M&P 9mm Compact vs. Shield Plus

[hardluk1]

So far I have used a 25 year old JayPee double thick belt and its still a good blet and do to the low price of the day I bought a second one . Its was a stiff belt and did have some break in but a great belt no longer available . My wife has a nice embossed BeltMan belt with a stiffener added and it also needed time to break in . I'm not a fan of fixed possition holsters like the oh so loved my many milton sparks summer special . I rather use a one of a few hybrid designs . Kydex body so reholstering in easy and adjustable for height and cant so I'm not locked in to a best carry possition and height BUT you still have to take tyhe time to find that just right for you carry position . For me thats 3:00 . I can carry a commander or a 4.25" M&P with a dot optic on it and both carry the same under a shirt and my arms aids with concealment and easy to draw seated or seat belted in a car by clearing your shirt tail .

I will say there is NO best handgun for carry and NO best holster . Just understand with pocket carry you can not draw seating down and there are restrictions to handgun size pants style so I'm going to use a IWB with a handgun I can shoot and control very well .

 

[cracker57]

Dave Lively
I am currently using BIGFOOT GUN BELT with stiffener. I have had this belt for a little over 2 years and it is holding up nicely. My 40c holster is about 14 years old and showing wear but still as good as the first day.

 

[Flyingfool]

I also use a bigfoot belt. Double leather with metal insert stiffner. The area for the buckle holes do not have the metal strap. It is comfortable. The only "problem" is the thickness of the belt and some IWB clips are stretched wide open and not always close completely. Have to ensure the hook/lip on the clip engages the bottom edge of the belt.

I can use a standard dress leather belt for my shield. But use the Bigfoot belt for my 9c 2.0.

Oh. Also the thickness of the Bigfoot belt also some pants belt loops are not spacious enough for the belt to slip through. But most pants and jeans seem to work fine.

 

[pazzo]

I also have the 1.0 compact 40. At one point I had a shield but I found I could carry the compact concealed just as easily. When comparing them side by side there wasn't that much of a difference in size between the two.

I ended up selling the shield because:

I was more comfortable shooting the compact.
The compact could use full size mags with an adapter and I could get .357 and 9mm barrels for it.
I had more options for red dot sights since the compact has a wider slide.

The pic is of the compact with a 9mm conversion barrel and a RMR type 2 on the slide milled by DP Custom works.

Thread drift - @Wireguided Marine - how do you like the work done by DP? Did they cut the back of the slide for a Glock rear sight?

Back on topic - I have a Shield +, a 4" PC Shield + a MP 2.0 3.6".
All are fantastic guns and I could be happy carrying each. SW has done a great job of incremental improvements in grip texture and now triggers.

However I find the 3.6" gun to be the best shooter and slightly better ergonomically for me. If SW would come out with a improved 3.6, OR gun I could settle on it, but I'm not confident the 3.6 OR gun will be a reality with the new optic ready Shield .