Jagrmaister
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Posted this on another forum, but thought someone might enjoy the comparison here as the Shield vs. C is always a debate on S&W forum.
Upon receiving my XDS .45 back from it's vacation stay at club Springfield, I took it upon myself to take each of my carry-sized pistols to the range and do a little head-to-head competition. The players: Sig P938 9mm, M&P Shield .40, M&P 40C, and the XDS in .45ACP.
First up, a size by size comparison of these pistols. Obviously the P938 claims smallest honors and the 40C largest. The XDS and Shield are so dimensionally similar it's a bit frightening at times.
Comparative pics with extended mags:
Measurements (measured in inches).
Length from muzzle end of barrel to end of slide/beaver tail :
P938 - 6" Shield - 6 1/8" 40C - 6 5/8" XDS - 6 5/16"
Largest width of slide:
P - 0.887 S - 0.904 C - 1.079 X - 0.914
Largest point of width in grip:
P - 1.257 S - 1.107 C - 1.240 X - 0.935
Height w/ Std mag plate to top of sights:
P - 3.903 S - 4.538 C - 4.353 X - 4.438
Height w/ Ext mag to top of sights:
P - 4.600 S - 4.895 C - 4.980 X - 5.426
Now, having fired each of these pistols at the range back to back, I can give some review on each one's merits and downfalls.
Ergos:
The easy winner here is the M&P 40C. This is a subcompact afterall, and perhaps should be excluded from the group as it's the only one that's not a single stack pistol. It permits the best grip. It's a smaller alternative to my FS M&P and much easier to carry concealed. The ergos were so similar to my full size that it was easily the handgun I shot best for the day. I do prefer the extended base plate on the mag, but that goes for any of these pistols due to my hand size.
Excluding the Compact, the P938 offers some wonderful grips with the rubber Hogues on this Sport version. However, with larger hands it's harder to establish a solid grip on the Sig than any of the other pistols. My hands feel slightly cramped on the P938 because of the thinness. Due to the design, I imagine it would be easy for me to either ride too high with a thumbs forward grip and either engage the slide lock, or end up with slide bite. Even though the P938 is in 9mm I probably shot this the worst due to its small size and my inability to come up with a solid grip. It's size is phenomenal for carry if you want it to easily disappear on your person.
The XDS and Shield as previously stated are eerily similar dimensionally. The XDS' slide is just slightly longer, and the Shield slightly taller. I prefer the positive traction provided by the XDS' checkering. Some say it's too rough, but I haven't found that to be true. It allows excellent bite into the hand, and minus the M&P 40C, I shot best with the XDS because of all the traction I presume. The Shield is not as stellar to hold in my opinion as its larger siblings or this XDS. The factory traction is next to null. I feel S&W really missed the ball with the grip texture. Especially with the .40 (I've had a 9 prior), the Shield feels slick during live fire. The rubberized Talon grips on this outing did improve the grip, and I did shoot considerably better with the Shield over my first time without them. The Shield possesses significant muzzle flip, which I expect with a .40 but I found this to be true in the 9mm version as well.
Sights:
M&P Shield and 40C come with the same standard 3-dot system from factory. They're white. While they work, they're not always easy to identify in low light situations. I have the same sights on my FS, though, and I can drive tacks with it.
The P938 Sport model came with the TFOs. These are excellent night sights with the added benefit of having the fiber optic front. The best overall sights of the bunch hands down.
The XDS has the standard 3-dot but with a red fiber optic front. I'm going to tell you, this red fiber optic is the most easily identifiable of any sights I've ever used. Bright light or dim light, it is easy to identify and probably another reason why I shoot the XDS so well.
Trigger:
I have a trigger pull gauge on order, but can't provide official weights so currently it is based on feel alone. Out of the box, the P938 was HEAVY.... I reduced the pull with a Wolff hammer spring for a Colt .380 Mustang and installed a stainless trigger with it (which probably had little to no effect). The swapped hammer spring lightened the pull considerably, enough to not hate myself when pulling the trigger. Much more acceptable with the modification.
The 40C isn't horrible, but the break is only fair and the take up gritty. The reset kills this particular example. No discernible feel and real far out. Thus, Apex on the way.
The Shield on the other hand has a decent break, but again I feel it's too heavy. Has the best reset of the bunch, though. I like the authoritative "push" and audible "click" of the reset. If the pull was a bit lighter, it'd be perfect. I ordered the Apex kit for this as well, but going to try to just install the sear and see if it lightens up enough without any other modification. Not bad, just heavy imo even considering this is a carry piece. My first "9" example, however, did not have near as good as trigger as my current .40 example and that's why it's gone. I'd say try to pull the trigger on the one you intend on buying for this reason as I've found difference from piece to piece.
XDS returned from SA. This trigger was excellent when it left and it was still pretty good. It feels the same as pre-recall and has a dece during this test. Good feel on reset (although sounds "springy" now after the update), and a decent break. I'd say it's a bit more on the "mushy" side but I can make it work. It, too, comes out of the box post recall a bit on the heavy side for my liking. Of the 4, this is probably the one I will not modify. Not because I don't think it couldn't benefit from some improvement, but I just think it's "good enough" for intended use.
Overall impressions:
Each of these I think is a good choice to defend your life every day. While the size and weight of the M&P 40C allowed me to shoot the best groups with it, it's still a subcompact where as the others are "slim" and "lightweight". The 40C offers you 10rds of .40 and the option to swap in a FS mag for 15rds. That's a lot of firepower for not a whole lot more dimensionally versus the others here. At the same time, if I'm wanting something to completely disappear then the M&P Compact isn't it. The P938 is a "forget-me" pistol. So light and concealable, and with all sorts of variations. The extended mag offers 7 rounds of 9mm to get the job done. You will PAY to PLAY with it. The Shield is another one that'll melt away iwb and in .40 you have again, 7 rounds in an extended mag to make it count, not to mention the easiest pricetag of the lot. XDS fans rejoice because you have the option to carry .45ACP discreetly. Leave the 1911 at home and be confident that you'll quickly be able to acquire your target and take it down with the largest caliber offering at the table. Problem is, if you're not carrying the "obtrusive" extended 7-rd mag (comparatively to the others) you've only got 5 shots to get it right.
If I had to choose a definitive winner, it's the 40C for: the better ergonomics, extra capacity, option of using the full size magazines for even more capacity, ability to get a conversion 9mm barrel just like the FS, and reduced recoil. Though, don't think by any means this makes any of them a poor choice. None of them are a true loser, but if I had to put a low man on this totem pole it's the Shield unfortunately. It just doesn't offer me anything the XDS doesn't do slightly better already. That said, if I was: considering price, choosing between the same caliber rather than a .40 vs. 45ACP, and repeating a purchase, I'd probably just buy the Shield as it's much more attractive for the money ($375 vs $525). The Sig has the heftiest price tag of the four ($620 otd), but it fills a "niche" whereas it's the tiniest of the bunch. It's well built and would stay on that merit alone.
Granted I don't carry every day yet and when I finally do the extra dimensions of the Compact will undoubtedly come into play. That day fast approaches with the passing of IL's most current laws. I would feel confident in any of these choices with the right amount of trigger time behind them to hone my skills. I've shot them all previously, but being carry sized they don't make it to the range nearly as often as the full size offerings and I just wanted to bring them in one large group. 50-75 shots each down range back to back in the hour or so of this outing wasn't nearly enough time to do any of them justice, but it did help me pick favorites amongst the bunch. Hope I helped someone on the fence.
Upon receiving my XDS .45 back from it's vacation stay at club Springfield, I took it upon myself to take each of my carry-sized pistols to the range and do a little head-to-head competition. The players: Sig P938 9mm, M&P Shield .40, M&P 40C, and the XDS in .45ACP.
First up, a size by size comparison of these pistols. Obviously the P938 claims smallest honors and the 40C largest. The XDS and Shield are so dimensionally similar it's a bit frightening at times.
Comparative pics with extended mags:
Measurements (measured in inches).
Length from muzzle end of barrel to end of slide/beaver tail :
P938 - 6" Shield - 6 1/8" 40C - 6 5/8" XDS - 6 5/16"
Largest width of slide:
P - 0.887 S - 0.904 C - 1.079 X - 0.914
Largest point of width in grip:
P - 1.257 S - 1.107 C - 1.240 X - 0.935
Height w/ Std mag plate to top of sights:
P - 3.903 S - 4.538 C - 4.353 X - 4.438
Height w/ Ext mag to top of sights:
P - 4.600 S - 4.895 C - 4.980 X - 5.426
Now, having fired each of these pistols at the range back to back, I can give some review on each one's merits and downfalls.
Ergos:
The easy winner here is the M&P 40C. This is a subcompact afterall, and perhaps should be excluded from the group as it's the only one that's not a single stack pistol. It permits the best grip. It's a smaller alternative to my FS M&P and much easier to carry concealed. The ergos were so similar to my full size that it was easily the handgun I shot best for the day. I do prefer the extended base plate on the mag, but that goes for any of these pistols due to my hand size.
Excluding the Compact, the P938 offers some wonderful grips with the rubber Hogues on this Sport version. However, with larger hands it's harder to establish a solid grip on the Sig than any of the other pistols. My hands feel slightly cramped on the P938 because of the thinness. Due to the design, I imagine it would be easy for me to either ride too high with a thumbs forward grip and either engage the slide lock, or end up with slide bite. Even though the P938 is in 9mm I probably shot this the worst due to its small size and my inability to come up with a solid grip. It's size is phenomenal for carry if you want it to easily disappear on your person.
The XDS and Shield as previously stated are eerily similar dimensionally. The XDS' slide is just slightly longer, and the Shield slightly taller. I prefer the positive traction provided by the XDS' checkering. Some say it's too rough, but I haven't found that to be true. It allows excellent bite into the hand, and minus the M&P 40C, I shot best with the XDS because of all the traction I presume. The Shield is not as stellar to hold in my opinion as its larger siblings or this XDS. The factory traction is next to null. I feel S&W really missed the ball with the grip texture. Especially with the .40 (I've had a 9 prior), the Shield feels slick during live fire. The rubberized Talon grips on this outing did improve the grip, and I did shoot considerably better with the Shield over my first time without them. The Shield possesses significant muzzle flip, which I expect with a .40 but I found this to be true in the 9mm version as well.
Sights:
M&P Shield and 40C come with the same standard 3-dot system from factory. They're white. While they work, they're not always easy to identify in low light situations. I have the same sights on my FS, though, and I can drive tacks with it.
The P938 Sport model came with the TFOs. These are excellent night sights with the added benefit of having the fiber optic front. The best overall sights of the bunch hands down.
The XDS has the standard 3-dot but with a red fiber optic front. I'm going to tell you, this red fiber optic is the most easily identifiable of any sights I've ever used. Bright light or dim light, it is easy to identify and probably another reason why I shoot the XDS so well.
Trigger:
I have a trigger pull gauge on order, but can't provide official weights so currently it is based on feel alone. Out of the box, the P938 was HEAVY.... I reduced the pull with a Wolff hammer spring for a Colt .380 Mustang and installed a stainless trigger with it (which probably had little to no effect). The swapped hammer spring lightened the pull considerably, enough to not hate myself when pulling the trigger. Much more acceptable with the modification.
The 40C isn't horrible, but the break is only fair and the take up gritty. The reset kills this particular example. No discernible feel and real far out. Thus, Apex on the way.
The Shield on the other hand has a decent break, but again I feel it's too heavy. Has the best reset of the bunch, though. I like the authoritative "push" and audible "click" of the reset. If the pull was a bit lighter, it'd be perfect. I ordered the Apex kit for this as well, but going to try to just install the sear and see if it lightens up enough without any other modification. Not bad, just heavy imo even considering this is a carry piece. My first "9" example, however, did not have near as good as trigger as my current .40 example and that's why it's gone. I'd say try to pull the trigger on the one you intend on buying for this reason as I've found difference from piece to piece.
XDS returned from SA. This trigger was excellent when it left and it was still pretty good. It feels the same as pre-recall and has a dece during this test. Good feel on reset (although sounds "springy" now after the update), and a decent break. I'd say it's a bit more on the "mushy" side but I can make it work. It, too, comes out of the box post recall a bit on the heavy side for my liking. Of the 4, this is probably the one I will not modify. Not because I don't think it couldn't benefit from some improvement, but I just think it's "good enough" for intended use.
Overall impressions:
Each of these I think is a good choice to defend your life every day. While the size and weight of the M&P 40C allowed me to shoot the best groups with it, it's still a subcompact where as the others are "slim" and "lightweight". The 40C offers you 10rds of .40 and the option to swap in a FS mag for 15rds. That's a lot of firepower for not a whole lot more dimensionally versus the others here. At the same time, if I'm wanting something to completely disappear then the M&P Compact isn't it. The P938 is a "forget-me" pistol. So light and concealable, and with all sorts of variations. The extended mag offers 7 rounds of 9mm to get the job done. You will PAY to PLAY with it. The Shield is another one that'll melt away iwb and in .40 you have again, 7 rounds in an extended mag to make it count, not to mention the easiest pricetag of the lot. XDS fans rejoice because you have the option to carry .45ACP discreetly. Leave the 1911 at home and be confident that you'll quickly be able to acquire your target and take it down with the largest caliber offering at the table. Problem is, if you're not carrying the "obtrusive" extended 7-rd mag (comparatively to the others) you've only got 5 shots to get it right.
If I had to choose a definitive winner, it's the 40C for: the better ergonomics, extra capacity, option of using the full size magazines for even more capacity, ability to get a conversion 9mm barrel just like the FS, and reduced recoil. Though, don't think by any means this makes any of them a poor choice. None of them are a true loser, but if I had to put a low man on this totem pole it's the Shield unfortunately. It just doesn't offer me anything the XDS doesn't do slightly better already. That said, if I was: considering price, choosing between the same caliber rather than a .40 vs. 45ACP, and repeating a purchase, I'd probably just buy the Shield as it's much more attractive for the money ($375 vs $525). The Sig has the heftiest price tag of the four ($620 otd), but it fills a "niche" whereas it's the tiniest of the bunch. It's well built and would stay on that merit alone.
Granted I don't carry every day yet and when I finally do the extra dimensions of the Compact will undoubtedly come into play. That day fast approaches with the passing of IL's most current laws. I would feel confident in any of these choices with the right amount of trigger time behind them to hone my skills. I've shot them all previously, but being carry sized they don't make it to the range nearly as often as the full size offerings and I just wanted to bring them in one large group. 50-75 shots each down range back to back in the hour or so of this outing wasn't nearly enough time to do any of them justice, but it did help me pick favorites amongst the bunch. Hope I helped someone on the fence.
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