Shield or Compact??

[FBH]

I'm with you - My 9c has an Apex trigger and Trijicon HD sights - I feed it 100 to 150rds weekly and it shoots beautifully. If it has to go to work, I know I can depend on capacity and accuracy. My house gun is a M&P 45 equipped the same, love it too, but just to big for carry.

 

[Bill G77]

I'd go with the compact. The Shield is a bit on the thick and heavier side. So i guess the compact would be much better for CC.

Or get urself a Kimber and u will never look for another CC.

You got that all that completely backwards Brother... The Shield is a thinner, lighter more concealable handgun than the compact. I have carried both and the Shield is more concealable.

Shoot Safe,
Bill G77

 

[gunfighter48]

For over 20 years I've been carrying 45ACP 1911's in commander length. So the Shield is NOTHING to carry compared to a 1911. I have bad back problems so when the 1911's are too much weight I carry the Shield. I put all of the APEX upgrades on mine, personal preference. I have a consistent 4lb 4oz trigger pull, a lot less take up and over travel. It shoots very accurately also and loves 124gr Gold Dots. Besides which my trigger control has improved when I shoot my 1911's!! It's a win - win with the Shield!!!!!!!!

 

[shorty22580]

thought this was suppose to be a forum to help each other with problems and talking range help not arguing over which is the best gun to carry its simple try some guns out then buy what fits you the best not for what every one tells you.shoot shoot and then shoot some more

 

[shorty22580]

and did I mention I love the shield 40 s&w I carry every day

 

[DarylLawman]

Shield 9mm

 

[kmanick]

40c can covert to 357 sig with a barrel swap and 9mm with a barrel and mag swap.

I say if you don't have a gun dedicated to range or conceal carry... get the 40c. If your primary goal is conceal carry get the Shield.

I agree . If I didn't already have the .40 FS I would've just got the Compact .40. But since I love my FS and have had trigger work done on it I grabbed a shield. A .40C should not be too difficult to conceal. I have carried my FS.40 (in a N82 tactical Pro) with Levi 550's and a northface fleece top very comfortably. StealthGear Onyx is also a good IWB for a FS or a compact (I have one incoming for my shield)
the shield however carries really well and for such a small gun shoots great.

 

[Wishbone]

I have both and like the Sheild but love the compact. I can pocket carry both no problem. I can't shoot many rounds through the sheild at the range, it bites me. I have medium sized hands and the medium backstrap on the compact fits me perfectly. The sheild jumps in my hands and by the time I'm done Im bleeding right above my top thumb knuckle. Put talon grips on it but didn't help. So when I shoot the sheild I have to wear a thick glove or else it's pain.

 

[M3Stuart]

I had the 9c and sold it...and got the Shield 9. I find the Shield is equally accurate, easier to carry and I just like it better as a ccw. If I want to shoot a range gun I'll opt for a Glock 19 or CZ75.

That's my 2 cents anyway.

 

[Smitty357]

Shield...

I'll take comfort over capacity any day. Why? Because id be willing to bet i use the comfort a million times more than you will use capacity. I'll take my chances on that day and like every one, i'll pray I never need it. In the long run IF that day comes. I dont care if u have 50rds or 5rds. When the man above says its time to come home. You are going home, simple fact.

My 2 cents.

 

[Htown]

I carry the 9c and don't find it uncomfortable at all. At some point I will probably purchase the shield for a summer ccw.

 

[PirateJim]

Always interesting to see old posts spring back to life.

Anyway, the answer is... There really isn't one plain and simple answer that people on an internet forum can provide. A good rule of thumb for concealed carry gun selection would be; "Pick the most powerful, highest capacity gun that you can shoot decently, operate competently, and are willing and able to actually carry."

That may (probably will) mean having at least a couple of carry guns that are rotated based on circumstance. For me these days it's a Shield and a Ruger LCP. Living in Florida there aren't many days when I can even wear a coat so the Shield is the biggest gun that I feel I can decently conceal and can comfortably carry all day. And sometimes even it is just too large for the clothes I want to wear. Some people will say "Then pick something else to wear." but that's not all that realistic for everyone.

If you feel that you can comfortably carry a compact, or a full size for that matter, then go for it. But there's a price to be paid in flexibility of apparel and personal comfort as the pistol gets bigger and heavier.

 

[bassgunner]

I have both and like the Sheild but love the compact. I can pocket carry both no problem. I can't shoot many rounds through the sheild at the range, it bites me. I have medium sized hands and the medium backstrap on the compact fits me perfectly. The sheild jumps in my hands and by the time I'm done Im bleeding right above my top thumb knuckle. Put talon grips on it but didn't help. So when I shoot the sheild I have to wear a thick glove or else it's pain.

It's funny you say that. I picked up the shield 9mm because I had a J frame 642 that did the same thing to me. No issues with the Shield though. Just goes to show, find what fits You best!

 

[Cucamonga kid]

I have rethought this whole tiny niney concept for concealed carry. As you are more likely to encounter multiple threats as in the case of San Bernardino I think the extra rounds of 9C provides plus the fact that you can use a full-size MNP nine magazine your total round count is 30. I can easily carry it appendix in the waistband with no problem at all concealed with a loose fitting shirt or T-shirt. YMMV

 

[Cucamonga kid]

Always interesting to see old posts spring back to life.

Anyway, the answer is... There really isn't one plain and simple answer that people on an internet forum can provide. A good rule of thumb for concealed carry gun selection would be; "Pick the most powerful, highest capacity gun that you can shoot decently, operate competently, and are willing and able to actually carry."

That may (probably will) mean having at least a couple of carry guns that are rotated based on circumstance. For me these days it's a Shield and a Ruger LCP. Living in Florida there aren't many days when I can even wear a coat so the Shield is the biggest gun that I feel I can decently conceal and can comfortably carry all day. And sometimes even it is just too large for the clothes I want to wear. Some people will say "Then pick something else to wear." but that's not all that realistic for everyone.

If you feel that you can comfortably carry a compact, or a full size for that matter, then go for it. But there's a price to be paid in flexibility of apparel and personal comfort as the pistol gets bigger and heavier.

My CCW is not a fashion accessory. I carry what I feel I need to carry and dress around it; the comfort factor comes in knowing that I might be able to handle any threat, be it single or multiple perps to protect myself or my family or anyone else for that matter. It's not like I'm trying to decide which watch would go with my shirt; the priority is the weapon. JMHO

 

[MSG Glenn]

I have both a M&P40 FS & a 40C. The versatility of the 40C is good in that I can put my FS magazines in it. I use X Grips to fill the extra space the increased length has. My spare mag is always a FS. I carry both in the winter. In the warm months it's the compact with the standard mag when I'm wearing a T shirt. Since I normally wear sweatshirts in the winter I have no problem concealing. I'm in an open carry state so it doesn't bother me if I print occasionally although i seldom if ever do.

 

[ScottN]

I think it comes down to which one is better to carry. For me the compact is easier to conceal because the grip is shorter. I'm tall and lanky so the extra grip length of the Shield prints more.

Here's a suggestion. Buy a Remora or Sticky holster for the Compact as it will also fit the Shield. Then go to your gun store and see how both pistols feel and conceal iwb. The Remora/Sticky holsters give you a lot of flexibility for testing different iwb positions and they are fairly cheap. You may not ending using the holster long term but you be able test how the gun prints, where it digs into, how heavy it feels, etc.