For owners of both the Shield 9mm and .40, if you could only keep one....

[rod442]

I voted 40. Just picked up one myself wednesday, after seeing both the 9 and 40 in the store last friday. Called and they only had the 40 left. Fine with me, since I wanted the 40 in hopes that there will be a 9mm barrel option down the road.

I haven't read that someone has actually tried + fired the 9 stock barrel in a 40 yet.

 

[cc4600]

I shot both the 9 & 40 at the LGS last week as the had the S&W factory demo guys there. Both shot well and there was little difference in the recoil to me. But I am partial to the 40 as I have a 40C and a 40 Pro, so I bought the 40 shield to replace my current daily carry Kahr PM9.

 

[team sidewinder]

Sorry I voted 9mm even if I don't have both. For me anyway I just know the 9 works for me just fine from experience with my 9mm Sig 229R. I wouldn't even want the 40 if I could get or afford one now I have the shield 9. No need to be buying a different caliber ammo either. Only reason I bought another 9mm pistol is the Sig was pretty hard to CC while the shield really shines in the CC area.

 

[robrossk]

I have the ,40 and am waiting (like others) to hear if the 9mm barrel works. It physically fits, buy I did not have opportunity to fire.

 

[Edmo]

Don't have a shield in .45.

45 ACP gun in a "Shield" sized gun is called the Springfield XDs.

Since I don't own the Shield in both calibers I didn't vote in the poll, However I would likely vote for the 9mm.

This is based on a recent range trip with my wife and daughter. I intend the Shield to eventually be my daughter's pistol so she will need to be comfortable with it. after shooting the 9mm Shield, both my wife and daughter thought the 9mm Shield was "snappier" than my GLOCK 9mm compact (G19) and the 9mm sub-compact (G26).

I guess I'll need to get the daughter a G26...

Edmo

 

[pyro]

I have heard, but not researched, that a Shield 9 barrel will work in a Shield 40, like in the M&P Compacts.

If that is true...I would get the Shield 40, and a 9mm barrel, if possible, to have the option of shooting both calibers.

I have yet to find anyone who has tried this. S&W says no.

 

[pyro]

I originally looked for a 9mm, but settled for a 40cal. Ammo costs run about three dollars a box more. I prefer the 9mm costs, but it is what it is. After shooting the 40cal, I really like it. There are smaller guns for 9mm and I have a Kahr CM9. My 40cal isn't going anywhere, it is just too sweet.

 

[highaltitude]

9mm for me... Cheaper ammo, less recoil, extra round. Shooting Speer Gold Dots will put any BG down.

 

[Fabius]

My plan originally was to get the 9, mainly because I was concerned about the recoil of a .40 in such a small gun. Had trouble finding any Shields at all locally, so when I found a .40 at one of the LGS I bought it.

No regrets. The recoil is much more manageable that I thought it would be. Had the mag drop problem, but that seems to be fixed now. In retrospect, I'm glad that I went with the .40. It's nice having .40 cal power in a handgun that fits in my pocket.

The 9mm would have been a compromise for me because I prefer carrying .40 or .45, but never thought that I would find a reliable subcompact in those calibers that would be comfortable to shoot. My Shield is actually more comfortable to shoot than the Glock 23 that i used to own.

The Shield .40 is the gun I was hoping someone would make. Glad that I bought it.

 

[Maddmax]

9. I have all the M&P 9's and it fits my collection. No 40 anythings. I started and have always been 45 from my first pistol. Like the M&P 9's for carry and round cap. IF (BIG if),they made a 45 Shield. ...That'd be more than a handful and with low round mag ??? I'll stay with the FS 45's.

 

[RussC]

Is a Fire Hose Size Wound Enough?

So I had a Shield 9mm for a week, never fired it and a neighbor made me an offer today I couldn't refuse so I'm back to my original dilemma .40 or 9mm (and scouring the Earth for one in stock at a fair price). It seems many of you have both so the million dollar question is of course, if you could only have one or the other which and please tell me why.

tjkober:

I would suggest you surf this forum for issues with both the 40 and 9 mm Shield.

The drop magazine problem stated by some 40 Shield owners for me would be a consideration when choosing between 9mm and 40 caliber in the Shield.

Cost of Ammo:

I am considering an M&P CO2 bb pistol for defensive drills because 9mm for serious practice time is too expensive for my budget. 40 caliber at 40% higher cost is a deal breaker for me. (If you are interested in plinking a box a month the difference in cost is not a big deal, but if you are serious about making quick defensive shots at moving targets without using your gun sights 1,000s of rounds will be required on a consistent basis and that is why I am seriously looking at CO2.)

Ballistics:

I carry Gold Dot 9mm 124 grain +P Short Barrel. If you search Youtube the difference between Gold Dot 40 Caliber and Gold Dot 9mm +P in a denim/ballistic gel test is less than an inch more penetration and the 9mm Gold Dot leaves a diameter wound in the gel the size of a fire hose!

For what the Shield is designed for (less than 10 yard self defense protection) no threat will stand up to fire hose size wounds 13 inches deep multipled by 8.

Russ

P.S. For defensive drills I ruled out the M&P 22 because I would need to use a public gun range and you can't practice real life defensive drills at public gun ranges. I can shoot CO2 in my backyard and at 400 fps and 2 inch groups for 7-10 yard shots the M&P CO2 is a serious consideration for me.

 

[VMaxSplat]

My Shield is a 40, but I can't imagine the 9mm version not being somewhat easier to get fast, accurate hits with.

That said, handguns (in general) have a notoriously spotty record of stopping fights. My thought is that in a worst case defensive scenario, I'd rather have a bigger bullet. You may only be able to land one hit to keep some homicidal, heavyweight dirtbag off you...

The 40S&W was designed to give big bore performance in a 9mm sized pistol. It came to be after the FBI 9mm failures in the 1986 Miami shootout. In the case of the Shield 40, big bore punch comes to a concealable defensive pistol. Its a case of the good far outweighing the bad.

There was a time when I thought the 9mm was the way to go for compacts. I reconsidered when the Shield 40 was released. Others may feel differently (and that's ok by me).

 

[Bikemobile]

I carry the 40 and my wife has the 9. I shoot the 9 a bit better on double taps and moving drills. If i had to grab only one and leave the house it would be the 9. More capacity and cheaper ammo.

Im partial to the 40 though because i carry 15+1 .40 cal in an m&p 40FS at work.

One gun, one shot to save your life? Shield 40 with 180 grain speer gold dots.

 

[Maddmax]

tjkober:


I am considering an M&P CO2 bb pistol for defensive drills because 9mm for serious practice time is too expensive for my budget. 40 caliber at 40% higher cost is a deal breaker for me. (If you are interested in plinking a box a month the difference in cost is not a big deal, but if you are serious about making quick defensive shots at moving targets without using your gun sights 1,000s of rounds will be required on a consistent basis and that is why I am seriously looking at CO2.)

.

You can buy a boat load of BB's and co2 for what you pay for ammo. The M&P 45 "looks" and feels like the FS 45 (except for weight). The M&P40 looks close to the 40 and I'm still hunting that one. You get good at hitting with a BB co2 pistol,you WILL be better when it comes to the real thing. You can also get a BB trap and shoot indoors.

 

[mr2r6]

I vote 9mm and that is what I have. The only thing the 40 has over the 9 is size. While 40 is a bigger caliber than the 9, its not that much. I'm sure if you hit someone with a 9 or 40 in the exact same spots they're not going to know the difference. Also I would rather have the cheaper ammo, extra round and reliability of the 9mm over the 40.

To be fair I have never shot a 40 and I have only been into guns for a short time with no formal training. My brother on the other had is a Police officer is on the SWAT team and a former Ranger and swears by the 40.

So what would I do If I were you???? I'd keep them both! Especially if you have a 40 that doesn't't drop the mag.

 

[cocojo]

The problem is that if you buy the 9mm you might have wished you bought the 40 . If you buy the 40 you might have wished you bought the 9mm. I want to know what's eating at your craw about either caliber. One won't kill anyone faster or slower and both when poorly placed fail. One freaken milimeter is not the holly grail. Everyone here is going to give you a different opinion depending on their favorite caliber and opinions are like *** holes everyone has one. The 9mm and 40 when placed where they should perform exactly the same with a good hollow points and both fail when not properly placed. 9mm ammo is a lot cheaper to shoot and easier to control. The 40 will only cost you more all the time and you loose a round in capacity. If the 9mm doesn't give you that warm and fuzzy feeling then get the 40. If your properly training and you need to use a handgun, no one is ever going to fire just once anyway. Multiable hits is where it's at not caliber, the more the better with control accuracy. Go rent both and see which one does that for you. Good luck

 

[treiz]

9mm for me... Cheaper ammo, less recoil, extra round. Shooting Speer Gold Dots will put any BG down.

This. Get the 9 and don't let the 40 hype fool you.

 

[dereksfl]

We use the 9mm at work, so 9 it is. Have shot the 40, not really a big difference. 9mm ammo is cheaper and I'll practice with what I work with. Each to his own.

 

[RobsTV]

Chrono results helped me decide.
Plus the extra power just feels better when you see the metal plate targets at 25 yards move substantially more with the 40 compared to 9mm:

40S&W
180gr 1046 fps, pf=188, 437 ft/lbs, ES-29, SD-6

9MM
124gr 1082 fps, pf=135, 325 ft/lbs, ES-45, SD-9

and to compare with a model 64-5 4" barreled revolver shooting 38 spl.
158gr 928 fps, pf=147, 301 ft/lbs, ES-53, SD-14
Even the 38 "feels" more powerful than the 9mm.

But I am used to and like power, as my favorite handgun shoots 440gr lead at 1504 fps, pf=660, 2200 ft/lbs.

 

[AZ115]

Since I have a 40c and I can shoot it quite well, I would take the Shield 40.
I have also gotten into reloading, so ammo cost is no longer a factor!

I also hope I can drop a 9mm barrel into the Shield 40 and get the best of both!