Shield Plus: pull too light, too short?

[CBStuard]

I agree w/ the OP on trigger pull weight and distance. Forgetting the pocket carry part of the discussion, I prefer a 5-6# trigger w/ a fairly long pull on my carry gun. 7 yrs ago we moved to a state where we could carry. I got an M&P9c and wife a G19. I felt the triggers were too light on both. Apex duty/carry kit fixed my M&P and a combination of parts fixed the G19 so both are in the 5-6# range. Not only the final pull weight was increased but the pre-travel weight was increased some too. That weight also came w/ much smoothing of parts and hence the 5-6# doesn't feel bad at all. I think the manufacturers could do well to concentrate on smoothing their actions instead of just making them lighter. As a frame of reference for my comments we shoot our Beretta 92s a lot more than the carry guns. They have a 3-3.5# single action pull and 5-6# in double action. My idpa gun is at the bottom of those ranges and our HD B92s are at the top. We love the triggers in them but they are not our carry guns and the heavier DA pull, in my mind, allows for the light SA pull.

 

[Ruger Nut]

Plenty of people drive drunk and never kill anyone, or have an accident. Doesn't make it safe.

It's just like the trap morons that rest there shotgun barrel on there feet. It's "safe" until they literally shoot themselves in the foot.

No accidents here to speak of.

 

[Echo40]

I'm always hearing about what **** triggers the 1.0 Shields have, yet I can't see any appreciable difference between the trigger on my 1.0 9mm Shield and the ones on my 2.0 Compacts, one of which is a 9mm and the other a .45. Maybe I just got lucky and have a better than average trigger on my 1.0 Shield.

I also have a Ruger Security 9mm, and if you want to talk about **** triggers we could offer that as exhibit A. Actually if we were talking about **** guns in general I could offer that one as an example.

Trigger snobs will call practically anything but a 1911 with a competition trigger job terrible. Seriously, most folks who complain about the Shield's trigger probably have very few guns with stock triggers they actually like, and everything else has custom triggers.

Honestly, there are just certain people who care more about how a trigger pull feels than the overall reliability of a firearm. No seriously, I've seen folks online who will post range reports of new guns with spotty reliability yet spend the whole time complimenting the trigger, writing the reliability off as a need for a break in or a fault of the ammo, but heaven forbid that a trigger need breaking in.

 

[shawn mccarver]

Hello All,

I just recently handled a new Shield Plus at my local gun shop, and I came away more interested in buying the original Shield "1.0." Why? The new flat- faced trigger seemed something more appropriate for a target pistol than a concealed carry firearm. I'd be a bit nervous carrying a gun with such a light, short- throw trigger in my back pocket or behind my belt while walking on my land. In fact, I'm a little concerned about how light my 2.0 MP Full-size is with 5# over 1/8th inch pull versus 6.2# over 1/4" of my SD9VE (once I polished up the SD's trigger bar, and clipped a coil off of the striker block spring.)

Has anyone else got some thoughts about this new Shield Plus? And why exactly do people complain about the original Shield's trigger? As someone with considerable gunsmithing experience with trigger jobs without using aftermarket parts on Smith revolvers, I'm taking a new interest in the original Shield. Any responses appreciated.

If a striker-fired action is not to your liking, there are still plenty of long-pull double action autos out there. New models are available from Beretta (PX4), Springfield Armory, and others. As an aside, it is better practice to use a holster rather than a back pocket. You might also consider a single action auto like a 1911 carried unloaded (Condition 3), or a double action revolver of modern design. A single action revolver with an empty charge hole under the resting hammer also might be better suited. Always use a holster regardless of mode of carry.

 

[m&p2.0fdethumbsafety]

from what i can tell the original shield trigger is the upgraded trigger that they put into the m&p 2.0 and all subsequent guns. i think it's probably the best duty trigger out there. the long take up is there, there's a defined wall, a clean crisp break, and a short tactile reset. the shield plus trigger seems like an appeasement of market place trends with all the people going out and buying apex triggers. the shield line is targeted more towards the civilian than law enforcement demographic so it makes sense that it uses more of an apex style trigger than a duty trigger. a light trigger that mimicks an sa pull goes together with a thumb safety imo

 

[Dave Haynes]

I just don't get it. Take a small, troublesome to operate pistol and put a trigger for a custom hardball pistol on it. 4lb triggers are for precision off hand pistol matches at 25 and 50 yards. The fact that it can be done doesn't mean that you should do it.



I'll make my trigger so light that I have to put it in a holster to carry it around. When I finally have to use this thing to save my life, I'm going to shoot some guy who is attacking me with a knife and is 3' away from me. I was so excited I don't know how many shots I fired or where they hit, but that 4lb trigger sure helped......I think.

 

[markmiela]

So you carry your guns like a gangster without a holster? Heck I would be worried about carrying like that wit a ten pound trigger.


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[mrmike7189]

The Op doesnt like the new lighter trigger. I can respect that.
I would suggest he get a version 1 Shield or a version 2 Shield with the older trigger design. They are for sale everywhere. I believe S&W is still producing 2.0 Shields for a little while longer?
The bickering about holsters & safeties is nonsense.

 

[m&p2.0fdethumbsafety]

m&p is the best thing that happened to the gun world since 1911's introduction

 

[1sdfellow]

mrmike

I am the OP and I did just as you suggested: bought a new Original shield, gently polished the internals with 2000 grit, and it has been perfect. Darn good little pistol for back of jeans pocket carry while walking my land. Accurate, very easy to control. Maybe one day I'd consider concealed carry in public but I've never been comfortable with that. In my mind that's why we have our brave policemen. But in the middle of 100 wooded acres in rural Mississippi, it's nice to have a little heavier trigger on this crisp shooting M&P.

 

[uncleted327]

Sounds like you have issues with your comfort level carrying in general and are trying to blame them on features of a gun rather than your lack of experience or knowledge to be frank. Pocket carrying without a holster with a semi is just plain dumb IMO. They have back pocket holsters as well, and I don't see how they would impact your drawing time at all. Worrying that a 5# trigger is too light or a lack of manual safety is un-safe is no different than carrying without a round in the chamber. They are a sign of an issue with the person, not the firearm. And as far as the police, yes they are brave. Will they arrive and save you when a criminal is already face to face with you...NO. That may be the most ridiculous assertion I've read in this post yet...

 

[wormraper]

I just don't get it. Take a small, troublesome to operate pistol and put a trigger for a custom hardball pistol on it. 4lb triggers are for precision off hand pistol matches at 25 and 50 yards. The fact that it can be done doesn't mean that you should do it.



I'll make my trigger so light that I have to put it in a holster to carry it around. When I finally have to use this thing to save my life, I'm going to shoot some guy who is attacking me with a knife and is 3' away from me. I was so excited I don't know how many shots I fired or where they hit, but that 4lb trigger sure helped......I think.

4.5 lb triggers are "light" anymore? geez, coming from 3.0-3.5 lb custom triggers in competitions these feel heavy as heck.

and you should ALWAYS carrry it in a holster. Period unless it's a DA trigger, and even then it's never recommended.

and I'm sorry, I've never felt like having a soft trigger (ish) was some huge detriment under stress. More people have issues trying to YANK back that heavy *** 10+ lb trigger in a stressfull situation and end up throwing their shots all over the place because they're tying to overcome all of that resistance and yank the gun from one end of the room to the other.

 

[kbm6893]

I carried a Glock 19 with the NY2 trigger as a duty weapon. Has about a 12 pound trigger. I sold it years ago but just picked one up again last week for nostalgic sake. I was shocked at the heavy trigger since I'm used to M&P 2.0 triggers now, but I've gotten used to it again. So much so that the M&P triggers feel so light. I'm gonna send the gun in to Glock for night sights and a once over. It's a 30 year old gun and I know they'll replace any parts that need replacing. If they can, I'm going to ask them to put the NY1 trigger in, which is about 8 pounds. The M&P's all have safeties. I wouldn't carry a 5 pound striker gun without one.

For what it's worth, I always qualified expert with that 12 pound trigger on the Glock. I plan to shoot it today. Not expecting any different today than back in the day. It's a self defense gun, not a target gun.

 

[jamesepoop]

Thanks for sharing your reasons guys. I see now why the Apex duty trigger kits have the pretravel/take up they do. It seems more defined for a shooter to be ready but not necessarily for an active comp situation. When I watched trigger pull videos , I wondered why the pretravel was so long before the clean break.

I really wanted to improve the play/squishy feeling from the hinged trigger. I guess different strokes. In CA we only get the V1 Shield but glad I made the right choice.

 

[shipwreck]

I know the Shield is a compact gun, but you must have some big pockets! Trigger finger discipline and a good holster will solve your problem.

I pocket carried my Shield all the time - front pocket in cargo pants.

I now have a Shield plus I replaced it with - I do the same. Only in cargo pants - can't do it in jeans

 

[shipwreck]

Sounds like you have issues with your comfort level carrying in general and are trying to blame them on features of a gun rather than your lack of experience or knowledge to be frank. Pocket carrying without a holster with a semi is just plain dumb IMO. They have back pocket holsters as well, and I don't see how they would impact your drawing time at all. Worrying that a 5# trigger is too light or a lack of manual safety is un-safe is no different than carrying without a round in the chamber. They are a sign of an issue with the person, not the firearm. And as far as the police, yes they are brave. Will they arrive and save you when a criminal is already face to face with you...NO. That may be the most ridiculous assertion I've read in this post yet...

If you don't like the Shield Plus, at least get the 2.0 Shield. The 1st version trigger is not that great

 

[Dee T]

SHIELD + INANE TRIGGER

So, I have to say that in entry to competition pistol shooting 1968 and 28yrs. as a LEO, the flat face trigger seems to be one more of those novelties, like needing a spoiler on the back of any "cool car" from the 1970s. I don't care for it, it does not really make or break the performance of a pistol. I think that being the Shield is really a carry gun, if there is a gun specifically designed for this purpose, that there's no valid reason to have a target shooting design trigger on it.

I am looking to see if I can find a traditional 2.0 trigger to put on the Shield + trigger bar. I called APEX who of course thinks flat triggers are the rage, tell me that they use one flat face trigger on both the 2.0 and the PLUS, so it seems that finding a 2.0 trigger would work.

Aside from that, it seems like a nice little gun. I have never liked a safety on any firearm and some departments, actually prohibit them, even on off duty weapons. You should rely on the holster design to keep the gun safe while carrying and when it comes out, you should be ready to use the firearm for its purpose.

Obtained my POST Rangemaster Certification in 1983 and I cannot begin to count how the issue of safeties has come up. I also stopped counting at the 50th time I witnessed someone draw a gun, squeeze the trigger to shoot in a timed event, only to put the gun down to look at it or fumble to get the safety off. This was perhaps in 1985 when it was no longer even funny, but pathetic.

I have seen other instructors do it too. I even saw another instructor, who is 2yrs older than me, pitch an argument that safeties are fine, don't cause much of a problem, then a couple months later, got tapped out by me as he did the trigger squeeze on a firearm with the safety on, during a qual shoot. He got a DNQ and had to start over on the next go round.

I only have one on my 1911s only and while I have never failed to take the safety off of them, it was the first firearm I ever shot and feels like an old friend and muscle memory built from 9yo is likely why. If I were to start using a safety now, I doubt I'd last a couple months before doing it, as it happens to most people.

Get a holster and use it. They are not a bad thing. The pocket carry or "Mexican Carry" bare in a waistband, may work with a long hard pull Glock, but is not a good idea with a Shield. I have a friend who has a stock G27 who does this, but he is a very chunky midsection guy and the G27 is cradled in the rolls very well. I could never pull it off and would never try with a Shield.

Compared to my Shield 1.0 .40, the Shield Plus has a more predicable feel to the trigger. It is an improvement, but I really loath the flat face trigger and am itching to dump it.

 

[jschmidt]

I just purchased the new Shield Plus 9mm. The 13 round magazine does not take 13 rounds of 9mm 115gr JHP!!! It'll only take 12 rounds!! When I tried 124gr 9mm round nose, it'll take the full 13!! Anyone have an idea why this is??? Thanks.....

Get some kind of loader device, either a single loader or a ten loader. Search on Amazon and you'll see what you need.