Shield purchase - 40 or 9mm

[sstewart]

I have 45 FS and 9mm FS, both 4.25. I have convinced myself to get a shield. I had thought I wanted a 40. The LGS closest to me have both but where really pushing the 9mm.

Maybe this is because I don't own a 40 now. Last week I was at another LGS/Range and rented both and fired them. This range's closest lighted target is at 36 ft. With both shields I am getting pretty poor groups compared to my .45 & 9mm. I caulked this up to my lack of experience, longer distance, and small gun.

I wasn't put off by the .40 recoil. The 9mm shield was ultra comfortable, but it seems that the .40 makes sense in a carry pistol.

I did search, but didn't get any posts on the shield specifically on this choice.

 

[SMMAssociates]

sstewart:

Just IMHO, the shorter barrel and the way the gun fits your hand might have some influence on grouping. I have a 40FS and 40C, and don't see much difference, but the FS is a smidge better at grouping for me at that distance.

Being a .40, in general, might be a problem, too, even if you're not explicitly noticing it. The 9mm should be less intimidating, and a bit easier to shoot. (As a 1911 guy, the .40 doesn't bother me at all, although I can tell whether it's a .40 or .45. 9mm's are popguns ....)

You may want to play with add-ons - grip tape, Pachmayr "bike tire" grip covers, etc. The overall feel is going to be different from other M&P's....

When I bought my first 1911, after getting used to shooting one I inherited, I found that I couldn't count on it at all. Always low, and a ways off center. A little looking around showed me that my inherited 1911 had an arched mainspring housing, as did my old S&W M39-2, but the new 1911 didn't. (I know - the M39 doesn't allow you to change it .) Some rolled up paper towelling held like the arched MSH would be in place fixed the problem, as did a real arched MSH a few weeks later.

My regular shooting buddy still can't shoot that second 1911 - Para double-stacker. His hands are just too small to get around the double-stack grip and the arched MSH. Same for my rather petite daughter (who's 27 now). Fits fine for me. My late father was a Dentist. His right hand was big enough to palm the Para....

Short answer then may be to look at the way it fits your hand. You and the gun just might not be in agreement there. The swappable grip options on the larger M&P's aren't just marketing hype....

Regards,

 

[Proline]

I prefer the 9mm. Either is fine carry piece. That said, If I was in your situation and the 40 recoil didnt bother you at all I would opt for the 40. You already have a 9mm so why not get another caliber. Not sure how easily you have been able to find ammo in the past few months but it has been tough. Another caliber gives you more options there.

 

[8th SPS USAF]

Shield purchase

I have never shot a Shield in 40 or Walther PPS in 40, but did shoot a KAHR PM 40. Heavy recoil IMO. My KAHR PM 45 was much better. With the new SD ammo out for 9mm ,I would stay with 9mm. I have the Shield in 9mm, PPS in 9mm, XDs in 9mm Good luck

 

[highaltitude]

I would go with the 9mm. I personally never understood the need for a 40 in any gun, given the advancements in 9mm technology (just my opinion )

 

[M29since14]

I think the 9mm cartridge is about optimum for a small handgun like the Shield. I have never fired the Shield in .40 but I remember the G27s I had very well and I will not buy another one. .40SW can be pretty snappy in a small pistol and very slow for a second shot. I didn't care for it. You already have a 9mm so why complicate things with another type of ammunition?

 

[Der Biermeister]

I own a FS 9 and a 40 Shield. The 9 shoots like a dream and the Shield is a bit more snappy. I've been working hard though on gaining accuracy with the Shield. I am doing pretty good with all shots within a 4" diameter from 7 yds. Just watched a PDN video yesterday where the instructor promotes full extension of both arms (locked straight?). He claims that greatly reduces the recoil effect. Going to try that my trip to the range.

Yes - I love my 40 Shield. I might however consider buying a 9 barrel and mags for it just to have some more options.

 

[timn8er]

I have a 40 Shield, & while its nowhere as comfortable to shoot as my 40c, I don't have a problem with it. Of course, its not a range gun. If you buy it with that intent you will be disappointed. But for CC, & ease of CC, its hard to beat. I"m confident of being able to hit center mass at a reasonable distance. Also, 40SW is a lot easier to find than 9mm, at least around here.

 

[Prodigal Son]

I just took my new .40 Shield to the range for the first time yesterday. (9/30)
Yes, it is 'snappy' as one might expect, but not much more that my FS MP40.
I put 120 rds down range and still had enough arm/wrist left for 100 rds of .45 in my 1911. ...not much left after that, however... ;-)

Personally, I think that either 9 or 40 would be just fine....what ever you're most comfortable with.

Enjoy!

 

[AppStFan]

My wife and I each have a 9mm Shield and we love them. Now that I have the Shield, my Glock 27 pretty much stays in the safe.

 

[Smitty357]

.40 Shield, wait and buy u a 9mm barrel and then u have both for the price of one and some change. Problem solved.

Plus its hard to go wrong with a gun that shoots both calibers. When u cant find 9mm ammo (like the past few months). U can always walk in the store and buy .40.

 

[sstewart]

Yes that was a factor in my tentative .40 decision. S&W has the barrel thing pretty clamped down it would seem.

 

[DocSunShine]

Get whichever you prefer, my .40 shield is my EDC, I love it! It's not very snappy and I actually shoot it more accurately than my other M&Ps (go figure). Someone mentioned a PM40, well I bought a CM40 and that thing had NASTY recoil, the Shield is in another league, recoil is similar to it's big brothers.

... Of course 9mm ain't nothing to sneeze at and you already have a 9mm. I simplified my ammunition buying to .40, which is why I bought a .40 Shield, I'm sure I'd be just as happy with a 9mm Shield.

 

[sstewart]

I reload. As a response to my addictive new hobby. Originally I toyed with the idea of purchasing a Kimber ultra carry.

I don't really have any 1911 experience. I shot the Kimber at a local range on the same day as the shields. Probably shot better better with the Kimber.

It's just very comfortable with the M & P and I can buy two shields for the price of the Kimber


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[SMMAssociates]

I had a PPS40. Swapped it for an M&P9C some time back. I couldn't stand it.... The nasty recoil effect due to the very thin grip profile was fairly easy to deal with by the use of a cheap shooting glove, but the trigger design was such that when my chubby finger wrapped around the trigger, I got a nasty pinch with every shot. A finger "cot" (actually, a toe "cot", cut down a bit ) was helpful, but you don't wear one of those too often, and while theoretically you can handle all kinds of pain in a combat situation, but I don't think it's a really good idea....

I've NOT found a 40C or 40FS to be anywhere near the discomfort with the trigger. Those two, and all of my 1911's, and an M&P9C, are all just fine. I'm sure the narrower grip frame of the Shield isn't going to help, but with a shooting glove, it should be manageable on the range - at least enough to get enough practice with it to feel safe in carrying it, even though it's not going to be a good range gun. The 40C isn't a heck of a lot bigger, and if you're a 1911 guy, really isn't much of a problem v.s. the 1911, for example, and gives you quite a few more rounds if that's of interest.

(I still want a .40 Shield, but the budget's not there right now.)

IMHO, the .40 Shield, with a 9mm barrel (& magazines) makes for a great combination, too. Shoot what you can find....

(I managed to get into reloading, after talking about it for more than 40 years!, last October, right before the current "crunch". Components are a bit tough to get, but I shoot about once a week, and while I sometimes shoot more bull than bullets - WTH, I'm old - and I've never been to the range without about a hundred rounds ready to go.)

I find the 9mm extremely comfortable to shoot. A PPS9, for example, ought to be quite good. Even a Kel-Tec PF9 isn't too bad. (I refuse to endorse one of those for other reasons.) ALL of these are more comfortable to shoot than, for example, a .380 mouse gun, like a P3AT. (I can stand a PPK/S, but barely.) IMHO, when you get a .380 that's big enough to manage the recoil, you might as well go with a 9mm....

I have two small 1911's. Big bucks v.s. a Shield, but pleasant to shoot. Worth it? Dunno - if the M&P 40C had existed when I bought those two mini-1911's, I might have gone the other way. As it turned out, I have both....

Regards,

 

[Smitty357]

I reload. As a response to my addictive new hobby. Originally I toyed with the idea of purchasing a Kimber ultra carry.

I don't really have any 1911 experience. I shot the Kimber at a local range on the same day as the shields. Probably shot better better with the Kimber.

It's just very comfortable with the M & P and I can buy two shields for the price of the Kimber


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I have a few Kimber UC's as well as a few full size Kimbers. I wouldnt even attempt to compare how well a polymer pistol shoots compared to a 1911. Its just not even a challenge for the 1911 frame. I absolutely love the way a 1911 shoots, no matter the frame or caliber size. But one things for sure my Shield is much easier to carry 12+hrs a day.

 

[Howie6267]

I own the 9 and have shot my friends 40 being that even with the extended magazine I can't get a full 3 finger grip I prefer the 9 as it does not jump as much. Plus I already have a fullsize .40 so I wanted to have a different caliber.

 

[sstewart]

Picked up the 40 shield today. Very happy with my first 100 rounds. Finished with 5 of 7 bull eyes at 15 ft. (Used Hornady Zombie Max for that)

Very Nice... Happy that I have a new caliber and a very nice carry gun.
Lots of work ahead to carry as I live in IL.

 

[mag318]

I recommend the Shield in 9mm, it's less snappy and you get one more round. You can't really go wrong with either calibre, I just prefer the 9mm.

 

[dpowers311]

Good choice.

I have the 9 and just picked up a 40. I shoot the 40 better than the 9 but not enough to make a difference in self defense.situations. I like the extended magazine on the 40 for the extra grip because it is "snappy" compared to the 9.