My M&P Shield pics, internals, compare to Kahr CM9, M&P9c, Aprex sear, safety info

[WI357SIG]

Shield – New Owner and new member to this forum

Hello from Wisconsin.

By the way, Scott Walker is still our governor and the state needs to spend another $700K to deal with the large volume of CCW applications. Life is good!

I have had my name on a waiting list for a 9mm S&W Shield with no idea when it will arrive. About a week ago, at a different sporting goods store, I asked if they had a Shield. A Shield in 40 S&W just arrived and had been in the case for only 45 minutes. While I was interested in a 9mm, I bought it anyway. I generally shot 9mm, 45 ACP, 357Sig, 357Mag and 44Mag. I had very limited experience with 40 S&W. From a past experience I recall that the recoil was my issue. That seems odd since I like 44 mag.

On Sunday, I shot a box each of Am Eagle & Blazer Brass through the Shield. Wow, was I impressed. Recoil was very manageable in 40S&W, trigger was excellent and best of all accuracy was outstanding. I probably printed my best targets ever with a new pistol. It was the best overall experience I have ever had with a new handgun. I would never have considered 40S&W in such a small pistol. I guess I got lucky, 40S&W will now be a favorite round.

I wonder when I'm going to get the call that my 9mm Shield came in!

 

[gnystrom]

I own and carry both a Kahr PM9 and a Shield in 9mm. I have been reading these threads with interest. I think there are a few stark differences between these two pistols.

First off, my Kahr and Shield have fed everything I have put into them without failure. They are both exceedingly accurate guns. I did a couple of light mods to the Kahr magazines and I load both using the slingshot method without any failures of any kind.

Overall, the Kahr PM9 is smaller and lighter. With a Pearce grip extension on my Kahr the grips are about the same length. The extended mag on the Kahr is ugly but it works. The extended mag on the Shield is a beauty to look at and it works. The Shield's grips feel more natural in my hands.

The trigger guard in the Shield is slightly larger than the Kahr. For me, that is a good thing. The Kahr will pocket carry. In my opinion, neither the Kahr, or the Shield, pocket carry as well as my 340PD revolver. The "hump" or squareness in semi auto's is not on a 340PD so my nod goes to a hammerless revolver for ease of draw from a pocket. That is not to say I do not put the Kahr or Shield in my pocket, but they are far more noticeable in light wool pants.

The Shields extra weight over the Kahr is almost unnoticeable in a good IWB holster. The Shield carrys one extra round which is a big plus.

The triggers are the biggest difference. The Kahr is a very smooth, long stroked, DA pull with a great release, long reset, and you start over. If you carry, and practice, with DA revolvers the Kahr is very close to what you are now to doing. The Shield has a very deliberate trigger that is typical of striker fired guns only better. I think it is similar to what the most semi auto shooter are accustomed to shooting. I have fired only 250 live and probably another 250 dry fires and the Shield trigger is starting to smooth out into a thing of beauty. I personally will make no trigger alterations to my Shield until I have fired well over a thousand rounds.

My Kahr has TruDot night sights that are way better than the Shield. My Shield will get these as soon as they are available.

As for the safety on the Shield, I think it is a great addition. I cannot conceive how it can be accidentally activated. With the safety on, the Shield's slide will still fully function. It is easy to release if you need to, and it is not all that different of a 1911 safety except it is fitted in tighter to the gun. Leave it off and don't use it if you don't like it.

I am an instructor and RSO. I need to handle all types of firearms so I need to be familiar with all trigger platforms.. If I were a dedicated revolver person, I would take a close look at a Kahr PM/CM series as a alternate carry option. To all others, I think the Shield is the best thing to come along in years. Just my 2¢. Sorry for the long post.

 

[gnystrom]

When you took your Shield apart, did you use the new take-down lever or just pull the trigger like other M&P pistols? I tried to use the lever like in the manual, but it wouldn,t come apart.

Mine will field strip either way. If you use the yellow lever to remove the slide, upon reassembly, you will have to put a mag in the gun to move it back up or pull it up manually to make the gun function.