I shoot my Shield better than my G17

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Hello everyone, just joined!

I got my first handgun in September, a Glock 17. Have been going to the range to practice 1-2x a week. I'm no marksman, but can make reliable groups at 7 and 15 yds.

I was dead-set on getting a Glock G43 when I found myself wanting a smaller pistol for CCW, but when I rented one at the range the guy strongly recommended that I try the Shield 9mm alongside the G43. I hadn't even considered the Shield (or anything non-Glock for that matter) but shooting both of them side by side it was no question that the Shield was WAY better than the G43 and was the subcompact for me! I bought it on the spot.

Every time I go to the range I shoot both guns, and I am trying to figure out why I consistently shoot the Shield better than the Glock. I shouldn't, right? The G17 has a longer barrel, longer sight radius, a grip that fills out my big hands, less felt recoil, and I've had far more practice with it. But I consistently shoot the Shield with better accuracy and tighter groups. Both guns are stock, except the G17 has Truglo tritium night sights.
 
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I'm not surprised, I shoot my Shield better than I did with a G19 or G26. I like the trigger better on my Shield.
 
You may shoot the M&P better, you may not. Being from the same company doesn't mean it will be the same.

I actually bought the 43 the other day. Haven't shot it yet though. Bought it for social engagements where clothing restricts what you can carry.

Anyway. ....there are a lot of guns that are technically more accurate in my hand than a Glock. And by that I mean they both shoot accurately but if measured which ever the other gun is it is more accurate when measured for groupings. However, there isn't one that I can shoot faster than my G19/17. It's accurate for what it needs to be and I can shoot it fast. The .5 moa difference isn't relevant.



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Hello my friend, I have been shooting GLOCK for roughly 10 years I have a G32 and I have absolutely NO issues with it. Back in December I purchased my first M&P fullsize chambered in .40 since I had to qualify with my new .40 to carry for work I qualified with both and I shot 296/300 w/my GLOCK and 294/300 w/my M&P first time ever shooting it.
The ergonomics of the M&P made me feel very comfortable out the gate. My M&P had the stock 3-dot sights which I like much better than the GLOCK stock football goal sights (JMPO) my GLOCK does have Brite Site TFOs.... I now have them on my M&P;)...
I noticed sight acquisition is quicker for me with the M&P and my follow up shots are a little better than with my GLOCK. I feel 110% confident with both of these awesome handguns.
In short, I feel GLOCK has a VERY DEPENDABLE handgun I love mine and will continue to purchase GLOCK. It appears to me that the engineers for Smith & Wesson combined my favorite handgun of all time " The 1911" and a GLOCK together and created the M&P line, again JMPO...
No person on this board or any gun store can tell you how to feel about a specific handgun, only you can tell when you handle that handgun if it feels right let the lead fly.
 
My problem is that I've worked so hard to shoot the shield well, and I do now, that I've lost some of my touch with the full size mp. I'm sure I'll get it back, just need more range time
 
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I'm not a Glock fan at all. Not because they aren't good guns, fact is they are excellent guns and very reliable too. Problem for me is they just don't feel right in my hand. To me the M&P's have a much better feel. All comes down to personal preference.
 
I sold all my glocks since tried the M&P line, I currently have a 45c and a 9c both are great guns no complains at all and I can shoot better with them than my g17, g21. I have the xgrip and FS mags for them than I don't feel the need for a FS gun.
 
My problem is that I've worked so hard to shoot the shield well, and I do now, that I've lost some of my touch with the full size mp. I'm sure I'll get it back, just need more range time
similar problem here, I spent a lot of time shooting my Shield 9mm (CCW classes , range time etc)so now I am happy to where I'm at), I also have a full sized .40 that I really like but I've always had a hard time shooting accurately with it. I recently bought a Storm Lake Conversion barrel and a couple of FS 9mm mags and took it to range. Shot 50 rounds of 165.gr .40
I swapped out the barrel and the mags and shot 50 rounds of 115gr 9mm. I shot so much more accurately with this thing as a 9mm it wasn't even funny. I don't know if the weight of the .40 slide is heavier than the stock 9mm slide , but this gun as a 9mm shoots so soft and easy....I may never shoot .40 through it again.
 
Similar results here...I shoot the M&P Shield 9mm better than the Glock 26 Gens 3 & 4.
 
Agreed. I shoot mine better than my 23 or my 27. Grip angle feels good, and it comes back on target so naturally.
 
I'm sure that the grip and grip angle have much to do with it.

Sometimes, a lot of little things just come together. I shoot my 1911 very well. I like my H&K USP 9mm Compact (LEM variant), but just can't seem to group well with it. Both have similar ergonomics and similar trigger characteristics. I shoot the H&K well enough, but I shoot the 1911 at least 2x better.
 
Turns out my local range has an M&P 9 on the rental roster.

I shot it yesterday alongside the G17 and I LOVED it. Felt way better in my hand I shot it better. Right out of the gate I was more accurate and enjoyed shooting it more than the 17.

Feels better in my hand, shoots better, looks cooler, and I like the loaded chamber indicator far better than the Glock.

Here are my targets with both guns, both from 7 yards. I shot a box of 50 of 115 FMJ at each, 15 to the midsection, 15 to the head, and then 5 cycles of 4 rounds switching between the 4 small circles.

Definitely want to pick up the M&P 9 now!
 

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This is not my experience. I can shoot both the Glock 26,27, and 17 better than my shield. I got rid of my Glock 17, not because of accuracy but because of the way it fit my hand. The baby Glocks are a dream for me, especially with the xgrip. My M&P COREs stand above them all for accuracy.
 
Not a marksman either but.......

I have compact pistols that I need to practice with to keep proficient. With my Shield I just pick it up and shoot tight groups. I think that besides good ergonomics, the great trigger helps a LOT.
 
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