I was pretty much in your shoes just one month ago. I went through two rental places and shoot around dozen 9mm guns. Right there, without any experience, my best results were with Glock 26 and Kahr CW9. But i thought it's "too big" for Concealed carry. I bought Beretta Nano, which is really hard to shoot (without training) with only two fingers on the handle and IT"S HARD to DRAW such a small handle/gun. The Next day after I got Nano i traded it in for a Shield. Right from the start it felt only marginally better than NANO. But the handle is bigger and it's NOT a hand beater (though I did 500 rounds on my first day and I regret that
. In two weeks I was on the range 4 times with 800 rounds put through the gun. It started malfunctioning and I sent for service (5 days turnaround after I asked I need the gun back ASAP) – what a service!!!! Today i had another two sessions with the Shield (around 400 of 124 gr +P) and I'm making progress (the image attached is 50 rounds shoot double taps – each time drawing from OWB holster, turning safety off and aiming at 7 yards target and double shooting at 12"x18" target. The last mag I shoot into the head. From what I see I'm pretty happy and confident that I can handle the Shield if situation requires….
I got sidetracked. if your idea of a range gun the same as mine (practice for SD and feel of the gun) - Shield will just do it. In three weeks i put through it around 1200 rounds, included 150-200 JHP SD ammo. I like it. Not sure if i want Kahr CW9 now, but having two holsters (IWB and OWB) i can tell you that both guns can be CC in Florida in either of holsters. So my newbie advice - don't look for the smallest gun - look for something that you will be able to shoot comfortable and draw in time for self-defense right from the beginning and than go and practice, practice and practice.
But the bottom line – for me it was a Kahr CW9 (same as P9) most comfortable and only reason I did not get it – I thought is would be hard to conceal. With right holster even bigger guns can be concealed well.
Another problem that I do not think that Shield as a good home defense gun (it's another requirement you want) – it's too small to grab "correctly" in the middle of the night. I was considering adding a laser to the Shield, but after trying it on, I can see, that a good CT laser makes the handle even less comfortable to hold, as it "takes away" half a finger space, making the Shield 1.5 finger gun. Now I'm looking for a dedicated HD gun with laser and/or light. Considering the tragedy in Connecticut and possible band on large capacity mags,, I think I'll go with one of 1911 style guns.
One more All-in-One gun to consider is a Glock 26 . I was scared by double stack magazine – but it was most comfortable to shoot gun out of all I tried. And to stir the things even more – look at the trigger "feel" on the guns you'll try. The Kahr's trigger is more safe but harder to get use to, the Shield trigger is "just right" for me, but you need to use safety lock and train yourself to take the safety off. Something to keep in mind in high stress situation. But in General i hear only good things about M&P line of guns from S&W.
Edit.
just counted - i'm out of 12 FMJ boxes (50 rd each) and one JHP box of ranger-T just in two days. So the Shiled and my hand can handle quite a heavy range traning
