Keep Shield .40 or go 3rd gen?

[KS1800R]

I have a Shield .40 that has been absolutely 110% since day one. Accurate and small with a decent payload. However, since I've come into possession of a great 6906, it really has me wondering if I shouldn't trade for a 3913 or 4013. I love the Shield but something just a tad wider in the grip would be nice. I'm hung up on one thing though.

The Shield is new and extremely popular. Parts are easy to obtain. Would I be shooting myself in the foot (no pun intended...ok, maybe) to get rid of a Shield for a 39/4013? What's your guys' opinions?

 

[scwv67]

I believe there are some grips called Talons that can give you more of a purchase on your Shield.

If you're absolutely satisfied with yours, I'd keep it and save for a 3rd Gen.

Edit:Reading is fundamental, you already have a 3rd Gen.

 

[kcode]

You have to follow your gut feelings on this. We can only feed your brain with our personal thoughts.

I look at it this way, the Shield and M&P's are going to be around for a while. The 3rd gens are not, you are lucky to find them. I carry a Shield 9 and have a M&P 9c as a truck gun, they both can be replaced if something happens. When I got to the range, the 3rd gens come out to play. Since you already have a 6906 the grip width will be the same on a 4013TSW series, where the 3913 will be narrower since it is a single stack. I like the 3913-14 series but for carrying purpose the Shield has won. I do imagine the Shield 40 is a handful to shoot, have you shot a M&P 40c, it will have the wider grip.

Good luck with your decision

 

[timn8er]

You have to follow your gut feelings on this. We can only feed your brain with our personal thoughts.

I look at it this way, the Shield and M&P's are going to be around for a while. The 3rd gens are not, you are lucky to find them. I carry a Shield 9 and have a M&P 9c as a truck gun, they both can be replaced if something happens. When I got to the range, the 3rd gens come out to play. Since you already have a 6906 the grip width will be the same on a 4013TSW series, where the 3913 will be narrower since it is a single stack. I like the 3913-14 series but for carrying purpose the Shield has won. I do imagine the Shield 40 is a handful to shoot, have you shot a M&P 40c, it will have the wider grip.

Good luck with your decision

I agree with the above, except for the highlighted statement. Yes, I know 3rd Gens are no longer being made(in most cases.). But they will be available for a long time, IF you are willing to pay the kind of prices they will eventually command. Most 3rd Gens are no where near as easy to CC as a Shield is. And anyone that knows me knows that as far as I'm concerned, the sun rises & sets on my small 3rd Gen collection. For carry I have a 40C & a Forty Shield. I preferred the 40C until I added a Pachmyer slip on grip & a Pierce Magazine extension. That made a night & day difference for me as far as shooting the 40 Shield accurately & comfortably.
I can pocket carry the Shield, also. You wouldn't think that there is much difference in size between the 40C & the Shield, but there is just enough so that the Shield carries a lot easier. That's my experience, anyway.

 

[Ransom]

I'd keep the Shield. I love my 3rd Gens, but my Shield is much easier to carry.

 

[Shorty 45 MK2]

I would go with the 3913 since you like the 6906, but I don't think I'd sell the Shield until you got the 3913 and knew you liked it. Also I'm biased toward the 3rd gens and not crazy about .40 though so take my advice with a grain of salt. I have though about getting a shield in 9mm but haven't pulled the trigger in hopes of finding a 3913/14 or maybe a 6906.

 

[Busted Knuckle]

find another way to finance the 3rd gen and keep the shield

 

[t-bird]

When you go third gen there's no going back.

 

[Model 52]

When you go third gen there's no going back.

+1 on T-Birds post. Dump the Shield and go to 3rd gens. You wont be sorry

Model 52

 

[nocents]

If you are looking for something a "tad" wider in the grip than your Shield...why not try to cc your 6906???...it's a t----a----d wider .....and that way you will know if you would like a 3913 or not.....the Talon suggestion is good for the Shield...

 

[6actual]

You can get Shields by the truckload anytime, if the choice was a nice 3913 or a Shield...

 

[Bozz10mm]

Hang on to that Shield and save up for the 3rd Gen you want. No two ways about it.

 

[DanP7]

Hang on to that Shield and save up for the 3rd Gen you want. No two ways about it.

Yup.


Try carrying both at that point. Everyone is built different. And everyone carries their gun slightly different depending on their build and dress.


For me, the shield wouldn't carry any better or worse than a 3913/6906. For others, this will not be true.


The 3913 is a "better shooting" gun IMO, in the sense that it is just as reliable, robust, and controllable as any of the full size 39xx/59xx. Where the shield is more of a overbuilt pocket gun, or a 5/8 M&P that retains everything it needs from the modern M&P line to be a quality heir to the name. But at the end of the day, it's really a deep carry CCW or back up gun, and truly excels at that role.


"Get both" is the answer. Only your body and hands will tell you which is the best solution for you

 

[TTSH]

The Shield is new and extremely popular. Parts are easy to obtain. Would I be shooting myself in the foot (no pun intended...ok, maybe) to get rid of a Shield for a 39/4013? What's your guys' opinions?

As our fearless leader mighty say, "If you like your Shield, you can keep it"!

I'm not a daily carry guy anymore, so take that into account, but I say keep the Shield if it is as reliable as you say and get a 3913 or 4013 too! Both of the 3rd Gens are far superior to today's cheap plastic wonders IMHO, but those two 3rd Gens (especially the 3913) are getting harder and more expensive to find in tip-top condition... while we all must acknowledge that there is a place in this world for a good, cheap, lightweight, near-disposable plastic carry gun... and the Shield fills that need almost perfectly.

Between my 3913 and my 9mm Shield, my first choice would be to carry the Shield simply because it is lighter and I wouldn't care a hoot if it got damaged or all dinged up. The 3913 is the far better gun in all respects except weight, but it's also almost a collector's item today (at least among us poorer collector folks).

In other words, practicality (lighter weight and low cost) trumps superiority for me in this case. But if I could only own one, the 3913 is the winner by a country mile.

 

[cpeblue]

Well said TTSH, If I might add that the CS9 is as easy to carry as the Shield and infinitely more comfortable to shoot. The Shield was made for the rough life of a carry gun . I always have mine with me and I don't worry about the seat belt scratching it or it hitting the arm of a metal chair or holster wear . I will admit , it does hold up better to the riggers of EDC than the 3rd gens .
One other thing , it kills me when you guys say 3913/4013 . They are very different guns. The single stack 4013 is based on the large frame 45xx/10xx, the 4013tsw is based on a version of the 69xx . The 39xx frame is all by its self, a thin medium frame.

 

[Paints-n-cows]

I've got all of the handguns mentioned....a .40 Shield, a 3913, a 3914, a CS9 and a 4013TSW (double stack though).

For daily carry, the .40 Shield wins for the same reason. If something happens to it, I'm not out much. I do think that .40 on the Shield frame is much to handle and I hunt deer with a .500 S&W.

Right now I am working on modifying a set of 3913 grips to fit the CS9 to see if I like it although I'm not sure if I want to make it my every day just because of the risk of damage.

Just as an aside, I also have a CS45 but that is a horse of a different color altogether.

 

[Duelist]

.40 Shield I borrowed to try wasn't really fun to shoot. Carried really easily, though. 3913 is a far superior shooter, and carries very easily.

 

[FirebirdV8]

If you have a reliable carry gun you are good with keep it. I love my 3rd gens and train with them so that what I carry. Carry and shoot what you are good with. There will always be a time to get another gun, but you can't always guarantee the same success as you have had with your shield.