AndrewGS
Member
I should've started this thread a week ago when I first joined, but I was excited to get started. 
My name, as you might have figured out from my user name, is Andrew. I'm 31 and have been around guns my whole life, but I hadn't really shot anything other than one of dad's rifles or shotguns on hunting trips (which were very few and far between) until I bought my first gun in 2006 at the age of 25.
That first gun was a Beretta Neos .22 pistol, the Inox stainless model in a 6" barrel. I went to the range very seldom over the last 6 years, but I have been thinking about getting my CHL and a larger caliber pistol to carry for a while now, but I hadn't acted on those thoughts as there was always something else going on.
I was kicked into gear several weeks ago when my cousin told me that she was interested in getting a gun for self defense. I haven't been busy lately so I decided to find the perfect gun for her and look at what was out there for myself. I was thinking along the lines of a 442 with a Crimson Trace grip or the new Ruger LCR after reading some negative remarks on the Bodyguard 38. After a couple of LGS visits and some range time with a rented Walther P22 and Taurus revolver she signed up for an introductory class and in that class she used a Glock 19 which she loved. While she was busy with the class I drooled all over the Sig Sauer P238. So we switched from wanting trusty ol' revolvers to automatic pistols.
I sold my Beretta and bought the Sig P238 while she thought about the Glock. I talked her into looking at the Glock 26 and it just didn't feel right to her. While researching I came across the new M&P Shield and while I'd never really heard good things amongst my gun enthusiast friends about S&W pistols, every review I could find was positive. So I took her to the local Gander Mountain and they happened to have one for her to look at. She immediately liked the way it felt and it's tidy dimensions. She liked it so much she asked me if I thought she should buy it that very minute. I told her that $469 seemed high, so I called my new best LGS and they just happened to have one and they wanted $398. A couple of hours later she was a Smith & Wesson owner, and I was excited to get it to the range!
There were some reservations at first about the stiffness, which is why I joined this fine forum, but after 500rds. with ZERO failures and some time with me showing her how to use and care for it, she is completely happy with and trusts her life to the S&W M&P Shield.
I am now looking at the M&P22 for a cheaper time at the range and I'm even thinking about picking up Umarex's CO2-powered BB-shooting replica of the M&P40 for back yard fun with the family. I eventually want to pick up an S&W revolver, but that'll be sometime in the more distant future.
Anyways, happy to be on board and I hope you enjoyed my little story on my introduction to S&W.
My name, as you might have figured out from my user name, is Andrew. I'm 31 and have been around guns my whole life, but I hadn't really shot anything other than one of dad's rifles or shotguns on hunting trips (which were very few and far between) until I bought my first gun in 2006 at the age of 25.
That first gun was a Beretta Neos .22 pistol, the Inox stainless model in a 6" barrel. I went to the range very seldom over the last 6 years, but I have been thinking about getting my CHL and a larger caliber pistol to carry for a while now, but I hadn't acted on those thoughts as there was always something else going on.
I was kicked into gear several weeks ago when my cousin told me that she was interested in getting a gun for self defense. I haven't been busy lately so I decided to find the perfect gun for her and look at what was out there for myself. I was thinking along the lines of a 442 with a Crimson Trace grip or the new Ruger LCR after reading some negative remarks on the Bodyguard 38. After a couple of LGS visits and some range time with a rented Walther P22 and Taurus revolver she signed up for an introductory class and in that class she used a Glock 19 which she loved. While she was busy with the class I drooled all over the Sig Sauer P238. So we switched from wanting trusty ol' revolvers to automatic pistols.
I sold my Beretta and bought the Sig P238 while she thought about the Glock. I talked her into looking at the Glock 26 and it just didn't feel right to her. While researching I came across the new M&P Shield and while I'd never really heard good things amongst my gun enthusiast friends about S&W pistols, every review I could find was positive. So I took her to the local Gander Mountain and they happened to have one for her to look at. She immediately liked the way it felt and it's tidy dimensions. She liked it so much she asked me if I thought she should buy it that very minute. I told her that $469 seemed high, so I called my new best LGS and they just happened to have one and they wanted $398. A couple of hours later she was a Smith & Wesson owner, and I was excited to get it to the range!
There were some reservations at first about the stiffness, which is why I joined this fine forum, but after 500rds. with ZERO failures and some time with me showing her how to use and care for it, she is completely happy with and trusts her life to the S&W M&P Shield.
I am now looking at the M&P22 for a cheaper time at the range and I'm even thinking about picking up Umarex's CO2-powered BB-shooting replica of the M&P40 for back yard fun with the family. I eventually want to pick up an S&W revolver, but that'll be sometime in the more distant future.
Anyways, happy to be on board and I hope you enjoyed my little story on my introduction to S&W.
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