I currently have a Shield in 9 and really like it.Thinking about maybe getting 9c,well just because Is there really that much difference mainly width,weight and comfort/concellability between them ?

Just curious and looking for opinions from folks who know.

Take care and be safe

Jerry

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Jerry

I had considered the same question. I have a shield in 9mm and use the 8 round extended magazine because I can get my whole hand in it. The 9c with its pinky extension is still not quite long enough for a full grip in my hand.

i was in the same boat as you guys
after buyintg the 9c... i had realized that this was the gun i should have brought first.. the shield has its place... if i live in a mag restricted place i would suggest the single stack (furthermore get the bg380 it actually a pocket gun).. other wise there is no point to them.. the double stack is the same size ... a takes the full size mag.... trust me get the 9c.... it even feel better in the hand.. also it shoots better..

I have a Shield and almost bought the 9c, but the grip just didn't feel right, too short even with the pinky extension. The full size mag probably would have made a difference but for carry I would want the 12 round mag. 9c didn't work for me.

I have had a Shield. Great gun but a little to big for a pocket gun. Sold it when they first came out. Now I have a Glock 43. Love that gun but was thinking about buying the Glock 26 also. Instead I bought the M&P 9C. I like the pinky extension on the 12 round magazine. I also have the 15 round magazine with the X-Grip works great. I do not like the looks of the 17 round magazine with the X-Grip, makes the gun look funny in my opinion. If you are going to carry the gun IWB holster then you probably want the Shield. OWB carry probably the 9C.

Got rid of my 9c in favor of a shield 9 and no regrets whatsoever. The shield for me is much easier to carry and conceal.

I had always carried FS handguns until I got my 2 Shields (9 & 40). I like the size of the Shield and have the Pearce extension on the 7 & 6 round mags-makes all the difference in handling/shooting the shield without compromising concealability IMO. I carry the extended mag for a reload.

A compact size handgun is good for certain applications, but can never replace a FS in most situations. I'm comfortable carrying either and shoot them all very well. It does take some time/practice with smaller handguns, to be comfortable and accutate with them. I don't own any of the M&P compacts, yet LOL, but haven't ruled them out for my collection! :-)

I considered the 9c, but didn't like the factory trigger at all.
While the Shield's factory trigger isn't the absolute best on the market, I feel it's MUCH better than the 9c's factory trigger and doesn't absolutely NEED an Apex Kit.

If you're planning on doing an Apex trigger kit anyway, then it doesn't matter, but if you're not planning on adding a kit, rent one before buying.

I have and love both. I carry the 9c probably 60% of the time; the Shield only about 5%. The 9c is easier to shoot (bigger, heavier gun), but the Shield is super concealable. I can pocket carry fine with the right clothes, but I usually AIWB with the Shield - it disappears. The triggers on both get MUCH better with use, including dry fire. I swapped the sights on the Shield because I like a rear sight with a "ledge" to it (plus added a night sight up front). I don't have huge hands, but the Shield is difficult to get a good grip with compared to the 9c (for me). Despite this, for defensive purposes, the Shield is accurate and reliable, but the 9c is more so for me (plus you can carry a full size magazine as a spare).

The width difference between the two is the key for me, with the Shield under an inch and the 9c about 1.2". The 9c is about the same width as a Glock 26, which I replaced with the Shield. IWB, for me at least, that makes big difference in comfort and cocealability when I carry IWB, which I do 9 of 10 times.

To each his own, but I'm sticking with the Shield. I shoot it fine, and like the comfort factor of the slimmer pistol.

You're all very lucky. Here in California just about the entire M&P line is banned for purchase, unless you're LE (the Shield being the only exception I'm aware of).

I bought a Shield 9 and M&P9C at the same time. Did not care for the shield at all and sold it. It would rub a spot above my thumb knuckle until I bled. The grips are so thin I found it hard to shoot at the range. The ease of carry is not much a big of difference for me to keep it over the 9C. Plus you get the ful benefit of extra mag options.

I have both, but my 9c is a Ruger SR9c which is the same size as the M&P. The 9c conceals just as well for me and is very comfortable. The things that make the 9c my carry choice are, it's much more accurate and easy to shoot well, higher capacity, and the biggest plus, it's much easier and faster to get a solid firing grip on the draw. I have much more confidence in the 9c. Oh, and the Ruger trigger is fantastic, right out of the box. I do like my Shield, but I carry my 9c about 80% of the time. Carry a LCP about 10% of the time and my Shield about 10%. Not looking to get rid of it, but I really don't need it either....

My 2 cents. I had both at once. With a good holster, I found the 9c carried as good if not better than the shield. The shield is actually taller than the 9c (which caused it to print more). I also had problems getting good repeatable accuracy with my shield as it was just too thin in my hand and seemed to have more muzzle flip. I sold the shield off in short order and kept the 9c.

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Dave

Thanks for the feed back so far

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Jerry

Which part did you measure? The slide and front half of the frame, which is inside the waist measure 1 inch on the Glock. It measures 1.18 at the finger groves which are outside anyway. Same for something like the Sig P series which 1.5 inches but that's at the controls, the slide is a hair over 1 inch

I have a 9c and a 40 shield. I am much more accurate with the 9c. However the shield is a breeze to conceal using an iwb. I really wish I had bought the 9 shield Anyway just my 2 cents.

I have both and favor the 9c. No external safety (both are available either way now, but not when I bought them) I don't find the dimensional differences to be an issue and I prefer the added capacity.

Besides my wife stole my Shield and claimed it as her own!

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paws for friendship

I "rented" a 9c at my local gun range just to try it out, prior to getting my Shield. I wasn't all that crazy about the 9c trigger pull and even with the pinky extension, it just didn't quite fit my hand right. If not for the trigger, I might have gone with full size mags and those "X-Grip" magazine adapters but due to available funds at the time, I ended up getting the Shield instead.

The one and only complaint I've ever had about the Shield, is the 7 round mag. It makes the grip too short for my hand and throws off my aim. For this reason, I purchased an extra 8 round mag. Even with the 8 round mag in it, it conceals quite nicely in my IWB so, I really don't have any complaints.

I've liked every M&P pistol I've ever owned and/or shot so, I may eventually get a 9c just because but, it's just not within my budget at the moment.

I own a Shield in 9MM and wanted to get a 40C as well, but then I stumbled onto this....which is pretty much same size as the 40C, a Ruger SR40C. It is a sweet shooter for sure! I really like everything about this gun!!

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My wife is currently debating the two. We'd like to get her the 9c, but there is a $100 price difference between the two that I'm having a hard time justifying. She loves my Shield.

Due to what I do for work, I end up in less desirable neighborhoods on a fairly regular basis. I like having 13 rounds at ready. I keep a 23 round mag in my truck and drop it into my pocket sometimes.

I carry the 9c iwb @ 3oclock. Minimal printing. I actually grip chopped a FS to keep the longer sight radius as the barrel length does not hinder concealment.

true, but you can buy one PPT for a reasonable price if you're patient...I did.

The Shield fits my small hands better. I have the .40 S&W. It is comfortable to shoot with surprisingly little muzzle rise for size and weight of pistol.
If you decide to change the sights,it would probably take a gunsmith they are so tight.

I have both. As the Shield is not on my employer's authorized list, I don't carry it. The two main differences are width and weight. The 9c is basically a chopped down double stack pistol, so it holds more rounds, and of course, is heavier. The 9c is not bad on he hip, but I find it a bit heavy on the ankle. Also, I don't think it carries that comfortably in an AIWB (maybe cause I haven't found the right holster. The Shield, because it's lighter and thinner, carries well in an ankle or AIWB. Both are combat accurate out to 25 yards. I haven't spent that much time with my Shield on the range, but know that I can hit with it. I prefer the seven-round mags for carry for the Shield. It's a concealment pistol. I use both the flat and extended base plate mags for the 9c. I shot a baby Glock with standard mag base plate for so long it doesn't bother me if my pinky curls under. Having both the 9c and Shield is not a bad idea. What you carry will depend on what you're doing and how you're going to carry the gun.

So far so good with the newly purchased Shield, can't give a comparison since I've not shot the 9c, but the Shield serves the intended purpose for me, something my wife can shoot and the ability to conceal in the future!

Hmmmm...I've been having this similar debate with myself for a while now.
I have a Shield 9 as my EDc, and I find it conceals really well in a stealthgear Onyx. I also have a Full sized .M&P .40 that i absolutely love and shoot really well, but I find it a tad too large to carry IWB, so I've been thinking about maybe getting rid of the FS and getting a compact, so I could carry that as well if I wanted to. Being in mass concealment is very important, the moonbats around here freak out if they see anyone carrying.
It's really quite annoying.
A .40C might just be the ticket

I started out with a Shield but I was never really comfortable with the capacity. So when I found out that the 9C was essentially the same footprint as a Shield with 50% greater capacity I decided to go with the C.

As somebody pointed out a 9 C is small enough to carry in your pocket while you're at home but with enough capacity to at least give you some ability to respond to a home invasion.

I also like the fact that in my case since I have a 9 full size I only have to buy the full size magazines and they will fit both guns.

All that said having fired a Shield my only issue with it is capacity and if that's not an issue for you I'd go with the Shield

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Retired Career Security Guard

I carried the 40c for awhile. Then I bought my wife a shield. The following Saturday, as I was running errands, I was going by the house about half way through. I carried the shield first, then the c. I bought a shield for myself the next Saturday.

Shield left, compact right




Shield front, compact rear...


Shield top, compact bottom


shield top, compact bottom


shield bottom, compact top

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SDMF

I had that gun and the trigger beats the pants off M&Ps. I had to send it back to Ruger twice however, for light primer strikes. I don't know if it was fixed the second time because I sold it soon as I got it back.

.Thanks for the side x side pics "speedy" I'm just in the HUMM maybe get one stage but appreciate you taking the time to take/post the pics. On the c is that one of the back straps that comes with it or an after market? I like it

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Jerry

Great discussion here. I bought a .40 Shield a couple months ago, pretty much on a whim. It really has been a pleasant surprise at what a great little gun it is! So far this little auto has functioned flawlessly with anything I've fed it.

This thread on Shield vs Compact makes me want to give the C models a look too. For me it wouldn't be a matter of either or, but whether or not I want both. Good stuff guys!

I started with a 9c, then I drank the Shield kool-aid.

I also took some side by side pictures to compare them.
If you compare the height of a compact (with a pinky extension) & a Shield with the 8-round mag, they are almost identical.
The flat magazine baseplates on both are, too.
The guns without magazines are also pretty much the same height.


The difference between the length and thickness is very noticeable.



I found that I shot the Shield better and preferred the smaller profile for carrying, so I sold the Compact.

I have both and they both have their place. Shield a little easier to carry but I love the 9C and would never be without it. I like the higher mag capacity and with the full size mag and Xgrip on my other hip, a lot of fire power. It's the most natural feeling in the hand pistol I've ever owned. And since there is open carry here in Texas (although I always conceal) I don't worry about a little printing anymore.

It is an aftermarket by A2 Stippling - A2 STIPPLING

He is a member here and is in the services. He buys original S&W backstraps and stipples them. You don't have to send yours to him. he does the same with the baseplates. I'm not a stippling kind of guy, but I like the looks and especially the feel of that pattern. i wish the shield had a removable backstrap. i would have it done the same way, by him.


I had taken the pics along time ago, I just had to load them to photobucket....lol

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SDMF

I think if I do go with a 9c down the the road it'll be for OWB carry as seeing the side by side pics of the thickness-well kind of made my mind up.

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Jerry

simple math.....
like i said before. unless you live in a mag restricted area .. get a 9c.. but if you do,,, get a shield .. BUT personally... i only love 9mm do to mag capacity, but if restricted i would go with a higher caliber you could get the compact 45c with 8+1 at similar size to the shield and 9c...

The side by side pics are a great aid to this discussion. Thanks!

I had the same experience. Purchased a Shield and 9c together. Sold my Shield. Easier to conceal but much more difficult to shot. IMHO the Shield is just too thin. That's why you find countless threads about adding grip tape etc.. I like my 9mm/9c better then my FS 9mm. In fact, I also sold my FS after shooting the 9c. The 9c takes all the FS mags so if you want 17 rounds for backup no problem. I find the 9c pinky extension mag base plate to work perfectly. I find the 9c to be very accurate. It's a perfect compromise between concealment and fire power. Of course this is a matter of preference.

Thanks for all the experiences/thoughts/opinions,guess I'll head by my LGS and see if they have one so I can hold one and see what I think.I have small hands and that may fit in there to an extent.

Take care everyone

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Jerry

I am going thru the same dilemma, I really like the compact in the flat dark earth, I like the extra rounds you get. I have carried the shield 9mm in a desantis cozy partner for about 3 months, and I really like the setup, carry at about the 9 o'clock position, and forget that I have it on most of the time. With the way the world is getting, and after hearing my instructors telling me to carry as many rounds as you can, I think I am going to get the compact....