond Back db is smaller, it ain't no Smith & Wesson. I am seriously considering the Shield.

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M&P9/9C/Shieldx2/Sportx2/15-22

I just traded my glock 30sf. I never had a problem but after buying a M&P 1 1/2 years ago it has been more of a safe queen. I just like the M&P's better and at one time I was a huge glock fanboy. Now I don't even own a glock. I am not dogging them out they are fine guns just not my personal preference. By the way I traded the G30sf for a Ruger SR 1911 and love it.

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M&P 9 because 'Merica.

Thanks for the comparision!

for sure glocks aren't the best in the world. they are reliable. i own only one, my 30 sf. if i'm not working, i carry a 360pd airlite, and a 442. my bug is also an airweight, 638. in a perfect world a single stack would be my choice, but i don't live/work there...

Glocks just don't work for me...I have small hands, and the M&P line with the small back strap fits me just fine. I have had several Glocks, including a G23 Gen4, and the Gen4 without the additional back strap on it fits pretty close, but not as good as my M&Ps. The G36 felt pretty good, but I never felt comfortable with it, since there were so many reliability problems (not in mine, per se, but in general.)

In polymer pistols, the M&P line works the best for me. 1911s feel the absolute best, but for general carry the M&Ps are best.

I guess I will be putting my CW9 up for sale...I wasn't going to get a Shield, at least not until they had been out for a while, but I kept looking at them online, and the number available on Gun Genie kept dropping, so I finally decided "How bad could it be?" and hit the purchase button.

Great pictures.

Whats the difference between the Shield 9 and the M&P 9c ?

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NEVER FORGET SEPT. 11th 2001

9c is larger and is double stack. Shield aprox 6" x 4.5" x.95" --9c 6.5x 4x1.25 +-. Shield ha2 mags a 7rd and a 8rd. 9c coms with 12 rd mags and I added a 17rd with a grip extension. I bought a shield because its easier to conceal. I have a PPK 380 that I really like bt wanted a 9 for cc.

Just picked up my new M&P Shield. I really like it! It sure feels good in my hand...or, at least with the 8 round magazine it does. I don't care for the grip with the 7 round magazine in it.

I know it will be a long shot, but I'll going to post a trade offer in the classifieds to see if anyone wants to trade their 8 round magazine for my 7 round magazine. If not, when they become available, I'll just get some more 8 rounders, and put the 7 rounder in the box.