Shield vs. 9c
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Semper Praesidio
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Can't speak to the 9c, but love my Shield! Shoots great and disappears in my Old Faithful IWB rig.
Unfortunately no one will be able to answer which one is better for you than you. Each handgun has its own advantages.
Both guns will carry IWB just fine with very minimal printing if any.
Some people can pocket carry a shield and even fewer can do so with the compact. All depends on the size of your pockets I guess.
The compact model can carry 4 more shots. This is an advantage but the stats say the average SD situation uses less than half the shots the shield can carry.
The shield is lighter and smaller. This is good for carrying. This does make the gun slightly harder to shoot fast and accurate. That said I find both guns are fairly easy to shoot well, surprisingly well.
I would suggest shooting both if possible and getting a full idea which you like more. If that is not possible at least handle both.
I carry a M&P 9c (in a White Hat Holster, highly recommend) and am quite happy with it. That said I got it before the shield was out and I already have a Ruger lcp for times when I want to pocket carry.
Fortunately I think you cannot go wrong with either one.
Both guns will carry IWB just fine with very minimal printing if any.
Some people can pocket carry a shield and even fewer can do so with the compact. All depends on the size of your pockets I guess.
The compact model can carry 4 more shots. This is an advantage but the stats say the average SD situation uses less than half the shots the shield can carry.
The shield is lighter and smaller. This is good for carrying. This does make the gun slightly harder to shoot fast and accurate. That said I find both guns are fairly easy to shoot well, surprisingly well.
I would suggest shooting both if possible and getting a full idea which you like more. If that is not possible at least handle both.
I carry a M&P 9c (in a White Hat Holster, highly recommend) and am quite happy with it. That said I got it before the shield was out and I already have a Ruger lcp for times when I want to pocket carry.
Fortunately I think you cannot go wrong with either one.
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First... Welcome to the Forum! 
Don't go strictly by what might conceal easier... Rent/Borrow/Try (shooting) both, see which you shoot better and get that one. Then learn to dress for that pistol.
(You actually COULD carry your FS if you knew how to dress to conceal it.)
I didn't like the M&Pc, but truly enjoy shooting the Shield and other than doing a 'Fluff & Buff' (Burwells M&P DIY Trigger Job) it's still factory stock.
I'm one of those who CAN front pocket carry the Shield and have been pocket carrying it for almost 3 yrs. I also have an IWB holster for it, for those few times I can't pocket carry.
Don't go strictly by what might conceal easier... Rent/Borrow/Try (shooting) both, see which you shoot better and get that one. Then learn to dress for that pistol.
(You actually COULD carry your FS if you knew how to dress to conceal it.)
I didn't like the M&Pc, but truly enjoy shooting the Shield and other than doing a 'Fluff & Buff' (Burwells M&P DIY Trigger Job) it's still factory stock.
I'm one of those who CAN front pocket carry the Shield and have been pocket carrying it for almost 3 yrs. I also have an IWB holster for it, for those few times I can't pocket carry.
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dullh
Member
Shield is skinny, 9c is fat. You decide.
Semper Praesidio
Member
Lots of good points here!
I have a full size, sold the C to get it-for me they were equal to conceal in cooler weather. Just got a Shield, it's easier to conceal/carry than my 642.
dullh
Member
Make sure you use a holster. Stuffing a striker-fired pistol in a pocket without a holster is a good way to shoot yourself.
NCW Ray
Member
I carried my 40c for a little over 4 years. At times I spend a lot of hours driving and on some of those long days my lower back would start hurting. When S&W came out with a NTS model of the Shield I bought one to see if it would help...I was very skeptical to say the least. I bought the same holster for it that I carried my 40c in and to this day I have not had any more back issues on the long drives. Just that little bit smaller size seems to have made a difference in my situation.
ymmv
ymmv
I had a 40c and hated it. Just didn't fit my hand at all and was a good bit beefier/chunkier than the Glock subcompact I was used to. I recently picked up a 9mm shield, 8 rds with ext. mag and 7 rds with the normal mag, which I added a pinky extension to. Carries very easily with either mag in it and it seems to shoot more naturally for me than the 40C ever did.
marine6680
Member
I have the shield and 9c... When wearing jeans and a t-shirt... The shield conceals IWB without printing. The 9c has occasional minor printing when you move in certain ways, but unless you are looking for it you won't see it. Even then it's hard to see.
The 9c is more comfortable and easier to shoot. It also accepts full size mags.
The 9c is more comfortable and easier to shoot. It also accepts full size mags.
Hillbilly77
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As far as the difference between the Compact and Shield, a while back I took some pictures of mine side by side for comparison.
If you compare the height of a compact (with a pinky extension) & a Shield with the 8-round mag, they are almost identical.
The flat magazine baseplates on both are, too.
The guns without magazines are also pretty much the same height.
The difference between the length and thickness is very noticeable.
If you compare the height of a compact (with a pinky extension) & a Shield with the 8-round mag, they are almost identical.
The flat magazine baseplates on both are, too.
The guns without magazines are also pretty much the same height.
The difference between the length and thickness is very noticeable.
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I have both. The 9c came first. Found it a little too bulky for summer carry, got the Shield for that. Wasn't long before the Shield became my EDC regardless of season. It's an easier carry and shoots like a dream. That said, the 9c isn't going anywhere. It's a great shooter too, and with grip extensions can use full size mags. It's a really tough call, but if you can only have one, go with the Shield. You give away a little capacity, but that's about it.
I have both and I love the shield the best. It is easier to conceal and shoots great. I have extended mags with base plates from NDZ that give me a great grip since I have large hands. For me it is a no-brainer, If i leave the house the shield goes with me.
speedyquad
Member
i carried the 40c in a pocket holster in my pants pocket until i bought my wife a shield 9. the following weekend, i was running errands and decided to carry the shield. about half way through i had to drive by the house so i stopped to switch to the 40c as a comparison. the weight difference was noticeable by the time i made my first stop. i had always thought the 40c was no big deal to carry. the next week, i had a shield 40 for myself. unfortunately, my wife shot the shield 40 better than the 9 so i gto stuck with the 9 and she took the 40.
as far as shooting goes, they are equal to me. the 40c and the shield are equal for me. the 40c has more rounds through it, and i continue to shoot it as often, i just never carry it any more. maybe some day i will just to do it.
as far as shooting goes, they are equal to me. the 40c and the shield are equal for me. the 40c has more rounds through it, and i continue to shoot it as often, i just never carry it any more. maybe some day i will just to do it.
motorcyclejoe
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I had the same question a month ago. I ended up purchasing both. At this point I have to admit I like the 9c much better than the Shield. I have medium size hands and for some reason I couldn't get comfortable with the Shield grip. The 9c feels much better and is much more stable for me. The 9c also feels more substantial, the slide is much easier to rack, I love the magazine with the extended base plate, you have 12 rounds, and a little longer sight radius. I really tried to get comfortable with the Shield, and will use it if I need to carry in the summer, but going from one to the other, is like moving from a high sprung mechanism to a serious, solid, weapon that knows what it is supposed to do.
For me the trade-off of dealing with the extra thickness is easy to make. When I pick up the 9c it's like I'm putting on a quality pair of leather gloves that fit perfectly - it just feels great. I also have a full size 9mm M&P and I like being able to use the same holsters, as well as being able to use the 17 round mags at the range. It's also nice that the sights are the same, so I can use the TruGlo sights I purchased for the FS on the 9c.
I'm glad I purchased both and I will probably cycle between them. But if I ever had some serious work to do I would feel a lot more comfortable with the 9c.
Definitely recommend shooting both before you decide.
For me the trade-off of dealing with the extra thickness is easy to make. When I pick up the 9c it's like I'm putting on a quality pair of leather gloves that fit perfectly - it just feels great. I also have a full size 9mm M&P and I like being able to use the same holsters, as well as being able to use the 17 round mags at the range. It's also nice that the sights are the same, so I can use the TruGlo sights I purchased for the FS on the 9c.
I'm glad I purchased both and I will probably cycle between them. But if I ever had some serious work to do I would feel a lot more comfortable with the 9c.
Definitely recommend shooting both before you decide.
I own a full size, and a compact.
When I bought my compact, I rented both it and the shield at the local range several times, and while I shot both well, the compact just filled my hands so much better.
If I were to purchase a shield, I would have to put some form of hogue grip on it to fill my hand better, and that would negate the thin-ness factor.
With all that being said, after winning some money on a pull tab and having some extra spending cash, I'm seriously contemplating getting a shield. Just to round out the collection.
I'm weird. I know. lol
When I bought my compact, I rented both it and the shield at the local range several times, and while I shot both well, the compact just filled my hands so much better.
If I were to purchase a shield, I would have to put some form of hogue grip on it to fill my hand better, and that would negate the thin-ness factor.
With all that being said, after winning some money on a pull tab and having some extra spending cash, I'm seriously contemplating getting a shield. Just to round out the collection.
I'm weird. I know. lol
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