Shield durability as primary EDC

[m1976]

Hi

If you could own only one pistol and had to trust your life on it, would it be the Shield?

In term of reliability and durability how does it compare to 3rd gen 3913? Both have similar characteristic for EDC (slim, rounds etc...)

What is the maximum rounds count fired known for the Shield?

I own 3914 as EDC and having a second thought because of the possibility of lake of support in the long run.

Thanks

 

[Alnamvet68]

I don't own a 3914, so I can't compare. Would I choose a Shield, no! It is too new, and judging by the number of complaints on this forum, the other S&W forum, and several other gun forums, there are just too many things that need to be ironed out for me to stake my life on the Shield. That said, if you want a slim single stack pistol that is almost identical in dimensions and weight as the Shield, then I would go to a Walther PPS, which, after some hiccups in the first couple of years, has now become the standard by which all other small single stacks aspire to. In its 6th year of production, Walther sells every PPS that hits the store shelves within days, and support will only be improved now that they have broken off their relationship with S&W, and moved their distribution to Arkansas. I say distribution, because all PPS' are 100% manufactured in Germany. Other Walther pistols, like the PPK, are manufactured by S&W in Maine for Walther, but only for US distribution.

 

[mesinge2]

I have 1,500 jam-free rounds through my 9mm Shield, and at least 300 of that are JHP loads.

Do I trust my life with it? Yes

Would I want it to be my only gun? No


If I could only choose one handgun it would be my 5" barrel 8 shot 357 magnum model 627PC. If I could only choose one Semi-auto it would be my E-series S&W 1911. Don't get me wrong the Shield is a great gun, but it would not meet my needs as an 'only gun'.


Here's the Shield passing the 1,200 round mark:

9mm S&W M&P-9 Shield just passed 1,200 jam-free rounds - YouTube

 

[Smitty357]

If my Kimber Ultra 1911 was as small as my Shield. There would be no point in me owning my Shield. I'd much prefer to stake my life on my Kimber. I'd carry my Kimber all day every day if the size wasnt an issue. But at the moment, im yet to find anything that is as comfortable carrying 12+ hours a day than my Shield. So for now, a weapon is better than no weapon in this messed up society.

 

[zotzer]

I do. Carry it every day. Check out James Yeager's Shield reviews on You Tube. He'll abuse anything more than I ever will, and if a guy with his experience would trust his life to it, I feel confident.

I am very lazy at round counting, but mine probably has between 700 and 900 rounds through it....of all sorts. Not one failure....ever. Nada. It is not my only pistol, but it IS my carry pistol, so I am entrusting my life to it.

 

[Arik]

I do. Carry it every day. Check out James Yeager's Shield reviews on You Tube. He'll abuse anything more than I ever will, and if a guy with his experience would trust his life to it, I feel confident.

I am very lazy at round counting, but mine probably has between 700 and 900 rounds through it....of all sorts. Not one failure....ever. Nada. It is not my only pistol, but it IS my carry pistol, so I am entrusting my life to it.

Yeager? The cop who decided to play soldier? The guy who put his convoy in a compromised situation then ran away and hid from a firefight that ensued, which got people killed? That Yeager?

I wouldnt count that as experience.

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[Alnamvet68]

Yeager? The cop who decided to play soldier? The guy who put his convoy in a compromised situation then ran away and hid from a firefight that ensued, which got people killed? That Yeager?

I wouldnt count that as experience.

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Unfortunately, the very same.

 

[Arik]

I do. Carry it every day. Check out James Yeager's Shield reviews on You Tube. He'll abuse anything more than I ever will, and if a guy with his experience would trust his life to it, I feel confident.

I am very lazy at round counting, but mine probably has between 700 and 900 rounds through it....of all sorts. Not one failure....ever. Nada. It is not my only pistol, but it IS my carry pistol, so I am entrusting my life to it.

Sorry for picking on your thread but i got hung up on the Yeager thing and forgot about part 2 of your post.

700-900 rounds?! In how long? 900 rounds is 6 months is not much at all. That's 18 boxes of ammo in a long time period probably with cleaning. Were they all the same weight? All fmj? All brass? Try any steel cased ammo?

For me a gun has to go through a thousand rounds in a short period of time, ideally one range session maybe a weekend. 50/50 on fmj and hp and including steel cases. If it works then i'll carry it

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[JMike]

Hang on, I'm getting the popcorn. This is going to be "fun" thread!

 

[Ditchdigger]

For me a gun has to go through a thousand rounds in a short period of time, ideally one range session maybe a weekend. 50/50 on fmj and hp and including steel cases. If it works then i'll carry it

So that's why the ammo shortage. Wouldn't it hold some merit that a edc is going to be used when it is 'cold' hasn't been fired for a bit of time then asked to operate flawlessly at the drop of a hat? So shooting a thousand at a pop could be great for overall wear but does it predict reliability when u need it most. Just a thought.

 

[jfd]

Carry what you have the most confidence in....and what you have the most accuracy with. I don't have a 3913 (wish I did!) but do have a CS9 which is similar in design/construction/size. I also have a Shield 9 and 40. I've probably got a similar number of rounds (several hundred) through all of them. I have great confidence in the Shields but there is no denying they have only been on the market about a year. The 3rd gens, both CS9 and 3913, a WHOLE LOT longer than that. I've never been a huge fan of ANY polymer guns but gun manufacturers, S&W and others, have been making them for a pretty long time now. I carry both polymer (Shield) and alloy 3rd gen (CS9 and CS40) but in the back of my mind I can't escape the feeling and belief that the 3rd gens may be better built and less likely to fail when needed most. Just me but I suspect you and I have lots of company on this subject. Your thread is sure to generate lots of opinions and comments!

 

[jeffhughes]

I have around 1500 through my Shield, it's about a month old and I cleaned it once about 500 rounds ago.

I carry it daily and use it in a tactical handgun class weekly. No failures with cheap range ammo(much of it steel cased), NATO surplus(++P), 147 grain reloads, and a variety of premium hollow points.

Is it my only gun, no. If I could only have one gun I would, and my G17 or my M&P9FS is what I would choose. But the Shield is a great gun and I trust it with my life.

 

[Arik]

So that's why the ammo shortage. Wouldn't it hold some merit that a edc is going to be used when it is 'cold' hasn't been fired for a bit of time then asked to operate flawlessly at the drop of a hat? So shooting a thousand at a pop could be great for overall wear but does it predict reliability when u need it most. Just a thought.

Lol! I dont buy guns for edc too often so its not like im testing a gun once a week or something!

also correct, a gun should be tested as thoroughly as possible. People who can shoot out their yard can stick the gun in a freezer for a bit and then shoot. I dont have that luxury, i have to drive to a range. But i dont clean and oil my guns when i buy em (used or new) i just make sure they are functional.

So i'll run em dry and dirty and when i can i go to a range on an old coal mountain i go there and test it with all the fine coal soot. But thats a 1.5hr drive with tolls and gas so i dont go too often.

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[RussC]

Sorry for picking on your thread but i got hung up on the Yeager thing and forgot about part 2 of your post.

700-900 rounds?! In how long? 900 rounds is 6 months is not much at all. That's 18 boxes of ammo in a long time period probably with cleaning. Were they all the same weight? All fmj? All brass? Try any steel cased ammo?

For me a gun has to go through a thousand rounds in a short period of time, ideally one range session maybe a weekend. 50/50 on fmj and hp and including steel cases. If it works then i'll carry it

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Arik

There are very few people I am aware of who will shoot 1, 000 rounds in one setting especially with a ccw.

Beretta did a 1, 000 shot test of the Nano in one range visit and they had to trade off shooters due to fatigue.

I am done after 150 rounds through my Shield.

I have also shot about 900 rounds of mostly Federal Champion 115 grain fmj with zero failures.

Would I stake my life on my Shield?

I feel uncomfortable trusting any mechanical devise with my life however, this much I know my Shield 9 mm is the only semi auto center fire I have owned that has never given me a single failure and that claim includes my full size Springfield XD 45 which has had a few failures in the same round count.

I have shot or owned most of the major brand single stack 9 mm and if I felt there was a better more reliable 9mm I would own it. (I owned and sold a Kahr & Beretta because they were not the best ccw) In my testing and research I feel confident the Shield as a ccw is top dog in 9 mm.

If I had any reservations or felt there was a better more reliable single stack 9mm I would own it because my family and my life is worth the best protection regardless of cost when it comes to s ccw.

Russ

 

[OldLawman]

I carried a 3913 for several years as an LEO. I now carry a Shield in 9mm, and have no problem trusting it. The 3913 was a great gun for its time, but also not without its flaws (like all weapons platforms).

And no, never saw the Yeager video.

 

[JNewell]

The 9mm Glocks have a nearly eternal service life. I doubt the M&P 9mm pistols will be much different.

 

[shawn mccarver]

Hi

If you could own only one pistol and had to trust your life on it, would it be the Shield?

In term of reliability and durability how does it compare to 3rd gen 3913? Both have similar characteristic for EDC (slim, rounds etc...)

What is the maximum rounds count fired known for the Shield?

I own 3914 as EDC and having a second thought because of the possibility of lake of support in the long run.

Thanks

If I could have only one pistol, I am afraid it would be a Glock 23 - not the Shield. The G23 has a longer track record, a decent caliber even with generally available loads (non LE-only) and it is large enough to feel like a duty gun, yet small enough to be concealed. It is easy to service, more parts and accessories are available than for the Shield, and magazines are not as expensive and seemingly more available.

 

[pazzo]

3 Shields, 2-9's and 1-40 with thousands of rounds through them without a single problem. I carry a Shield 40, or my Glock 23.

I did have a PPS and my experience was not as good as a the Shield thus far.

 

[Dohmein]

Regardless of what I read in forums for my choice in a carry gun it must meet my standards. My Shield does not fail me in that regard. I trust it and have no issues with it. I do not have the 3913 to compare it to though. If I had to only own one gun it would not be the Shield, I would have a heck of a time just picked one.

 

[mr2r6]

I lost count at the 2000 round count. Only issues are ammo related ( wwb) 3 failure to fire.The Shield is a great little gun. I trust it and carry it everyday. You simply can't find a gun that will never have an issue. As long as there are metal moving parts there's bound to be issues.

 

[MP1SG]

The Shield is an M&P be it smaller it's still an M&P, Which is a proven reliable and accurate design. I dare to say its starting to rival the Glock market ( i own 6 Glocks so I am not bashing glock). I often carry the Shield 9, I rotate between my G-26 Shield 9 and some full size M&P's, Mostly because I cannot make up my dam mind on what I wanna carry. Do i trust my life witht he Shield 9? Yes Sir I do, Its very accurate, I can put rounds down range quicly and where they need to go. The round cound isnt a hugh issue for me, I can reload a handgun fairly quickly (I do like hi cap mags better)
I have close to 1,000 rounds through my Shield 9 without a SINGLE malfunction of any kind, WInc white Box Federal Champion 115 and 124 grain, Reloads, Golden Sabre, 147 Grain SXT. Gold Dots and HST all function flawlessly. Its a great Little sturdy reliable accurate pistol.
Regardless of Yeagers "Alleged" actions in Iraq (I have been there several times) He does Know his S***. He has alot of expierence and is able to teach that CANNOT be denied
He calls the shield the Smallest Fighting pistol made today
Out here
1SG

 

[zotzer]

Everyone loves to do the Yeager pile on. Have at it. I don't have an opinion one way or another.

What I know is that he puts more rounds through firearms than I ever will, and sees more rounds fired through students' firearms than most here will ever see. The fact that the video exists that everyone is so critical of shows that he's been in real situations in which lives were lost....

Anyway, at last count, I think he had 7k rounds through it. Had tried to run it forever to failure without cleaning it (as a test), but then a student got it muddy and cleaned it.

So, regardless of the cult of personality, and value judgements from internet warriors, that's the information I have garnered from him specific to the OP's request.... the reliability of the Shield.

As for the other question that was posed, I took posssession of my Shield on January 11th, 2013. As I said originally, all sorts of rounds. 115, 147, +P, HP, Federal, Corbon, Winchester, lead-free, and yes....steel cased. It's had everything through it, practically, with the exception of reloads, which I do not shoot.

 

[JNewell]

3 Shields, 2-9's and 1-40 with thousands of rounds through them without a single problem. I carry a Shield 40, or my Glock 23.

I did have a PPS and my experience was not as good as a the Shield thus far.

Maybe it's a different thread or a PM, but I'd be curious about why the PPS experience has not been as good. I almost bought one a few times - I was ultimately turned off by the different magazine release (not better/worse, just different).

 

[tonesurfer]

Never understand all the rants on Yeager. I've seen the vid. I read the AAR. No I'm not an "operator" nor have I been in the service. Other than leaving the e-brake on in his car and assuming it disabled I don't see he did anything wrong. The two deaths were immediate, one head shot, one femoral/bleed out, all in the first bursts of machine gun fire. Nothing he did caused it or could have prevented it. As for him moving to the ditch at the side of the road, I don't get what was wrong with that. He didn't beat feet and keep on running.

 

[jonesy814]

I have just over 500 rounds through my Shield 9. I got it on October 21, 2012, and havent shot it since early December, cuz its been too darn cold and snowy, so that was done in about 6 weeks. The most I've shot in one range session was 160 or so. I have had absolutely no malfunctions or problems other than having 1 rear sight dot fall out. Fingernail polish fixed that. Thats good enough reliability for me, and I carried it every day til mid January when I got my SR9c. I will go back to the Shield for EDC once the weather gets nicer.

 

[RussC]

Everyone loves to do the Yeager pile on. Have at it. I don't have an opinion one way or another.

What I know is that he puts more rounds through firearms than I ever will, and sees more rounds fired through students' firearms than most here will ever see. The fact that the video exists that everyone is so critical of shows that he's been in real situations in which lives were lost....

Anyway, at last count, I think he had 7k rounds through it. Had tried to run it forever to failure without cleaning it (as a test), but then a student got it muddy and cleaned it.

So, regardless of the cult of personality, and value judgements from internet warriors, that's the information I have garnered from him specific to the OP's request.... the reliability of the Shield.

As for the other question that was posed, I took posssession of my Shield on January 11th, 2013. As I said originally, all sorts of rounds. 115, 147, +P, HP, Federal, Corbon, Winchester, lead-free, and yes....steel cased. It's had everything through it, practically, with the exception of reloads, which I do not shoot.

In my opinion after watching the Yeager Youtube video when he said he is going to "kill people" he crossed the line and deserved having his permit yanked.

I could care less his knowledge/contribution or service to our country. I personally felt threatened by his killing comment and would never go to battle with a person like Yeager who has hate in his heart.

You can defend freedom even with the sword and still have charity in your heart.

Russ

 

[Jayhawkhuntclub]

Sorry for picking on your thread but i got hung up on the Yeager thing and forgot about part 2 of your post.

700-900 rounds?! In how long? 900 rounds is 6 months is not much at all. That's 18 boxes of ammo in a long time period probably with cleaning. Were they all the same weight? All fmj? All brass? Try any steel cased ammo?

For me a gun has to go through a thousand rounds in a short period of time, ideally one range session maybe a weekend. 50/50 on fmj and hp and including steel cases. If it works then i'll carry it

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That's funny. Most people won't put 900 rounds through a handgun in a lifetime. Like it or not, that's how it is. Guns are mechanical devices. And mechanical devices fail every day. And for all a person knows it's that extra 100 (or 1000) rounds that applies the wear that brings it to the failure it is almost gauranteed to have at some point. I wouldn't be so confident in a gun just because I put a few thousand rounds in it. But then again, we all do what we feel comfortable with.

 

[MP1SG]

I just hit the 1,100th round mark throught my Shield 9 in a little over 5 months. not ONE single malfunction, Ya, the front white sight fell out NO big deal a little white out and that problem was solved. The guns runs great very accurate obviously very reliable and a sift shooter. I usually shoot Fed Champion 9mm ball from WalMart but with the current ammo situation i have not seen that at Walmart in several months. Came across some Aguila 9mm 124 grain Ball which is actually very accurate and reliable, NO issues at all with Aguila. Have some Fed HST, Speer GDHP, Rem Golden Sabre all ran fine 115 grain 124 grain +P non +P eats everything i feed it so far. Has been my primary EDC gun now I just need to get the fact that I need a hi cap gun out of my head. I feel confident with the Shield and hope to carry this for a long time.
1SG
Out

 

[Lost Lake]

Hi

If you could own only one pistol and had to trust your life on it, would it be the Shield?

In term of reliability and durability how does it compare to 3rd gen 3913? Both have similar characteristic for EDC (slim, rounds etc...)

I own 3914 as EDC and having a second thought because of the possibility of lake of support in the long run.

Thanks

I have a 3913 and a Shield.

For a while I was carrying the Shield so I wouldn't beat up my 3913. I thought the Shield was dependable until I found I could knock it out of battery and it would stay just like that. Out of battery. Unable to fire. An expensive brick.

I sent my Shield back to S&W and I just received a voicemail from them (I was gone for a week), and I'm interested to hear what they say. I would be surprised and disappointed if they try and tell me the gun is EXPECTED to stay out of battery if bumped. I guess if it should stay out of battery I'll have to send all my third gen S&W's back to get them to stay OOB.

Yes the 3913/14 and Shield share similar size and round capacity, but that's where the similarities end. The former is a well designed and expertly crafted weapon that will easily last several lifetimes, and the latter is a mass produced plastic disposable gun created to meet a price point.

Your 3914 is ten times the gun the Shield is.

 

[MP1SG]

I have a 3913 and a Shield.

For a while I was carrying the Shield so I wouldn't beat up my 3913. I thought the Shield was dependable until I found I could knock it out of battery and it would stay just like that. Out of battery. Unable to fire. An expensive brick.

I sent my Shield back to S&W and I just received a voicemail from them (I was gone for a week), and I'm interested to hear what they say. I would be surprised and disappointed if they try and tell me the gun is EXPECTED to stay out of battery if bumped. I guess if it should stay out of battery I'll have to send all my third gen S&W's back to get them to stay OOB.

Yes the 3913/14 and Shield share similar size and round capacity, but that's where the similarities end. The former is a well designed and expertly crafted weapon that will easily last several lifetimes, and the latter is a mass produced plastic disposable gun created to meet a price point.

Your 3914 is ten times the gun the Shield is.

I disagree with this statement. The shield comes out of battery because you did a press check. I am still confused why people do press checks, I mean I know its to check if the weapon fed a live round. But can be done by looking in the chamber loaded indicator or "Peep hole". Does the shield come out of battery by placing it in a holster? or by shooting it? Iam trying to figure out another way the weapon comes out of battery other than actually pulling the slide back with the intent of making it come out of battery.
The Shield is a fine weapon (I own the 40 and 9) neither of my shields come out of battery.

As i said before, Insert a full mag, Sling shot the slide, top off the mag re insert the mag and holster your weapon