Shield beat out by XDs

[TMAXXII]

I have the XDs and a Shield 9. Personally, I like the Springfield better and the more I shoot it, the more I like it.

My wife, on the other hand, does not like the XDs at all. Too much snap and recoil for her. Although she finds the recoil spring on the Shield to be a *****! It is way too hard to rack for a 9 that size. Then there's that mag drop thing.

I would rather carry a 9 and I would rather carry a larger cap mag (although in NY that point is somewhat moot). However I carry a few different in both caliber often.

Without getting into the whats and whys of my preference, both have merit and shortcomings and I would trust either with my life. Truthfully at the end of the day, I prefer to carry my M&P 9c or FN P9 for performance, feel, accuracy and capacity better than either the Shield or XDs.

YMMV.

Sorry you live in NY, I lived in Buffalo, NY, I am glad I moved. I like the Shield 40 better than the XDS 45, that's my two cents. I almost bought the XDS and at the last minute I walked away. A good friend ask me go to range and he just purchased the XDS 45, he let me fire about fifty rounds through it, my thoughts, the trigger does not have a clean break and grip is terrible. I had red marks on my had after firing the 50 rounds. He shot my Shield 40 and wanted to trade, to me that says it all. I told him no, but I will probably go back and get the XDS 45, I see more ammo for 45s than the 40s or 9s.

Honestly, I moving away from 9mms and I love the 40 S&W rounds. I have a lot of 9mms and I have been thinking about selling off my 9mms, but I purchased over 7,000 SD rounds and about 5,000 practice rounds in 9mm prior to the shortage, I might wait and see what happens on this ammo shortage before selling them off or sell them on Gunbroker and buy a new house.

I would rate the Glocks with best trigger pull (3.5 lbs) and feel, Kahr PM9 and Shields 2nd, Rugers 3rd and the Walther 4th. I not sure where the XDS will fall yet.

 

[Nevadadvx]

I have been reading all the rants about those plastic guns, glock this , shield that, xd this, I buy hand guns for two reasons #1 for personal protection # 2 for a good investment, you spend good money for a plastic gun and spend money for a steel gun, wait ten years and see which will make you money !!, GLAD YOU GUYS ARE GIDDIE about plastic guns, leaves more real guns for me to find, just my opinion , you spend your hard earned money the way you want, and I will spend mine the way I want.:

Spoken like a true gun snob. Why bother visiting the M&P section of this site if you don't like "plastic" guns???

 

[Cokeman]

If you sold all that 9mm, you could flood the market and bring the prices back down with that much.

 

[ShortStroke]

hs 2000 my arse. I like my Shield!

 

[Armanius]

Spoken like a true gun snob. Why bother visiting the M&P section of this site if you don't like "plastic" guns???

Could not agree more.

 

[Nakanokalronin]

I have been reading all the rants about those plastic guns, glock this , shield that, xd this, I buy hand guns for two reasons #1 for personal protection # 2 for a good investment, you spend good money for a plastic gun and spend money for a steel gun, wait ten years and see which will make you money !!, GLAD YOU GUYS ARE GIDDIE about plastic guns, leaves more real guns for me to find, just my opinion , you spend your hard earned money the way you want, and I will spend mine the way I want.:

Many like myself like both poly and aluminum/steel framed guns, collect one and use one or both for SD. Some poly guns have and will retain or gain value and not all steel/aluminum framed guns will increase in value either. It all depends on what it is.

The biggest advantages in a poly gun is the fact you can have a grippy surface without adding width. Steel/aluminum framed guns need grips added on which adds width. There's also the corrosion factor from different types of moisture including sweat when carrying.

If you're all about the metal framed guns, why are you in the M&P section replying in a poly gun thread?

 

[Roger S&W]

The current edition of American Rifleman has the Springfield XDs as the winner of the handgun of the year. So much for the Shield, which many here thought might win. Some of the mag drop & other here & there issue's didn't help I'm sure, but the XDs hasn't been without it's probs either. Oh well

Not in my book. All the reports of FTRTB and magazine insertion/mag release button failures as well as recoil induced FTFs with the XDs.
I choose the Shield as the Gun of the Decade.
(Well, actually, I'd have to go back and check when the M&P40c was released)
No malfunctions. Accurate, comfortable....etc..etc...

 

[Shoo2tr]

I just want those who consider the XDs to be riddled with problems to consider one thing. I would venture to guess that 90% of the FTRTB issues are in fact caused by shooter error. As in inconsistent grip/technique. I have watched on this forum how many of the same people caution new Shield owners about not doing those very things too so as not to create the same issues. Folks, these are micro compact pistols we are talking about. Not everyone should own either of these models because inconsistent or poor technique will not net good results. I can induce an FTF, or FTRB in my XDs by using improper technique. As I stated earlier, these awards are subjective and either gun could have won but the XDs was chosen by this particular publication. Those who are true ambassadors of shooting sports do get beyond some of the emotions involved and understand this. Others make themselves feel better by bashing other brands instead of showing some class and at least making some informed observations about the positives and negatives of various platforms. Rant off.

The Shield and XDs are not for everyone, but in the hands of proficient shooters will provide great CCW service for a long time.

 

[snakeye]

Tell you what there would be no argument on my point. If SA makes a 40 cal in the XDS and it is any where close to as good as the shield there will be one in my stable....magazine article or not

 

[2tango2]

My guess is the xDs in 9 should be priced along the lines of the .45 xDs......which means any where from 499 to 649 lol....Shooters Outpost sells the .45 for 499 so hoping they stay with that pricing for the 9

As I said I have both...the SA just feels more refined in the slide action and the trigger pull to me. That being said I still carry the Shield more times than not over the xDs

 

[Armanius]

That XDS slide is still a pretty tight/heavy. What's with the slide in these little guns? I was going to let my wife carry the Shield if and when she gets a CHL. But she struggles mightily with the Shield slide, and I have to do it for her at the range.

 

[N4KVE]

Gunstores pay $445 for the XDS. GARY

 

[Armanius]

Gunstores pay $445 for the XDS. GARY

So the profit margin isn't all that much. I've seen prices from $499 to $599 for XDS.

 

[Nakanokalronin]

That XDS slide is still a pretty tight/heavy. What's with the slide in these little guns? I was going to let my wife carry the Shield if and when she gets a CHL. But she struggles mightily with the Shield slide, and I have to do it for her at the range.

It's the nature of most small semi-autos due to the recoil spring assembly construction so the gun can cycle properly while firing.

 

[Armanius]

Thanks! That's a bummer for smaller women with weaker hands. Looks like I may get her a PK380 then. That's about as easy of a slide that I've come across.

 

[Nakanokalronin]

Thanks! That's a bummer for smaller women with weaker hands. Looks like I may get her a PK380 then. That's about as easy of a slide that I've come across.

I suggested the PK380 to my aunt and she loves it. For her, a full size 9mm, SP101 with .38spl loads or a small .380 is to much recoil for her, but the PK380 is just right. I swear that gun was created for someone who can't rack slides, is recoil sensitive or those with arthritis.

 

[Armanius]

I suggested the PK380 to my aunt and she loves it. For her, a full size 9mm, SP101 with .38spl loads or a small .380 is to much recoil for her, but the PK380 is just right. I swear that gun was created for someone who can't rack slides, is recoil sensitive or those with arthritis.

Thanks for the tidbit.

I was about to order a PK380, but decided first to call around to check out ammo situation first. There's no .380 ammo anywhere around here!! Not even overpriced .380 ammo. Only .380 I can find is at my local gun club/range, but limited to one box if I buy a .380 pistol from them, or one box of I rent a .380 from them! Aargh!

Sorry for the tangent/hijacking this thread.

 

[srlove]

Having owned quite a few carry guns the size of the Shield and XDS or smaller, I think it's more about knowing that it's hard to make a 45acp small and controllable at the same time. Do it with a 45acp first and the 40 and 9 versions are a walk in the park. S&W would need to make the grip thicker on the Shield at a minimum to accommodate the 45acp round, SA only needs to make the same gun in different calibers.

As a side note, I like S&W and SA both just fine, so don't take what I'm saying as brand loyalty.

***
While I agree SA did fantatic job in xds .45 design I don't see where S&W shield would need larger grip to go from .40 to .45. BTW - I bought the .40 shield initially because the grip felt more natural in my hand. First time out with her was hitting tight groups (1inch to 2 inch) even with rapid fire followup shots. Couldn't do it with my friends XDs .45. Maybe changing XDs grips would do it for me. I also own/love my XDM. Then again I also love my Sig's.

 

[srlove]

I just want those who consider the XDs to be riddled with problems to consider one thing. I would venture to guess that 90% of the FTRTB issues are in fact caused by shooter error. As in inconsistent grip/technique. I have watched on this forum how many of the same people caution new Shield owners about not doing those very things too so as not to create the same issues. Folks, these are micro compact pistols we are talking about. Not everyone should own either of these models because inconsistent or poor technique will not net good results. I can induce an FTF, or FTRB in my XDs by using improper technique. As I stated earlier, these awards are subjective and either gun could have won but the XDs was chosen by this particular publication. Those who are true ambassadors of shooting sports do get beyond some of the emotions involved and understand this. Others make themselves feel better by bashing other brands instead of showing some class and at least making some informed observations about the positives and negatives of various platforms. Rant off.

The Shield and XDs are not for everyone, but in the hands of proficient shooters will provide great CCW service for a long time.

Perfectly stated

 

[srlove]

That XDS slide is still a pretty tight/heavy. What's with the slide in these little guns? I was going to let my wife carry the Shield if and when she gets a CHL. But she struggles mightily with the Shield slide, and I have to do it for her at the range.

All the new smaller framed guns are using stronger springs to accommodate shorter slides thus allowing proper racking/feeding. BTW - I had some trouble with my shield .40 initially too...practice...practice...practice