Alnamvet68
US Veteran
- Joined
- Dec 16, 2012
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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".

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.
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 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.
did anyone else notice this thread is over a year old