new shield- new love

[jcraft203]

Hi all,
Purchased a new shield last week and finally shot it a few hours ago. It is sweet. Fired about 150 rounds of different ammo and it was flawless. I usually pocket carry a ruger lcp but figured i would give this a shot. I have a blackhawk arc iwb that i carried it in all day around 4:00 position and it was very comfortable. I have only been carrying for about 6 mo. And first time for iwb and it rocks. Very thin profile with this holster. Shoots great, tight groups. Only complaint at the moment is the clip springs are very stiff out of the box. I had a very hard time loading 6 rounds in them. After all the shooting i think they are loosening up a bit. My arms and fingers are killing me from loading the darn things. I was afraid i was going to set one off trying to get them in. Anyways great gun. Two other question. I see a lot of guys using speer gold dots as they seem to be one of the top rated. They are hard to find and the range i was at had the 124 gr. LE version but not in +p only standard. Can you advise which load is better +p or standard in the shield. One last thing, how many rounds do you guys shoot before you field strip and thouroghly clean. I shot the 150 but just wiped it down good with gun wipes. I dont want to strip it yet. Thx for info.

 

[Radco]

First WELCOME to the group! Second CONGRATS on your new Shield....... I love mine, Had my 9mm Shield for a few months now eat anything I feed it! I have not shot any +P and if I do it would be on defense loads only! I assume the +P would add more wear on the gun! I am sure people who shoot +P will chime in...Also look into a UPULA mag loader it will save your fingers and Talon Grip Tape. It will give you a better feel IMO
As for SD ammo I use Hornady critical defense

 

[mark32812]

I am thinking about getting the new Shield once they make one without a thumb safety. I am left handed and a safety on that side is no good to me.

 

[Radco]

I am thinking about getting the new Shield once they make one without a thumb safety. I am left handed and a safety on that side is no good to me.

You can buy one now w/o a safety no problem ! So run run run to you r Local gins store and buy one lol....
You will love the Shield,, Also look into a UPULA mag loader it will save your fingers and Talon Grip Tape. It will give you a better feel IMO

 

[Ballistic147]

For carry ammo, I like either the Speer Gold Dots or Federal HST's both in 124 grains. You can run +P in the Shield but I wouldn't shoot them all the time.

As far as cleaning, my guns are field stripped and cleaned after each range session. Really doesn't take very long and it gives me a chance to inspect everything for wear or anything out of the ordinary plus it just makes me feel better. There are some folks that go as long as 1k rounds before cleaning but I just can't bring myself to do that. I always strip a new gun and give it a thorough cleaning and lubing before the first range trip.

 

[Sigsavvy]

For carry ammo, I like either the Speer Gold Dots or Federal HST's both in 124 grains. You can run +P in the Shield but I wouldn't shoot them all the time.

As far as cleaning, my guns are field stripped and cleaned after each range session. Really doesn't take very long and it gives me a chance to inspect everything for wear or anything out of the ordinary plus it just makes me feel better. There are some folks that go as long as 1k rounds before cleaning but I just can't bring myself to do that. I always strip a new gun and give it a thorough cleaning and lubing before the first range trip.

Ditto. I clean after every outing as well. If I don't use a gun for a few months I'll take it down and inspect to make sure nothing bad is happening.

Also totally agree on the Uplula and Talon grip tape.

 

[Hunter8282]

I am thinking about getting the new Shield once they make one without a thumb safety. I am left handed and a safety on that side is no good to me.

I have a NTS with night sights being shipped as we speak.

 

[mfi911]

performance center

Anyone have any thoughts or knowledge on performance center ported barrel? I am looking at the shield 9mm. I have M&P 9c, but would like something a little smaller without going to 380.

 

[oldIrish]

I had my Shield 40 since shortly after they arrived.
The Uplula is essential. I also put Pierce base plates
on my magazines. I carry only the extended magazines
and the Pierce gives me more grip stability. You didn't
say whether you stripped and cleaned prior to your day
at the range, but you should have. If it's to be your EDC,
make certain it's always clean and ready.

Congratulations, enjoy your Shield.

 

[oldfart64]

Hi all,
Purchased a new shield last week and finally shot it a few hours ago. It is sweet. Fired about 150 rounds of different ammo and it was flawless. I usually pocket carry a ruger lcp but figured i would give this a shot. I have a blackhawk arc iwb that i carried it in all day around 4:00 position and it was very comfortable. I have only been carrying for about 6 mo. And first time for iwb and it rocks. Very thin profile with this holster. Shoots great, tight groups. Only complaint at the moment is the clip springs are very stiff out of the box. I had a very hard time loading 6 rounds in them. After all the shooting i think they are loosening up a bit. My arms and fingers are killing me from loading the darn things. I was afraid i was going to set one off trying to get them in. Anyways great gun. Two other question. I see a lot of guys using speer gold dots as they seem to be one of the top rated. They are hard to find and the range i was at had the 124 gr. LE version but not in +p only standard. Can you advise which load is better +p or standard in the shield. One last thing, how many rounds do you guys shoot before you field strip and thouroghly clean. I shot the 150 but just wiped it down good with gun wipes. I dont want to strip it yet. Thx for info.

I am always going to first recommend watching shootingthebull410 great series on youtube. That being said, his general recommend for PD is +p 124 as they seem to expand more and better both into plain gel and denim than normal velocity. This because of the shorter barrel. All I can find here in the Seattle area is Speer 124gr +p and that is fine with me. He also recommends +p 124 and 147 Federal hst but you can't find it anywhere online or not. he also liked corbon dpx 115gr +P for the same reasons, (good expansion from short barrels). I got mine a week ago and echo your report of fine shooting but real stiff mag springs. I clean my firearms every time I shoot them out of habit and because I live in a high humidity area where I am worried about corrosion. JMHO

 

[todwatts]

Glad you finally "drank the Shield kool-aid." I love mine and am sure you will like yours.

Walk, not run, to get a EUPULA mag loader. Essential tool. The spring does lighten up over time though

 

[V0OBWxZS16]

ShootingTheBull410 had two failures to expand from the 124gr standard pressure Gold Dot, but the +P and +P Short Barrel worked well.


Before asking "What ammo should I use?" you should ask "What should ammo do, what shouldn't it do, and how is it tested?" I recommend the following:
Handgun Wounding Factors and Effectiveness from the Firearms Training Unit of the FBI
Basic Wound Ballistic Terminal Performance Facts by Dr. Roberts (DocGKR)
Ordnance gelatin test assessment for rifle and pistol calibers by Dr. Roberts (DocGKR)
What's Wrong With The Wound Ballistics Literature And Why by Dr. Fackler

For specific recommendations I start here:
Service Caliber Handgun Duty and Self-Defense Ammo by Dr. Roberts (DocGKR)
Then here:
9mm Ammo Quest on Youtube by ShootingTheBull410

I chose Federal HST in 147 grain standard pressure (P9HST2), but it can be difficult to find.

 

[DarylLawman]

My New M&P Ported Shield...Love it !!!

 

[mark32812]

You can buy one now w/o a safety no problem ! So run run run to you r Local gins store and buy one lol....
You will love the Shield,, Also look into a UPULA mag loader it will save your fingers and Talon Grip Tape. It will give you a better feel IMO

I already have a Shield. I am waiting for the new Performance Center Shield to be offered without a safety.

 

[redwing57]

Falling in love with my Shield. At 75 feet all my rounds are pretty easily inside the "down 0" circle on an IDPA target (about 8" circle). More than accurate enough for me. Also, it is very natural for instinctive shooting, point shooting, whatever you want to call firing out to around 10-15 feet without using the sights. After learning that method in a tactical handgun class, it seems like some sort of Jedi trick! Just can't believe it works that well. Out to almost 15' I can hit within 2" or so of where I'm looking, just looking, at the impact point.

I use 124 gr standard pressure Federal HSTs for my SD rounds. Also bought some 124 gr +p, and the increased recoil is noticeable. All of them work fine.

For practice rounds, I also use 124 gr, hopefully to give similar felt recoil.

The Uplula is a great tool, and it really helps at the range. I put Mag Guts followers in my Shield's magazines too, to give an extra round each. So with the 7 (now 8) in the pistol, and the 8 (now 9) as a spare, I'm carrying 8+1, and 9, for 18 rounds on board. That should be enough for anything I'm likely to encounter!

 

[Saudade]

I'm in!! I have a NTS Shield in 9mm. Awesome^2! Wish I could carry here.

 

[Radco]

I already have a Shield. I am waiting for the new Performance Center Shield to be offered without a safety.

Oooops I mis read the post lol Post when you get one

 

[Horn]

Glad You Like Your Shield

Hi all,
Purchased a new shield last week and finally shot it a few hours ago. It is sweet. Fired about 150 rounds of different ammo and it was flawless. I usually pocket carry a ruger lcp but figured i would give this a shot. I have a blackhawk arc iwb that i carried it in all day around 4:00 position and it was very comfortable. I have only been carrying for about 6 mo. And first time for iwb and it rocks. Very thin profile with this holster. Shoots great, tight groups. Only complaint at the moment is the clip springs are very stiff out of the box. I had a very hard time loading 6 rounds in them. After all the shooting i think they are loosening up a bit. My arms and fingers are killing me from loading the darn things. I was afraid i was going to set one off trying to get them in. Anyways great gun. Two other question. I see a lot of guys using speer gold dots as they seem to be one of the top rated. They are hard to find and the range i was at had the 124 gr. LE version but not in +p only standard. Can you advise which load is better +p or standard in the shield. One last thing, how many rounds do you guys shoot before you field strip and thouroghly clean. I shot the 150 but just wiped it down good with gun wipes. I dont want to strip it yet. Thx for info.

I've found a Shield is a really perfect (for me) EDC. If you'd like some information on any caliber you might Google > Ammo Quest and look at the videos of ammo reviews. That will help you to decide. There are several (Name brand) 9 mm rounds that are acceptable for SD. The FBI has already gone from S&W 40 back
to 9mm.
You'll become even more satisfied with your Shield as you spend hundreds on ammo.
G'luck

 

[Arney]

Love mine after carry for the last 2 years. No issues on the range with 1000 rounds so far. Noticed the new ported version, but I am still concerned about muzzle flash if used in the dark. Also close encounters would be a potential issue.
The only benefit would be reduced recoil on the range.
Not my priority, personal defense is.....