A left hander's perspective on the M&P Shield

[Flork]

If you read that entire thread and Randy's response he's confirming that the Sear does work in the Shield, but we have not done any testing yet.

Our employees are not necessarily privy to what we post on the gun forums. They're told by us what they can call customers and cannot, Claire and Jon were following my instructions about what to tell people when they ask what parts do and don't work in the Shield.

Prior to test firing the Shield with our products in it, we cannot tell people that they will work safely in the Shield until we've thoroughly tested them under live fire conditions.

Scott @ Apex

That is not true Scott. If you follow the link that WARhog provided,

New M&P Shield in 9mm & 40S&W - Page 17 - M4Carbine.net Forums

it is very clear that you are supporting the Shield per Randy Lee's post # 330,

We will have a complete kit like our DCAEK available soon!

I'm upset because my conversation with an Apex rep occurred on the very same day as this post from Randy. In the meantime and based on the information your rep gave me, I've been calling other gunsmiths to see if they would offer support for improving the Shield's trigger. This wasted my time and I guess that is more of my reason for being upset.

Speaking of wasting time, I need to get back to work. Have a great day guys.

 

[WoodLark]

I'm a lefty and bought a Shield anyway:

Mag release is non-issue. I tend to use my index finger anyway.

Safety is non-issue because I won't use it (would prefer it wasn't there though).

Slide release is non-issue as I only use one when cleaning the gun anyway.

The only change I would like to see for lefties (and you will NEVER see it on a production gun) is to put the ejection port on the left side.

 

[DavidC77]

The only change I would like to see for lefties (and you will NEVER see it on a production gun) is to put the ejection port on the left side.

I just saw a add for a company that is making a left handed 1911.

If my money tree out back would start producing I'd have the money to buy one .

It is a sweet looking 1911.

 

[WoodLark]

I just saw a add for a company that is making a left handed 1911.

If my money tree out back would start producing I'd have the money to buy one .

It is a sweet looking 1911.

I had heard of a company that at one time made left-handed 1911s, but I think I would have a hard time calling it a "production" gun; more of a "custom" gun.

 

[jackl4]

Cabot Guns still makes one. They are only making 100 of them for 2012 so get your order in quick.

« Cabot Gun, an American Gun Company

About the same price as a WC Supergrade, $5250

 

[Marshal Tom]

I am also a lefty and just purchased a Shield on Friday. I have carried 1911's for years and put ambi safties on them. I operated the mag release with my index finger and can get to it easier than most right handed folks can with their thum. I plan to do that with the Shield as well. The safety is a non issue. I will not use it. One should not use the slide lock to release the slide anyway so is not an issue for a lefty either. I have not shot it yet but I think it is a dandy!

 

[1bdvet]

Another lefty, and my two others M&P 9mm, have small lever you can switch the magazine button. The other problem here in S Florida nobody has one yet, but hoping things look better with two gun shows coming to down.

 

[JDM_]

I have had left handed issues with the shield 9. When drawing the shield from my in the waist holster the mag release is hit and the mag drops out.

Does anyone here practiced drawing the shield and have you had the same issue?

As of now I'm not carrying it because of this. I am hoping to either shave down the mag release or figure out how to install a stiffer mag release spring to creat more tension.

I have carried several handguns over the years and have never switched to mag release to the other side.

Has anyone had this issue?

 

[Old cop]

I'm a lefty too and have delayed buying a Shield, still packing my old J frame (old habits and all that). Have any of you lefties carried the Shield IWB, appendix? I'm wanted to know if carrying like that, for a leftie, presented any problems.

 

[jblitz]

I am a lefty and have the Shield in both 9mm and .40. I carry IWB at about 8:00 position. I have not had any issues with the magazine releasing on the draw with either of these pistols. I do not use the safety and do not think accidental movement of the lever is likely at all. I find both to be accurate little shooters with very little recoil. They are a bit large for pocket carry for me but I rarely pocket carry anyway. One interesting note: I accidently loaded 9mm rounds into the .40 magazines at the range. The magazine actually fit in the 9 and fed without any problems. Looks like they may be interchangable...

 

[MIST]

I'm also left handed and, prior to selling my Shield to my son, I carried IWB at the 10 O'clock position. No issues whatsoever.

When the new Shield arrives later this week or early next week I'll be carrying in the same position or in a Desantis ankle holster.

 

[EOD Guy]

Left-ejecting

Re: Woodlark's post 24...
There is one left-ejecting pistol...the Walther P5.

 

[gonzogeezer]

Re: Woodlark's post 24...
There is one left-ejecting pistol...the Walther P5.

The predecessors of the P5, the P38 (and possibly the original HP), P1, and P4 all eject to the left as well, although the P5 with its closed slide is the only production pistol with an ejection port on the left side.

WRT safeties, as a fellow southpaw I deal with the lack of support for ambi safeties by carrying at Condition 2. Worked with my M&P 40, works with my DA guns too.

--GG, SoCenPA

 

[kisportolt]

I carry my Shield IWB at 8:00 in an Old Faithful holster and have never had a problem wit hthe mag release button. I had hoped to be able to reverse the mag release, but have found that I like it how it is because I can release it with my middle finger easily. Same as I do with most pistols (excluding my Beretta Neos). I think all of us south paws have learned to use guns made for right handed people, and I'm not going to let that stop me from owning such a good CC gun.

 

[Forsmithers]

VICEUNIT,
A S&W law enforcement rep told me that the L.E. version of the Shield will have the option of a manual safety (if you want one) and will also come with 3 mags and night sights standard. I am holding out until then.

My dept. has at least two .40 Shields already in service but that is more for T&E for now. I think the only people who will be issued the Shield as a service weapon are undercover folks. Although rumor has it our Chief stopped carrying his Walther PPS and now has a Shield .40. I think they are about the same size...

Nevertheless the Shield .40 is much flatter than the .40C I've been carrying for the last 4 1/2 years. The only bad thing is the magazine capacity on the .40 Shield gives up quite a few rounds over the compact and even more over the full size! There is always a trade off when you go to a smaller gun.

 

[Hylndr]

WRT safeties, as a fellow southpaw I deal with the lack of support for ambi safeties by carrying at Condition 2. Worked with my M&P 40, works with my DA guns too.

--GG, SoCenPA

Just out of curiousity, how does one get the Shield into Condition 2?

As a note, I am considering getting a shield , but being a Lefty, and the way the safety is I wasn't sure what the best carry condition would be... I have rented one at a local store/range. and really like it for a carry piece. For a righty, i could see carrying in a Condition 1 or as close as a striker gun can be. But I am not familar enough to know how to de-cock the striker on the shield. As I understand it, to get a round into the camber, is to essentially cock the striker as well. I know that on other guns such as most Sigs, there is a de-cocking lever, not so here... So with all that confusion spouted about ( ), What preferred way/ (and also a relatively safe way) of carrying, with the gun as close to an action state as possible. in most surprise/defensive situations, I would most certainly prefer not to have to carry an empty chamber and have to rack the slide before the first shot. Time/speed is always an issue

Thanks in advance,

Kevin Orcutt

 

[mudman bob]

Merry Christmas

I have had left handed issues with the shield 9. When drawing the shield from my in the waist holster the mag release is hit and the mag drops out.

Does anyone here practiced drawing the shield and have you had the same issue?

As of now I'm not carrying it because of this. I am hoping to either shave down the mag release or figure out how to install a stiffer mag release spring to creat more tension.

I have carried several handguns over the years and have never switched to mag release to the other side.

Has anyone had this issue?

This being your first post, welcome. That said, I have a Remora and the trim rides right over the release and has depressed the mag button. Alan at Remora is changing the design of his holster for this issue.

 

[cabbynate]

I have had left handed issues with the shield 9. When drawing the shield from my in the waist holster the mag release is hit and the mag drops out.

Does anyone here practiced drawing the shield and have you had the same issue?

As of now I'm not carrying it because of this. I am hoping to either shave down the mag release or figure out how to install a stiffer mag release spring to creat more tension.

I have carried several handguns over the years and have never switched to mag release to the other side.

Has anyone had this issue?

I am having this same problem. I have used OWB holsters leather and Kydex. It is a very annoying problem. Raven concealment said they could make me a holster that would shield the Mag release for an extra $10.00. I may go this rough as I really like the Shield. I have SX big dot sights on it and it shoot like a dream..

 

[Dixiejack]

Scott, I heard a lot of positive feedback about your product and have just ordered a competition kit for my M&P9 from you. Do you foresee Apex making any comp. kits for the M&P22?
I'm new to the M&P's, owning the 9mm and the .22 rimfire models. I am also a lefty shooter and have never had any safety or magazine problems for IWB or OWB carry with the 9 mm. I am trying to justify buying a Shield other than just buying another M&P pistol (also waiting for the M&P40 Pro C.O.R.E. to become available again). I know the 9c is thicker and a little heavier than the Shield, but what makes the Shield so much better as a carry gun?

 

[t3ckfr3ak]

Love it

I'm a Leftie.
I've had my sheild 9mm for about a year now.
I've used brownells tutorial to modify the sear block lowering the trigger pull to a crisp 3.2lbs.
i highly recommend at least polishing all of the contacting surfaces.
I used superglue to bypass the trigger safety making a solid trigger.
I added a mag extender to the 8rd mag to give an extra finger hold.
I've never used the saftey and wont.
I've put at least 3k rounds through it and only had faults using Winchester white box (the shells expand in the barrel and get stuck sometimes).

This is a wonderful gun with light recoil, easy enough to operate left handed and i dont regret buying it at all.