My first post. I got one today, and I didn't get to put any rounds through it. I got the one with no thumb safety, not that that matters. The ergos on this pistol are awesome, I think I'm going to love it. Here's my question. In the heel of the grip, there's a hole. It looks to me like S&W forgot to finish the pistol. Anyone know of any cool aftermarket parts to plug that hole? Stupid question, I know, but about some things I get incredibly OCD. By the way, this forum is the reason I ended up with this pistol.

Congratulations, and welcome. Hope you can shoot your new shield soon.

"It looks to me like S&W forgot to finish the pistol. Anyone know of any cool aftermarket parts to plug that hole?"

Why would you want to do that?
Would only increase the weight it seems to me.

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Only difference Fool/Mule-ears

These will do wonders for your grip, and as a bonus, they will cover the hole. For Smith Wesson M P Shield Magazine Finger Grip Extension 9mm Plain Black | eBay

Not sure why my link won't work, but search for Shield NDZ magazine extension. They come in 2 styles. The longer one covers the hole.

http://www.ndzperformance.com/Extend...-magp-ent1.htm

Welcome and congrats on the new Shield.

Why would you want to do that?<br />
Would only increase the weight it seems to me.<br/>
I didn't figure a tiny little plastic plug would add enough weight that it would matter. Especially on a gun that weighs almost nothing.

Shaky shoot, those are good ideas, I especially like the Superman logo.

No aftermarket plugs for the Shield grip yet.
Congrats on getting a Shield and welcome to the forum.

Many Shield newbies have problems getting the recoil spring placed properly to assemble the slide. Do read through the Field Strip/assembl parts of the manual. It has good pics.

I am guessing the hole you are referring to is on the bottom of the grip, next to the mag well. All Shields have this opening. If you wish to close it, first clean the opening with alcohol and allow to dry completely. Then put a little black silicone calk into the opening and place some tape (blue paint release tape works great) over the hole to contain the silicone, and set the gun up, so the hole is down. The silicone will flow downward towards the tape, and after curing, when you remove the tape, the hole will be filled with a silicone plug. The silicone should remain securely, but it can be removed by cutting/pulling out.

Other than Apex trigger parts, aftermarket sights, lasers, and grip tape, there aren't any current aftermarket Shield items. As post # 2 stated, a big issue new Shield owners have is after removing the slide, they fail to get the recoil spring located properly and have issues getting the slide back on and are often unable to lock the slide back. Just get the spring fully pushed down and centered and all should be fine. I agree that you will "love" your Shield.

Bob

Welcome to the forum and to the Shield world from North Carolina.

I am sure you will love the Shield... I got mine the first of August and haven't let it leave my side yet... funny, I have a lot of awesome long-guns and a couple awesome pistols, but since I got the Shield, they are collecting dust, I just take the Shield everywhere and it's my new protector. One of the best firearms purchasing decisions I've ever made and a steal - in my humblest opinions its well worth the doubled price, let alone the $350 it goes for. Great fit in the hand, reliability, shoots great, feels amazing with the 8rd magazine, i put TruGlo TFO BriteSites day/night sights on mine and it's like a revelation... plus carrying it on my back hip in the Galco King Tuk IWB hybrid holster, it just disappears but is always there when I need it. I am EXTREMELY HAPPY I didn't try to appease my tough-guy-side with some expensive showpiece or my value-side by buying a cheap cheap CCW gun and wouldn't be satisfied.

Simply the best EDC gun you could ask for in anywhere close to this price range.

Thanks for all of the ideas, and advice. My wife shoots as well, probably better than me, and has her CCW, too. We sat down with the pistol yesterday, and I made her strip it a couple times. A very close friend had several Glocks, as he used to shoot three gun. We are well versed with tearing the Glocks down, and the Shield isn't as easy, but very similar. She has the pistol down pat now. She also made the comment that even after not shooting it, but merely playing with it that she wants one. I bought it because it's slender, and now they offer the one with the safety delete, so it's more like a Glock and what I am used to. It came down to the Shield or the G26, and obviously the Shield won. My friend also had said he can't wait to shoot it, as he is very curious. He had also talked about selling a couple Glocks to get a couple M&P's to try something different. So many toys, so little time.... I've already voiced to my wife that I will own a full sized M&P in the very near future. Thanks again guys, I'm going to like it here!

I went to look at mine, and finally realized what you were talking about. That "gap" is part of the design, to lighten the weapon. It is covered by the base plate of the magazine, so I find a question as to why it matters.

The suggestion above as to filling it with a bit of silicon would work.

Wait till you look at the base of the grip of an LC 380. Room for a small house in there.

You're right, it is covered by the base plate of the 8 round mag. Put the 7 round mag in, and it's not. I will be carrying with the 7 round mag.

I neglected to respond - you are correct on the 7 round mag. I find the 7 to be difficult to grip, so use the 8 normally (this is an alternate to my 1911).

I'm a small framed dude, with small hands. The 7 round mag doesn't pose much of a problem for me.

The beauty of the Shield is that it carries like a small gun, shoots like a big gun. I think this is why they sold like beer at a ball game, even in the face of serious competition from Glock, Ruger, etc.

I got mine in 9mm several years ago. It's my pocket gun when my clothing does not permit a full size gun (which recently became a full size M&P 9).

I can't imagine why anybody would want a .40 or .45. Fewer rounds and more recoil for zero gain. But mileages vary.

TIP: if carried bare in the pocket, field strip, wipe out the lint, and re-lube every few weeks.

TIP: mags are very hard to fully load. Load 'em up and let 'em stew for a few weeks and the spring will loosen up a bit.

TIP: Like most small guns, Shield is more sensitive to ammo than the full size ones. Shield does not like underpowered ammo; that leads to ejection failures and slide short-cycling. I found that out by shooting PPU eastern -european *******. I use Q4318 NATO which is almost a +P to ensure functioning.

Get yourself an UpLula and the loading is no longer a problem.

Second to the Uplula. My Sig 365 was difficult to load the last two rounds at first, but after a few times with the Uplula it’s getting much easier. Now it’s just the last round. The mags and gun function flawlessly, best 9 out there all things considered, imo.
A little gun acting like a big gun, accurate with manageable recoil.
I still use the Uplula, especially at the range, loads effortlessly.

Put a Pearce Pinky Grip on your 7rd mag. You can find them on EBay for around $10. You'll love it, gives you a more secure grip on the gun. Or you can also put a Strike Industries EMP +2 extension on it and make it a 9 rd mag.

MagGuts™- The Last Round's On Us!

+2 makes your 8 a 10.
Improves grip.
Solid performance.

I don't like the Strike Industries +2 EMP on the 8rd mag, doesn't look or feel right. All my 8rd mags have Hyve +2 extensions.

Buy lots of ammo and get used to shooting it! Far more important than gizmos and glitz! You will love your new pistol!! CONGRATS on a great purchase!

Hope you enjoy the Shield! With a loaded pistol against my waist, I like having a thumb safety. Knowing there will not be an accident damaging parts of my body, gives me comfort. I've carried a 1911 in Condition 1 for many years.

Hole in the bottom of the grip? Don't think it much matters, but i just did look up in there with a flashlight and it collects dust up in there. Guess I need to check those nooks and cranies better. Aftermarket parts...Recoil Spring Assembly, upgraded trigger, mag release extension, mag extensions, Hogue grip or grip tape, Pearce pinky grip, threaded or non threaded barrels, night sights lotsa neat stuff...does it make it better? Maybe, maybe not.