Shield "POU"

D

ditto1958

Member
Joined
Dec 28, 2012
Messages
306
Reaction score
191
Location
Wisconsin, USA
I've been wanting a Shield 9mm for awhile now. My biggest personal issue, however, involves my "philosophy of use" for it.

The Shield is obviously designed and intended to be a compact, but still very shootable, concealed carry gun. My issue? I have no plans to carry concealed at any time in the near future.

So, the question is, why get one? I already have an SD9 and a Glock 23.

Still, the Shield feels comfortable in my hand, has a pretty nice trigger and seems as though it would be enjoyable to shoot.

On top of all that, they are priced right. Usually less than $450 around here. Sometimes less.

Hmmm...
 
Register to hide this ad
If you don't want to carry it and you already have other firearms chambered in the 9mm that fit the POU of the Shield and your asking us why you should buy it, then I'll say you shouldn't. Why buy a firearm you do not want to carry and sound as if you'd get very little use out of?

Unless you just want to have one to say you have one or you like collecting guns, then I don't see a point. You could use it as a range gun, but a light weight low 7-8 rounder wouldn't really fit the POU for the range.... You'll probably will just waste your money and will end up trading or selling it down the line...
 
I bought my Shield for one reason, and one reason alone - concealed carry. If I wasn't going to use it as my primary ccw, and just wanted it for a range/home defense weapon, I would have purchased the compact or full size M&P instead.
 
A lot of it is may just be to have "options."

I have a FS M&P and a Shield 40, the Shield primarily for concealed carry. I would LIKE to have an even smaller CC gun for when even the Shield isn't practical.

The thing is, until you've had a chance to shoot one , carry it or not, you won't really know what role it will play for you.

I like the fact that it fits my hand so well, and points "naturally", so I don't really have to even aim to hit my target. When I'm not carrying it, my Shield is usually left in an easy-access location for home defense. I have other "options", should the need arise, depending on where I am at home as well. ;)
 
Since you are asking, seems like you want one just to have one. Nothing is wrong with that even if you don't CC.

I remember my friend's Dad several decades ago had an old school 32acp semi-auto we would shoot when we went out. None of us CCed, but we still had fun shooting it.

To own a firearm does not require any real purpose for it other than you want it. You can add one to your collection if you want.
 
I bought mine originally because my job outlawed anything but M&Ps and a couple other brands last year. I actually carried it as a uniform gun until they relented and let me carry my 3913 again. So I guess I bought it for a "purpose", but I likely would've purchased one eventually anyway.
OP, I can't tell if you want to be talked into it or out of it. I say, get it, because:
-you'll have a hard time finding a better gun for less money
-makes a great EDC
-great alternate to your EDC
...so if you've been wanting one for a while, just do it!
 
I front Pocket Carry. Up until the Shield came out, my Pocket Carry was a PF-9. As the Shield's dimensions a mere millimeters larger, I CAN Front Pocket carry the Shield... and have been Front Pocket carrying the Shield for over 2 years now.

Had the Shield been too large for me to Front Pocket carry (and so much more comfortable to shoot than the PF-9), I wouldn't have bought it.

If I weren't into Subcompacts for concealed carry, I'd just have FS and Compact Glocks and XDMs.

If you simply want a Shield to have one... That's cool.
To me... The Shield IS an 'All-Day-Shooter'.
 
Last edited:
Well, my cash is still safe in my pocket. Academy Sports has Shields for $399. But the first store I stopped at today sold their last one yesterday. The second one had a 40, but not a 9mm. Elsewhere, the going rate for Shields is about $450.
 
Last edited:
$399 has been Academy's price for the Shield ever since it first came out, but now-a-days, that price is a bit on the high side. People are finding Shields for close to $350 now ($365 give or take).

Line your wallet with some Nomex, so that Shield money doesn't burn a hole and you'll find one for a good price (should you keep craving one). :)
 
ditto1958 said:
I've been wanting a Shield 9mm for awhile now. My biggest personal issue, however, involves my "philosophy of use" for it.

The Shield is obviously designed and intended to be a compact, but still very shootable, concealed carry gun. My issue? I have no plans to carry concealed at any time in the near future.

So, the question is, why get one? I already have an SD9 and a Glock 23.

Still, the Shield feels comfortable in my hand, has a pretty nice trigger and seems as though it would be enjoyable to shoot.

On top of all that, they are priced right. Usually less than $450 around here. Sometimes less.

Hmmm...
Click to expand...
Very simple answer....Because you don't have one!
 
ditto1958 said:
I've been wanting a Shield 9mm for awhile now. My biggest personal issue, however, involves my "philosophy of use" for it.

The Shield is obviously designed and intended to be a compact, but still very shootable, concealed carry gun. My issue? I have no plans to carry concealed at any time in the near future.

So, the question is, why get one? I already have an SD9 and a Glock 23.

Still, the Shield feels comfortable in my hand, has a pretty nice trigger and seems as though it would be enjoyable to shoot.

On top of all that, they are priced right. Usually less than $450 around here. Sometimes less.

Hmmm...
Click to expand...

I have a Shield9, BG380, Glock 26 and 19...I only need one for CCW...however I need one for HD and one for backup, one for pocket carry...you can never have too many guns:D
 
Last edited:
I really do enjoy having the Shield at the range for some casual paper punching. There is an element of "training" involved for CCW, but frankly my shooting in general is 75% about fun/plinking/target shooting and 25% about SD. For me, I would feel that it's worthwhile to have the Shield even if I never carried.
 
shakyshoot said:
I really do enjoy having the Shield at the range for some casual paper punching. There is an element of "training" involved for CCW, but frankly my shooting in general is 75% about fun/plinking/target shooting and 25% about SD. For me, I would feel that it's worthwhile to have the Shield even if I never carried.
Click to expand...

I'm going to back this up. As I stated in another thread, my first gun was a M&P .22lr for Plinking/fun My second was the Shield for carry and home defense. I have found that I shoot the Shield a lot more then the .22 right now because it's so much fun. Ammo money won't last, but as long as I got it, I'm going to shoot it.

I will say that everybody who shoots my Shield loves it, except my wife, who still prefers the .22. That's okay with me, as long as she's there shooting with me.
 
I bought the Shield as my first gun, which will also be for concealed carry. I happened to shoot a buddy's full size and decided to buy one of those for target shooting because it's a lot more forgiving. The Shield is an incredible gun to shoot, and I'll carry it every day, but for challenging myself, I feel a good M&P full size is a good place to start. I use both equally at the range, and each has it's Pro's and cons. The full size is honestly easier for a newbie like me to shoot accurately, especially at longer distances.
 
I have had a model 659 for many years. A fine piece, but a heavy one. I have always felt it to be reliable, sturdy, and fairly accurate. I actually only used it as an open carry pistol when putzing around in the southwestern deserts on my mosickle.... and the occasional hour or two at a range.
I hunted some, but always carried a large pistol either .44 mag or .50AE for that. The venerable 659 still looks and functions like new.

Then this year I decided to go CCW. I wanted a semi-auto in 9mm small enough to pocket carry if desired, but would most likely carry IWB. I rented several models of sub-compacts to try them out. I was SHOCKED that I ended up liking the Shield 9mm better than several others. Not only did I like the little thing in general, but I hit what I pointed it at better than my big old 659.

It FEELS good. Points good. Handles good. Functions good. Feeds various ammo good. Cleans up easily.
Is so light in weight and small in size it's a veritable joy to carry around all the time compared to the big handguns I was used to. I noted that I actually WANTED to go to the range and bust some caps. I've used this little pistol more in the last few months than I ever used any of my "properly sized" pistols.

Is a Shield a better "range gun" than most "real" pistols? NO! BUT... if you LIKE it and actually go and shoot more and ENJOY it, then I guess in a way it IS better....

Did I mention I happen to be a fan of the Shield 9MM ??
 
As far as why to get a shield......why not. Just beware once you get an M&P you'll be hooked. I have four. I love my shield($380).
 
My shield 9 is my SD and my wife's first choice for HD. She likes it more than my p95.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

D
Surpassed the 800 round mark on the 4" Shield Plus and at around 650-655 for the 3" Shield plus.
Replies
2
Views
156
Mahalo_.32
M
D
Advice on my Shield Plus Performance Center trigger
Replies
7
Views
551
redbanks
R
D
First impressions of my new optics ready 3.1" Shield Plus 13+1 2.0
Replies
1
Views
265
M1A4ME
M1A4ME
D
Looking to get educated on non-appendix IWB holsters
2
Replies
26
Views
824
Norton 750
Norton 750
O
Give me the lowdown on Shield EZ-9
Replies
17
Views
2K
Troutscout
T

Latest posts

Back
Top