OP
wrkerr
Member
Not concerned about capacity; I'm hoping for less recoil to lessen the pain of arthritis. I had to give up +p ammo in the M49 and just thought the Shield might be a possible alternative.
Shield 9mm to replace M49?!?
- Thread starter wrkerr
- Start date
Not concerned about capacity; I'm hoping for less recoil to lessen the pain of arthritis. I had to give up +p ammo in the M49 and just thought the Shield might be a possible alternative.
I got an early 9mm Shield, added an Apex kit, Talon grip and fiber optic sights and like it better then anything a 2.0 offers. Daily carry now with a 642 when the Shield is not appropriate.
Concerning capacity, 7+1 (minimum) in a Shield with the short mag is a significant increase (62%) over 5 rounds in a J-frame.
For me, the ease of carrying an 8-round reload (minimum) that conceals well, is not heavy and loads fast is another consideration when carrying relatively low capacity handguns. As well, reloading before slide lock is faster and easier no matter how many rounds are gone, especially remembering there is a live round in the chamber so the gun is not completely out of action. This compared to refreshing a cylinder with some number of rounds (1-5) that can be more complex and time consuming as the replacement count grows. Loose rounds vs. speed strip vs. harder to conceal speed loader.
An empty J with a (slow) reload = 10 rounds. An empty Shield with a faster reload is 16 at a minimum.
I agree with rounded shapes being easier to conceal, generally. But especially when carrying AIWB, the Shield will conceal just as well with the 7-round mag. I carry there with a Magguts 10-round mag +1 in the chamber for 11 on board. My backup mag is another 10-rounds, 21 total @ 1 reload. That is a very significant difference. I have no challenge with concealing the Shield, or even my more often carried full size M&P AIWB.
Recoil is the OP’s primary reason for trying the Shield. Perhaps adding a rubber grip sleeve to the Shield would help give it an advantage over the J-frame?
For me, the ease of carrying an 8-round reload (minimum) that conceals well, is not heavy and loads fast is another consideration when carrying relatively low capacity handguns. As well, reloading before slide lock is faster and easier no matter how many rounds are gone, especially remembering there is a live round in the chamber so the gun is not completely out of action. This compared to refreshing a cylinder with some number of rounds (1-5) that can be more complex and time consuming as the replacement count grows. Loose rounds vs. speed strip vs. harder to conceal speed loader.
An empty J with a (slow) reload = 10 rounds. An empty Shield with a faster reload is 16 at a minimum.
I agree with rounded shapes being easier to conceal, generally. But especially when carrying AIWB, the Shield will conceal just as well with the 7-round mag. I carry there with a Magguts 10-round mag +1 in the chamber for 11 on board. My backup mag is another 10-rounds, 21 total @ 1 reload. That is a very significant difference. I have no challenge with concealing the Shield, or even my more often carried full size M&P AIWB.
Recoil is the OP’s primary reason for trying the Shield. Perhaps adding a rubber grip sleeve to the Shield would help give it an advantage over the J-frame?
OP
wrkerr
Member
Finally got to the range. I can say this; it is a totally different feel than I'm used to !
The trigger has some take-up, kind of mushy, then a clean break. Reset was quick.
The sights are much better than the 1/10 th inch blade on the m49, but I don't like 3 white dots. I might black out the rear dots.
All in all, it felt pretty good, but will take lots of practice. Here are my two targets at 10 yards.
The trigger has some take-up, kind of mushy, then a clean break. Reset was quick.
The sights are much better than the 1/10 th inch blade on the m49, but I don't like 3 white dots. I might black out the rear dots.
All in all, it felt pretty good, but will take lots of practice. Here are my two targets at 10 yards.
Attachments
gwmac
Member
Nothing the matter with that shooting-combat accuracy.
I made the same choice a few years ago. I had been carrying a 2 1/4" SP101 for backup and off duty at my PD job. A friend let me borrow his then brand new 9mm Shield and I fell in love. I had been carrying and shooting various snubby revolvers for years, but budget, manpower and policy changes mandated that, even off duty, as long as we were in town (most of us lived in town then), we were considered to be on call 24/7 if the on-duty Officer needed backup (we were, and still are, running 1 guy on duty most of the time, for a town of approximately 4800 residents), and it happened quite a bit at first. The thought of "running towards the sound of the guns" with a 5 shot snubby revolver didn't fill me with joy. Enter the Shield.
I love the Shield for off duty use, which would carry over to CCW use. Small enough to carry VERY well, yet large enough, and with enough magazine capacity, to shoot like a full sized gun and at least not be severely handicapped if needed to go on the offense. Mine has always been very reliable, and I have never had even a single malfunction. Mine is also accurate enough to win me a few bets against guys shooting full sized, duty-style handguns. Although it has been replaced for backup use by my Glock 42 simply because of the smaller size, it is my constant companion when off duty.
Give the Shield a try, an honest, multiple range trip try. I honestly think, unless you absolutely hate autos, that the Shield will turn out to be a worthy replacement for your M49. It won't be small enough for pocket carry, but for IWB carry, IMHO it simply can't be beat. Small enough to carry very well, yet large enough to shoot like a full sized gun. That's why S&W has sold, literally, over a million of them in just a few short years. I love mine so much that, if I ever find a 1.0 without thumb safety for sale, I'm buying a second one, and I've NEVER bought two of the same gun.
I love the Shield for off duty use, which would carry over to CCW use. Small enough to carry VERY well, yet large enough, and with enough magazine capacity, to shoot like a full sized gun and at least not be severely handicapped if needed to go on the offense. Mine has always been very reliable, and I have never had even a single malfunction. Mine is also accurate enough to win me a few bets against guys shooting full sized, duty-style handguns. Although it has been replaced for backup use by my Glock 42 simply because of the smaller size, it is my constant companion when off duty.
Give the Shield a try, an honest, multiple range trip try. I honestly think, unless you absolutely hate autos, that the Shield will turn out to be a worthy replacement for your M49. It won't be small enough for pocket carry, but for IWB carry, IMHO it simply can't be beat. Small enough to carry very well, yet large enough to shoot like a full sized gun. That's why S&W has sold, literally, over a million of them in just a few short years. I love mine so much that, if I ever find a 1.0 without thumb safety for sale, I'm buying a second one, and I've NEVER bought two of the same gun.
BigDog48
US Veteran
Why do you say that?
