help me see the differences....

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what is the most compact 9mm shield?

also, what are the differences between the standard compact shield and the Ma. or Ca. compliant versions?

i have a PM45 im looking to sell or trade and i am considering the compact shield 9mm without any of the ruger lc9 disconnectors or locks...
 
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Being that you live in Alabama, I would not be concerned with state compliant model pistols. A Shield is a Shield, outside of state compliance. But if you like a more robust trigger pull then one of those pistols will fit the niche for you. They all have the same dimensions and weight, but have some different trigger pulls due to state requirements.
 
what is the most compact 9mm shield?

also, what are the differences between the standard compact shield and the Ma. or Ca. compliant versions?

Hmmmm.... The Shield is thinner than the compact, but the grip is longer.

The smallest 9mm S&W makes is probably the Chief's Special.

Confused yet? :p


.
 
i dont want the shield thats been all lawyered up with locks and disconnectors and 20 pund triggers and red shark fins telling me i have a chambered round......

im considering the basic non messed up version but dont know what the shield C is and all that jazz. what is the basic smallest 9mm shield model number?
 
20lb trigger pull? Never heard of it. Red shark fins? never heard of it. Disconnectors ya, firing pin spring ya. Firing Pin plunger block ya. Mag disconnect ya on some.. Oh, mod. Chief's Special 36! George
 
If you dont live in MA or Ca then your state doesnt sell the Shield with the MA/Ca specifications.

I dont know about the shield but most guns today have a loaded chamber indicator. Its barely noticeable and in most cases its only ment to be felt with your finger. The difference is so small the you'll feel it before you see it.

The M&P c (compact) is a smaller version of the full size. It has a wider double stack grip that hold 12 round mags but full size 17 round mags fit too. The Shield is a single stack.

The Chief Specials (CS) are older all steel/alloy compact guns made before the popularity of polymer guns.

Most older S&W will have a mag disconnect safety. Some of the new polymer S&Ws will have it to. But most dont. If you are unsure ask the salesman or rack the slide to cock the striker,drop the mag and pull the trigger. If nothing happened then you have a mag safety. If it goes "click" then there is no safety

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like said the Shield is single stack mag longer then the compact but thinner cause it's single stack mag.. Compact is the shortest grip but it fatter do to it's double stack mag.. Shorter but holds more rounds.. Your choice.. I like the compact better.. George
 
I can see your from Alabama so I'll talk real slow! THERE IS ONLY 1 MODEL of M&P CALLED Shield, AVAILABLE IN EITHER 9mm OR .40 S&W!!
Any M&P you see with a C after it is a COMPACT of ITS Bigger Brother full size M&P's! S&W as far as I can tell has not shipped any Gooffornia Shields with the Red Loaded fin on them! This is evidenced by a guy on this site called bushmonkey who has been whining for 7 months about S&W not shipping any! If you happen to get one wth a mag disconnect it takes 20 minutes to remove the part and .35 cents for a #1 spring from ace hardware and that takes care of that problem! Good luck, I hope you find what your looking for.
 
The Shield comes standard with a thumb safety. I don't think they've made one yet without the safety. If it doesn't have the magazine disconnect it should have a warning on the slide saying it will fire with the magazine removed. I carried mine for about six months routinely with the safety off. The S&W trigger is similar to the Glock in that regard. If you wish a lighter trigger than stock it's easy to do a trigger group polish or install an Apex DCAEK kit. All in all it's a great little weapon. I traded mine for a 9C and now am looking at getting another one. ;)
 
They both have there place depending on your what you have on and where and what your doing.. Hand size also..Some have both! I find I have big enough hands that a double stack mag grip gives me somplace to wrap my fingers around the single stack makes me feel my fingers have no place to go because there long but the gun is still useful to me.. Again i prefer a compact with the double stack mag..Then again the Full size M&P .45 double stack mag also feels fine in my hands.. George
 
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I'm going to let you in on something... No one has come clean about the "48-state" Shield. Because they aren't saddled with that power robbing CA and MA mess, they fire really hard. It's not a recoil thing. My follow up shots are always on target. It's just not easy to explain. Anyway, they shoot so much harder, the 48-state barrels have special bushings that have to be replaced every 250 rounds for the 9 mm and every 150 rds if you shoot 9 mm +p or .40. Personally, I think my groups start loosening up around the 100th rd of .40. Of course, that's when replace mine. Fortunately, you can go to Autozone and buy muffler bearings for a 1999 Honda Civic, and with about 2 minutes Dremel time, they will work in place of factory S&W replacement bushings. Oh yeah, no matter what Autozone tells you, get the standard muffler bearings. The V-TEC bearings are overkill.
 
As said, there is only 1 Shield, either 9mm or .40, both have the same outside dimensions, and are the smallest M&Ps. The 9mm has a 7 and 8 round single stack mag, and the .40 a 6 and 7 round mag. Then there is the M&P Full Size 9 with 17 round double stack mag and the smaller M&P 9c "compact" with 12 round double stack (can also take the 17 round). You can get details on the S&W website.
 
All Shields are the same size, so I do not understand your question, "which is the most compact Shield." As to "compliant" versions, they have different features including tactile loaded chamber indicator on some models and much heavier trigger pull on some models.
 
Is this going to be used for CC or home protection/range.

Your in Alabama, if u want CC just buy a Shield. There is no need for a compliant version in your state.

If you want a great home protection/range weapon, then id chose the Compact 9C or 4C (this is not a Shield).

In the end it's your choice of which u chose and what u use it for. But for the record, the Shield and Compact (C) are 2 different animals.
 
All Shields:

M&P SHIELD - Smith & Wesson

Six are listed. Three versions per 9mm and three per .40. 48-state, CA, and MA. You want SKU #: 180020 or 180021 in AL depending on 9 mm or .40. The Shields have less variants than their larger brothers, the M&P FS and Compacts.
 
Remember, the Shields are still so hard to get, you might end up with a Ca, or Ma gun in other states, as dealers will take anything they can get, & they can legally be sold there. GARY
 
ok folks, i think i got it now. ive gotten my fours hours of sleep so im a little less groggy.

the shield is the single stack 9/40, the m&p are the double stack.

only the Ma. and Ca. shields come with the loaded chamber indicator like the ruger lc9, the magazine disconnector like the ruger lc9, but none of them come with a built in lock like the ruger lc9.

got it, thanks.
 
If you don't mind the smaller capacity of the single stack or the fact it's a narrower grip, I highly recommend the Shield. Good luck getting what you choose as quickly as possible!
 
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