Good Evening,
First time poster here and confirmed Smith Junkie (all wheel guns until today). I was in my local store yesterday (it just happens to be right on the way home) and they were just putting out a Shield 9 that had come in. I’d heard all the hype about this new Miracle 9 and decided to see for myself if this could really be all that and a bag of potato chips. Put down a deposit and went in today to finish paying ($419 plus tax much less than what I paid for my Solo) and do the paperwork. 30 minutes later I was next door on the range to try this puppy out.
Was the Shield really all that great? Could it be better than my Kimber Solo? Hmmm. Open the box (cardboard box, no hard plastic, no different from the Solo there). Two magazines! Are you listening Kimber and Sig? One 7 round and one extended 8 round. Excellent! The Shield is a pleasure to hold. Just enough grip for me (even with the 7 round magazine) to get a firm purchase. Even better with the extended magazine. I shot a variety of ammo. Remington, Blazer and American Eagle in 115 and 124 grain. FMJ and Hollow Point at 5, 7 and 10 yards. I was thrilled to experience ZERO FTFs or FTEs. A significant improvement from my Solo that couldn’t put more that 3 or 4 rounds down range without an FTE, FTF or the magazine falling out. Then I realized that my index finger didn’t hurt! The trigger on the Shield is longer and isn’t filed to a sharp tip that digs into your finger with each round.
I found the trigger on the Shield quite good. Very similar to my Glocks with a great reset. The Shield was dead on , I was able to easily place all the rounds within 4-6 inches of each other in the center of mass rapid fire and 2-3 inch groups slow fire. Two hundred rounds of spent brass later and not an single issue to report. BTW, for those looking for a holster for their Shield, it DOES fit very nicely in my Crossbreed Super Tuck for my Glock 26 AND my Glock 30 SF. Great retention. I wore it doing yard work, running errands and taking a much deserved nap. Comfortable, no shifting, no slopping around. Don’t ask me how one holster fits three totally different weapons, it just does (like gravity and taxes).
One thing is for sure. The M&P Shield 9 is no Kimber Solo. No way no how. To each his own. If you have a Solo and it's worked for you, I'm happy for you. My experience was much different.
Now, if I can just keep the wife from thinking the Shield is hers. Thanks for the space fellow Smith Fans.
P.S. After 3 trips back to Kimber late last year , I was offered a full refund for my Solo. I took the money and ran. I knew if I waited long enough someone would manufacture a small 9 that wasn’t a compromise. Kudos to the design team at S&W for hitting a real homerun. I can almost forgive you for that dang Hillary Hole.
First time poster here and confirmed Smith Junkie (all wheel guns until today). I was in my local store yesterday (it just happens to be right on the way home) and they were just putting out a Shield 9 that had come in. I’d heard all the hype about this new Miracle 9 and decided to see for myself if this could really be all that and a bag of potato chips. Put down a deposit and went in today to finish paying ($419 plus tax much less than what I paid for my Solo) and do the paperwork. 30 minutes later I was next door on the range to try this puppy out.
Was the Shield really all that great? Could it be better than my Kimber Solo? Hmmm. Open the box (cardboard box, no hard plastic, no different from the Solo there). Two magazines! Are you listening Kimber and Sig? One 7 round and one extended 8 round. Excellent! The Shield is a pleasure to hold. Just enough grip for me (even with the 7 round magazine) to get a firm purchase. Even better with the extended magazine. I shot a variety of ammo. Remington, Blazer and American Eagle in 115 and 124 grain. FMJ and Hollow Point at 5, 7 and 10 yards. I was thrilled to experience ZERO FTFs or FTEs. A significant improvement from my Solo that couldn’t put more that 3 or 4 rounds down range without an FTE, FTF or the magazine falling out. Then I realized that my index finger didn’t hurt! The trigger on the Shield is longer and isn’t filed to a sharp tip that digs into your finger with each round.
I found the trigger on the Shield quite good. Very similar to my Glocks with a great reset. The Shield was dead on , I was able to easily place all the rounds within 4-6 inches of each other in the center of mass rapid fire and 2-3 inch groups slow fire. Two hundred rounds of spent brass later and not an single issue to report. BTW, for those looking for a holster for their Shield, it DOES fit very nicely in my Crossbreed Super Tuck for my Glock 26 AND my Glock 30 SF. Great retention. I wore it doing yard work, running errands and taking a much deserved nap. Comfortable, no shifting, no slopping around. Don’t ask me how one holster fits three totally different weapons, it just does (like gravity and taxes).
One thing is for sure. The M&P Shield 9 is no Kimber Solo. No way no how. To each his own. If you have a Solo and it's worked for you, I'm happy for you. My experience was much different.
Now, if I can just keep the wife from thinking the Shield is hers. Thanks for the space fellow Smith Fans.
P.S. After 3 trips back to Kimber late last year , I was offered a full refund for my Solo. I took the money and ran. I knew if I waited long enough someone would manufacture a small 9 that wasn’t a compromise. Kudos to the design team at S&W for hitting a real homerun. I can almost forgive you for that dang Hillary Hole.
Got to make the wonderous trek out to YPG every day. Don't miss that drive much (though I miss seeing the herd of wild horses out by the artillery displays).
