Has the Shield changed for the better?

[spirit4earth]

...subjectively speaking, of course. A few years ago, I bought a Shield to go with the 9c I had at the time. I shot the 9c very well, but I hated the Shield. I had double-feeds and stovepipes, and I couldn't even lock the slide back, it was so stiff.
I now have a 2.0 9c, and because it immediately had to go back to Smith, I'm thinking of getting a second gun. Either another 9c or a Shield.
I think I may have been the only person to hate the Shield, but I'm willing to try it again if, say, it"s easier to field strip. Any input?

 

[Real Old Navy]

No idea why you were having Double Feeds or Stovepipes. The Recoil Spring is the same...so if you had a problem racking the slide you most likely still will...I changed mine to an SS Stainless Steel because of problems racking the slide...no problem racking it now. My 1.0 works fine...no problems. The 2.0 has a smoother trigger. The 1.0 was gritty because of the Striker Block...M&P fixed that by using one that's more rounded. They added serrations to the front of the slide (not that they needed to) and stimpled the entire handgrip...that's it. Field Stripping the gun is the same with either the 1.0 or 2.0

 

[spirit4earth]

I guess I could have been limp-writing it, but I've never had problems with the 9c. I guess I need to handle a Shield in a shop to see if I can field strip it. How much is an SS Stainless recoil spring?

 

[Eric300]

Fielding stripping a Shield (and most other SA pistols for that matter), is less difficult than opening a twist-off cap on a bottle of beer.

 

[spirit4earth]

Fielding stripping a Shield (and most other SA pistols for that matter), is less difficult than opening a twist-off cap on a bottle of beer.

Technically, that's true, but it depends on hand and wrist strength, arthritis, etc.

 

[Fatboy01]

I bought a Shield 2.0 forty about three months ago. I like it a lot! It has replaced my Glock G43 (sold it) for CCW. I have about 3k rounds through it. No malfunctions - many types of ammo. My carry load is Win. 165 gr. Ranger - RA40BA - hot load that functions flawlessly. Mags are stiff. I use the mag loader for G43 - works great.

To field strip, lock the slide back, rotate the lever down (vertical), release the slide and pull the trigger. Slide comes right off. No problem. The only thing I really don't like is the "combat hold" sight picture. I prefer a six hold - no big deal.

It has been a great gun! I went with the forty because humans are getting bigger and I could get a aftermarket .357 Sig barrel. No regrets.

 

[spirit4earth]

Question about Shield and other M&Ps: when field stripping using the pull-the-trigger method, at what point in releasing the slide do yo7 pull the trigger? Do you hold the trigger back as the lids comes off?

 

[RobzGuns]

Technically, that's true, but it depends on hand and wrist strength, arthritis, etc.

If arthritis was a contributing factor in your problem racking the slide and field stripping the shield, unless your arthritis has gotten better, you will still have problems.

Only you can tell whether it's any easier for you to handle. Rather than asking opinions, Find a store and actually handle one, to see if it racks any better for you than your other one did.

 

[Real Old Navy]

SS Stainless Steel Guide Rod on Ebay is $30...I couldn't rack my 1.0 because of arthritis and Carpel Tunnel...now I can

 

[okiegtrider]

"Have they changed for the better?" Have they changed at all? Mine has been pretty good from day one. Particularly considering what they cost.

 

[John Robert]

SS Stainless Steel Guide Rod on Ebay is $30...I couldn't rack my 1.0 because of arthritis and Carpel Tunnel...now I can

Note.....SSGuideRod not rated for +P. Beware.

 

[Real Old Navy]

Note.....SSGuideRod not rated for +P. Beware.

I got news for ya...neither is the barrel of a Shield.

 

[Ransom]

I got news for ya...neither is the barrel of a Shield.

From the Shield manual:

"Plus-P" (+P) ammunition generates pressures in excess of the pressures associated with standard ammunition. Such pressures may affect the wear characteristics or exceed the margin of safety. Use of "Plus-P" ammunition may result in the need for more frequent service.

"Plus-P-Plus" (+P+) ammunition must not be used in Smith & Wesson firearms. This marking on the ammunition designates that it exceeds established industry standards, but the designation does not represent defined pressure limits and therefore such ammunition may vary significantly as to the pressures generated and could be DANGEROUS.

 

[Marshal Tom]

I have an early Gen1 and have had no problems with it at all. I changed out the sights and had a trigger job done on it early on. I will probably put an apex trigger flat faced trigger in it.

 

[Univibe]

My Shield is finicky with underpowered ammo, namely "Monarch" PPU stuff. So I shoot Winchester NATO Q4318 which has a bit of extra pop and have no extraction / stovepiping problemas.

 

[ccssid]

Question about Shield and other M&Ps: when field stripping using the pull-the-trigger method, at what point in releasing the slide do yo7 pull the trigger? Do you hold the trigger back as the lids comes off?

Pull slide back. Lock it in place. Push disassembly lever down. Start to push slide foward slowly...pull trigger...slide will continue to come off frame.

Sent from my SM-T800 using Tapatalk

 

[mrmike7189]

It's ok to not like the shield. I also found the recoil spring was very heavy. My wife could not rack the slide. I tried carrying it for few weeks and it didn't hide any easier than my Glock. The Glock felt better in my hand, had a better trigger pull, easier to rack the slide, so I sold the Shield.

 

[MixMasterEs]

Have a TLR-6 for shield if anyone is interested.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[imcrazy]

Shields certainly have a stiff recoil spring compared to a standard M&P and nothing has changed in that dept. also most of your really small 9mm pistols require a very firm grip while firing to avoid feed issues because they're so darn light weight...

 

[spirit4earth]

Maybe I'll get an EZ as a backup to my 9c.