M&P Shield 40

[Redlion119]

I am thinking about purchasing the M&P Shield 40. I saw it was having some kabooms earlier this year. Has anyone heard about this? I also heard you shouldn't use 180gr. rounds is that true? I have been a glock user but my friend recommended the M&P shield but he had not heard about the problems until I told him about them while I was researching the pistol. I apologize if this has been covered in another post but I could not find a thread about it. Any information would be helpful.

 

[xcutter]

I owned and then traded in my Shield 40 for a Shield 9. The Shield 9 is great. I own a Glock 23 .40 and enjoy shooting it. I did not like shooting the Shield 40. It was a handful.

 

[John R]

Nothing wrong with the 40.

 

[Redlion119]

Thanks. I will probably get the 9. I like 40's but never fired in a compact before.

 

[Redlion119]

John R how is the recoil on the 40?

 

[John R]

It's more snappy than the 9, but it's not uncontrollable, I like the 40 cal, don't own any 9's..

 

[NCW Ray]

The kabooms you mention I believe were traced back to BAD AMMO! I have the Shield 40 and love it. I recerted for my LEOSA carry a few weeks ago and scored a 94% on the course which included unsupported right and left handed shooting. It was my 3rd outing with the Shield. My wife shoots it and has no problems controlling the so called "snappy" round.

 

[Redlion119]

John R thanks I prefer 40's so I will probably get it and if it doesn't work out I am pretty sure I can sell it.

 

[S&WForty]

Recoil with my Shield 40 is less compared to my SW990L .40 Compact and a friend's G27. I love mine. When I shoot it at the range, I always use the smaller mag since it's what I carry. I don't miss the extra grip length of the longer mag.

 

[Redlion119]

NCW Ray that is what I read after further research. The users were using ammo that shouldn't be used in it. One was Winchester but that could have just been a bad factory load. I am picking the 40 up today.

 

[Redlion119]

What is the preferred grain? I have read the lower grains like 165 seem to work best?

 

[speedyquad]

i bought a shield 9 for my wife because that is the first that i could find. two weeks later, i bought myself a shield 40. she shot it. i now carry the nine and she carries the 40. everything else i have is 40 also. the shield 9 is similar to my 40c. the shield 40 just has a little more snap. there is negligible difference.

as far as grain...i only have the 185 grain because my others shoot that well. it seems fine for my shield 40

 

[Redlion119]

Thanks for all the information. I should use forums more often.

 

[S&WForty]

What is the preferred grain? I have read the lower grains like 165 seem to work best?

I would look at the performance specs and published test results* of self defense ammo and let grain be secondary in your decision making. For target shooting, I shoot 165 and 180. Once I had both and didn't realize I had switched to 180. Once I saw the box, I thought "yeah, I think it had a little more kick." I do know the Speer Gold Dots JHP I shoot kick more than the FMJ target ammo I use. I can't recall which grain they are though.

* I read about "short barrel" ammo, but I've never seen any in person. I'm not sure what grain sizes are used for that. Maybe someone else knows and can chime in.

 

[whipnet]

No problems at all with my 40. I find the kick minimal and this gun is surprisingly accurate for such a short barrel.

*

 

[mustangman]

Have been carrying my Shield .40 since Jan., no problems and shoots great. Recoil is what it is, and I have no problem with it, but everyone feels things differently. I've shot about 600 rounds of both 165 and 180 gr. without a hitch. My Shield seems to be the most accurate with 180 gr. Magtech. 40 or 9, I don't think you can go wrong either way.

 

[batman66]

I bought the 9. I liked the feel and my son wanted the 40 so I got it for him as an early Christmas present. We went hunting yesterday and today. I put 100 rounds through my 9 with no problems but my son had 2 FTE's in 50 rounds. I think he needs to break it in a little more.

 

[DLang]

My wife and i both shoot my 40 with a steady diet of 165's. We have used every brand that came on sale and never had any issues at all. Load and shoot ... I'm not sure how many hundreds we have shot but have to be several by now. I like my 40 Glock too but the M&P fits better IWB.

 

[TheFactor]

I went with a 9 and what a treat to shoot it's so much fun and ammo is reasonable .
Love it !!!

 

[Redlion119]

I bought the 40 and it kicks pretty good but what I expected from a compact 40. So far it is awesome. I had to change my grip a little but I like it.