Advice, Please: Shield 9mm vs. Bodyguard 380

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dkleiner

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Hello, all:

As you can see from my post count, I am new to this forum and rather new to the shooting world in general. My son, age 16, has been shooting for about two years with his grandfather and from what instructors tell me, he a natural. In March, I bought him a Ruger MK III 22 Target pistol. I started shooting with him and caught the bug.

After some formal instruction, I bought a CZ 75BD Police, Berretta 92FS Inox and an H&K P30, all of which are 9mm.

I live in Pennsylvania and am going to apply for a CC permit shortly. After more instruction and practice, I would like to buy a firearm specifically for this purpose. I intend to carry IWB.

I am looking at the Shield and the Bodyguard. I am leaning toward the Shield. Are there any overpowering attributes that the Bodyguard has that should make me reconsider? Another gun up for consideration is the Ruger SR9, for what that's worth.

Thank you for any advice or input you can give me.

Dan
 
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The Shield is an excellent choice for concealed carry. In my opinion, the 9mm is a much better choice for self defense. The ammo performance and choices are superior. .380 ammo is also more expensive than 9mm, especially the target ammo.
 
Welcome to the forum. I have owned two CZ 75 and four Beretta 92F/FS pistols. The size and weight of those guns can be overcome with a good holster/belt combination and they can be carried under a light jacket. I have handled and fired a Bodyguard .380 and was unimpressed. I bought my daughter and daughter-in-law each a Shield 9mm for Christmas. The Shield is a nice pistol. There is a wide range of 9mm ammo to choose from and you would have compatibility with your other handguns. I would vote for the Shield.
 
I have never held the sr9c; it's going to be bigger than the shield though


I had the choice between the shield and the mp9c. I disliked the shield, and bought the 9c.
 
the feel, the reliability, the capacity. It has been around longer than the shield as well. But number one was how it fit my hand vs. the shield.

I carry it IWB, and it carries very well
 
If you are not going to pocket carry, I would go with the Shield over the Bodyguard. Have you completely ruled out OWB? If you carry IWB, you are still going to have to wear something that covers the part of the gun that shows, why not just carry OWB? I know IWB has a large following but it is not for me, I can cover my shield with a thin tee worn inside and a button type shirt left unbuttoned and worn outside the pants. I have even covered it with just a loose fitting tee.
 
dkliner,

You have gotten good advice thus far. What and how you carry depends on a number of factors, your physical state (5'2" 125lbs, 6'4" 240, etc), your mental state (average situational awareness, comfort with using deadly force in a defense situation, etc) and your State (e.g. PA vs FL in the summer and winter). Knowing only that you are from PA, I'll give you my 2 cents worth.

Between the Shield and the Bodyguard, I'd opt for the Shield hands down (I have a couple). In my experience, IWB works better for concealed carry than OWB, but either can work. With what you have to choose from, I might go with the HK P30 as an option for much of the year in PA, as it should be relatively easy to conceal in a good IWB rig and cover with clothes appropriate to what you are doing. Otherwise, a 9mm Shield sure gives you options in a defense situation.

Good luck in your choices!
 
The real world reality is you will have the bodyguard 380 with you and will find the shield, although small is quite larger than the bg380. I personally sold the shield and bought the new bg380. Having said this I just did not like the shield, if the grip was a 1/2" shorter it would have been better.
 
about a month ago, i was in the same situation as you. debating on the two for my wife though. she shoots my 40c(which i pocket carried everyday by the way) perfectly. even better than me actually, but she wanted something smaller so i started thinking shield. then her brother let her hold his off brand(jiminez maybe) .380. she liked the size. i was till thinking shield but opened up to the bodyguard.

her parents live with a woman that has diabetes to help her out. this lady bought a bodyguard as a nightstand gun. my father in law let me hold it and i was weary on it being too small. then i showed my wife comparisons(pics, specs, ammo prices/availability) and she said get me the shield 9, and get yourself one too...

well shields are easy yet hard to find...i did manage to find a 9 and a 40. i wanted to get both in 9mm so i opted to not get the 40...just in case i didn't like the shield. brought the 9 home. she held it and started falling in love with it. i cleaned it, and we headed to my mother property where our range is. shot it and i was mad......because i did not get the 40 for myself...two weeks go by, debating on whether to get a shield 40 or one of the shield 9's that another gun store got in the day that i bought my wife's shield when a good deal on used shield popped up. i bought it and my wife actually claimed that as her own and i got the shield 9.

i pocket carry it every day.
 
Shield, or even better for CCW and still American made: Kahr CM9.
Great shooter and will pocket carry with ease all day long. I'm a 40C and PM9 owner.
 
Get the Shield

dkleiner said:
I am looking at the Shield and the Bodyguard. I am leaning toward the Shield. Are there any overpowering attributes that the Bodyguard has that should make me reconsider? Another gun up for consideration is the Ruger SR9, for what that's worth.

Thank you for any advice or input you can give me.

Dan
Click to expand...

The price and occasional scarcity of 380 ACP ammo makes the 9mm Shield a much more attractive scenario. Buy you ammo in bulk, practice a lot and be proficient.
 
dkleiner said:
What is it about the 9C that warrants the higher cost?
Click to expand...

It's a bit more rugged, and has greater ammo capacity. Interchangeable back straps to fit a greater range of hand sizes. Good sights. Reliability second to none.

The 9c can be easier to conceal than the SHIELD because the 9c has a shorter grip length. But it's heavier and by most all accounts the SHIELD is more comfortable to carry. I don't find the 9c uncomfortable and have been guilty of having a nap with it still IWB on my hip...
 
Best advice I can give you, which by no means I'm a expert, is to find a range that you can rent a variety of handguns and try them. This is a S&W forum but you get advice for all manufactures.

We have a BG380 with laser, (haven't had any problems with it like others, guess maybe lucky, who knows) would I buy another yes. BG380 is small and can be pocket carried. We also have a Ruger LC9 which is a little smaller then the SR9 kind of half way between the BG and the SR9, but I don't like the magazine disconnect and will eventually remove it. My preference for carry is my Kahr CW45.

The two you are comparing remember the BG is 6+1 .380 the Ruger SR9 is 10+1 9mm so there will be a size and weight difference.

The best one for you will be the one you can handle and shoot the best. If you can't shoot it proficiently then neither will do you any good. The .380 - 9mm debate has been gone over lots so just search for past post. Personally I like the IWB carry as the lower part of the holster never hangs out when I wear a short shirt, I do have OWB but seldom use it anymore, doesn't matter here though as we have open carry which I never do but if it happens to flash no problem.

Remember it will be personal preference, if you don't feel comfortable carrying a firearm because of size or shooting it because of recoil you will not carry and leave it at home which isn't your purpose. Lot's of people will tell you to stick to one caliber for logistics, doesn't work for me I have whatever I want. It also helps buying ammo as if one caliber isn't in stock I just buy another.

Like I said find a range that rents and try them, then you know before you buy how it will feel in your hand. You can always upgrade as this is a addiction.
 
i'll add, since i am a PA LTCF(License To Carry Firearms) holder, go get it now. just because you have it, does not mean you have to carry if you are not ready. it's a 10 minute process, in most counties, unless there is a lot of people getting one that day. Pa laws require those with out the LTCF to carry the firearm and ammo in a vehicle in separate compartments. for instance one in the main cabin, the other in the trunk. the firearm must be unload and can only be transported to the range and to home from the range. no where else. with a LTCF, you can even go through the mcburgerwhopper drive through on your way home from the range...
 
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