Shield 9mm for CCW class?

[Jaysq]

Thanks for the replies. I will just rent their .22, buy more ammo for mine and start hitting the range with it. On another ?, with the M&P bodyguard, laser or no laser? The shield will be #1 home defense gun for now (till I buy more), but when I get my CCW permit, I'm wanting the .380 for more pocket carry, jacket/vest carry when on my motorcycle. The bodyguard will fit nicely in the vest pocket.

I see no reason for a laser on a CCW. If you are so far from your target that you need a laser, you most likely can walk away from the situation.

Don't rule out carrying the Shield as a CCW, it is so easy to conceal, but I find it to large to be a pocket gun. If you plan to ever carry the Shield or the Bodyguard in a holster, you might want to think about ordering one now, the lead time can be long on quality holsters.

[/url]S&W Shield 003cf3 by Jerry Jaynes, on Flickr[/IMG]

 

[kannonvaggon]

I think you are taking this too "lightly" ....

Shooting a .22 pistol that you rent is NOTHING like shooting your own Shield. I thought the whole idea of getting "certified" for a license is showing that you know your weapon and can use it effectively and safely.

No rimfire pistols are allowed for CCW certifications in my own state, and I think for good reason. Nothing wrong with practice using a .22 .... but you mostly need to get to know your own carry weapon FIRST.
You may find that the Shield you bought might be a bit on the tight side out of the box . Operating it accurately and quickly will not be the same as a rimfire pistol.

Just saying.... YMMV

 

[hoc9sw]

It seems a bit premature to say you need to shoot the new-in-box, never fired Shield as "your" gun. I do not believe it is "your gun" until you learn it's characteristics, sighting, faults, and strengths. The only rounds through that new-in-box were tests on a testing bank. My Shield is now reliable. But the first 100+ rounds were plagued by FTB, jams, FTE, just a morass of failures, and a trip back to the homeland. Not the norm, but a possibility.

I shot my test with a 9mm PT92 that a friend loaned me, after spending a day at the range with it. There was concern about my arthritis. After 100 rounds, I knew where it shot, so I adjusted. Then I shot another 100, and thought I might make it. I missed 2 points on the test with it. I went back to my service .45 that had not been fired in 25 years, and after a heavy cleaning, shot a perfect score. That was "my gun". But I spent years with it, qualifying again, again, and again.

I bought a new S&W 22 compact, and first day at the range put everything on target. I would have qualified in the first 50 rounds with a perfect score.

I disagree strongly with CCW permits that qualify with a .22, but even more those that have no test at all. Given that the OP has the option of doing it the easy way, rather than taking the risks of modern "quality control" of a NIB weapon, I would kick his butt if he took the hard route presented. BUT ...

I would feel like a personal promise (to myself) to re-qualify in a few weeks or months with the Shield before ever actually carrying would be a minimum requirement in a .22 state. When you spend a good number of days at the range, you'll make friends with someone who knows the plan and can run through the tests with a $1 B27 target. I do it often. Cost? After the guns are locked away, buy me a Jack on the rocks.

 

[Rastoff]

Shooting a .22 pistol that you rent is NOTHING like shooting your own Shield. I thought the whole idea of getting "certified" for a license is showing that you know your weapon and can use it effectively and safely.

Not all concealed carry classes/requirements are the same. In my class the mandate is that you demonstrate the safe operation of the gun, not marksmanship.

I've had students that were very poor shots and a couple that were good. All of them were able to put shots on target though and that's good enough for the county requirements.

The class is not designed to teach marksmanship. There's just not enough time. We have to cover the law and that takes time and is complicated enough. I do encourage the students to come back for pure marksmanship training though. I've had a couple take me up on that and they are glad they did.


So, for the OP, I too recommend the .22 rental. The Shield trigger can be tough to learn. You don't want to learn while qualifying.

What is the course of fire or shooting requirements?

 

[supplier]

I see no reason for a laser on a CCW. If you are so far from your target that you need a laser, you most likely can walk away from the situation.

I would second that advice. I would not bet my life or legal expenses on laser for a gun that only meant to be for SD/close quarters personal protection weapon/BUG.

I put "24/7 big dot" for the fast target acquisition on my Shield. Not a perfect range sights ( not meant to be) but 1.5" grouping from 7 yards is possible out of 30 rounds (have 4 mags/30rds total load) with 3-5 shots discarded. Actually I had more than few times groupings as tight as 0.5" from 7 yards out of 8 rounds

 

[Nikogto]

Not all concealed carry classes/requirements are the same. In my class the mandate is that you demonstrate the safe operation of the gun, not marksmanship.

I've had students that were very poor shots and a couple that were good. All of them were able to put shots on target though and that's good enough for the county requirements.

The class is not designed to teach marksmanship. There's just not enough time. We have to cover the law and that takes time and is complicated enough. I do encourage the students to come back for pure marksmanship training though. I've had a couple take me up on that and they are glad they did.


So, for the OP, I too recommend the .22 rental. The Shield trigger can be tough to learn. You don't want to learn while qualifying.

What is the course of fire or shooting requirements?

After the 8 hour class time portion, the shooting is to get 20 out of 30 in 3, 5 and 7 yard targets. I'm going to the range on Sunday to finally run some rounds through the shield. I plan on at least once a month going and getting proficient with that and any other pistols I get.

 

[Nikogto]

I see no reason for a laser on a CCW. If you are so far from your target that you need a laser, you most likely can walk away from the situation.

Don't rule out carrying the Shield as a CCW, it is so easy to conceal, but I find it to large to be a pocket gun. If you plan to ever carry the Shield or the Bodyguard in a holster, you might want to think about ordering one now, the lead time can be long on quality holsters.

[/url]S&W Shield 003cf3 by Jerry Jaynes, on Flickr[/IMG]

I do plan on using the shield as my everyday concealed carry gun. I want to also get the m&p bodyguard for when I'm on the motorcycle, wearing shorts, to me it would be easier to carry in my vest or jacket than having the shield on my waist

 

[Redlegvzv]

Well, I'm going to disagree with the majority here. Clean the Shield, take it to the class and shoot it and qualify with it. You'll be fine.

 

[Vartarg]

Reschedule!

Lot's of sound advice here....but the main issue that's being ignored is the "artificial" constraints of having to either use a .22 or a gun you've never shot, because you MUST take the course at this time.

I'd move heaven and earth to reschedule your class, and spend more time at the range with your Shield...and perhaps even get some qualified instruction since you're not apparently an experienced pistol shooter.

JMHO....YMMV

 

[Rastoff]

I see no reason for a laser on a CCW. If you are so far from your target that you need a laser, you most likely can walk away from the situation.

If you think that lasers are only for longer shots, then you don't fully understand what a laser is for.

I don't generally care for lasers on handguns. However, they do have their place. That is far off the subject though and we can discuss it in another thread.

 

[Nikogto]

Well I completed my CCW course today. I was the first one there this morning at 7:20am, the guy holds the course at his house, the private range is down the street. Since I got there early, I talked to him about my situation and concern having a new, never yet fired gun. He said to use it, I would be fine. There was about 41 of us in the class, he asked the class who had experience with handguns and those that didnt have as much or none would be in the last group, which I put myself in only because of the new gun. The 3 yard line he wanted us to shoot one handed with our body turned sideways, all 10 of my rounds were directly in the center of the target with over half through the same hole, my 5 yard were all center with a couple in the next ring, and last 10 rounds were just a little more spread out but mostly in center. Love how it shoots and feels, my very last round jammed as it entered the chamber, had to force slide back against wood post. Looked like the round had a dimple on it keeping it from fully entering chamber. Gonna clean and lube it tonight and hit the range tomorrow. Thanks for all the feedback on this and opinions. Looking forward to putting many rounds throgh this.

 

[Protected One]

Well I completed my CCW course today. I was the first one there this morning at 7:20am, the guy holds the course at his house, the private range is down the street. Since I got there early, I talked to him about my situation and concern having a new, never yet fired gun. He said to use it, I would be fine. There was about 41 of us in the class, he asked the class who had experience with handguns and those that didnt have as much or none would be in the last group, which I put myself in only because of the new gun. The 3 yard line he wanted us to shoot one handed with our body turned sideways, all 10 of my rounds were directly in the center of the target with over half through the same hole, my 5 yard were all center with a couple in the next ring, and last 10 rounds were just a little more spread out but mostly in center. Love how it shoots and feels, my very last round jammed as it entered the chamber, had to force slide back against wood post. Looked like the round had a dimple on it keeping it from fully entering chamber. Gonna clean and lube it tonight and hit the range tomorrow. Thanks for all the feedback on this and opinions. Looking forward to putting many rounds throgh this.

Glad your instructor encouraged you to use the Shield. I see no reason to rent a .22 when you have your own gun to use - especially when it's the one you will be carrying.

I think you'll be more than happy with your Shield, and the Bodyguard .380 when you get it. They both fill my cc needs very well.

 

[fbcmrjrtykr]

Congrats on qualifying with an unfamiliar gun. I know you'll enjoy carrying it. I've been carrying mine a while, both IWB and pocket (in cargo shorts). Of late, I'm using "The Treadstone" by Overwatch Holsters. The owner is a member of this forum (Pastureofmuppets) and is a great guy to deal with. The product has been sweet, giving me a secure, comfortable carry.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Nikogto]

 

[Nikogto]

That is my target from yesterday at my ccw class. 30 rounds total.

 

[fbcmrjrtykr]

That'd slow down most attackers.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[greg_r]

Congrats on completing your ccw class. I was going to chime in and say use your shield because you had no experience with the 22 either. Anyway, looks like you did well.

 

[greg_r]

By the way, check out MTR Custom Leather for your holster. He is local to NC, down around Asheboro somewhere. He makes good products. I use his dual carry model for my shield.

 

[Nikogto]

I think in order to attend a CCW permit class the first thing to do is make sure every student has had some sort of experience with a pistol prier to even taking the class. There was an older couple, (late 60 range) she tells me at the shooting line that's the first time she has ever held a gun, I had to show her where the mag release button was......3 TIMES! Her husband loaded the .22 round backwards in his, both were class rental guns. Another guy I talked to while others were shooting, he just bought his .45 the night before and never shot a pistol before, rifles only. Never cleaned or lubed and never loaded a mag. Kind of scary to see these types of people there. I have shot semi-auto and revolver pistols in the past, just never owned any, so I will call myself a beginner. But at least I learned about my own gun, took it down, cleaned and lubed it up and got to know it first hand. That's all I got to say about that. (forest gump voice)

 

[macintrigg]

I agree

Going to the CCW Class is NOT the right time to figure out how the weapon functions or shoots. Put the class on hold, go to a local RANGE, shoot and shoot more. I will never forget the days of going to quarterly weapons training, I always picked the most far or right lane so it would eliminate at least one person to my right or left. I just purchased a SW MP 9 Shield, even with some knowledge of weapons, 20 years in the military, I cannot imagine showing up to the range and never fired the weapon, BAD IDEA!!!