Great forum, just found it.
Stopped into a gun store last week Monday and saw my first Shield. It was for display only until they get more in.
I was impressed with this gun and almost talked the dealer into selling it to me at once.
Started reading about this on other forums and was really excited with the lack of any negative comments (in contrast to especially the Kimber Solo of last year, and others of this type).
Several days ago, last Saturday, I found one and bought it. Tried out the trigger pull on the last two he had left and they were both the same (in other words, great).
Paid full price but I don't blame the dealer. The difference if I had waited is about one round of drinks at my local bar. This particular dealer usually has his prices quite low so I will make this up some other time.
I love this gun. Shot it Sunday and it fed everything I could put through it. This is important to me since even my Springfield EMP will nose dive the first round of hp ammo in a fully loaded, tight magazine. Some other things I like about the gun are:
• The magazines slide in like silk due to their shape.
• I could fully load both magazines without a problem.
• The slide release actually releases the slide without having to "slingshot" it. I guess this varies on other Shields.
• The take down and reassembly is easy (you can actually take it apart without pushing the little lever down in the magazine well. Simply pull the trigger just before the slide comes off. Read this on another forum and called Smith and Wesson last night. They have no problem with that method but they designed it the way they did since some Police Chiefs were having heart ache over the Glock type of take down procedure. You do have to have the lever down to reassemble however.)
• It has no "flag" loaded chamber indicator although the owners manual on line and the one with the gun states that some models may have one.
• No magazine disconnect but again some models may have one (probably for the California market).
• The gun can handle +P, but I view that as only an additional positive design feature since I will carry standard velocity ammo.
I could go on and on and on, but since this my first post, I don't want to bore you to death.
As you can see, I really love this gun. Going out to the range again today and if all is well, I will start carrying it all the time. Am thinking of Hornady Critical Defense since this works very well in all my compact 9mm's.
Just some thoughts,
Trooper Joe
Stopped into a gun store last week Monday and saw my first Shield. It was for display only until they get more in.
I was impressed with this gun and almost talked the dealer into selling it to me at once.
Started reading about this on other forums and was really excited with the lack of any negative comments (in contrast to especially the Kimber Solo of last year, and others of this type).
Several days ago, last Saturday, I found one and bought it. Tried out the trigger pull on the last two he had left and they were both the same (in other words, great).
Paid full price but I don't blame the dealer. The difference if I had waited is about one round of drinks at my local bar. This particular dealer usually has his prices quite low so I will make this up some other time.
I love this gun. Shot it Sunday and it fed everything I could put through it. This is important to me since even my Springfield EMP will nose dive the first round of hp ammo in a fully loaded, tight magazine. Some other things I like about the gun are:
• The magazines slide in like silk due to their shape.
• I could fully load both magazines without a problem.
• The slide release actually releases the slide without having to "slingshot" it. I guess this varies on other Shields.
• The take down and reassembly is easy (you can actually take it apart without pushing the little lever down in the magazine well. Simply pull the trigger just before the slide comes off. Read this on another forum and called Smith and Wesson last night. They have no problem with that method but they designed it the way they did since some Police Chiefs were having heart ache over the Glock type of take down procedure. You do have to have the lever down to reassemble however.)
• It has no "flag" loaded chamber indicator although the owners manual on line and the one with the gun states that some models may have one.
• No magazine disconnect but again some models may have one (probably for the California market).
• The gun can handle +P, but I view that as only an additional positive design feature since I will carry standard velocity ammo.
I could go on and on and on, but since this my first post, I don't want to bore you to death.
As you can see, I really love this gun. Going out to the range again today and if all is well, I will start carrying it all the time. Am thinking of Hornady Critical Defense since this works very well in all my compact 9mm's.
Just some thoughts,
Trooper Joe