9c vs Shield

[Pancakes&Syrup]

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.

 

[jeffhughes]

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.

 

[cjpofd]

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).

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

 

[kwh]

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.

 

[walkin' trails]

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.

 

[Cackmandu]

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!

 

[kmanick]

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

 

[Smoke]

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

 

[speedyquad]

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

 

[pyro]

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!!

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.

 

[cyfman1]

.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

 

[okiegtrider]

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!

 

[Hillbilly77]

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.

 

[Rockdoc16]

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.

 

[speedyquad]

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

 

[cyfman1]

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.

 

[Smith Wesson]

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...

 

[okiegtrider]

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.

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

 

[motorcyclejoe]

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 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.

 

[cyfman1]

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