Second year Shield report.

[ccpacker]

Been about a year since I visited this forum. Seems like the Shield chatter has nearly disappeared. I still enjoy mine. It is my EDC. My accuracy is great. Shield reliability is very high. It can be well concealed IWB or just a pocket gun. I will post my last range trip when I figure out how get it off my phone and on my Chromebook. When you put 9 rounds in a 1-1/2" circle with two flyers not more than 3"out at 15 ft., that will sufice for defensive combat range.

 

[Radco]

I agree e Shield is a great gun ! I have the 9mm Shield about 6 months around 500 + rounds through it. Up to 15 t I have a IMO goods group, A floater once in awhile :O At 20/25 ft not groups are wider but not too bad.. 20/25 ft is what I will be working on but for self defense it is perfect, It was not made as a range gun but a lot of people here shoot great with it at 5/10 and 15 yards. Hopefully Ill get to 25 ft lol

 

[martybee]

I agree e Solid is a great gun ! I have the 9mm Shield about 6 months around 500 + rounds through it. Up to 15 t I have a IMO goods group, A floater once in awhile :O At 20/25 ft not groups are wider but not too bad.. 20/25 ft is what I will be working on but for self defense it is perfect, It was not made as a range gun but a lot of people here shoot great with it at 5/10 and 15 yards. Hopefully Ill get to 25 ft lol

You will!
I shoot mine 8-10 yds. at the local indoor range and it is very good. I too have a few Fly-Aways, but over all I shoot fine. I have over 1,200 through mine!

mb

 

[HDBrownie]

I just bought one last night

 

[motorcyclejoe]

Try the XDS

After about a year of use I finally admitted I was not happy with my 9mm Shield. I just found the grip to be too thin and just couldn't get comfortable. I tried the XDS 9mm and find it much more substantial. I almost like the XDS as much as my 9c. Also the fit and finish on the XDS is far superior to the Shield. Picture is with the std mag with a Pearce grip extension. Now I'm thinking about getting a Mod2 or XDM 9mm compact with a 3.8 barrel.

 

[Arney]

Over 2 years with my 40 Shield. Around 1000 rounds so far with 0 issues.

Very pleased. Qualifying another 40 Shield (just under 250 rounds so far). This will be my so called "rotation " The fact that my current has the safety and the other not, will not be an issue if I don't use the safety.

Other guns are all XDs....thicker and easier for me to hold, but not as easy to carry.

 

[PirateJim]

After about a year of use I finally admitted I was not happy with my 9mm Shield. I just found the grip to be too thin and just couldn't get comfortable. I tried the XDS 9mm and find it much more substantial. I almost like the XDS as much as my 9c. Also the fit and finish on the XDS is far superior to the Shield. Picture is with the std mag with a Pearce grip extension. Now I'm thinking about getting a Mod2 or XDM 9mm compact with a 3.8 barrel.

The cases at gun stores across the country are full of different brands because there is no one gun that's perfect for everyone. In this case, it seems that what I consider to be Shield's greatest asset is for motorcyclejoe a shortcoming, that being its thin profile. I agree, the Shield's thin grip isn't optimal for target shooting, but its great for carrying concealed and plenty good enough for its intended purpose as a close quarters self defense weapon.

I've had mine close to two years now, well over a thousand rounds through it. It runs great and shoots pretty accurately for the kind of gun it is. In my opinion, the best serious caliber civilian concealed carry gun going.

 

[ccpacker]

In addition to the Shield 40, I have a Glock 22 Gen 4. It certainly isn't a 6 shot pocket gun, but works well as a full sized, 15 round, fun gun. My desire is to be as proficient as possible with both weapons. I am happy with my groupings with both guns though vastly different in size and thickness.

 

[Deadbug]

After about a year of use I finally admitted I was not happy with my 9mm Shield. I just found the grip to be too thin and just couldn't get comfortable. I tried the XDS 9mm and find it much more substantial. I almost like the XDS as much as my 9c. Also the fit and finish on the XDS is far superior to the Shield. Picture is with the std mag with a Pearce grip extension. Now I'm thinking about getting a Mod2 or XDM 9mm compact with a 3.8 barrel.

Glad you found something that worked better for you; obviously, not everybody likes the same thing:

When I was in the market for a new concealed carry 9mm handgun, I went to the range and rented the XDS, Glock 43 and the Shield. There was no question about what I liked the best, by far--and that was the Shield. I bought one the same day, and after almost 3,000 rounds downrange--I love it even more. S&W made a winner IMO.

 

[Radco]

I just bought one last night

First WELCOME to the group! And Congrats on your new Shield. Great gun! FYI for easier mag loading look into getting a MAGULA magazine loader, Make it way easier! Look on E Bay for a good price!
maglula | Tools for loading and unloading magazines
Also look into the Talon Grip Tape. Gives a better feel

TALON Gun Grips for Smith & Wesson M&P Shield 9mm/ .40

 

[HDBrownie]

First WELCOME to the group! And Congrats on your new Shield. Great gun! FYI for easier mag loading look into getting a MAGULA magazine loader, Make it way easier! Look on E Bay for a good price!
maglula | Tools for loading and unloading magazines
Also look into the Talon Grip Tape. Gives a better feel

TALON Gun Grips for Smith & Wesson M&P Shield 9mm/ .40

Thank you! I went in for a gun fitting and tried several. This was a great choice for me. I have tiny hands, though, so thinner is better for me. (I'm a female, btw, not a man with tiny hands lol)

 

[Radco]

Thank you! I went in for a gun fitting and tried several. This was a great choice for me. I have tiny hands, though, so thinner is better for me. (I'm a female, btw, not a man with tiny hands lol)

Your very welcome. The Shield is a great gun easy to shoot as well, The Talon tape will give you a firmer grip IMO, But not everyone likes them! My son loves the Talons on his Shield his wife does not! May I suggest you check w/your local gun store as lots of them offer class's for women! For extra magazines look on E Bay got mine for around 27$ shipped

 

[Deadbug]

Your very welcome....The Talon tape will give you a firmer grip IMO, But not everyone likes them! My son loves the Talons on his Shield his wife does not! ....

Just to make sure the new owner is aware that the Talon Grip tape comes in two versions: Rubberized (that feel good in the hand and helps toward a more secure grip with some owners saying it helps tone down perceived recoil)...and Aggregate (read skateboard tape/sandpaper) which helps with limiting movement while gripped, but has a very abrasive feel, but appreciated by competition shooters.

I've had the rubberized grips throughout my Shield ownership and recently replaced the original design with the newly redesigned grips. I really like the feel both at the range and when holstered in and drawing from concealment.

HDBrownie, Welcome to the Forum. If you find the slide very stiff to rack, it will get better with use--after you clean and lube the pistol per the manual and before you go to the range for the first few times, leave the slide locked open for a day or two before you plan to hit the range, as well as store your mags full (using the Maglula). I still use mine because it makes it so fast and easy, but I have no real trouble hand loading the mags to capacity now after getting my thumb beat to submission trying to get the last rounds in when new. Have a lot of fun, and be sure to let us know how things go!