Are you happy with your Shield???

[Well Armed]

I have 6 magazines for my shield. One 8 round and 5 7 round mags.
All were extremely difficult to load at first. After leaving them loaded for several days and shooting 800 rounds thru the gun, they ALL load alot easier. Patience grasshopper

I have 5 Shield mags. 2 came with the gun, and I purchased 3 used from a forum user on this forum. The member I purchased the 3 mags from stated that all 3 had about 100-200 rounds on them. The 2 that came with the Shield stays loaded. Matter of fact, they've been loaded for months now. Even with all of that, they are STILL a pain in my arse and hand to load.

I shouldn't have to use a $35 tool and spend approx $200 in ammo to be able to hand load my mags without killing my fingers.

 

[Bud33]

I don't like the fact that I have to spend $30-$35 dollars on and have to use an external tool for something as simple as loading a magazine. I could understand things getting a bit stiff while trying to get the last round or two in, but, at least for me, it feels that way for damn near every round...

When you reach 80 years old and have arthritis in your hands, you may change your tune!!!!!

 

[Bluesky222]

I'm asking this because my wife wants a M&P Shield 9mm...

Thanks in advance...

I just bought my 9mm Shield about a week and a half ago, and after 150 rounds so far so good.
I started out shooting consistently to the left but with time brought it closer to center.

I think this is just a practice issue.

 

[djattack]

Yes, I like my Shield a lot. I've never had any problems with it whatsoever. It is my cc most of the time. On the occasion when I have to go out quick and get a gallon of milk or something, I use my BG380.

 

[RobzGuns]

I have 5 Shield mags. 2 came with the gun, and I purchased 3 used from a forum user on this forum. ...
The 2 that came with the Shield stays loaded. Matter of fact, they've been loaded for months now. Even with all of that, they are STILL a pain in my arse and hand to load.

I shouldn't have to use a $35 tool and spend approx $200 in ammo to be able to hand load my mags without killing my fingers.

Just about every new mag I've bought (Glock, XD, Beretta, Kel-Tec, and more) have been tight. I'm not sure which brand's mags (when new) AREN'T tight. I bought an UpLula about 6 years ago, just to make loading mags quicker and haven't regretted it

All my mags stay loaded to the max, but Simply loading them and leaving them loaded for Months won't completely break in the springs. You do need to exercise them, but it doesn't absolutely mean by shooting... It's just more fun that way.

I broke mine in using an eraser head pencil... repeatedly pushing the follower all the way down with the eraser end of the pencil, like churning butter, while watching TV.
While that made loading rounds 1 though 6 easier, after more than 2.5Yrs of shooting my Shield Bi-Weekly, it's STILL tough to load that 7th round by hand.

 

[Well Armed]

Just about every new mag I've bought (Glock, XD, Beretta, Kel-Tec, and more) have been tight. I'm not sure which brand's mags (when new) AREN'T tight. I bought an UpLula about 6 years ago, just to make loading mags quicker and haven't regretted it

All my mags stay loaded to the max, but Simply loading them and leaving them loaded for Months won't completely break in the springs. You do need to exercise them, but it doesn't absolutely mean by shooting... It's just more fun that way.

I broke mine in using an eraser head pencil... repeatedly pushing the follower all the way down with the eraser end of the pencil, like churning butter, while watching TV.
While that made loading rounds 1 though 6 easier, after more than 2.5Yrs of shooting my Shield Bi-Weekly, it's STILL tough to load that 7th round by hand.

I own Kel-tecs, xd's, Sigs, and a few rifles that use magazines, and I do not recall any of them being so stiff from beginning to end. Hopefully as you all have eluded to, one day they'll break in.

 

[Well Armed]

When you reach 80 years old and have arthritis in your hands, you may change your tune!!!!!

LOL... If I keep loading the Shield mags by hand, I might not have to wait until I'm 80. I've been resisting, but I might invest in a mag loading after all.

 

[ScrapmasterFlex]

Absolutely love mine - I realized I needed a dedicated every-day-carry gun specific for CCW ... I searched and researched for 1 month, kept on coming back to the Shield, and bought it.

Resounding success, it has been perfect and awesome from day one. the oNLY problem I have had was the included recoil spring (aka guide rod) was a lemon and I had to get a (free) new one from S&W ... but better now. And I have read many people having the same problems... I believe the guide rod is the Achilles heel but it's a minor thing and easy fix.

I love this gun!

 

[TheFactor]

Well on a positive note at least we know that our springs will stay strong for years to come and for those that refuse to get a loader will have the strongest trigger finger in town

 

[rock_castle]

Hell yeah I am happy with my Shield 9. It is very easy to conceal and is fun to shoot. What's not to like?

 

[TheFactor]

Hell yeah I am happy with my Shield 9. It is very easy to conceal and is fun to shoot. What's not to like?

X 2 and the longer I've had it the more I love it !!!
It's a great little gun that shoots well , feels great and conceals nicely .

 

[Mountain Walker]

Very happy with my Shield...but even happier with with my LC9s.

I heard a lot of complaining about the original LC9 trigger pull. IMO, the Shield trigger is worse with 7# pull and long over travel(after the sear breaks). LC9 trigger is long but easy to master with some practice, producing very good results for a defensive carry weapon. The LC9 is easier to manipulate and doesn't have gorilla recoil or magazine springs. Smith and Wesson gets a D- on their thumb safety. I have learned from someone here that the secret is to push hard into the slide with your thumb to make the safety work better. Both are excellent little guns in an effective caliber.

 

[RandyX]

like most folks... love mine !

 

[Amp]

Wish I would have waited for the no thumb safety. So used to the third gen and got to think, "is it on or off".

 

[TheFactor]

I heard a lot of complaining about the original LC9 trigger pull. IMO, the Shield trigger is worse with 7# pull and long over travel(after the sear breaks). LC9 trigger is long but easy to master with some practice, producing very good results for a defensive carry weapon. The LC9 is easier to manipulate and doesn't have gorilla recoil or magazine springs. Smith and Wesson gets a D- on their thumb safety. I have learned from someone here that the secret is to push hard into the slide with your thumb to make the safety work better. Both are excellent little guns in an effective caliber.

I believe the complaints were on the LC9 that's not striker fired . The striker fired LC9"s" the s stands for striker fired and it's got a very nice trigger . The reset is a little long but doesn't take much to make it go bang . Just picked one up a few weeks ago and haven't made it to the range yet but I'll tell you what dry firing it puts a smile on my face and seems to impress those that have shot it . I love my shield though also and both will be in my EDC rotation Im sure .

 

[seattle911]

I have had a 40 since they came out. No problems shooting more than 500 rounds of 40. Only problems were with the S&W 9 mm barrel. I now shoot my Shield exclusively in 40. I find that felt recoil is reduced with a standard 180 grain load versus lighter loads.

 

[roadcykler]

I don't know why anyone would load mags by hand when UpLulas exist! I recently introduced several people in their 60s, who have arthritis, to UpLulas. They saw me loading mags while shooting and were very interested. They borrowed mine, and were amazed they could load mags without hurting their thumbs. They bought one at the range before leaving. I have carpal tunnel, so I've used an UpLula since day one of getting my first pistol in 2013.

Prior to reading this thread I'd never heard of an UpLULA but it couldn't have been more timely as I went to the range just today and put 200 rounds through some paper and my thumb is a little sore. Already ordered one. As for liking the Shield, yes, with the exception of my index finger feeling a little tweaked.

I'd been having problems with hits being left and slightly low so I tried the 1st joint instead of the pad, and the shots are better. More practice will bring even better results, hopefully.

 

[CaptRon956]

Just bought a M&P shield 9mm couple weeks ago and finally took it to the range just the other day and I'm happy to report that it overall surpassed my expectations. It was more accurate than I thought it'd be, recoil is comparable to my .38 spl and the trigger is very good. I put 125 rounds thru it and only had two rounds that didnt feed into the chamber, Hornady "Critical defense" and Winchester W "Train & defend". Regular Winchester FMJ fed no problems. I would describe my pistol as being tight and getting the last round or two into the magazines when loading are very difficult at first however I noticed the springs in the magazines loosen up a bit after some use... Like I said I only put about 125 rounds thru it so far. I would highly recommend the M&P shield. As far as the 2 out of 125 rounds not feeding into the chamber I'd say that's probably because the pistol needs a decent break in period...

 

[TheFactor]

Prior to reading this thread I'd never heard of an UpLULA but it couldn't have been more timely as I went to the range just today and put 200 rounds through some paper and my thumb is a little sore. Already ordered one. As for liking the Shield, yes, with the exception of my index finger feeling a little tweaked.

I'd been having problems with hits being left and slightly low so I tried the 1st joint instead of the pad, and the shots are better. More practice will bring even better results, hopefully.

Uplula is your friend

 

[sniperb8]

New Shield 9, 3 months ago

Great little gun, as with most here, a very stiff spring, until you send about 250 rounds down range. After that, wow, what a joy to shoot! Wife loves it, over my 1911's. Has the thumb safety, but never use it, so it's not in my way!