First trip to the range with my Shield 9

[cflshield]

I took my new Sheild 9 along with my Glock 26 to the range yesterday morning. I ran 30 rounds through the 26 and 135 rounds through the Shield. The Shield was as smooth as silk. I have no way of measuring recoil other than feel and the Shield's recoil seemed to be much less than the 26. One thing about the Shield that bothered me was the sights. My old eyes have a hard time picking them up. I have Meprolights on the 26 which help a lot. I guess I'll have to pick some up for the Shield when they become available.

I did have one problem with the Shield. I was on the 8 round mag when the 7th round fired and the slide locked back and the mag dropped. There is absolutely no way I can tell for sure what happened but I would guess that it was operator error. I would have to put the blame on my touching the mag release. That was the only time it happened and the only problem I had with the Shield. I cleaned it this morning and everything looked fine.

The 26 is actually my wife's and she likes it a lot but she hasn't shot the Shield yet. I think when she does the 26 may get sold or traded for another Shield.

 

[RussC]

I took my new Sheild 9 along with my Glock 26 to the range yesterday morning. I ran 30 rounds through the 26 and 135 rounds through the Shield. The Shield was as smooth as silk. I have no way of measuring recoil other than feel and the Shield's recoil seemed to be much less than the 26. One thing about the Shield that bothered me was the sights. My old eyes have a hard time picking them up. I have Meprolights on the 26 which help a lot. I guess I'll have to pick some up for the Shield when they become available.

I did have one problem with the Shield. I was on the 8 round mag when the 7th round fired and the slide locked back and the mag dropped. There is absolutely no way I can tell for sure what happened but I would guess that it was operator error. I would have to put the blame on my touching the mag release. That was the only time it happened and the only problem I had with the Shield. I cleaned it this morning and everything looked fine.

The 26 is actually my wife's and she likes it a lot but she hasn't shot the Shield yet. I think when she does the 26 may get sold or traded for another Shield.

Thanks for the report.

I had problems with the magazine coming out with my Nano before I traded for the Shield. I found I was touching the magazine release.

For my hand size the Shield magazine release seems to be out-of-the-way.

I like where I can get 1/2 the thickness of my pinkie on my Shield. I have shot a Glock 26 and it is a pinkie dangler.

My eyes are not that great for only 48 yrs young.

I traded out my stock sights for XS Big Dot Night Sights.

The big white front sight is an improvement but still a little fuzzy with my bi focal glasses.

Russ

 

[cflshield]

Russ
That's my problem. I've got progressive tri-focals and it's a real b**tch sometimes. I've been looking at the big dots. I may give them a try.

 

[Ransom]

I recently bought a Shield 9. It's my first handgun and I like it. I've been to the range with it three times now and it shoots great. I had one misfeed that was due to the ammo--I tried feeding that same round 3 times and it wouldn't go. It was cheap ammo, so not totally surprised: Herter's Select Grade Aluminum Case Total Nylon Jacket (TNJ). I don't think I'll buy that again since I can normally get FMJ for less.

I also have a borrowed S&W 638 J-frame--it's not as much fun to shoot as the Shield, but it sure slips into my pocket easy. I'm planning to buy a 442 as an alternate to the Shield.

My first post on this forum, so hello fellow M&P Shield owners!

 

[Ransom]

By the way, I'm 50 and also wear progressives. I haven't had any problem with the sights so far, but I would like to try out other sights to see how they compare.

 

[RussC]

By the way, I'm 50 and also wear progressives. I haven't had any problem with the sights so far, but I would like to try out other sights to see how they compare.

The Big Dot is nice for poor vision.

One challenge with Big Dot I encountered at the inside shooting range.

The lighting put a glare on the center of the sight where the tritium is located. I found I was lining up the center glare with the back sight and it made me shoot low.

When I discovered what I was doing I aligned the bottom of the front sight with the rear sight and it shot dead on.

The Big Dot is great up to about 12 yard shots. Beyond 12 yards the Big Dot will cover most of the 50 ft rated target. However, I learned something reading the instruction manual. At 25 yards the point of impact is the top of the big dot which means you don't have the issue of the big front sight covering the target if the point of impact is the top of the Front sight.

For defense shots (i.e., 7 - 10 yards) the Big Dot works good.

If your Shield is a target gun stick with notch and post sights. If you want quick defense shots with 2 - 3 inch groups XS serves well.

Russ

 

[mudman bob]

Welcome Ransom. Have you guys with progressive lenses considered having the mid-range moved to the top of your lens? I too ,at mid-life have the same problem and have heard this works. With my arm extended, my vision is good at that length and I practice without my glasses. Just a thought.

Bob

 

[cflshield]

I've not thought about moving the mid-range to the top but I have thought about getting standard lenses with just the mid-range prescription and sticking them in an old pair of frames just for target practice. I may have to make a trip to Lens Crafters.

 

[mudman bob]

If I remember correctly, it was the author Chris Bird in his Concealed Handgun book that mentioned it.

 

[gnystrom]

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