Considering a Shield and have many questions

[smithman 10]

Underwhelmed by the Shield

I finally found a shop that had a Shield. Already sold but they let me handle it.

I was underwhelmed. Not that it felt bad but not all that great either. I wanted to like it enough to decide to get one but didn't.

I have to admit I am a revolver guy and was looking for an alternative to J-Frames that I use. This gun is not that. As many have noted, you can't really carry it in a trouser pocket, it's just too big.

So if it's going in a holster, either IWB or OWB, why not go ahead and get the doublestack compact M&P? Or even a full size M&P? You gotta cover the holsered gun with a garment anyway.

So I'll pass for the time being. I hope all who buy the Shield find it works out well. I'm sure it will prove reliable and reports seem to be that it is easy to shoot accurately.

For us old-timer revolver guys, there are always the J-Frames.

 

[Roger S&W]

take the 1911 in a 5in. gun, then compare it to a 3in. gun the reliability goes way down on the 3in. i hope this doesn't happen to the shield.. pyper

For some reason that's true with 1911s but not with the modern day polymer wonders...and I don't think the Shield will be an exception.

 

[MIST]

take the 1911 in a 5in. gun, then compare it to a 3in. gun the reliability goes way down on the 3in. i hope this doesn't happen to the shield.. pyper

I guess my 3" 1911 is an exception to the rule as it's been flawless in performance and function since day one.

 

[RussC]

I own a Beretta Nano and I am trading it in for a Shield that I have never handled.

My decision is based entirely on the reports I have read on the internet. I knew within 3 days of owning my Nano I made a mistake. You don't need to wait a year to know if a CCW is going to be reliable. You know the gun is solid when you Google "S&W Shield FTE" and get a zero match. Yes the Shield has only been out less than a month but with the internet 100s of people have already posted reviews and trust me if there was a problem it would have surfaced by now.

Russ

 

[Tommato]

The Shield is the first 100% reliable out of the box small pistol I've ever owned. Not a single FTE, FTF, FTL, or any other "FT". Have 300 rounds thru mine - all JHP so far, but will start trying out potential carry ammo next week. First up is Federal 124 +P HST (P9HST3). If that works well, I will try it out with Speer 124 +P Gold Dots - probably the desired carry load. Although there are clearly some notable differences between the Shield and the Compact and Full Size M&Ps, the pedigree is clear. Smith learned a ton from the bigger M&Ps and I think that helps to explain the excellent execution here.

Tommato

 

[kris7047th]

The Shield is the first 100% reliable out of the box small pistol I've ever owned. Not a single FTE, FTF, FTL, or any other "FT". Have 300 rounds thru mine - all JHP so far, but will start trying out potential carry ammo next week. First up is Federal 124 +P HST (P9HST3). If that works well, I will try it out with Speer 124 +P Gold Dots - probably the desired carry load. Although there are clearly some notable differences between the Shield and the Compact and Full Size M&Ps, the pedigree is clear. Smith learned a ton from the bigger M&Ps and I think that helps to explain the excellent execution here.

Tommato

Agreed and S&W also learned from their *Oops* from the BG.380 small gun. They took their time and TESTED before they put the Shield on the open market.

 

[Shielded]

I laid away a Shield last week. In the whole of my gun loving years I have never seen a gun get so much good praise. I like how it felt, it has decent sights, good trigger, and looks pretty good. It also has 2 mags, which is nice, a 7 & 8 rounder for the 9mm. It also does not have an annoying magazine disconnect. I really can't wait to get mine.

 

[Jeb21]

Have a Shield. 250 round through it from 5 different shooters. 0 problems. Nice gun. Fits a Glock 23 IWB holster well but I am going to look at the Remora line of holsters.