feelinlucky
Member
How many of you actually had your hands on a Shield before deciding to buy, as opposed to buying solely on the reports of others?
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Buying A Shield Without Ever Actually Seeing
- Thread starter feelinlucky
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I did. Called LGS round,they had a 9mm. Went saw it picked it up. Only shot a few boxes of ammo since I'm not paying a ton for crappy range ammo. Bought federal hst now,it sits in my holster.
I decided to trade my Beretta Nano for a Shield based on early reports from this forum.
However I handled the store demo at Cabela's before making the trade but I made the 120 mile trip on faith from this forum.
I have learned from experience the best place to find honest information on a weapon is on forums.
My mistake when I purchased a Kahr and Beretta Nano was I based the purchase decision on sponsored web sites/magazines.
I don't read a lot of gun magazines but the ones I have read never flat out tell the reader a certain gun is junk and on the next page you know why... a full page ad of the weapon.
There is a reason Consumer Report will not accept advertisements.
Russ
However I handled the store demo at Cabela's before making the trade but I made the 120 mile trip on faith from this forum.
I have learned from experience the best place to find honest information on a weapon is on forums.
My mistake when I purchased a Kahr and Beretta Nano was I based the purchase decision on sponsored web sites/magazines.
I don't read a lot of gun magazines but the ones I have read never flat out tell the reader a certain gun is junk and on the next page you know why... a full page ad of the weapon.
There is a reason Consumer Report will not accept advertisements.
Russ
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ammodave
Member
I've never seen a Shield in the flesh but I will buy one when I find one at a reasonable price. I'm confident that I can easily sell it if I decide the Shield is not for me.
bobnieder
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I bought one without seeing one first. Let me explain.
In the state of Maryland, a handgun must be on the approved list maintained by the State Police. Therefore, there's no reason to ship a gun to a place that can't sell them. The local gun store was out as a place to see a Shield. When they were released to stores in neighboring states, they seemed to evaporate too quickly to get a chance to see one. I guess gun shows were a possibility, but I had just bought a FS .40 M&P, and I was buying ammo and taking training courses in order to apply for a CCW permit,and money was tight. When I was able to afford a Shield, they were still not in LGS, and I realized the only way I was going to see one was to buy one. Then, if it was not all that my study of the forums led me to believe it was, I could go the GunBroker route to re-start my search for a carry gun.
Maybe you think I was foolish to trust the reports here and in other forums to the extent of buying a gun I had not handled or shot. Maybe you're right. But it turned out well for me. I have a fine .40 Shield with a spare 9mm barrel and mag. Who knows when the Shield will finally catch up with the demand long enough for their shelf life to be measured in weeks instead of days or hours? Maybe there will be enough Shield owners that you will be able to borrow one at the range to try.
I hope that, if you are still looking, you get a chance to buy one. Then . . . go for it!
In the state of Maryland, a handgun must be on the approved list maintained by the State Police. Therefore, there's no reason to ship a gun to a place that can't sell them. The local gun store was out as a place to see a Shield. When they were released to stores in neighboring states, they seemed to evaporate too quickly to get a chance to see one. I guess gun shows were a possibility, but I had just bought a FS .40 M&P, and I was buying ammo and taking training courses in order to apply for a CCW permit,and money was tight. When I was able to afford a Shield, they were still not in LGS, and I realized the only way I was going to see one was to buy one. Then, if it was not all that my study of the forums led me to believe it was, I could go the GunBroker route to re-start my search for a carry gun.
Maybe you think I was foolish to trust the reports here and in other forums to the extent of buying a gun I had not handled or shot. Maybe you're right. But it turned out well for me. I have a fine .40 Shield with a spare 9mm barrel and mag. Who knows when the Shield will finally catch up with the demand long enough for their shelf life to be measured in weeks instead of days or hours? Maybe there will be enough Shield owners that you will be able to borrow one at the range to try.
I hope that, if you are still looking, you get a chance to buy one. Then . . . go for it!
NoBite
Member
I bought one without ever having seen one in person. No regrets. Too many people I trust had great things to say about this one.
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Deputy Dawg Gone
Member
I too ordered one on the basis of this forum. Was on a waiting list for several months with my LGS, but it finally did come in, and I'm very happy with it. Haven't shot it that many times, just waiting for the weather to get a bit better.
BillK01
Member
I held a blue dummy Shield but that's as close to touching a real one as I ever got before ordering mine through Gallery of Guns one evening.
No regrets at all. On my hip in my Remora right now in fact.
No regrets at all. On my hip in my Remora right now in fact.
Turnedforgood
Member
I marked no, but I did look it over before I put the cash down. But that was the only time I have even seen one in person.
I heard they were out, and put my name on Bud's list...
Someone posted that Bud's Police had them in stock so I checked, saw them and bought one for $335. Bud's will NOT email you when they have them! I figured if I didn't like it I could get my money back. I wish I would have bought two now that they are so scarce.
I like it just fine. Right now I carry it while I figure out how to carry a 3913 or 4513 without wearing on the finish of those guns... My 4513TSW is brand new and I hate to see any marks on it! Maybe a good leather holster....
Someone posted that Bud's Police had them in stock so I checked, saw them and bought one for $335. Bud's will NOT email you when they have them! I figured if I didn't like it I could get my money back. I wish I would have bought two now that they are so scarce.
I like it just fine. Right now I carry it while I figure out how to carry a 3913 or 4513 without wearing on the finish of those guns... My 4513TSW is brand new and I hate to see any marks on it! Maybe a good leather holster....
robkarrob
Member
I have a Shield 40 and would advise if you can purchase a Shield (9 or 40) at a reasonable price, do it. Even if you haven't held one or even seen one in person. If you can buy one around list price, your not going to lose much money, if any, in the near future. It is not like S&W designed a strange gun. It is a similar gun as the other M&P's, smaller, thinner, and single stack. If you looking for a small, light, easy to conceal gun, the Shield should work.
I would also tell you that the 9mm barrels have become available. You can purchase the 40 and drop in a 9mm barrel, and have two calibers for the cost of a $75 barrel. It is not a drop in for the 9mm to 40 swap, but that will work with a very slight mod. to the 40 barrel. If you question if it works by swapping the barrels, search this Forum for 40 to 9mm.
Bob
I would also tell you that the 9mm barrels have become available. You can purchase the 40 and drop in a 9mm barrel, and have two calibers for the cost of a $75 barrel. It is not a drop in for the 9mm to 40 swap, but that will work with a very slight mod. to the 40 barrel. If you question if it works by swapping the barrels, search this Forum for 40 to 9mm.
Bob
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I will no longer buy a pistol I have not first shot. I don't have enough disposable income to 'buy a pig in a poke'.
Too many models look and feel good to hold at the counter that do not feel that good to shoot. (LCP,LC9,P3AT, PF-9, etc.)
I will try to find a rental, find someone who has one, or even ask someone at the range if they'd mind if I tried theirs.
My LGS tries to have a rental unit of every pistol they sell, so when the Shield came out, I rented it, figuring that it would feel like the PF-9 that I'd been Pocket Carrying for 3 years. Boy was I surprised! AND... I could Pocket Carry it! That's when I put my name to a list and lucky enough to get one the following week.
The only buyers remorse stories I've seen (on various forums, about ANY brand/Model) were from people who buy "Sight Unseen" online, or only held it but not shot one.
Too many models look and feel good to hold at the counter that do not feel that good to shoot. (LCP,LC9,P3AT, PF-9, etc.)
I will try to find a rental, find someone who has one, or even ask someone at the range if they'd mind if I tried theirs.
My LGS tries to have a rental unit of every pistol they sell, so when the Shield came out, I rented it, figuring that it would feel like the PF-9 that I'd been Pocket Carrying for 3 years. Boy was I surprised! AND... I could Pocket Carry it! That's when I put my name to a list and lucky enough to get one the following week.
The only buyers remorse stories I've seen (on various forums, about ANY brand/Model) were from people who buy "Sight Unseen" online, or only held it but not shot one.
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OP
feelinlucky
Member
Well, since I started the thread, I ought to come clean.
I read the posts here, and then saw the write-up in Guns & Ammo. I recall there was also a couple of pages of S&W Shield ads in that same issue. That should be a sign that the write-up may not be objective. Never having laid hands on one, I sent my money. It turned out good.
I read the posts here, and then saw the write-up in Guns & Ammo. I recall there was also a couple of pages of S&W Shield ads in that same issue. That should be a sign that the write-up may not be objective. Never having laid hands on one, I sent my money. It turned out good.
iamjimmyb
Member
I decided I wanted the Shield as my first concealed carry without seeing it in person. This forum and many youtube videos couldn't be wrong. I have never heard so many positive comments and basically no negatives about one gun before. I was lucky to get mine yesterday and I love it.
2tango2
US Veteran
Did you actually see them in stock on the website? Or did you have to call?
Bought first one after handling in store when first came out (April2012?). Have bought 2 more over phone from a different gun store in another state since, sight unseen, but had good communication with store so felt ok about the deal. Interestingly, paid retail for the first one and less than retail ($390) for the other two but by the time factored in shipping and transfer fee turned out to be close to the same price. I felt like I did ok both ways.
Smitty357
Member
My LGS owner was describing to it to me a few weeks before release. So i told him to call me the moment one came through the door. He called me, i went and looked at it a little. Tested the fit on how it is to CC, by sitting down, crouching over, stuff like that.
Looked at him and said, I'll take 1 in .40 and 1 in 9mm. Thats pretty much my story.
Looked at him and said, I'll take 1 in .40 and 1 in 9mm. Thats pretty much my story.
Lineman73
Member
Oh Yeah!!
I handled several at gun shows and various gun shops. I liked what I saw!!
Then, they were suddenly no where to be found. A few weeks later while meandering through Academy Sports in Athens, GA, I asked the associate at the the gun counter if they had any Shields. He said that they had one, in
.40 S&W. I handed him my drivers license and Georgia Weapons License and said...."Start the paperwork!" Got it for $399.
Since then I have installed an Apex Hard Sear and picked up a Blackhawk Model #48 leather concealed carry holster to carry it in. In addition, I treated the double recoil spring and guide rod with Frog Lube to eliminate any possibility of binding. I've put over 200 rounds through it, hard ball and defensive ammo, with NO FAILURES at all.
I like it. I carry it (loaded with Hornady Critical Defense ammo). I bet my life on it!! The Shield is a winner!!
I handled several at gun shows and various gun shops. I liked what I saw!!
Then, they were suddenly no where to be found. A few weeks later while meandering through Academy Sports in Athens, GA, I asked the associate at the the gun counter if they had any Shields. He said that they had one, in .40 S&W. I handed him my drivers license and Georgia Weapons License and said...."Start the paperwork!"
Got it for $399.Since then I have installed an Apex Hard Sear and picked up a Blackhawk Model #48 leather concealed carry holster to carry it in. In addition, I treated the double recoil spring and guide rod with Frog Lube to eliminate any possibility of binding. I've put over 200 rounds through it, hard ball and defensive ammo, with NO FAILURES at all.
I like it. I carry it (loaded with Hornady Critical Defense ammo). I bet my life on it!! The Shield is a winner!!
wdmshooter
Member
I had FS9 that I really like shooting so based on that and recommendations here felt it was something I wanted. Checked with LGS and was told that one had not even seen one (this was in October) and the other had a long waiting list. Started searching on the Internet and based on a tip from this forum stumbled on one from out of state. Needless to say it is now my EDC. Love it. Great find and buy.
