Picked up a new Shield for Wife and she doesn't like it

[Retiredguns]

Sometimes a person has to take an instant liking to something or they made their mind up that it's not gonna work. I'll give it a few days and see. The LGS may let me trade up without a big restocking fee so that's an option.

I don't think my Wife would ever attempt to conceal an SP101 although in the winter months it's doable. 118lbs, size 2 doesn't give much "wiggle" room.

 

[gen3guy]

I have a nephew that buys a lot of guns for his wife that she doesn't like. He can't seem to get it right, but he keeps trying. ;^)

 

[Retiredguns]

I have a nephew that buys a lot of guns for his wife that she doesn't like. He can't seem to get it right, but he keeps trying. ;^)

Yep, bought the Wife a Colt M4 a few months back. One of these days I am going to have to buy her a new vacuum or she is going to catch on.

 

[alleycat7002]

Best gun for someone has problems with autos is a revolver...nice smith snubnose be answer

 

[Retiredguns]

Snubbies in general, and Airweights in particular (very lightweight snubbies) are hard to aim and fire accurately.

Snubbies are guns for experts.

Lighweight snubbies have heavy recoil.

The good part about snubbies is that they are small and easy to carry.

The bad part about snubbies is that they are small and hard to shoot well.

No doubt. We have a Rossi stainless .38 snubbie and while it has a decent thump, it's nothing like the airweight.

 

[Mister X]

Snubbies are guns for experts.

It depends on what you want to do with with it, context is key. As a personal defense tool used in the scenarios the armed civilian is most likely to encounter, they are a solid choice. Even for a beginner. WILSON DEFENSE JOURNAL: The real ladies gun by Massad Ayoob

 

[randyr5]

We handled so many pistols in the store and while the Shield felt great in her hands, she is having a bear of time racking the slide in any manner. I'm trying to give her some pointers, but she gets discouraged. 118lbs soaking wet, but I know if she practices, she will get it. The Glock 43, Ruger LC(s Pro and Kahr CM9 were all easier and now she wonders why I bought the Shield.

She can rack my XDs .45 with ease, but the grip is too wide front to back and it kicks to much for her comfort. She can shoot a 9mm just fine, but I need to build her confidence with the S&W.

Is their an aftermarket recoil spring kit available that might help?

Thanks
Steve

This place Stainless Steel Guide Rods - Sig Glock Beretta SS Guide Rods has a replacement rod for the Shield. They only use the outer or main spring, making it easier to rack. No real difference in felt recoil. You have to send them your factory RSA so that they can put the spring on the new rod.

 

[Florida J Frame]

Had an airweight. She fired it once and set it on the bench. She was used to my old Ruger GP100 which barely kicked.

A steel J Frame with the right ammo will cure that.

 

[alleycat7002]

Had a snubie once that out shoot a model 10

 

[Florida J Frame]

I haven't personally tried one, but there is a device called a Handi-Racker that claims it can help people rack their slides. It is about $25 and might be worth looking into.

Safest way to rack your pistols Handi-Racker

Im my opinion, this is a very bad idea for a SD gun. It's OK for the range but even the Shield can fail and if you have to fumble with a plastic gadget to rack a round in under stress you are in big trouble. I think the revolver is a much safer choice.

 

[bedbugbilly]

I have a Shield and love it. Would my wife like it . . . nope.

You tried many guns at the store . . . certainly you . . or I should say "she" since it is "her" gun tried them. Did you buy the Shield because "she" liked it or because "you" liked it?

At 118 lbs. . . I can see why she would have problems racking the slide. I'm 63 (mainly a Smith revolver guy) and while I'm getting better with my Shield, the stiff racking would probably be my main complaint if I had one about the Shield.

I know there are a variety of things to help make the slide rack easier . . but in the meantime, if she gets frustrated with it she isn't going to like it and won't want to use it. I have a friend I shoot with in AZ and she is petite and probably about the same as your wife. She has trouble racking larger semi-autos and she's pretty "spunky" and not afraid of much of anything. But, she uses a Sig 380 . . fits her hands better and no racking problems, etc. . . and trust me . . you wouldn't want to be on the business end of her shooting.

not saying that this is the case here . . maybe she wanted the Shield? But too often . . husbands and SO pick out their mate's handgun instead of letting her pick what "she" wants. I've been married 44 years and learned a long time ago not to make that mistake! LOL

If the Shield is giving her problems and frustrating her . . . then maybe you should use it and start over int he selection process?

 

[hardluk1]

Your going to stay with the 9MM . That's big of you . Your wife might be able handle a 9mm will . But not in the shield !! Maybe a M&P9c or a full size are a breeze to rack but not the shield .

Stop pushing what your wife can shot . Its not for you to decide . Its far better to have gun in a size SHE will carry and handle and in a cartridge SHE likes. Other wise you have a new 9mm until shes' very comfortable with it when she is ready .

One of my daughters started carry'n a cw9 kahr a few months back that was one of my old CC pistols . She has shot it for a few years Took her a while own her own to get comfortable racking it . She will also shoot my cm9 but racking it is a not practice still .

My wife has shot 9mm for some years but was not comfortable racking her M&P9c as swiftly and as controlled as us manly type do so she carried a 380 till she was fine with the compact at the range and one day she decided it was time with you telling me . All ON HER Own . Heck she has a 357 6" Dan Wesson she and has been shooting for 30 years and not some down loaded fodder but handles 158gr 1550fps loads well . My wife and gilrs learn center fire with a ss snubby 38sp with wadcutters to 135gr +P loads . My oldest first carry handgun ended up buying a 13oz charter arms lite weight so recoil was never an issues but racking that kahr cw9 was for a few years . MY youngest has on her own take'n charge of one of wifes 9mm , a pt111g2 as her CC now . All on Her own .
Heck I did not like the snap of that 13oz snubby .

Maybe you should let your wife come here and read this tread ??

 

[RobzGuns]

Im my opinion, this is a very bad idea for a SD gun. It's OK for the range but even the Shield can fail and if you have to fumble with a plastic gadget to rack a round in under stress you are in big trouble. I think the revolver is a much safer choice.

If she's planning on using it for CC, she should indeed be able to use it without something like the Handi-Racker, but for range use and getting everything broken in, while she works on being able to rack the pistol herself, the Handi-Racker could be very helpful in getting there.

 

[Walton Feep]

How about this:

Springer Precision Slide Racker for the M&P

 

[Retiredguns]

You tried many guns at the store . . . certainly you . . or I should say "she" since it is "her" gun tried them. Did you buy the Shield because "she" liked it or because "you" liked it?

She liked the way it felt in her hand and the weight. I was thinking (or you could say ***-uming) that it would lighten up after a while, but it sounds like it is a stiff little booger period. I sent an email to the guys that make replacement single springs to see if it actually makes more than a tiny difference without sacrificing function. I also sent an email to my dealer (closed Tues & Wed) asking if I could trade up. They had a sweet Kahr K9 with night sights on consignment for $450. That thing felt great and was easy to rack. I'll take my Wife and let her try a few more. I know the G42 would be comfy all around for her, but even with HST ammo, not sure about the caliber.

Thanks for all the comments. I never had to think about anyone else but myself for a carry gun, but since my Wife is showing interest, I need to be patient and make her comfortable. If the dealer won't take it back without a ridiculous restocking fee, then I may sell locally. Someone will get an unfired Shield and a sweet Hidden Hybrid holster for a good price. I don't think I necessarily need another carry gun even though I'd like it.

 

[Florida J Frame]

If she's planning on using it for CC, she should indeed be able to use it without something like the Handi-Racker, but for range use and getting everything broken in, while she works on being able to rack the pistol herself, the Handi-Racker could be very helpful in getting there.

I thought that's what I said . . .

 

[chele519]

I'm about the same size as your wife and had a trouble with my shield at first too. I tried the method of using the strong hand to punch it forward but that didn't work for me. I think I needed a better grip with the weak hand. What worked for me was to leave the gun with the slide racked for a few days. This made a huge difference. I also switched to overhand grip so I had more of my weak hand holding the slide and that was much easier. Before you both decide to sell it, let it sit for a while with the slide racked and see if that helps.

 

[Retiredguns]

I'm about the same size as your wife and had a trouble with my shield at first too. I tried the method of using the strong hand to punch it forward but that didn't work for me. I think I needed a better grip with the weak hand. What worked for me was to leave the gun with the slide racked for a few days. This made a huge difference. I also switched to overhand grip so I had more of my weak hand holding the slide and that was much easier. Before you both decide to sell it, let it sit for a while with the slide racked and see if that helps.

Reassuring, thank you.

 

[Muss Muggins]

Revolver . . .

 

[swsig]

Ditch the Shield

Best to let the wife god in to a gun shop with out are "better " half and find what SHE can handle well . Maybe a 380 like a bersa thunder , or glock 42 or a sig p250sc380 would be best for a new smaller CC handgun shooter . OH the easiest to rack handgun you will ever find - P250sc 380 and loaded with 12 underwood 90gr gold dots at 1200fps is far better than 9mm shes uncomfortable with .

Sig Sauer's P250 Sub-Compact .380

Hardluk1 speaks the absolute truth. I have five semi-autos, and the Shield is BY FAR the most difficult to rack. Fortunately, one of the other semi-autos is a SIG P250sc .380 that my wife bought. It is the only one that she can rack, and she can do it easily. Loaded with 12 Shooting The Bull-approved SD rounds (we use Fiocchi XTP), it's a pretty formidable weapon for a not-too-strong 100 lb. older woman.

My advice to the OP: Ditch the Shield. The Shield will not become much easier for your wife to rack over time, so don't count on that. Either keep it for yourself, or trade it in, and buy the SIG or some other gun your wife can actually use.