New M&P Shield 9mm !!!
- Thread starter ScrapmasterFlex
- Start date
Hello folks. I'm a newbie (about ten minuets) here, and I am so glad I found this M&P Shield thread. I just got my M&P Shield 9mm last Saturday. Unfortunately I have not found time to get out and shoot it. I was going to wait until the gun show this weekend in Tampa but I found it on sale at Gander Mountain and couldn't resist. It came down to either a XDS or the Shield. I chose the shield with thumb safety. I hope the thumb safety isn't a mistake. I also have a CCW, but so far haven't actually carried. I also have a XDM .40 which I do love but too big to carry. I previously purchased a Remington R51, but experienced all kinds of issues the first time at the range. It is now in Remington's hands. Thanks for allowing me to join what I hope to be a fine group.
If you guys read my posts, you'd run from a Shield 9. However, I have a lemon in the process of being processed, so read my posts as info, not warnings. I have fired a friend's Shield 9 often, with no issues. He shoots mine, ain't so good.
The good news is that even at 25 yards I can hit center mass targets (BC-27) in a 6 inch group with tri-focals. In an earlier life, I would spend a day on KP for what I brag about today.
The good news is that even at 25 yards I can hit center mass targets (BC-27) in a 6 inch group with tri-focals. In an earlier life, I would spend a day on KP for what I brag about today.
Bumbury
Member
- Joined
- Jul 29, 2014
- Messages
- 13
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Hey FlCracker i read today The Fire Arm Blog that remington is replacing the defective R51's with new remanufactured ones plus 2 extra magazines and a pelician case for your troubles .. here's the link for the article and contact number a the end of the articale..
Remington To Replace All R-51 Pistols - The Firearm Blog
By the way congrats on the shield i got mine the day before you did...
.. i have always been a glock shooter so im use to not having a safety so i just went in that direction.. i also was torned between the XDs and the shield but after going to my LGS and handeing them both i decided on he shield and im so happy i did...
TexasG
US Veteran
Tru Glo's do rock.
Went out after lunch today to the local sporting goods store.
Had my wife try several small pistols in 9mm.
She said "This is the one!"
Now have a S&W 9mm shield for her with two mags. 7 & 8 rounds.
Now for her to shoot it, she is disabled.
Had my wife try several small pistols in 9mm.
She said "This is the one!"
Now have a S&W 9mm shield for her with two mags. 7 & 8 rounds.
Now for her to shoot it, she is disabled.
OP
ScrapmasterFlex
Member
So much to say and answer here, so I'd like to try to give a few different answers/responses here-
First to the Gunny, I wanted to say Thank You Very Much but please, I have had a million times more problems and failures than any successes but I do appreciate the kind words - Congrats on the new Shield as well, great minds think alike.. and God Bless on heart surgery, I can only imagine. I have had major spinal surgery at a fairly young age and while that sucked, I cannot even fathom heart surgery, God Bless and I'm hoping you found the perfect pistol (and maybe me too!).
Bumbury- also congrats- Now I did a little or maybe a lot of thinking about the safety.. and I mean no disrespect either way... all I will say is, I am happy with what i got, I made a conscious, hopefully informed decision, and I am comfortable with the results. I will say , my Father for example, he wouldn't carry it I'm sure. He is a DAO/no external safety guy, and I don't think he would get the safety version. I am happy with it for a variety of reasons but I would be also acceptable without, as my other two main guns in my G23 and my Sig MK25 both do not have external safety switches.
Florida Cracker- I'm also glad you got here, so go ahead and post away- Sounds like you made the right decision... Now I know lots of people LOVE the Springfield Armory XD/etc. line, but I don't really have much interest there... and I know I am happy with the Shield, I could even interest myself in a full-size M&P someday. But for now this bad boy is very adequate for it's intended role. And that's to be me and my Blue Heeler son's designated "Shield" lol. (Yupyup, I went there.) -- about the R51.... now I will admit this. If the R51 had been totally successful, I would have probably bought one already. I wanted one before I had considered the Shield.... it wasn't on my radar initially. But the R51 was having so many problems, I wrote it off. Did you see that they just announced they are replacing each and every one of them with an entirely new pistol ? Apparently the Remington engineers tried to say - the gun that was a prototype and the gun that came to be "The R51" out of production were not the same gun , and the result was a flawed product. They hope to ship the new gun by October, starting with the previous owners first, and everyone will get 2 extra mags and a custom designed Pelican case for their troubles... then the redesigned "new" gun will hit retail shelves. I just can't or couldn't wait , I am happy because I am a big Remington fan but, I had to shoot or get off the pot and as a result I got the Shield and that is that.
-hoc9, that sucks you had problems... all I can say is, I hope I nor others here have the same results. I will say that if my gun is bad, it's getting gotten-rid-of. Other than something minor/repairable , I can't have a EDC/CCW personal "Shield" that isn't tip top 100%. But hopefully it never comes to that.
In other news- something new is coming out from S&W in a few weeks- The Truth About Guns had an article about their recent tour and were shown a new product that hasn't leaked to the press yet and they were not allowed to mention what it is. I have no idea but I'd put my money on a Shield .45ACP or a new M&P Revolver/Bodyguard type deal.
First to the Gunny, I wanted to say Thank You Very Much but please, I have had a million times more problems and failures than any successes but I do appreciate the kind words - Congrats on the new Shield as well, great minds think alike.. and God Bless on heart surgery, I can only imagine. I have had major spinal surgery at a fairly young age and while that sucked, I cannot even fathom heart surgery, God Bless and I'm hoping you found the perfect pistol (and maybe me too!).
Bumbury- also congrats- Now I did a little or maybe a lot of thinking about the safety.. and I mean no disrespect either way... all I will say is, I am happy with what i got, I made a conscious, hopefully informed decision, and I am comfortable with the results. I will say , my Father for example, he wouldn't carry it I'm sure. He is a DAO/no external safety guy, and I don't think he would get the safety version. I am happy with it for a variety of reasons but I would be also acceptable without, as my other two main guns in my G23 and my Sig MK25 both do not have external safety switches.
Florida Cracker- I'm also glad you got here, so go ahead and post away- Sounds like you made the right decision... Now I know lots of people LOVE the Springfield Armory XD/etc. line, but I don't really have much interest there... and I know I am happy with the Shield, I could even interest myself in a full-size M&P someday. But for now this bad boy is very adequate for it's intended role. And that's to be me and my Blue Heeler son's designated "Shield" lol. (Yupyup, I went there.) -- about the R51.... now I will admit this. If the R51 had been totally successful, I would have probably bought one already. I wanted one before I had considered the Shield.... it wasn't on my radar initially. But the R51 was having so many problems, I wrote it off. Did you see that they just announced they are replacing each and every one of them with an entirely new pistol ? Apparently the Remington engineers tried to say - the gun that was a prototype and the gun that came to be "The R51" out of production were not the same gun , and the result was a flawed product. They hope to ship the new gun by October, starting with the previous owners first, and everyone will get 2 extra mags and a custom designed Pelican case for their troubles... then the redesigned "new" gun will hit retail shelves. I just can't or couldn't wait , I am happy because I am a big Remington fan but, I had to shoot or get off the pot and as a result I got the Shield and that is that.
-hoc9, that sucks you had problems... all I can say is, I hope I nor others here have the same results. I will say that if my gun is bad, it's getting gotten-rid-of. Other than something minor/repairable , I can't have a EDC/CCW personal "Shield" that isn't tip top 100%. But hopefully it never comes to that.
In other news- something new is coming out from S&W in a few weeks- The Truth About Guns had an article about their recent tour and were shown a new product that hasn't leaked to the press yet and they were not allowed to mention what it is. I have no idea but I'd put my money on a Shield .45ACP or a new M&P Revolver/Bodyguard type deal.
OP
ScrapmasterFlex
Member
- Another question if I may-
Is the Shield (and/or the M&P line, if there is a variance?) finished w/ "Melonite?" I can't find a single definitive source of the finish used on the Shield, it just all comes up as a " durable , corrosion resistant finish and a coated stainless steel slide & barrel" ... not a lot of detail there...
I am under the impression "Melonite" is a brand name of a nitrocarburizing process either exactly the same or very close to the process Glock uses, and then Glock uses another 'finish' over top. I have a very-late-model Gen 3 that was made in fall 2009, purchashed first week of 2010... (I didn't know there was a Gen 4 coming in a month)... I have had pretty much great results with the Glock. But I was reading that for various reasons, Glock finished using Tenifer and their exact 'secret formula finish' after the Gen 3 and perhaps earliest model Gen 4s, and *some* people aren't as happy with the Gen 4 finish (otherwise loving their Gen 4 guns).
So I am wondering what I have with the Shield and what I can expect... a Google search comes up with numerous threads on this very forum of people complaining about the finish on their Shields and other M&Ps... I am at the present using a holster not meant for the Shield which fits great but tightly, and I certainly don't want to ruin it with rubbing from the leather.
Ok thanks much as always.
Is the Shield (and/or the M&P line, if there is a variance?) finished w/ "Melonite?" I can't find a single definitive source of the finish used on the Shield, it just all comes up as a " durable , corrosion resistant finish and a coated stainless steel slide & barrel" ... not a lot of detail there...
I am under the impression "Melonite" is a brand name of a nitrocarburizing process either exactly the same or very close to the process Glock uses, and then Glock uses another 'finish' over top. I have a very-late-model Gen 3 that was made in fall 2009, purchashed first week of 2010... (I didn't know there was a Gen 4 coming in a month)... I have had pretty much great results with the Glock. But I was reading that for various reasons, Glock finished using Tenifer and their exact 'secret formula finish' after the Gen 3 and perhaps earliest model Gen 4s, and *some* people aren't as happy with the Gen 4 finish (otherwise loving their Gen 4 guns).
So I am wondering what I have with the Shield and what I can expect... a Google search comes up with numerous threads on this very forum of people complaining about the finish on their Shields and other M&Ps... I am at the present using a holster not meant for the Shield which fits great but tightly, and I certainly don't want to ruin it with rubbing from the leather.
Ok thanks much as always.
Bumbury
Member
- Joined
- Jul 29, 2014
- Messages
- 13
- Reaction score
- 2
Flex im glade your happy with what you got as far as the safety goes... im like you i did a boat load of research on both and handled both along with the XDs.. i normally carry a Kimber Tac Pro2 4in 45acp and during the summers well for that matter the winters well heck for that matter all year long...
i was finding that it was just to big for the clothing selection here in south Fl... so i started looking for a EDC and was happy when i found the Xds and the Shield.... and i believe we got the better of the two... A little gloating here...
...
as far as the dissrespect thing goes its not ever on the radar our choices for our equiptment are as unique as our finger prints and i always respect everyones choice's and opinion's..
Now your 2nd questions, after reading it you'v got me wondering about my choices for a holster... i have read the N82 Tactical pro is made with a polycarbonate which is supposed to be stronger but easier on the weapon... but who knows, as soft as leather is it will still wear out a finish over time... well i hope when you figure out the answer you'll post it here as im curious too..
i was finding that it was just to big for the clothing selection here in south Fl... so i started looking for a EDC and was happy when i found the Xds and the Shield.... and i believe we got the better of the two... A little gloating here... ... as far as the dissrespect thing goes its not ever on the radar our choices for our equiptment are as unique as our finger prints and i always respect everyones choice's and opinion's..
Now your 2nd questions, after reading it you'v got me wondering about my choices for a holster... i have read the N82 Tactical pro is made with a polycarbonate which is supposed to be stronger but easier on the weapon... but who knows, as soft as leather is it will still wear out a finish over time... well i hope when you figure out the answer you'll post it here as im curious too..
OP
ScrapmasterFlex
Member
Just wanted to give an update to this-
I had started off my M&P Shield by firing a generous portion of Winchester Black Talon 147gr JHPs ... I have a decent stash of them, and I wanted to (for a change, really) start off a firearm right and go for the gusto rather than giving it the cheapest stuff I could find. It functioned perfectly ; however, as I detailed in another thread, I wound up having a bad recoil spring assembly "guide rod" and I had to as for another... it made reassembly first difficult, then near impossible. I did not realize how bad it really was until I received the new one in the mail on Wednesday, and I couldn't disassemble the pistol!! It took me an hour... but finally replaced and it looks like it's all good.
^^ HOWEVER- This is a word of caution to all who read it.... it is apparently VERY VERY SIMPLE to bust up , bend , and virtually "break" your own guide rod by not aligning the circular end PERFECTLY with the area of the barrel lug it needs to go. If it's not perfect, when you attempt to reassemble, it will bend really bad, and then you make the problem worse, reassembly is very tough, bending it further, making disassembly harder, etc. SO BE CAREFUL. I believe the guide rod is flawed, it's not up to standards, and whereas I normally would only use an original guide rod rather than some other companies - i would in this case, but do not know of one. Smith and Wesson needs to address this and come out with an "improved one" because otherwise, you'll need to be stocking 5 of these in your gun box and further, the spring will never get to 'break-in' and lighten up {when it's an extremely tough spring to begin with!}.
Now onto new business- I successfully replaced the guide rod assembly Wednesday, and took the Shield out for some much needed breaking in and stress relief. Unfortunately I left most of my ammo I was intended to bring at home , so I could only put ~125 or so rounds through. I got to fire all the loaded mags w/ more Black Talons to start things off... all were very accurate and feel great going through the gun. I then did a box of Remington UMC 115gr FMJs and what I meant to bring 3-4 boxes of but only brought 1 box, some luckily-found Speer Lawmen 147gr FMJs. This gun really loves 147gr ammo. It fires everything fine and has not had a problem yet, but just feels like it loves the 147gr ammo. And it REALLY likes Black Talons, these are early 90s era and whereas some would look down on using "old ammo" for protection, I've fired 200 of these through the Shield recently and 50 or so through the MK25, and they've all been flawless.
The new TruGlo TFOs seem to be awesome sights. I had got a great deal that was totally mitigated in the bad way due to having to pay for Gunsmith installation, $43. Plus I was a little apprehensive when he said, he didn't need a magazine because he didn't need to test-fire it, no need, but if I wanted to pay more (substantially more) he would ... and I just skipped that. So I was worried, how would these shoot? Well they seemed to be dead-on... I believe that is a benefit of a master gunsmith installing your sights, he knew what he was doing!
All in all, I am extremely extremely happy with this Shield since I made the decision to buy an EDC/CCW gun and then decided to go with the M&P Shield. I need to put a lot more rounds down range, hopefully next-time I can do a bit of a marathon and give it the 250-500 rd. workout session it needs, but so far, so great. I feel VERY COMFORTABLE but also VERY CONFIDENT with the Shield 9mm on my back hip w/ the Galco King Tuk 7+1 and two 8rd mags in my pockets as backup. Not enough to go to war, but in my estimate certainly enough to get me home from most any situation.
I had started off my M&P Shield by firing a generous portion of Winchester Black Talon 147gr JHPs ... I have a decent stash of them, and I wanted to (for a change, really) start off a firearm right and go for the gusto rather than giving it the cheapest stuff I could find. It functioned perfectly ; however, as I detailed in another thread, I wound up having a bad recoil spring assembly "guide rod" and I had to as for another... it made reassembly first difficult, then near impossible. I did not realize how bad it really was until I received the new one in the mail on Wednesday, and I couldn't disassemble the pistol!! It took me an hour... but finally replaced and it looks like it's all good.
^^ HOWEVER- This is a word of caution to all who read it.... it is apparently VERY VERY SIMPLE to bust up , bend , and virtually "break" your own guide rod by not aligning the circular end PERFECTLY with the area of the barrel lug it needs to go. If it's not perfect, when you attempt to reassemble, it will bend really bad, and then you make the problem worse, reassembly is very tough, bending it further, making disassembly harder, etc. SO BE CAREFUL. I believe the guide rod is flawed, it's not up to standards, and whereas I normally would only use an original guide rod rather than some other companies - i would in this case, but do not know of one. Smith and Wesson needs to address this and come out with an "improved one" because otherwise, you'll need to be stocking 5 of these in your gun box and further, the spring will never get to 'break-in' and lighten up {when it's an extremely tough spring to begin with!}.
Now onto new business- I successfully replaced the guide rod assembly Wednesday, and took the Shield out for some much needed breaking in and stress relief. Unfortunately I left most of my ammo I was intended to bring at home , so I could only put ~125 or so rounds through. I got to fire all the loaded mags w/ more Black Talons to start things off... all were very accurate and feel great going through the gun. I then did a box of Remington UMC 115gr FMJs and what I meant to bring 3-4 boxes of but only brought 1 box, some luckily-found Speer Lawmen 147gr FMJs. This gun really loves 147gr ammo. It fires everything fine and has not had a problem yet, but just feels like it loves the 147gr ammo. And it REALLY likes Black Talons, these are early 90s era and whereas some would look down on using "old ammo" for protection, I've fired 200 of these through the Shield recently and 50 or so through the MK25, and they've all been flawless.
The new TruGlo TFOs seem to be awesome sights. I had got a great deal that was totally mitigated in the bad way due to having to pay for Gunsmith installation, $43. Plus I was a little apprehensive when he said, he didn't need a magazine because he didn't need to test-fire it, no need, but if I wanted to pay more (substantially more) he would ... and I just skipped that. So I was worried, how would these shoot? Well they seemed to be dead-on... I believe that is a benefit of a master gunsmith installing your sights, he knew what he was doing!
All in all, I am extremely extremely happy with this Shield since I made the decision to buy an EDC/CCW gun and then decided to go with the M&P Shield. I need to put a lot more rounds down range, hopefully next-time I can do a bit of a marathon and give it the 250-500 rd. workout session it needs, but so far, so great. I feel VERY COMFORTABLE but also VERY CONFIDENT with the Shield 9mm on my back hip w/ the Galco King Tuk 7+1 and two 8rd mags in my pockets as backup. Not enough to go to war, but in my estimate certainly enough to get me home from most any situation.
Bumbury, I have the M&P 9c and I have gone through a few holsters trying to find the right one for me. I was against having a holster with only one clip since I thought it would drag on the pants. The husband convinced me to try a Pro N82 holster. I was lucky to find one used, but in like new shape. All I can say is that I love it! It holds the gun securely and is extremely comfortable to wear all day. The gun goes in smoothly and there is a positive click when it is in all the way. You will have to get used to "twisting" the gun inwards to release it from the retention. But that should take about 5 seconds to get used to. I find that the gun prints a lot less with this holster than with other IWB holsters. I have even used the holster in a USPSA match and while my draw was a nano second slower than with my Bladetech OWB holster, it is not something that concerns me. I just have to get used to drawing it faster. I am in love with N82 holsters and I no longer have any desire to look for a different holster that fits/works better.
