Ideas for a shield 9 substitute.

[Ditchdigger]

We Have been looking for a carry gun for M'lady. She likes the shield but obviously that's a bit out of reach for now. She shot a kahr cm9 and liked it, and ordered one from cabelas. They said it'd be in in a few days, now been a month. So now I'd like to give some other good options for her to try. Any ideas or suggestions? Any shield 9 's for $400 that someone wants to let go of would be perfect

 

[Lost Lake]

I carry a Shield. Comparables would be a 3913 and a M&P9c.
I wouldn't pay $400 for a Shield when there are 3913's out there that can be had for that amount.

In fact while I was waiting for my LE dealer to get a Shield in at a reasonable price, I bought a 4513TSW and a 6906 for less than some were paying for Shields!

 

[flyguy8555]

Don't get me wrong, I agree on the 3913 as an awesome carry weapon, but the prices I'm seeing are more in the 6-800 dollar range right now. If you're not dead-set against a double-stack 9mm, the 6906 is an excellent carry weapon, and those CAN be found in the $400 range. BTW, Lost Lake, nice snag on the 4513TSW and 6906! That's gotta feel good.

 

[scwv67]

Don't get me wrong, I agree on the 3913 as an awesome carry weapon, but the prices I'm seeing are more in the 6-800 dollar range right now. If you're not dead-set against a double-stack 9mm, the 6906 is an excellent carry weapon, and those CAN be found in the $400 range. BTW, Lost Lake, nice snag on the 4513TSW and 6906! That's gotta feel good.

I'm seeing the opposite. 6906's in the $600 range while my recent 3913 purchase for one in very good condition with three mags was $469.

I didn't think the price was great, but it was available and I did want one.

 

[JudgeColt]

I reject the Shield as too big and heavy for its limited magazine capacity. My choice for a small DAO 9x19 is a Kel-Tec P11. It costs substantially less, is smaller, is lighter and holds more rounds. While such recommendation may be heresy on this site, I always evaluate every new compact 9x19 pistol that comes out, and none of the single stack DAO pistols beats the P11 for me. While the M6906 is a great pistol, it is much bigger and heavier than the P11. I have carried a P11 when I need that class of pistol since 1995, and have yet to find its equal.

 

[x10x10]

I've been looking for a shield but since they are as rare as honest politicians I'm really considering the Ruger LC9 , Ruger is a good product and I can carry it until I find the shield of my dreams, and since ruger is a good product I will always be able to sell it for a reasonable price and that way I'm protected now

 

[fungunnin]

I have a Kimber Solo and am very happy with it! Also have a Kahr K9 that dwarfs the solo but is very solid.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

[crofoot629]

Hold out for what you want.

My wife likes Glocks after two Thunder Ranch trips together and both shot Glock 22's with zero malfs in the rain and mud of Lincoln City.

It's wise for husband and wife to train and use/carry the same platform.
I have two Wilson Combat 1911's and have also done 2 Clint Smith classes with those without my wife. She likes the simplicity and reliability of Glocks, ah you can lead a horse to water but you can't make them a 1911 shooter I guess.

I've also bought my daughters Glocks.
After retiring I sold all the G 40's and went all 9mm for the lady's and my own Glockage. I carry a 26 a lot.

And I hears Kimber named them "Solo's" because the jammed so often

Really, hold out for what you want, and strongly consider uniformity of platform and caliber and buy an extra in case one of your guns goes down/missing or whatever.

Emory

 

[jframe]

I'd love to have a Shield as well, but the 1991 production 3913 I bought this past week will fill the void for now. Box, papers, and two mags for $450.00 seemed like a fair deal for me. Try one of these; they are a little heavier, but I bet she'd like the tradeoff in reduced recoil with hotter ammo.

 

[Erich]

My CM9 has proven to be a remarkable value for an accurate deep-cover pistol - I'd wholeheartedly recommend it, if that's what suits your wife (every woman who's shot mine has wanted one of her own, if that's any indicator). Downside, of course, is the L O N G trigger reset, but that's arguably a safety feature in a deep cover gun with no external safety.

 

[Ditchdigger]

Thanks for all of the input. She thinks the 3913 wouldn't be an option because it's "not cute" but after looking at it in depth I might chase one for myself. I'm thinking that we will continue to hold for the cm9, and when things cool a bit, the shield.

 

[Janet L.]

I wound up with an Nano

I have to admit I've been a bit reluctant to even consider the absolutely lightest single stack 9s, since I had a really bad experience with a tiny .45 auto, so my top choices came down to either a Shield, a SIG P290, or a Beretta Nano.

The Shield seems to have turned into unobtanium, and the SIG was 50% more with an external slide release as it's main differentiating feature, so I took home a Nano. Oh The SIG did include night sights, which are $100 extra for the Nano.

The trigger pull on the Nano is very nice, smoother and lighter than the double action pull of my 638, if just about as long. And it's not nearly as lumpy. It doesn't sting near as much either, which makes sense since it's heavier (nearly 20oz. vs 15.1oz.) and has the recoil mechanism absorbing a some of the recoil.

PS: It was $400 at Cabela's in Kansas City. I didn't check to see if they had more.

 

[SW CQB 45]

I reject the Shield as too big and heavy for its limited magazine capacity. My choice for a small DAO 9x19 is a Kel-Tec P11. It costs substantially less, is smaller, is lighter and holds more rounds. While such recommendation may be heresy on this site, I always evaluate every new compact 9x19 pistol that comes out, and none of the single stack DAO pistols beats the P11 for me. While the M6906 is a great pistol, it is much bigger and heavier than the P11. I have carried a P11 when I need that class of pistol since 1995, and have yet to find its equal.

Judge Colt....you got me thinking and not to change the direction of this post as I think it will still be online....


I have long been on the Buds call list for a Shield Nina since June of 2012 (I cannot hold my breath any longer) for $335 LE price

I have a CS9D and some might call me crazy....kinda bored with it (its not for sale) so I want something else in a small carry 9.

this 9 would mainly ride in a bag as a back up or small primary when off duty.

Do you have any time behind the PF9 which seem to be a smaller capacity but more modern looking than the Mattel looking PF11? not saying there is anything wrong with the PF11 and I might consider one of those too.

My face is blue and cannot hold my breath for the Shield any longer.

 

[jstanfield103]

2 guns that I could suggest.
BG380 Smith & Wesson, great easily carried gun, you forget that you have it.
P290 Sig Sauer, very small 9 mm carries pretty well but not as comfortable as the BG380

 

[ugrey]

I have carried a Kel Tec P11 as a back up gun for 10 years. I own a second one I sometimes carry as my primary in my front pocket in the Summer, 12 rounds of 9mm is very comforting. The PF 9s are a bit smoother and smaller feeling and I am told they have a better trigger. Mas Ayoob showed, using a PACT timer you can fire 4 rounds in a second with a single action semi auto. He showed you can fire 3 rounds a second with double action only pistol or revolver. Hit percentages under stress go from about 30% with double action to 65% with single action. Knowing that, I try to carry my 3913, 6906 and 5903 as much as possible over my Kel Tec P11 for a primary weapon. I badly want a DA/SA that would be the size and weight of my Kel Tec and therefore would fit in my front pocket in the Summer.

 

[fast20]

i have the sw 908 and a 3914... but at the moment i carry my beretta nano.... love that little pistola...

 

[fungunnin]

I have carried a Kel Tec P11 as a back up gun for 10 years. I own a second one I sometimes carry as my primary in my front pocket in the Summer, 12 rounds of 9mm is very comforting. The PF 9s are a bit smoother and smaller feeling and I am told they have a better trigger. Mas Ayoob showed, using a PACT timer you can fire 4 rounds in a second with a single action semi auto. He showed you can fire 3 rounds a second with double action only pistol or revolver. Hit percentages under stress go from about 30% with double action to 65% with single action. Knowing that, I try to carry my 3913, 6906 and 5903 as much as possible over my Kel Tec P11 for a primary weapon. I badly want a DA/SA that would be the size and weight of my Kel Tec and therefore would fit in my front pocket in the Summer.

So if your hit % is only 60 and 30 respectively wouldn't you be a lot better off to only fire once or twice a second and make your shots count. Personally I don't want 70% of my rounds going stray.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

[Wee Hooker]

Why not a M&P9c? Just about the same footprint of the Shield , just a little wider and a few ounces heavier. Having owned both, I prefer the 9c by a wide margin. That said, there is nothing wrong with a J frame revolver for the intended purpose. It fits your budget , is rock solid reliable and easy to outfit to fit her likes.

 

[ugrey]

Fungunnin, I agree with you. I am putting several things together here. I have not seen a study, only a reference to a Federal (?) agency that got a hold of every single shootout video they could find from dashcams (trained officers) to 7/11 jump and rob stores (no training). It was said MOST people, when they are being shot at for real, tend to point gun, pull trigger as fast as possible. Massad Ayoob showed in a seperate article most shooters could hit a target ( I don't know how many feet) 3 times a second with a double action handgun and 4 times a second with a single action handgun. IDPA has taught me "you can't miss fast enough" only hits count. That has been hard for me to learn under a timer or stress, and seems hard for most beginners to learn. The Illinois State Police transistioned over from double action revolvers to S&W model 39s. Their hit percentage in actual shootouts went from 25 or 30% to 65%. They said most of their first shots, double action on a model 39, were misses. The single action shots made up for the misses in the hit percentages. All this means I want a single action pistol, if at all possible. I want all the training I can afford. I would rather have 15 or 17 rounds instead of 8. But, I also greatly prefer a DA/SA pistol for what Ayoob calls threat management. I am much more likely to hold a gun on someone than I ever am to have to pull the trigger. I am also going to handle a gun for the next 30 years when I am sick as a dog, when I have been awake for 36 hours, when some loved one dies or has just had a bad accident. Some of you guys are perfect (ALL glock owners are, to hear them tell it) I am not perfect. I want an 8 to 12 pound, 9/10s to 7/10s length of pull trigger for that first shot. I want it to be ON PURPOSE and not an accident due to adrenaline or anything else. After that I want the proven higher hit potential of single action. To help with hit potential with that first DA shot on my S&Ws, I practice the first 3 shots, DA and the SA, SA a lot. The last 2 years I have tried to only carry my double action Kel Tec for my primary pistol, only when I felt I had no other choice. I know my DA/SA Smith's have much better hit potential.

 

[ugrey]

I have carried a double action Kel Tec P11 a lot. I have gotten very close to buying a S&W 642 revolver and a Kahr CM9. The more I think about the hit/miss percentages of the Illinois State Police from double action revolvers to S&W DA/SA pistols, the less I have wanted to carry any double action only pistol. (Sometimes I think Buth Cassidy and I have 20/20 vision and the rest of the world has blinders on) (Just keep thinkin' Butch, that's what you're good at) (Think you used enough dynamite there, Butch?)

 

[Alnamvet68]

Have you considered the Walther PPS? Virtually identical in height, length, width, and weight, and you still get to stay with the S&W "family".

 

[Ditchdigger]

We have finished our quest. She grew tired of waiting and unfortunately for my pocketbook, went with the pm9. She is quite proud of it, and that's what counts I suppose.
Took it to the range yesterday and ran the first hundred of the two hundred break in with 1 FTF. She shot quite well but after 50 it grew a bit hard on her hand so she switched to her JG while I finished the box. Great trigger for the design, clean break. It does play with your head a bit shooting the shield trigger back to back with the DAO long pull pm9. As I said, she likes it and pending a good break in, she is excited to use it for edc in April when our AG gets our paperwork processed.
Thanks all for your input, much appreciated.

 

[josywales]

If you're looking for a match to the Shield, here is the criteria my research has produced:

1 - Must be capable of excellent accuracy.
2 - Excellent trigger
3 - Must drop the magazine during course of fire
4 - Must be easily removed from battery, while not easily returning to battery.
5 - After a few shooting sessions, the rear of the slide should appear to be damaged.
6 - Drift pin, forerward of the trigger, should begin to walk out at about 100 rounds.
7 - Ability to be acquired at retail should be extremely limited.

Anyway, that's what I've been able to gather thus far. My guess is that production was slowed, or even suspended, while S&W fixed issues related to a gun that was rushed to market (as many pruducts are). However, the Shield isn't a new DVD player. It's redesigned product that one uses to protect their life and the lives of their families. I'm not thrilled. I'm happily waiting for a post 2012 version of the Shield, as I believe I can bypass these issues. I tell you this, after almost exclusively buying used guns for over 20 years, I will never buy a used Shield.

The Walther P series does seem tempting for my Mrs as well though. So, we'll see.

 

[RacinbobSW]

I'm not promoting it but looking at the SCCY CPX might be an option. From what I know right now the gen 1's had issues that the gen 2's fixed. Reviews are mixed but more towards the positive. It's double stack (10+1) but still thin. I have a 9mm Shield that I love but many of my students don't want to spend what it takes for one (??). I may get one to offer them an option at a lower cost. I'll be touring the SCCY manufacturing plant this Wednesday.

 

[RacinbobSW]

If you're looking for a match to the Shield, here is the criteria my research has produced:

1 - Must be capable of excellent accuracy.
2 - Excellent trigger
3 - Must drop the magazine during course of fire
4 - Must be easily removed from battery, while not easily returning to battery.
5 - After a few shooting sessions, the rear of the slide should appear to be damaged.
6 - Drift pin, forerward of the trigger, should begin to walk out at about 100 rounds.
7 - Ability to be acquired at retail should be extremely limited.
Anyway, that's what I've been able to gather thus far. My guess is that production was slowed, or even suspended, while S&W fixed issues related to a gun that was rushed to market (as many pruducts are). However, the Shield isn't a new DVD player. It's redesigned product that one uses to protect their life and the lives of their families. I'm not thrilled. I'm happily waiting for a post 2012 version of the Shield, as I believe I can bypass these issues. I tell you this, after almost exclusively buying used guns for over 20 years, I will never buy a used Shield.

The Walther P series does seem tempting for my Mrs as well though. So, we'll see.

1&2, yes. 3-6, my guess is the small minority. 0 issues with mine. 7, well, yes in some areas, maybe most. They are available here. I have approx. 2000 rounds through mine.

 

[Florida J Frame]

Zero problems with my Shield. Very accurate with a great trigger and readily available in my area (SW FL) at under $400. I paid $379.

 

[RacinbobSW]

I didn't get so lucky with the price. I was looking at a time when they were bringing over MSRP. I happen to be sitting at my computer when a newsletter from my favorite toy store popped up. They got a few in and they were priced at MSRP. I immediately called them and they held one for me. Two hours later I'm driving home with it. They have had them for less since then but I was just happy to get one and don't regret paying the extra as long as it wasn't over MSRP. The dealer is in Ormond Beach, FL.

 

[losingle]

My shield 9 went in a trade along with cash for a cs9. I got the best of that deal.

 

[Kadonny]

I reject the Shield as too big and heavy for its limited magazine capacity. My choice for a small DAO 9x19 is a Kel-Tec P11. It costs substantially less, is smaller, is lighter and holds more rounds. While such recommendation may be heresy on this site, I always evaluate every new compact 9x19 pistol that comes out, and none of the single stack DAO pistols beats the P11 for me. While the M6906 is a great pistol, it is much bigger and heavier than the P11. I have carried a P11 when I need that class of pistol since 1995, and have yet to find its equal.

I know it's not as light as a Kel Tec, but since when is 19 oz and 8+1 too heavy and limited mag capacity? The Kel Tec can't stand with S&W in terms of quality and reputation. Oh, and how about slimness, the Kel Tec loses there. I'm not bashing the P11, never owned one or shot one but it ain't no Smith.

No thanks, ill stick with a Shield. In fact I pick mine up on Tuesday, I can't wait.

 

[adwjc]

I have carried a double action Kel Tec P11 a lot. I have gotten very close to buying a S&W 642 revolver and a Kahr CM9. The more I think about the hit/miss percentages of the Illinois State Police from double action revolvers to S&W DA/SA pistols, the less I have wanted to carry any double action only pistol.

ugrey, the problem isn't double action pistols, it is the transition in trigger pull in a traditional double /single action pull when you go from a 10-12 pound pull to a 3-4 pound pull.

A consistent trigger pull, whether single or double yields better scores.

My old departmentt did the same as ISP, double action revolvers to TDA S&Ws, then eventually to Glocks - scores improved.