Shield m&p 9mm vs .40 question?

[rch105]

Retired LEO here with 38 years OTJ and 4 years as a USN Aviation Ordnanceman ('68-'72).

My suggestion: As a number of public ranges that sell firearms also "rent" them out for range time, or allow you to shoot one free for nothing more than the cost of ammo they sell (in the hopes that you'll buy from them), take time to fire both, the 9mm and the .40, then decide which one feels most comfortable, and provides the greatest degree of control and accuracy.

Hitting your target with one or two well placed rounds always beats the "Spray and Pray" method. Good luck and let us know what you decided.

 

[OldNorthState]

"..due to arthritis..."
Look, do NOT buy a .40 cal anything if your Dad has arthritis. As a doctor and shooter I will advise the 9mm. I have handled both calibers in this model and, while the grip is very comfortable, you will find:
1. manipulating the slide, 'racking' a round, about the same, perhaps a bit harder with the .40

2. recoil is significant in the .40. The 9mms terminal ballistics are excellent. Less recoil, probably a bit easier to chamber, same grip, same size, a bit lighter when loaded.

Go with the 9mm, you will be happier.

I'd have to "second" the good doctor on this one.

I own, and/or have shot multiple calibers in various configurations, and I find the .40's (while exhibiting very good SD ballistics potentials) to be tolerable shooters, but sometimes a bit too much if my "itis's" are acting up in my finger/hands/wrists (which varies from time to time). I feel good confidence shooting/carrying the 9's when weight or bulk are issues due to certain dress modes, but more recently have been shooting and carrying a Glock 30 (.45 acp), which is a great shooter (I shoot one as well or maybe better than some of my 9's) and is not as snappy to me as many .40's. Not "pushing" Glock on our S&W forum ("heresy!!"), but I don't believe Smith builds a compact .45 autoloader, so maybe the idea does have some merit for someone else reading this who likes the idea of big bore SD weapons.

All that being said, though, the 9's are comparatively inexpensive to practice with (.45 acp ammo more expensive than .40's, even), and are more than adequate, ballistics-wise, with careful ammo selection.

 

[B/STOCK]

I have 2 of every caliber M&P full size & both a 9 & 40 Shield for EDC. I am discontinuing use of .40 in everything. I find the .45 M&P more comfortable, less felt recoil and more accurate to shoot that the .40. When I take a friend to the range to introduced them to the M&P full size pistols I line up a three M&Ps. 9-.40 &.45. Everyone either picks the 9MM or .45 over the .40. after shooting a few mags out of each.
I used to use the .40 shield for EDC in the winter months (heavy clothing). Now it's the 9MM year round for EDC. Keep a M&P .45 or a 1911 in my cars console if the need presents itself. Just my .02

 

[titegroup]

I also own both the 9 and 40. It's the most comfortable 40 I've ever shot. It's amazing how well it handles the recoil. I'd concur with the person who said 165 gr loads are about the same as 124 +P in 9mm. I'd also say it's harder to rack the slide on my 9mm and I've had that one longer.

 

[92wrangler]

Perfect reason to start reloading. You can download the 40 to recoil like a 9mm, or download a 9 even lower so it will function (for practice) with a weaker spring, thus allowing weaker hands to work it easier.

 

[epj]

While it is not as carry friendly, I find that the longer magazine goes a long way toward taming recoil in both the 9 and the .40. I have one of each in the Shield. My preference is the 9, but if all I had were the .40 I wouldn't be too upset.

 

[McE]

9mm: Cheaper ammo, more practice, faster and more accurate followup shots, more capacity

40sw: Adds to internet chest hair

 

[Smitty357]

Depends on the shooter. Me personally i shoot my .40 better than i shoot the 9mm. But thats probably because I shoot my .40 more often because thats what i carry.

Then again, i know women who shoot their .45 better than most grown men shoot a 9mm.

 

[McE]

Beware irrelevant sensationalist anecdotes.

 

[Stetto]

After the decision to buy a Shield was made, the ONLY reason I went with the 9mm was price of ammo. I am earnestly saving up for a second Shield, so that my wife will be as familiar with my gun as hers, and 9mm so I can keep shooting and still get her the roses on our anniversary....

Oh, and I apologize for the irrelevant sensationalist anecdote....Heh heh...

 

[jbtrucker]

I bought the Shield 9 as my first gun. I have put 650 rounds through it and have to say while I still need work on trigger control and resisting the urge to flinch on the shot I really do enjoy shooting it. The recoil on the 9 is manageable and not all that snappy.

I just started shooting four months ago and bad about flinching at first. I spent a day at a outside range with my two old 9MM's and .38 Snub. I didn't worry about being a perfect marksman just wanted to get used to handling pistols. Practicing with a .22L helps plus fun

 

[B/STOCK]

I am surprised of how many people my age (70) cannot operate any slide. I am no strong guy for sure and have arthritis but have no trouble handling any slide. Even when I present them the pistol with the slide open they cannot even pull it back enough for it to release & go into battery. I guess I am lucky. No wonder revolvers are making a comeback.

 

[Pancakes&Syrup]

I'm pretty new to shooting semi auto pistols, but racking the slide is 10x easier if you hold the slide with your weak hand and push the grip with your strong hand. I apologize if this is common knowledge, but I figured it out trying to rack my Shield 40 when I got it. That thing is stiff.

 

[Backpain]

To my original post choosing what gun to choose is not the issue anymore.
Both the shield 9mm and .40 are now both locked in my safe now the issue is a holster for it. I saw this one in the fourms but cant find it online anywhere. Can anyone tell me where I can find it?

http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-wesson-m-p-pistols/390629-awesome-holster-your-shield.html

 

[ron1117]

Reloading and EDC

I am reading the posts, trying to decide on the which Performance Shield I want to buy (more on that later).

Just what I have been counseled by almost all instructors I have worked with, never use reloaded ammo for CCW. It opens up questions if you even are unfortunate enough to actually be involved in a SD shooting.

That being said, I shoot "white box" FMJ at the range in high volume, but always finish up with at least one magazine of my self defense JHP.

Just an opinion...

Perfect reason to start reloading. You can download the 40 to recoil like a 9mm, or download a 9 even lower so it will function (for practice) with a weaker spring, thus allowing weaker hands to work it easier.

 

[Iversn1]

I am amazed by the amount of knowledge you guys know! I have a SW 9mm m&p, 9mm SD VE and a 9mm Shield. Love all but I do not think I would carry anything over a 9mm. just my two cents

 

[dlombard]

Curious remarks and comments about racking the slide.

Racking the slide should be considered an essential component of operating a semiautomatic handgun safely. You can't safely hand anyone a pistol unless the action is open and it's unloaded. You can't unload a pistol unless you rack the slide to 100% verify the chamber is empty. You can't perform remedial action on any number of malfunctions if you aren't able to rack the slide.

Getting Good at racking the slide (especially under duress) is an Essential handgun skill, probably almost more so than proper shot placement. I've seen some absolutely Terrifying, positively Frightening actions being carried out by inexperienced shooters (including hands covering the muzzle, fingers slipping onto the trigger, loss of muzzle direction discipline in general) struggling with the slide.

I would not recommend modifying springs to fix that problem. Manufacturers set the spring tensions to what they are for a reason. The least annoying problem I've dealt with when messing with that was having shell casing ejected back into my face. But worse things like double feeding, stove piping and even frame failure can happen when you start messing with spring tension. Instead, I feel like the answer is in practicing on an UNLOADED firearm with ammo out of the room, and something like a refrigerator as a designated "safe direction" while one figures out how to rack the slide.

I'm speaking from experience. When I first bought a semiauto, getting the action open was A LOT tougher than I expected. But I figured out the technique of applying isometric tension to the slide and grip (getting adequate purchase on the front of the slide), bringing the gun in close to my body and using my chest muscles to power the fleshy bottom part of my hands to drive the grip one way and the slide the other. And then doing it repeatedly to get use to the tension.

Shooting it also breaks in the springs a bit. Also, there's nothing wrong with using some grips to build up some forearm and hand strength as well. I started using them while walking my dog and now everything from my trigger discipline to racking the slide become things that don't cause me handle the gun in an unsafe manner.

When all else fails, get someone to help you learn and get your technique right. As I said, if you ever Have to use your gun and it happens to malfunction at the same time, you've got to be able to rack that thing without struggling with it in order to get it running again.

Just my thoughts on the issue.