New MP Shield Plus sort of regret buying it

[marathonrunner]

Well the smallest carry gun I carry is usually a Glock 19 size pistol and my MP Compact 2.0 is very shootable and accurate. Doing double taps is quite easy.

However I recently bought a MP Shield Plus and after taking it to the range today, on the second shot the FMJ bullet seemed stuck on the feed ramp and it was hard to tell if it was caused by the slide lock or possibly just so brand new, it got stuck at the feed ramp. after that experienced no further failures but I think part of the reason I did not shoot it that well is because I am used to compact and full size pistols. The first few magazines I was embarrassing myself on the range but after that, I was finally sitting my stride.The one x factor is I installed XS Night Sights and it was quite hard getting used to lining that up with the rear sight for precision shooting and even combat.

The recoil was less than probably other pistols in its class but definitely was more snappier than my compact size. I think I pretty much will stick to my MP 2.0 compact for CCW.

 

[jurek]

It is always a good idea to field strip the handgun, clean and lube it before first shooting.
I do even more with mine.
I submerge my handguns in isopropyl for 1 hr, then dry them out and lube.
This method has never failed me. It doesn't matter if it's $400 or $2,000 firearm.
Perhaps you can try to clean and lube your Shield Plus and give it another chance?

The other thing is that Shield Plus is definitely smaller than G19 and M&P C. Sometimes firearm failures comes from the shooter, not from the firearm. You may consider to keep working with your new handgun to be sure your grip is good enough to eliminate any failures.

 

[neil0311]

It is always a good idea to field strip the handgun, clean and lube it before first shooting.
I do even more with mine.
I submerge my handguns in isopropyl for 1 hr, then dry them out and lube.
This method has never failed me.

Good advice to always inspect, clean, and lube a new firearm.

I admit I’ve never heard of this, and maybe I’m just not well informed about it, but why would you want to submerge a firearm in alcohol? What are you hoping to solve and isn’t it going to damage the finish and corrode?

 

[RobzGuns]

Almost Everyone experiences a few issues when changing platforms (going from Full Size to Compact, Compact to SC, etc.). If the Widths and/or Trigger-to-Backstrap distances (or grip angle) are different, it's going to require adjusting one's grip in order to achieve the same accuracy. The Shield, being slightly thinner, with a shorter Trigger-to-Backstrap distance will most likely require a grip adjustment.

Also, as you've experienced, Sub/Micros are inherently snappier than larger/heavier handguns. It's a weight vs energy thing.
As the G19 and M&Pc are both compacts, moving to a Sub/Micro is going have more perceived reoil and probably take some practice time before you can comfortably carry.

 

[jurek]

I admit I’ve never heard of this, and maybe I’m just not well informed about it, but why would you want to submerge a firearm in alcohol? What are you hoping to solve and isn’t it going to damage the finish and corrode?

Isopropyl doesn't harm firearm's finish. Its job is to remove all factory lubrication, which sometimes is not gun lube, but machine lube to prevent corrosion. I've seen a lot of bad stuff applied to firearms (fe. RIA 1911 was treated with some grease and even wasn't able to properly cycle).

Because I like to know everything about my firearms I'm gonna use for myself - I always clean them this way, disassemble, dry and lube with gun oil. The crucial part is DRY. 95% isopropyl drys very fast.
I never trust anyone.. even the manufacturer.

 

[lhump1961]

For me it's also about a break-in period. These guns are assembled from parts bins and while they are just fine overall the parts need some time to "mate" and work together smoothly. Seems most of my experience with new guns has been one or two or maybe a few failures early but not long after they performed as expected. JMHO.

 

[sotexas]

Almost Everyone experiences a few issues when changing platforms (going from Full Size to Compact, Compact to SC, etc.). If the Widths and/or Trigger-to-Backstrap distances (or grip angle) are different, it's going to require adjusting one's grip in order to achieve the same accuracy. The Shield, being slightly thinner, with a shorter Trigger-to-Backstrap distance will most likely require a grip adjustment.

Also, as you've experienced, Sub/Micros are inherently snappier than larger/heavier handguns. It's a weight vs energy thing.
As the G19 and M&Pc are both compacts, moving to a Sub/Micro is going have more perceived reoil and probably take some practice time before you can comfortably carry.

Agree with your assessment. While the gun is snappier I find it very manageable but don' t shoot it for recreation only my defensive drills out to 7 - 10 yrds. I have been very pleased with the plus since purchasing for my EDC.

 

[cmj8591]

Don't give up on it. New guns sometimes have a bit of a break in period. I usually don't carry a gun for self defense until I have put at least 400 rounds through it. Plus it it takes time for you to develope the muscle memory to feel comfortable with a gun hat you are betting your life on. As far as cleaning out of the box guns, I field strip the gun and wipe it down. There's no need to go crazy. I'm not going to debate the merits of giving the gun a bath in rubbing alcohol but I will tell you that if you use a de greaser to clean the gun, be sure to follow it with some type of lube or you will be inviting a whole new set of problems. It's not complicated. Just follow the instructions in the manual that was written by the people who designed the gun and it will work fine.

 

[George_P_Burdell]

I had to change my grip a bit, clean/dry/oil the gun, then I ran a few hundred rounds of +P and 124 grain down the pipe. Gun is now dead-to-nuts reliable. Be patient, Grasshopper, you'll get there.

 

[DeplorabusUnum]

I had to change my grip a bit, clean/dry/oil the gun, then I ran a few hundred rounds of +P and 124 grain down the pipe. Gun is now dead-to-nuts reliable. Be patient, Grasshopper, you'll get there.

^This^
My EDC gun is a Kahr CM9 which is I believe even smaller than the Shield Plus. When I first bought it, I hated it. Every trip to the range was a jam fest. I thought about dumping it, but after racking the slide about a thousand times, and putting a couple hundred rounds down range it became "dead-to-nuts reliable" too.
The smaller the pistol, the tighter the tolerances. Sometimes there is a break in period until they function reliably. A good cleaning and some lube is also good advice. Good luck. I hope it smooths out for you.

 

[LVSteve]

The first few magazines I was embarrassing myself on the range but after that, I was finally sitting my stride.The one x factor is I installed XS Night Sights and it was quite hard getting used to lining that up with the rear sight for precision shooting and even combat.

You weren't embarrassing yourself, you were learning a new gun and sight system at the same time. In doing so you have to "forget" some of the muscle and perception memory of other guns. In particular you have to find the rhythm of a new gun. I recall some gun tester ranting that double taps were impossible with a Hi Point carbine. He was a 1911 shooter in the main, and he couldn't get it through hius head that the physics of a heavier, straight blowback carbine was going to change the timing of everything. Mind you, I'm sure the Hi Point trigger didn't help.

Buddy of mine fitted XS sights to his favorite Glock and instantly he couldn't hit the proverbial barn door. He asked me to have a go. As a relatively new shooter I had no preconceptions about sight picture, and promptly chewed the middle out of his target. Some hilarity followed.

 

[sousana]

It is my intention to pick up a Shield Plus but only when the magazine issue clears up and they are much more available. I had the chance the other day as the store had one, but they also had a 2.0 Shield 45 with a total of 10 mags so I of course opted for the 45.

 

[marathonrunner]

You weren't embarrassing yourself, you were learning a new gun and sight system at the same time. In doing so you have to "forget" some of the muscle and perception memory of other guns. In particular you have to find the rhythm of a new gun. I recall some gun tester ranting that double taps were impossible with a Hi Point carbine. He was a 1911 shooter in the main, and he couldn't get it through hius head that the physics of a heavier, straight blowback carbine was going to change the timing of everything. Mind you, I'm sure the Hi Point trigger didn't help.

Buddy of mine fitted XS sights to his favorite Glock and instantly he couldn't hit the proverbial barn door. He asked me to have a go. As a relatively new shooter I had no preconceptions about sight picture, and promptly chewed the middle out of his target. Some hilarity followed.

I also own both the MP 2.0 in compact and the 5" model and both I can rapid fire at 21ft and get really good groups. The Shield Plus will definitely take more time to get used to. My one big mistake was using XS large dot sight.

What do you think about the Shield 4" barrel? That absolutely makes no sense, might as well carry the compact instad

 

[RobzGuns]

What do you think about the Shield 4" barrel? That absolutely makes no sense, might as well carry the compact instead

Well... Some like the accuracy they get from the slightly longer 4" barrel, over the wider increased capacity double-stack (similar to the 1911 vs double-stack arguments). For those, going with the 4" Shield/Shield Plus, makes sense. If you want the longer barrel AND more rounds, by all means, the Compact (or even Full Size) is the way to go.
This is why so many gun makers offer so many choices.

 

[marathonrunner]

Well... Some like the accuracy they get from the slightly longer 4" barrel, over the wider increased capacity double-stack (similar to the 1911 vs double-stack arguments). For those, going with the 4" Shield/Shield Plus, makes sense. If you want the longer barrel AND more rounds, by all means, the Compact (or even Full Size) is the way to go.
This is why so many gun makers offer so many choices.

Come to think about it, the Compact only holds 2 more rounds but I think the compact will be softer shooting because of the extra weight and slide mass. I seen the 4" Shield with a compensator and while it sounds great, for $860 yikes that is a bit too much.