SHIELD 9mm IS THE GUN OF THE YEAR
Hello everyone, I am new to the forum and I am considering purchasing my first M&P. I am not new to handguns, I own several Glocks and S&W revolvers. Lately, I have been thinking about purchasing something new and different than a Glock. (Still like them, looking to change things up.)
I know this can be very subjective, but I will welcome any suggestions for my first M&P. I own 9mm, .40, and .45 cal Glocks. So, I am open to any caliber. I tend to like the full size frames better. Thanks in advance for your opinions. Frank.
Frank:
I am in a unique situation.
I received my conceal permit exactly one year ago. I went on a quest to find the all around best ccw. I was not interested in multiple ccws. I just wanted one for all seasons.
I ruled out 380 after studying the ballistics, recoil in a pocket rocket and the cost per round which is about the cost of the 40caliber. I ruled out 40 caliber for the cost to target practice and recoil in a ccw. When the dust settled the 9mm was my overall best choice.
The ammo is very common and the price per round is less than both the 380 and 40 caliber and you can hold one more round over a 40 caliber assuming the same dimension firearm.
The perfect carry ammo in my opinion after much research is the Speer Gold Dot 124 grain JHP +P short barrel.
The bullet penetrates 13 inches in gel, retains its mass, travel just under 1,200 fps which is fast enough to consistently maximize expansion even with tests shooting through denim fabric which has been known to plug the hollow point thus reducing expansion in some bullets and the recoil is manageable for my 16 year old daughter shooting a ccw.
My first ccw purchase May 2011 was the Kahr CM9. The Kahr was great to pocket carry but the gun was not reliable. (See their gun forum if you question my claim) I returned the gun three times for FTF in 4 months and two broken night sights they installed. The third time Kahr sent me a check for what I paid for the firearm and night sights which they installed twice.
Beretta Nano was acquired November 2011 and I fired it 1,334 times and encountered 11 FTE (Failure to extract). I sent it back one time to Beretta and they polished the feed ramp and chamber and when returned I still managed a 2% FTE rate with Federal Champion from Walmart and overall factoring in the cheap ammo and 124 grain Gold Dot I was just under a 1% failure rate. Not good for a ccw.
One week ago Cabela's traded me straight accross for the S&W Shield 9mm and for the first tme in one year I had a complete range session with zero failures. We are talking 2 cases of ammo (2,000 rounds) in one year and the Shield was the first ccw to successfully complete a range session with zero failures.
A plus, I can still pocket carry which is a must in my line of work and I can get 1/2 the thickness of my pinkie on the flush magazine which adds to the accuracy. I am a very average shooter but at 7 yards the Shield was the first ccw I have shot 7 rounds in the same hole at 7 yards which is the range you should practice for conceal. (See my thread Shield is Dead on for pictures)
Frank, I have traveled the ccw road and did more research than most gun magazine writers, owned three conceal firearms in one year, shot 2 cases of shells in one year and in the end the
S&W Shield in the 9mm is the gun of the year in the ccw category.
You mentioned you are interested in a full size M&P. If you add the extended Shield magazine you have the grip of a full size plus a better trigger but the flexability to pocket conceal by switching out the magazine for the flush and the accuracy of the Shield for me is just as good as a full size handgun. I can't get any tighter groups than one hole for 7 rounds. Heck, one hole for 7 rounds is tough to do with a rifle.
Personally, I have no need for my full size handgun after shooting the Shield especially with the accuracy, extended magazine, reliability, ergonomics and excellent trigger.
Russ
