First gun - Compact 4" vs Shield 9mm?

[Turq]

I have both the full size (night stand) and shield (edc) 2.0 in 9mm. I sometimes forget to take off my shield when I get home, because it literally has become part of my wardrobe, kind of like my wallet. I would never be able to do that with my full size, it's just to heavy and bulky for me. I can't speak to the compact because I don't own it. But it does seem like the perfect compromise of both worlds. As for shooting, I love the M&P full size and it is accurate as hell. The shield, is just a little less so. And not quite as comfortable in my hand either.

Having said all that, I really don't get all the "it's so hard to shoot the smaller shield" talk. Am I as accurate with my shield as my FS?....not really. But we are literally splitting hairs here. I am still hitting center mass with my shield every time, and often times doing just as well with it. Probably the only thing that annoys me about shooting the shield at the range is I have to load the mags twice as many times.

If CC is your main focus right now, the shield is a great gun for that. No reason you can't learn to shoot properly with it and than move on to something bigger and better. And besides once you buy one...you will be hooked. It's only a matter of "when" you get the second one. Good luck

 

[Smoke]

I agree with you - good advice.

Although the difference isn't great, the M&P 2.0 "Compact" (4" barrel) is almost exactly a Glock 19 - which is a very handy size pistol. And Sportsmans Outdoor Superstore has the "no safety" version on sale for $349 & free shipping. (or $299 for the 40SW version).

I am convinced that people err buying a small first gun. But a G19-size pistol is fun to shoot and concealable. The fact is that not everyone who says they want to conceal carry actually follows through with it. Buying a small gun like the Shield for a first gun is a mistake IMHO, simply because it is hard to shoot.

I've been shooting for 50 years so it doesn't take too long to retrain the fire control computer between my ears for a different pistol. But new shooters are going to be frustrated needlessly struggling with a dinky pistol. Put that new shooter behind a G19-size or larger pistol and they'll have fun.

Mall Ninja?

The grip on a 9 mm Shield felt just a little skinny in my hand but I never had any problem shooting it.

I've seen quite a few people by Shields as first guns and they don't seem to have a problem with it either.

 

[Smoke]

When you get serious about CC weapons, weight and thickness matter more than shooting comfort. The Shield is a bit tubby compared to it's competition.

When you get "serious about CC weapons" the primary consideration will be putting rounds on target effectively as quickly as possible and you won't leave home without it.

Also, too many mall-ninjas forget that "small and light" guns are going to be used at "bad breath" distances by people who aren't in the Cop business.

If your self-defense encounter occurs at "bad breath distance" then your situational awareness is epic fail

 

[Mystery]

Handled few guns at the store...

I went to a store and handled quite a few guns.

Glock double stack (19) just feels like a brick.
Glock 26 is very uncomfortable to hold.
I can't imagine shooting it.

M&P compact feels very good in hands but it's too thick to conceal with summer clothes.
I tried it in few holsters and still it feels thick so maybe it'll be cold weather gun or I have to dress around it in summer.

Tried the shield, it felt little skinny.
With 7 mag, it was little weird to hold but with 8 mag, it felt pretty good.
I didn't like it as good as the compact but not too bad so that's still a good option.

Tried Springfield XDS single stack and it felt better than the shield even with the 7 round mag but not as good as the compact.

Also looked at the Sig and HK but their compacts are even bigger in comparison than the M&P compact.

Ruger security 9 was very cheap but dismissed by the store clerk in favor of other ones.

 

[Smoke]

Have you considered a Glock 48?

 

[s&wm&p4me]

Hmm, my thoughts, I have a Shield 2.0, Apex Carry kit and trigger in it, a 1.0 9c,with an Apex trigger kit in it, which is my edc, carrying appendix, cross draw, and a long slide 9 pro with a Flat side trigger kit in it, AWESOME!
The shield is too skinny for my fat hands to shoot well, the 9c fits well, shots great, accepts the 17 round mags out of the full size, but having 13 rounds in the 9c ready to rock and roll has me sold!
The shield with it's 8 rounds is lighter and thinner, but if you want smaller, I do love my EC9s Ruger in summer months!
Now if all factors were nil, I would carry my 5 inch 9 pro, or my Canik SFX, they are some fine nail driving tools! Canik Fanatic!

 

[Flyingfool]

Mystery,

I really think your choice for this first gun is between the 4” or 3.6” compact. May want to check out the Walther line of guns as well.

The shield you can get a houge “hand all” rubber grip add on. It is only like $10 and tends to make the grip have a bit more girth and fill the hand a Bit more, yet not making it too bulky or add much weight. Also a bit more grippy than the 1.0 grip, but would reduce texture feel of the 2.0 grip.

Any of the 2.0 M&P you will almost “have” to wear an undershirt as the sandpaper like texture is at least to me “too much” for bare skin. The 1.0 shield is “doable” without T shirt.

Ccw is a compromise in clothing and dress. Almost. Onmatter what you will habe to in some way adjust clothes to accommodate carry. And will start to change and consider clothes when buying new clothes as how it will work to carry. For example. It carry IWB, you will need to add at least 1 inch to your “normal” comfortable waist size. Pocket size for either pocket carry or for concealment of extra mag. Etc.

If comcern is number of roinds/capacity, You can also get after market “mag guts” spring kits to add 1 or add 2 rounds to the 7 and 8 round shield mags. Making them up to 9 and 10 rounds. Since you will not be carrying right away, you can have lots of range time to prove the reliability of the after market mag conversion before you ever carry them.

Some other heads up.

Shields in particular and M&P in particular are known for extremely stiff return springs and mag springs. Making them initially hard to rack and the mags difficult to load the last round into. My advice is when getting the gun. Clean it completely, then assemble and leave the slode locked open for several days. Also, keep separate and locked up ect, load up all the mags fully and also leave them for several days to a couple weeks. This seems to put an initial “set” onto the springs. Cant go wrong with getting a mag loader to ease and speed reloading the mags.

 

[jnichols2]

Since Texas passed a law that allows Open Carry with a Concealed Carry permit (now called License to Carry), I have been experimenting with some larger models.

The M&P is a little large fir IWB carry, but OK for OWB. Now it doesn't matter if the end of the barrel peeks out when bending or reaching. I can just say it was "Open Carry".

 

[snowman.45]

I agree with a majority of the folks here on most of the discussion; for your first gun, get the larger pistol to become familiar and comfortable with shooting in general. Later, after you've become more accustomed to it, and you have prepared for your CCW permit, then you might look at the smaller, more concealable pistol for those times when you need the smaller sized weapon to fit your circumstances.

I've carried guns concealed off-duty and in plain-clothes, as well as open while in uniform for over 42 years. My experience is that you can conceal most handguns available today, depending on how you're willing to dress and the method of carry. Small and light becomes more appropriate as clothing becomes lighter.

Having owned and carried the M&P Shield in both 9mm and .45 ACP, I can tell you that it can be concealed as easily as most of the other quality single stack subcompacts currently dominating the market. Each has its own advantages in terms of ergonomics and capacity. Choose what fits your needs best. Keep in mind that reloads in the form of magazines also take up real estate on your belt or in a pocket. The number of rounds you feel comfortable with should determine the number of magazines, but you should always carry at least one reload. It may never be necessary to have more rounds than what the gun holds, but magazines are mechanical items and can malfunction. If that happens and you have no reload, you now hold a fancy single shot. In addition, I've never known anyone who was actually engaged in a gun battle who though they had too much ammunition.

 

[dla]

Ruger security 9 was very cheap but dismissed by the store clerk in favor of other ones.

The security 9 is a very good "glock 19 sized" pistol. Excellent value. The clerk is either a dweeb or he has an agenda.
On sale, I have seen Security 9's go for $280. I would definitely buy a Security 9 over an M&P 2.0 Compact 9mm based on price.

 

[Smoke]

The security 9 is a very good "glock 19 sized" pistol. Excellent value. The clerk is either a dweeb or he has an agenda.
On sale, I have seen Security 9's go for $280. I would definitely buy a Security 9 over an M&P 2.0 Compact 9mm based on price.

That's what Mall Ninjas do

 

[dla]

That's what Mall Ninjas do

Mall Ninjas are not in the Cop business but they instruct us lesser beings on Brazilian Jujitsu techniques and tell us we must practice tactical reloads using our butt cheeks. They typically carry 50 rounds of ammo for their Glock 26 with extended magazines.

And mall ninjas are almost always Glock fan-boys or at least whatever the real Cops are currently using.

 

[Smoke]

They typically carry 50 rounds of ammo for their Glock 26 with extended magazines.

I only carry twenty five rounds with my Glock 26, I do have extended magazines for it though.

Does that make me only half a Mall Ninja? Like I'm a Mall?

 

[Mystery]

Mystery being new to handguns buy the 4" 2.0 compact . Its larger size will make for a easier to shoot well handgun and it is concealable .
By a safariland 27 iwb holster for it as it will carry ta pistol high on your belt and is cant adjustable in both directions . I carry a m&p 4.25 or 1911 in this holster at 3:00 with no concealment issues . My wife carrys a Kimber ultra 9mm in the same holster . Do not buy the cheapest bargain ammo out there to start with something like speer lawman .
Speer Lawman 9mm Ammo 115 Grain Total Metal Jacket

Don't buy Speer lawman ammo or are you suggesting to buy it? I got confused.

What about CCI Blazer Brass 115Gr? is that good ammo?
It's on sale at psa.

 

[poorbroker]

I love all 3 of my Shields(2 Nines and a .45ACP) and they are all 1.0 editions with the factory trigger. They make me look like a very good shot and I am sure it is due to the S&W Shields! If your are a Veteran you can get a $40.00 rebate from S&W thru the end of April and with a sale price around $260.00 you just can not go wrong!

 

[swsig]

Don't buy Speer lawman ammo or are you suggesting to buy it? I got confused.

What about CCI Blazer Brass 115Gr? is that good ammo?
It's on sale at psa.

I believe he's advising you to buy the Speer Lawman ammo. It's good stuff. Blazer Brass is OK, but it's somewhat dirtier. For range practice, I shoot only Speer Lawman or Winchester NATO with my 9mms.

 

[Smoke]

Don't buy Speer lawman ammo or are you suggesting to buy it? I got confused.

What about CCI Blazer Brass 115Gr? is that good ammo?
It's on sale at psa.

Blazer Brass is fine. For SD ammunition I suggest you get on pistolforum.com and look in the ammunition subforum. Specifically that you look at Doc Robert's list of acceptable duty ammunition. Dr. Robert's is essentially the guy who tells the FBI what to buy


Gary Roberts | Modern Service Weapons

Dr. Roberts is currently on staff at a large teaching hospital and Level I Trauma center where he performs hospital dentistry and surgery. After completing his residency in 1989 while on active military duty, he studied at the Army Wound Ballistic Research Laboratory and became one of the first members of the International Wound Ballistic Association. Since then, he has been tasked with performing military, law enforcement, and privately funded independent wound ballistic testing and analysis. As a U.S. Navy Reserve officer from 1986 to 2008, he served on the Joint Service Wound Ballistic IPT, as well as being a consultant to the Joint FBI-USMC munitions testing program and the TSWG MURG program. He is frequently asked to provide wound ballistic technical assistance to numerous U.S. and allied SOF units and organizations. In addition, he has been a technical advisor to the Association of Firearms and Toolmark Examiners, as well as to a variety of Federal, State, and municipal law enforcement agencies. He has been a sworn Reserve Police Officer in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he now he serves in an LE training role.

 

[dla]

Don't buy Speer lawman ammo or are you suggesting to buy it? I got confused.

What about CCI Blazer Brass 115Gr? is that good ammo?
It's on sale at psa.

Speer lawman? More mall ninja bs.

Buy what is on sale. It all goes BANG. You can find 9mm for 20 cents a round or less.

When you get to worrying about "carry ammo", i.e. stuff optimized for killing humans, you can look at the test results on lucky gunner and make your choice.

 

[SiGfever]

With your requirements, get the 3.6" Compact.

 

[Smoke]

About The Author | Cornered Cat

There was a point where I decided to take self defense seriously. I started to research various ammunition choices and one of the first things I did was ask an acquaintance (Kathy Jackson) "What's in your gun right now?". She told me she was carrying Speer 124 + P grain Gold Dots. She also told me about Dr. Robert's list.

My further research indicated that I would get a more consistent out come if if I used training ammunition that was as similar as possible to my self defense ammunition. Blazer Brass and Speer Gold Dot are made in the same factory. I use 124 grain Blazer for practice/training and 124 grain Gold Dots for carry