First gun

[dmc14]

I'm trying to choose between the m&p 9c or the shield which would be better for first gun I'm also wanting to conceal carry. I also need to practice a lot to get used to shooting. I've shot a fs m&p 9 and loved it I shot it really well. My concerns are I think the 9c might be hard to conceal but easy the shoot and shield just the opposite easy to conceal and harder to shoot. I also like where I can put full size mags in the 9c.

 

[AGoyette]

I have the 9c and I love it. It is also my concealed carry gun.

 

[caribe]

Go for the 9c. Great overall gun. I carry the 9c a lot more than the Shield 9. Midway Usa seems to get full size 9 mags often.

 

[Bkreutz]

My EDC is a 9c, I don't have any difficulty concealing it but a lot of that depends on your body type and weather. In Seattle it never gets very hot and I'm big enough that I could easily carry a FS if I wanted to.

 

[shakyshoot]

They're both great guns. I shot FS 9, 9C, 40c, and 40 Shield and 9 Shield before buying the 9mm Shield. The Shield is a lot easier to shoot than you think it's going to be. It does not feel like you're shooting a subcompact. If you have a range nearby that rents guns, definitely try both before you buy. The compact is very concealable in most situations. The Shield is obviously more concealable, and my experience was that I shot better, faster, and more accurately with the Shield than with the compact or even the full size. To me the only major advantage of the 9c vs Shield would not not be ease of shooting, but magazine capacity.

 

[Ransom]

I'd recommend the Shield 9mm because it shoots great and is easy to carry. I've never shot or carried a 9c so it might also be a fine choice. The Shield was my first carry gun. I have other options now, but the Shield is still my everyday carry. I read that the Shield has a better trigger than the 9c, but I'm not sure if that's still true.

 

[B3500]

With handguns, it is all a compromise and both you are looking at would work in most situations.

I'd probably list out what points are important to you. This might be a priority list of things like; overall height, capacity, loaded weight, width, price and so on, then see which gun fits your important points the most.

If you mess up and later find you picked the wrong one or maybe you develop a better sense of what would work better for you, you can always go back for more. So don't sweat over the decision too much.

 

[dmc14]

I'm a pretty big guy I'm 6 feet about 260 pounds. I'd rather have the higher capacity magazine but I also want it to be comfortable to wear all day.

 

[Arndog123]

I have a 40c and 40 Shield and find the Shield more comfortable to carry. It's also easier to conceal but they're both a joy to shoot. The extra capacity of the compact is nice but in my opinion you can't go wrong with either. I say get both.

 

[dmc14]

I probably will get both but can only afford one for know prolly going to get the m&p 9c first to practice then the shield for carry.

 

[Travis15R]

Would be ideal if you could shoot both before hand but if that's not possible try and at least handle both of them at a local gun shop or at a show just to see which one feels best to you. I did this with the 40c and the Shield ( before the .40 was out for it ) and the compact just felt better to me. I dont have big hands by any means but the slight size difference between the two benefited me more with the compact being a little bigger and I dont think it would make concealed carry anymore difficult. I'm looking to buy the compact w/ income tax returns.

 

[iwanna]

I'd also consider price since it's an either/or situation. I picked up a used 9c for dirt last year probably because everybody wanted the Shields when they were first coming out. My 9c would hold with a Glock 17 all day at the range.

 

[B3500]

Nothing wrong with the 9c. With a good holster (like the bridle leather example from http://hiddenfx.com) and a belt (dual layered Galco or Bull Hide Belts, Leather Gun Belts, Leather Holsters and Concealed Carry Apparel | Daltech Force) it can be quite comfortable to carry - not just for a couple of hours, but all day so you may not need the shield. It will take a little time for you body to adjust to carrying any piece for the first time, so give it some time.

I currently carry the M&P40c (same size as the 9c) or the Glock G30S depending on my dress style for a particular day. I'd say the 40c is carried more often as it gives me more clothing options over the slightly bigger Glock, but I am a sucker for the .45. I'd probably not carry the Glock at all, but the .45 is one of my favorite calibers.

 

[CatSnipah]

I shot both. Bought the shield as my intention was for that specific purchase to be an EDC. it gets quite hot here in SC, and I wanted to have something small and east to conceal.

I already have a G19 which can be carry in colder weather.

With that, I might pick up a 9c one of these days, because I liked it. But I have 3-4 other things on my wish list before that.

 

[MSG Glenn]

I'm carrying an M&P40C as I type this. I could just as easily be carrying my full size 40.

Then nice thing about M&P Compacts is that you can carry it with a full size mag. My 40 Compact can be carried with a load of 16 rounds or 11 rounds with a compact mag. Even if you don't feel the need for a high capacity those full size mags are nice at the range. I have 2 of them with X-Grips dedicated for my 40 Compact.

All in all I'd say a Compact offers more versatility & they're not that much bigger than a Shield & a 40 Compact offers even more versatility because you can drop a 9MM or 357Sig barrel in it. A 9MM barrel will also require 9MM mags but 357Sig uses the same 40 cal mags.