First time S&W owner, just to say "Hi"

[wagon]

Hi,

I own quite a few guns, long or short, over the years but I have just become a proud owner of a Shield9. In the subcompact class I mostly own Kahrs, their dimensions and weight (still) attract my following, I think they still have their space in the market.

However I am not a long trigger person regardless how smooth or rough the trigger pull is. I am more prefer striker-fire or DA/SA actions. I was excited after I read/heard all the good review of M&P Shield. After 1+ year of un-decision and other use of toy money, I finally brought home a Shield 9 just Tuesday this week .. and also my very FIRST S&W. It has a BOD of Sept 2013.

It is still cover with factory oil as we speak, will give it a bath and head to the range this weekend. From dry firing, while I like the much shorter trigger pull (vs Kahrs) it is a little gritty and is heavier than the Glocks that I have. But I hope they will get better after a few hundred rounds down pipe.

A couple of things it surprises me:
1. the slide is a bietch to rack and the slide lock is very difficult to release ... no worse than Kahrs - which one of the tings that are being frequently being criticized. (the Shield has bene sitting in the safe in the slide-locked position.. which should help.)

2. it gets a TIGHT fit all my G19/G26 holsters .. VMII, Ritchie CQ-QC, even a BH SERPA! I have no rush to go buy holster!

Anyway, I have already enjoyed the wealth of info in this forums, and I know I will enjoy my stay.

Stay safe! (some pix of my new toy

 

[MSG Glenn]

Very nice! I almost bought one in .40 cal. but opted for the 40 Compact instead. Mine has a BoD of 7/7/13. Smith & Wesson sure makes fine handguns, especially the M&Ps. I also have a full size 40.

 

[wagon]

MSG.. thanks. May be I will become a "convert" (from Block)

 

[S&WForty]

I absolutely love my 40. I am more accurate with it with less focus than my other pistols (except my 1911). I credit that to the Shield's trigger.

Regarding your slide stop being released, many will point out that S&W does not intend for it to be a release. I read that quite a few times while waiting on my Shield to arrive, so I've pressed the slide stop down to release the slide only a few times. The slingshot method is my habit.

When reassembling your Shield, you may find it hard to get the slide to go back far enough for the slide lock to catch. There's several threads here about that. After a handful of times, mine has quit doing it. Lining the spring up perfectly is the best way to dodge the problem, but even that doesn't seem fool proof.