Fine Fighting Pistol - the M&P Shield 9MM

[RoyOdhner]

I've been carrying a M&P Shield 9mm for a few months now, and I have to say that I'm really impressed. It's a damn good looking gun offered at a really great price, it's well-balanced and feels great in my hand, it's tough, it's rugged, it's reliable, it's got usable sights and it's accurate (even at 15 yards or more), and it's compact and light. While I think it's just a bit to big for pocket carry, it does ride nicely in an IWB or OWB rig. Anyway, I've got other guns that I can use for pocket carry if I ever have a need to do so.

I don't much care for the extended eight round magazines, but I've put Peirce pinky extensions on the seven round magazines, and they work great. Stoke those magazines with Federal 124 grain HST (standard pressure) rounds, and I've got a formidable self-defense weapon that didn't cost me an arm and a leg.

I can't say enough good things about this gun. I used to think the S&W's snubbies were the finest fighting pistols on the planet, but I believe that my 9mm Shield is a much better gun than my 642 - mostly because my eyesight isn't what it was 20 years ago and I can reload it a lot quicker.

 

[RobzGuns]

Now, don't you wish you had tried the Shield 4yrs ago, when they 1st came out?

 

[RoyOdhner]

Now, don't you wish you had tried the Shield 4yrs ago, when they 1st came out?

I do. I might have saved myself the aggravation on some of the other guns I've bought along the way.

 

[coachray]

I have a 9mm Shield along with several other guns and the Shield is my favorite one.

 

[Targets Guy]

I am a Shield fan myself and once I married it to the Uplula loader it became the "almost perfect" pistol.

 

[Holmes375]

I have the 9mm Shield and I've been working with the 45 version for the past 6 weeks. Like them both a lot but I've gone back to the 9mm Shield for daily carry. The additional 2 rounds on board (MagGuts) are important to me. I also have my nine stippled to preference which improves the weapon noticeably.

 

[JAREDSHS]

I have the 9mm Shield and I've been working with the 45 version for the past 6 weeks. Like them both a lot but I've gone back to the 9mm Shield for daily carry. The additional 2 rounds on board (MagGuts) are important to me. I also have my nine stippled to preference which improves the weapon noticeably.

I like the looks of this!!!

 

[JAREDSHS]

RoyOdhner: thanks for the good post and thank you for your service to our country.

I carry a 442 as "backup"---but I carry the Shield 9 as primary. I am completely blown away on how shootable and accurate the Shield is for me. I really struggle with the 442, but the Shield makes me a better shooter than I really am .I have always been a glock 26 fan, but the shield 9 is a better gun.

 

[RoyOdhner]

RoyOdhner: thanks for the good post and thank you for your service to our country.

I carry a 442 as "backup"---but I carry the Shield 9 as primary. I am completely blown away on how shootable and accurate the Shield is for me. I really struggle with the 442, but the Shield makes me a better shooter than I really am .I have always been a glock 26 fan, but the shield 9 is a better gun.

Thanks, and you're welcome.

I've never owned a G26, but I've got a G19, and I think that the Shield 9 has it beat. The G19 packs a bunch more rounds, but it's a bit too big for me to use as a concealed carry weapon. Thus, it sits in my gun safe most of the time.

Maybe I've become lazy, but I like to carry small and light so I won't carry anything much bigger than a Makarov. That tended to limit me to 9x17 or 9x18. I think that both rounds are effective for self defense, but I'd rather have the extra power afforded by the 9x19 round. SCCY puts out a decent enough 9mm gun in a size that I'll carry, but it's a bit too thick and I don't really care much for the feel of the grip.

The Shield 9 is the first subcompact/single stack 9mm pistol that I really like. A guy at my local gun range let me fire his a few months ago - like back in January - and I knew I was hooked. I knew I was gonna like when I saw it, but firing it really sold me and I started saving my pennies for one. For me, it hits that sweet spot where size, power, reliability, build quality, ease of carry, comfortable feel, reasonable price, and accuracy all meet-up - and I find that most of the subcompact/single stack 9mm's just can't cover all of those points. The Glock 43 came close, but it just didn't feel as good in my hand and it ran about $100 more.

Glock's really are ugly, and the Shield 9mm isn't much better looking. But I like that. It's black, it's ugly, and it's all bidniss. It's no bar-b-que gun - it's a fighting pistol.

 

[RoyOdhner]

I have the 9mm Shield and I've been working with the 45 version for the past 6 weeks. Like them both a lot but I've gone back to the 9mm Shield for daily carry. The additional 2 rounds on board (MagGuts) are important to me. I also have my nine stippled to preference which improves the weapon noticeably.

Swee-eet looking gun! Who did the strippling?

 

[wwit]

I just picked up the Performance Center 9mm Shield. Talon Grips and SS guide rod in it. I haven't had the opportunity to take it to the range yet. But will take the OEM rod and swap back and forth and see which I prefer.

 

[Radco]

I have the 9mm Shield and I've been working with the 45 version for the past 6 weeks. Like them both a lot but I've gone back to the 9mm Shield for daily carry. The additional 2 rounds on board (MagGuts) are important to me. I also have my nine stippled to preference which improves the weapon noticeably.

VERY nice Stripple work!

 

[Holmes375]

Thank you but lest anyone think its my work let me assure you I have absolutely no artistic talent

My Shield was done by Chris Damato. His web site is here:

Damato Custom Stippling and Cerakote MP Glock Grip

 

[Mister X]

I used to think the S&W's snubbies were the finest fighting pistols on the planet, but I believe that my 9mm Shield is a much better gun than my 642.

Much depends on the situations. In terms of reactive ECQ/extreme close-quarter defense scenarios, I think the snub is still king IMO. However, the Shield is indeed a great overall personal defense pistol.

 

[Radco]

Thank you but lest anyone think its my work let me assure you I have absolutely no artistic talent

My Shield was done by Chris Damato. His web site is here:

Damato Custom Stippling and Cerakote MP Glock Grip

Thanks for the link, And man he does some great work! Some others I have seen look mmm well All his lines are in a good pattern not all over the place! Very Cool!

 

[jim46ok]

Great stippling. And looks like his trigger work at $45 is something to consider. Hmmm......wonder what he does. That's less that just the Apex parts alone..

 

[cleans up]

I agree, came to check on mags, saw this and can't help but post. I've shot a few courses and informal plate comps with the shield and it does fine. Some say "any gun will do" but I think that's overreaching. The shield is currently amongst the smallest "fighting" pistols out there, and I don't feel many limitations with it at all. Mostly just capacity. FWIW I've been carrying mine for 3+ years now.