I'll add my trip to the range to the mix. Only had time for 70 rounds before the thunderstorm hit, but nothing has changed - still 100% reliable and LOW perceived recoil. Every time it goes BANG I just shake my head at how mild that recoil is.

The very last fraction of an inch of finger pull before the gun goes bang IS a little stiff, but before I go running to the Apex website or whatever, I'll put more rounds downrange. If it continues to break hard, I may do some polishing. But, 1) I'm sure it will break in more with time/rounds and 2) It's not a bad thing for a carry gun to not go bang until you really want it to. I don't notice it when I rapid fire, and I sure wouldn't think it was stiff if I ever had to pull the trigger to defend myself.

This Shield continues to function flawlessly

A little investigating revealed the cause of the stiff trigger - it is a Mao-tse-chusetts compliant gun which means the trigger is around 10.5 pounds

Well, at least I know now why the trigger seemed so stiff. This particular gun has an external safety and was destined to be my range gun anyway. The one I have coming doesn't have a safety and is NOT Mass compliant; if it proves itself, will be my EDC gun.

I'll continue to shoot the snot out of it to see if I can live with it. If not, I'll polish it up and then resort to the Apex trigger if I have to. I want this gun for practice, so it should have characteristics as close to the EDC Shield as possible - but I'm guessing that if I can continue to shoot it well, it might make me a better shooter on the one I assume will have a lighter trigger?

I had good groups today, but they tended to be a little low and to the left, which the hard trigger could account for. I'm also a little surprised that it took me almost 400 rounds to start noticing the trigger was stiff. I guess my time with the hand grip squeeze ball is paying off?

Wow, the mass trigger is heavy! You've done great with such a heavy trigger.
I've installed 2 Apex trigger kits and some ghost connectors /springs on Glocks. I haven't changed out single parts in M&Ps. I was going to suggest an Apex sear and polishing the other components but now you might want to get the springs to lower that 10.5# trigger down.

Low & left... are you right handed?
#1 Tip to Keep from Missing - YouTube

I have both the 9 and 45 Shields, and would say the 45 is no "snappier", in fact I was surprised at how soft it felt. I would say it offers a little more of a "push" into your grip, but is very pleasant to shoot.

If you've ever shot .40 cal. in any pistol, I think it is snappy, but neither the 9 nor the 45 Shields have unpleasant recoil and both are quick back on target....maybe the 45 quicker than the 9...but that's just my perception.

I hope that helps answer your question.

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Loving retirement!

Well gee...seems like the carry pistol to have and I... have 2 -- a 9 and a 45. What a tough decision...Welcome new Shield owners!

BTW, I also have a Glock 19 Gen 4 I shoot in action matches where I need a higher round count. It won't be going away....but my G26 will be!

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Loving retirement!

I am right handed and I do anticipate the shot sometimes. Pulling a trigger on a 20oz gun with 11 Pounds of pressure will take some getting used to. I was intentionally pressing the thumb of my support hand HARD on the frame of the gun to try and compensate for this, and I think it did help, but I'm telling you that pulling the trigger is no joke.

It's strange that I just really noticed how stiff the trigger is, but it is what it is. As I said before, the groups were good, but low-left - so I think it's some combo of anticipation and getting used to a hard trigger.

Thanks for the vid!

From the OP -- shot another 100 rounds tonight with the Shield 9.

The slide is getting easier to rack, and the pistol has functioned flawlessly so far. Accuracy is superb, particularly for a pistol with a 3.1 inch barrel! Based on performance, this is truly an excellent pistol.

Added: The Apex trigger is smooth and works very well, too. I like the idea of adding an XS Big Dot front sight... as veprjack mentions, below.

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S&W Rover

Yes - truly an excellent pistol! I'm just starting to break in my second Shield9 and it's going as well as the first one did - and I'm waiting to put my XS BigDot sights on the new one too. This new one will be my primary CCW as it doesn't have a safety or a 10.5 Mao-tse-chusetts trigger. Man, what a difference the approx 6 pound trigger makes; it felt like my 1911 compared to the other one.

the slide breaks in at about 300 rounds, The magazines? Keep them losses and in the gun and in 24 hrs I bet they will be easier to loa
T

I'll second this. I've had my new Shield 9mm for less than a week (three range sessions! ~500 rounds), and the slide and mags have loosened up a lot.

Just bought a PC Shield 9MM last week. Took it to the range over the weekend and put 300 rounds through it. It really loosened up as I got close to 300. It concerned me at first as the slide was sticking. It stuck fully open a few times for the first 3 mags. After the 3rd mag it ran flawlessly.

My favorite range gun as always been my Beretta 92. I have to say, the Shield may have moved into that spot...