My Shield.....

[CaptRon956]

I've bought my M&P Shield on the advice of my LGS, turned out to be the best advice I ever recieved. It is my main carry, I practice with it weekly, I passed my shooting exam for my CHL with it, I even sleep with it. My hand strength has improved since ownership....

I have recently sinned however and seek forgiveness from the S&W faithful. I recently bought a .40S&W pistol that is not a S&W. I like it, it has not failed me, the trigger is great, but I'm seriously thinking about trading it in for a new M&P Shield 40...

That is how much I like the M&P Shield's & S&W. I think it is one of the best carry/self defense pistols on the market.

 

[RobzGuns]

Good to hear that you like it as much as many of us do... But you know the rules... Pics! Or it never happened.

 

[Rickgus]

Ron - Although I have never had a Shield, either 9mm or .40, I think they are great pistols. From what I read the .40 Shield gets most of the bad raps due to people pushing the pistol to the limit with hotter loads (+p, +P+). Owners getting satisfaction are those who fire these pistols within the limits that S&W suggest. I am sure you will find great satisfaction in your move! Let us know how you like it! - Rick

 

[CaptRon956]

RobzGuns..... Too much coffee for me this morning I guess, but here ya go. I tossed in a video for good measure

3rd pic with the green background is my current configuration. features a rubber pachmayr grip and stock 7 rnd mag with pearce extension and my brand new Alien gear 2 holster combo... Carry ammo is Winchester 147 gr. "Defend"


[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STCWWTgzYLM[/ame]

 

[tbgunner88]

From what I read the .40 Shield gets most of the bad raps due to people pushing the pistol to the limit with hotter loads (+p, +P+).

+p and +p+ .40 , I agree Ron that the Shield is one of the best carry pistols on the market, I have had my 9mm Shield a little over a year and couldn't be happier with it. I have some of the smaller 380s, but the Shield is as small of a semi auto that I can carry and still feel well protected and not at a disadvantage should I need it. I have heard it called one of the smallest fighting size pistols and I agree with that.

 

[Smith Wesson]

Got the 9shield and love it for now..... my lgs tryed to sell me +p ammo for it.. was real aggressive about it also.. needless to say i didn't buy the ammo and im likely never shopping there again ... im glad i stuck with my gut.. it was my first gun buy every and the guy knew this... not sure if he was just trying to get all he could out of me or really rhought it was pk to run +p round in a gun that didnt have +p stamped on it.. either way bad business. ...

 

[tbgunner88]

Got the 9shield and love it for now..... my lgs tryed to sell me +p ammo for it.. was real aggressive about it also.. needless to say i didn't buy the ammo and im likely never shopping there again ... im glad i stuck with my gut.. it was my first gun buy every and the guy knew this... not sure if he was just trying to get all he could out of me or really rhought it was pk to run +p round in a gun that didnt have +p stamped on it.. either way bad business. ...

+p is fine to shoot in the 9mm Shield, most manufactures warn of accelerated wear from extended use but other then that it's no problem. There is no such thing as +p 40s&w, although I have heard that a couple manufactures label them as such for hype, there is no real designation, the same goes for +p+ 9mm, stay away from it.

 

[Protected One]

I've bought my M&P Shield on the advice of my LGS, turned out to be the best advice I ever recieved. It is my main carry, I practice with it weekly, I passed my shooting exam for my CHL with it, I even sleep with it. My hand strength has improved since ownership....

I have recently sinned however and seek forgiveness from the S&W faithful. I recently bought a .40S&W pistol that is not a S&W. I like it, it has not failed me, the trigger is great, but I'm seriously thinking about trading it in for a new M&P Shield 40...

That is how much I like the M&P Shield's & S&W. one of the best carry/self defense pistols on the market.

Welcome to the Shield 9mm Fan Club. I think it's simply the best carry gun available today, and it's my EDC.

Don't know what brand the 40S&W is that you bought, but I would not sell it to get the Shield .40cal - without shooting it first!!! There is a BIG difference in the felt recoil between the 9mm Shield vs the 40 S&W. I have a Glock 23 Gen4 for my 40 cal. and I wouldn't dare sell it to get the shield.

That target you posted is good shooting. Might I suggest trying the 135gr Hornady Critical Duty? You might find that your groups get even tighter,and follow up rounds are quicker on target. At least, that was my experience. I still keep a couple of boxes of Winchester D on hand (along with Winchester Ranger T, Gold Dots, Hornady Critical Defense, and Winchester PDX1) but Critical Duty is my edc round.

 

[CaptRon956]

Welcome to the Shield 9mm Fan Club. I think it's simply the best carry gun available today, and it's my EDC.

Don't know what brand the 40S&W is that you bought, but I would not sell it to get the Shield .40cal - without shooting it first!!! There is a BIG difference in the felt recoil between the 9mm Shield vs the 40 S&W. I have a Glock 23 Gen4 for my 40 cal. and I wouldn't dare sell it to get the shield.

That target you posted is good shooting. Might I suggest trying the 135gr Hornady Critical Duty? You might find that your groups get even tighter,and follow up rounds are quicker on target. At least, that was my experience. I still keep a couple of boxes of Winchester D on hand (along with Winchester Ranger T, Gold Dots, Hornady Critical Defense, and Winchester PDX1) but Critical Duty is my edc round.

The .40 S&W pistol that I have now is a Kahr CW40. I have to admit, it has a scwheeet trigger and the recoil to me at least feels like a hot 9mm round. Its about the same length, width as the Shield and about 1/2" longer in the grip. I can pump off 200 rounds at the range and not get sore or tired in my hand. You know what? Maybe I'll just keep the Kahr & buy the Shield 40 and add it to my growing M&P collection..

Back to the Shield 9, some of the best groups came from Freedom Munitions 124 gr. new man. fmj's & Winchesters Train & defend series. The Federal American Eagle 115 gr. that I was using in the video makes for great range ammo, gave me better results/performance than WWB & Remington's UMC. But I did have the occasional flyer using the Federal, not so much on the Freedom ammo. Freedom & Winchesters Train & defend was by far the most consistant hitting ammo. I'll give the Critical duty a shot next time I go to the range, I heard it was good stuff...

Here is a pic of my Kahr CW40 & the target used... I took 5 shots each at 3 yards, 7 yards, 10 yards and 5 more shots at 15 yards using Freedom Munitions reman 180 gr. fmj...

 

[Protected One]

The .40 S&W pistol that I have now is a Kahr CW40. I have to admit, it has a scwheeet trigger and the recoil to me at least feels like a hot 9mm round. Its about the same length, width as the Shield and about 1/2" longer in the grip. I can pump off 200 rounds at the range and not get sore or tired in my hand. You know what? Maybe I'll just keep the Kahr & buy the Shield 40 and add it to my growing M&P collection..

Back to the Shield 9, some of the best groups came from Freedom Munitions 124 gr. new man. fmj's & Winchesters Train & defend series. The Federal American Eagle 115 gr. that I was using in the video makes for great range ammo, gave me better results/performance than WWB & Remington's UMC. But I did have the occasional flyer using the Federal, not so much on the Freedom ammo. Freedom & Winchesters Train & defend was by far the most consistant hitting ammo. I'll give the Critical duty a shot next time I go to the range, I heard it was good stuff...

Here is a pic of my Kahr CW40 & the target used... I took 5 shots each at 3 yards, 7 yards, 10 yards and 5 more shots at 15 yards using Freedom Munitions reman 180 gr. fmj...

Adding the Shield 40 instead of selling the Kahr is definitely the way to go! That Kahr is about the sweetest shooting 40 S&W I know of.

Let us know what you think of the Critical Duty after shooting it!

 

[PirateJim]

Kahr makes great guns too, but I do love my Shield 40. I had the opportunity to shoot both the 40 and the 9 before I bought it and I didn't find the 40's recoil that much worse than the 9, though the difference is definitely noticeable. I have been a fan of 40 S&W for quite a few years, so happily went that route.

I was so dang happy with my Shield I sold off my Glock 23 which I had no further use for as well as my Glock 21 house gun because the grip was just too fat for me to get used to and picked up a M&P Pro Series 40L for a new house gun. Love it about as much as the Shield.

I've been using 165 grain Winchester PDX1 for carry ammo and have been happy with it. 40 S&W is a modern high performance caliber, it isn't necessary, or in my opinion prudent, to pump it up to the +P range like it is for older calibers like .38 Special that has been around since 1898.

You won't be going wrong if you add a .40 Shield to your collection. I feel very well armed with my Shield on my hip. That's her with her Lobo Gun Leather Improved Pancake. I've got an Alien Gear as well, but the Pancake hides nicely under an un-tucked shirt and is SO comfortable.

 

[checkmyswag]

Very good shooting

 

[ATF]

CaptRon your posts are always truthful and objective and if you like another brand other than S&W that's fine. Without competition a product will never improve. Variety is the spice of life. For myself my experience with the M&P line has been a happy one and my M&P FS is my go to gun. As stated above many people have tried to push the Shield to the limit with dangerous results. 9mm is more than adequate for most if not all civilian situations and hot loads are not necessary. I would suggest that you keep your Kahr and purchase a 9mm or .40 S&W FS instead.

 

[KF-NYC]

Very nice shooting CaptRon. Now, my Shield 9mm is really true and it does indeed shoot as well as your Shield. However, I don't.

 

[CaptRon956]

Wow guys, thank you so much for all the kind words.

No I dont feel undergunned at all with my Shield 9, in all realitiy a self defense situation for average joe the Shield 9 is all you really need. I guess the main reason why I have several different pistols is to match what I'm wearing, the time of year, where I'm going, what I'm doing... Sometimes a .380, such as me walking down the trail, or jumping in the car at 10pm at night to fill up the tank. Sometimes the Shield, such as when I'm shopping or out in the middle of nowhere fishing, the .40 I think would go with me when I travel into the city & keep on the nightstand

I can't sell the Kahr, you guys are right, it is a sweet pistol and a single stack 40. Its nearly identical in size to the shield except 1/2" longer in the grip meaning I can wrap all 3 fingers around it on the stock 6rnd mag. And it handles the recoil of the .40 very well, to me it feels like a hot 9mm. I picked up a Hogue Handall jr. slip on grip for it and after some cussing, struggling to get it on, its a perfect fit on the CW series grip & doesnt slide around on the frame. I am still trying to find ammo that it likes the best, as far as bullet weight. I've only tried Freedom's 180 gr, and WWB 40 S&W which is 165 gr so far and I think I like the WWB better.
After reading up on the FBI's report on the '86 miami shootout, I learned that study led up to developing the .40 S&W. If it's good enough for them, then its good enough for us who are interesed in a self defense cartridge.

Screw it, I'm heading over to my LGS later this afternoon and grab me a Shield .40

 

[ATF]

Screw it, I'm heading over to my LGS later this afternoon and grab me a Shield .40

Nice one Ron life's too short

 

[Rickgus]

Screw it, I'm heading over to my LGS later this afternoon and grab me a Shield .40

You know, I wish CaptRon would adopt me so I would have plenty of nice pistols to fire! And, he is so easy to convince he needs more! You go Ron! - Rick

 

[Richjh]

I have had my 40 Shield for about 6 months now. I have put over 1000 rounds thru mine with no malfunctions. Mine seems to be more accurate with 180gn versus 165gn and some handloads are better than others using different powders, TiteGroup, WST and HS-6 as this is what I can get locally. I have 3 40's and this is the only S&W. I also have a Sig 1911 and Springfield XDM. I never load hot rounds and try to find an accurate load using mid-range load data.

 

[adam12]

I'm right with you, Capt Ron. I so do love my Shield. Although I've been shooting since the late 80's, the shield is my very first "plastic pistol" and my very first 9mm. That in and of itself is an advertisement for this gun.

I carry mine as well, and it's just great for that. I must admit that I bought mine after the ridiculous MASS Compliance BS so it came with the 10.5 lb trigger pull. I'm guessing you kept yours like that from your comment about hand strength, but I recently had it brought down to a more sensible 3.5 lbs.

I know some aren't coming through with a safety now (depending on the 10.5 lb trigger) but I'm VERY happy that mine has a safety. I just feel more relaxed using a carry piece that has one.

 

[vcycle]

I bought .40 shield a couple months ago. Functioned flawlessly but shot VERY LOW. Had a couple friends shoot it, all experienced shooters, with the same results. Called Smith and Wesson, told them the problem. Long story short, I sent my gun back, two weeks after that it's back in my hands with a shorter front site and shoots great. Thumbs up to good customer service.