Custom Shield 9mm

[jayrph]

I picked up a Shield 9mm a couple of weeks back. Recently sent it out to James at www.xd-hs2000.com to have a little custom work done. James installed the Truglo TFO night sights and coated the slide in KG gunkote titanium color. I also have Talon grips with the "rubber" texture installed. Thought I would post some pictures of the final product.

Start off with the obligatory gun, knife, ammo picture...

The sights...

Some more gun with knife

Overall I'm pleased with the way the gun turned out. One thing I will note is that the titanium color was a little grayer/darker than what I expected. I have viewed other threads such as this one...http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-wesson-m-p-pistols/249724-got-my-shield-back-apex-trigger-tfo-night-sights-kg-gun-kote.html where the titanium finish appears a little lighter in the pictures. It's probably a case of the lighting used. Most of the pictures I posted above were with natural sunlight so hopefully these will give you another idea of what the titanium color looks like. I'm not unhappy with the result just a bit different than what I was expecting. The fit of the TFO's is very good. I've read that they are a little big for the shield. If I didn't know better I would think they were made for this gun. I also like the Talon grips. They feel good and are easy to install. This will be my EDC so the only thing i worry about is if sweat, heat, etc will loosen the adhesive. Time will tell on that I guess. Anyway I haven't had a chance to take it to the range yet since the upgrades. Hopefully it shoots as good as it looks.

 

[glocknug]

The first thing I noticed was that yours looked greyer/darker than others I have seen. I must admit, I like it better! Very nice! If only I could find somebody willing to do mine... for free...

 

[mr2r6]

Thats a good looking gun! I like the color alot! Its cool looking cause it doesnt looks very professional. Im really digging the night sights. Cant wait to hear a a range report.

 

[sparky232]

James did a great job on your shield. Everytime I see his work I threaten to send my shield in to him.I put trijicon's on mine but those that I have talked to at the range with the TFO's said POA/POI was the same.Have had my talon grips on mine for 2 months in record hot Denver and the adhesive shows no sign of loosening.Have fun with your good looking gun at the range,it should not disappoint

 

[MP22]

Nice looking outfit...thanks for the pics.

 

[bonjorno2]

James does great work! Congrats!

 

[mr2r6]

Thats a good looking gun! I like the color alot! Its cool looking cause it doesnt looks very professional. Im really digging the night sights. Cant wait to hear a a range report.

Sorry did not mean doesnt I meant DOES look very professional!

 

[dfhawkins]

Very nice. The Truglo sights are impressive and seem made for the Shield. Now you must be anxious to spend some time at the range... getting aquainted.

 

[KEN L]

The first thing I noticed was you shoulda had the knife finished to match the gun. Other than that, SUH-WEAT!!

 

[Bikemobile]

I carry that same kershaw on duty. Awesome knife.

 

[jayrph]

I carry that same kershaw on duty. Awesome knife.

Yeah it is a really nice knife. Perfect size for carrying around in the pocket. Kershaw Leek for anyone who wants to know. For the price it's hard to beat.

 

[shipwreck]

Very nice gun!

 

[jayrph]

Took a couple more pictures today. These were taken outside under an overcast sky so this is about the truest representation of the titanium color as I can get. The more I look at it the more I really like how it turned out. James does do really good work. The application of the finish looks flawless. Kudos to him. Anyway, I'm hoping to get to the range this weekend and tryout the gun with the TFO's.

 

[mag318]

That's a great looking Shield and I like the titanium finish, to bad the factory doesn't offer finishes like yours. Well done and thanks for sharing, let us know how it shoots.

 

[Marshal Tom]

I love the color and the whole package.

Tom

 

[jayrph]

Got a chance to put about 150 rounds through my shield today. Overall everything went pretty well. I was shooting a tad left (about 2 to 3 inches to the 9 o'clock of poa). I was shooting this same way before I changed the sights so it's not an issue with the sights. I've read that this is common among right handed shooters new to the Sheild. Just have to work on my mechanics a bit i guess. Also I did experience one fte. It was towards the end of my shooting session. Basically the gun shot, the action cycled and refed the brass casing right back into the chamber. I've never had an fte like that before. I was using a new ammo (Winchester 100 ct bulk from Walmart). I'm not overly concerned as this was the first failure in about 300 rounds and I leaning towards it being probably being ammo related. Overall I like the sights but am not blown away by them. To be perfectly honest I thought they would be brighter. In sunlight they're great. In very dark/ no light they're great. There's just some in stances of "in between" light where I almost can't pick out the dots. Hard to explain. Guess I was just expecting more. Grips worked great. No adhesive loosened up and definitely helped give better control to the gun. All in all I like how the gun shoots. Recoil is very light and follow up shots are quick. Waiting to get a Mcabe holster so I can start to carry her around.

 

[jayrph]

Took a couple of pictures of the "in between" lighting where I thought the Truglo's would have performed better. These pictures were both taken about a minute a part. Sorry if the angle and everything doesn't exactly match. I had 2 lamps on in the room facing a bathroom with all the lights on. It was about 7am with just a little natural sunlight at the time. Comparison gun is a Sig Sauer C3. Sights are just white dots (not a night sight). They appeared brighter and easier to see in this light setting. I thought this was a case where the ambient light would make the fiber optics rods glow but as you can see in the picture they are fairly faint.
The plain white dots....

The Truglo TFO's...

I'm probably being too picky. I've never had fiber optic sights before so maybe my expectations were a little to high. Anyway, they do work as advertised in other situations... take the gun out into sunlight or in near darkness and it's a totally different story. Nice bright glow to them.

 

[Mike-4]

Thanks for the review. I was also thinking about TruGlo TFOs for my Shield but I may have to reconsider.

Regards

 

[motomed]

red fiber optic fronts are much easier to pick up for me. wish the TFO's offered that.

 

[1bdvet]

Just had new sights done yesterday, and took it straight the range, love them. Yes there is little over hang on the rear, but you really have to look hard to see it.