Higher Capacity Shield...

[OldGoat]

If you just gotta have a little more Shield capacity (~2 rounds or +25%) for slightly marginal larger print, the XTech Tactical mag extension ~$20 is the way I found mo$t effective.

 

[BBMW]

I disagree with this. Smith spent years and vast amounts of money establishing the Shield brand. They're not going to want to waste that.

SIG and Springfield are now challenging that brand (and very successfully.) If Smith wants to compete, they need to get over the engineering hurtle of making a pistol within the size envelope of the current Shield, that has a flush fit magazine capacity of 10 rounds (in 9mm.) If they don't do this, they are going continue to lose huge market share, as they done since the P365 came out. This isn't really optional for them.

A doublestack Shield would no longer be a Shield, but a wider pistol.
So as scott said above, if S&W were to come out with a higher capacity pistol it would be an entirely new model and they'd call it something else.

 

[LCC]

We have so many choices in compact/semicompact/microcompact these days it's an extensive catalog of it's own...at this point of saturation it would likely be a slim to zero return on investment for a manufacturer to invest in design, tooling and marketing for placing yet another model into that mix.
Unless it's a phaser, of course.

 

[Buford57]

Here ya go!!

ProMag S&W Shield 9mm 50 Round Drum Magazine BLACK Polymer DRM-A15 | Cheaper Than Dirt

Looks like I'll need bigger pockets.

 

[IntegraRC]

We have so many choices in compact/semicompact/microcompact these days it's an extensive catalog of it's own...at this point of saturation it would likely be a slim to zero return on investment for a manufacturer to invest in design, tooling and marketing for placing yet another model into that mix.
Unless it's a phaser, of course.

I believe blockbuster video and Motorola said something similar to this..

Ok, I don't know if they actually said that, but the point is the moment manufacturers stop innovating is the moment their product starts to die. You can bet someone is working on an even larger capacity than the P365 and hellcat at the moment. The competitors are ahead and are probably working on something even more innovative. If S&W refuses to keep up with what's already out there, imagine how far behind they'll be in 5 years.

 

[CB3]

There is competing, which is trying to make the same basic product but with some differences, and there is innovating, which is bringing a new product to a new market. Innovation beats competition, generally.

The Shield is an innovative product line that gained a huge market share quickly. Now it is a competitive product, still with a big lead. To change this product to compete against the competition? Eh. It is still the leader and will likely remain so as the market apparently likes it. Lots of profit still rolling into S&W from this product line without changing it.

Better to innovate a new product/market and get ahead again.

Like the two EZ's. They are just getting going, and the competition has yet to produce equivalent products. Guess whose going to have over a million units sold before competitors try to get their left over market share?

 

[LCC]

There is competing, which is trying to make the same basic product but with some differences, and there is innovating, which is bringI got a new product to a new market. Innovation beats competition, generally.

The Shield was an innovative product that gained a huge market share quickly. Now it is a competitive product, still with a big lead. To take this product and compete against the competition? Eh. It is still the leader and will likely remain so as the market apparently likes it.

Better to innovate a new product/market and get ahead again. Like the two EZ's. They are just getting going, and the competition has yet to produce equivalent products. Guess whose going to have over a million units sold before competitors try to get their left over market share?

very well said, made the point better than my feeble attempt.
Sig demonstrated innovative thinking with the 365 and it's unique magazine and modular fire control that can be changed from a 10 shot micro to a 12 shot micro-plus in under 5 mins. For many of us it's been a game changer in EDC.
Brand loyalty retains customers, innovative designs attract new customers.

 

[IntegraRC]

I agree that the EZ's were an innovative product that the competition hasn't answered yet. In fact, I have one.

The caution I would give to S&W is to not fall into overconfidence in the marketplace. If they don't advance with the competition, they will one day be obsolete. Even Glock tried to give a half-answer with a their "X" bandaid. Are we all that confident that S&W has more market loyalty than Glock where they can get away with NO response?

I'm really not trying to beat up on S&W. In fact, they may even be diligently working on something right now. I own more Smiths than any other manufacturer. In fact, I'm carrying a Smith right now. The truth is that market loyalty is not enough to sustain a business. Look at Harley Davidson for example. All businesses continually need new customers to survive.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Why don't cha just buy a small 9mm glock and use their 33 rd magazine in it?

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

Everybody wants a gun that looks cool, holds 17 rounds of 45 ACP, can hit a fly in the head at 40 yards, weighs 6 ounces, fits in their pocket, has no recoil and cost $120.

 

[scott.amy00]

Everybody wants a gun that looks cool, holds 17 rounds of 45 ACP, can hit a fly in the head at 40 yards, weighs 6 ounces, fits in their pocket, has no recoil and cost $120.

Hell yeah, I'll take two of those please...but only if it has a rail for my weapon light and the slide is cut for an RMR!

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[IntegraRC]

Why don't cha just buy a small 9mm glock and use their 33 rd magazine in it?

This logic is infallible. I suppose you got us all there.. except I like a thumb safety...

 

[kbm6893]

I like my Shield 1.0 very much, but I carry my Ruger LC9S. For me, weight and size are all that matter for carry, and the Ruger is lighter and smaller than the Shield. The 8 round magazine is never used in the Shield unless I'm at the range. Makes a bigger gun even bigger.

When did the Shield come out? 10 years ago? It's not the best choice anymore. Yeah, the Sig is more expensive, but at least it comes with night sights. If round count was my number one priority, I'd carry the Sig over the Ruger. They're virtually identical in size and weight with more rounds. I do know if I didn't already have a Shield or the Ruger, I'd pass them both over in favor of the Sig. I keep them both because I'm not going to sell two perfectly functioning and reliable guns to buy one.

Bottom line, Smith needs to make something to compete with the Sig and the Hellcat. They're surely losing sales to them both.

 

[MrChicken]

Might be that they are waiting to see who wins the election. After today, legalisation to restrict magazine capacity may be coming very soon if not an executive order ASAP.

 

[scott.amy00]

I just picked up my higher capacity "Shield" today...sorry for the crappy picture, but I was in a hurry to get to work

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