Shield vs. Glock 43

[ColbyBruce]

These two guns are so similar it is mind boggling that the S&W can be $150.00-$200.00 cheaper than the Glock.

Looking them over and handling them, I can only think that both of them would make the greatest .22 LR semi auto pistol since the demise of the Beretta 70/71 series.

 

[Faulkner]

The real question should be Shield vs Glock 43 vs Ruger LC9S. In my opinion, Ruger wins (and I'm a fan of Glocks).

About $65.00 less than a G43, very comparable in size to both, holds one more round than G43, and as reliable as the G43.

 

[murphydog]

I have nothing against Glocks (or obviously with S & W products ) but I find the former’s pricing structure odd. They may get the LE market by low bids but seem to make up by high commercial MSRPs and sales prices.

 

[ColbyBruce]

Faulkner, I am not much of a Ruger fan, though I do have a snubbie for an ankle gun.

I do admit to purchasing a SR22 with the bright yellow frame as a retirement gift for a friend back in September. He moved to eighty acres in western NC. If he drops that gun in the woods, pasture, stream, or barn he should be able to find it. Actually, Stevie Wonder could find that thing.

 

[RobzGuns]

Had the G43 hit the market back in 2012, when the Shield did, I probably would have come home with the G43... But it didn't. Back then, the Striker action choices (in ths size) were the XD-S and the Shield. Even the Ruger LC9S didn't come out until a couple Years later. While LC9S trigger may be nicer than the (original) Shield's, the recoil didn't feel nearly as smooth.

For me, both the Shield and the G43 feel very smooth to shoot, but as much as I like the G43, I don't like it enough to trade my Shield for one.

 

[LVSteve]

You could throw in the Kahr CW9 just to muddy the waters some more.

While LC9S trigger may be nicer than the (original) Shield's, the recoil didn't feel nearly as smooth.

I don't like the recoil impulse on the LC9s either, even after fitting a Hogue. It gets nasty with 147 gr ammo for sure. The Kahr is much tamer, but it is also much harder to rack with its beefy recoil spring.

 

[EdinDenver]

LC9s was sold at the LGS a couple weeks ago...gladly picked up my check yesterday. My only complaint about the LC9s was the safety - it's small and cumbersome. Love the Glock 43 with night sights. Extended mags make for a decent option at home with 9 rds. Factory stock mags make for a decent option to carry. I have no experience with the Shield and have no opinion.

 

[S&WOkie]

I prefer the Shield.

I carried a G43 for a few months and decided it was too small for my hands.

I am also very tight with my money so the price difference for M&Ps in general usually makes the choice easier for me. That being said, I did pick up a steal on a G19.5 for my last gun purchase.

 

[diyj98]

I've owned the Shield, LC9, and the Glock 43. I didn't like the LC9 tiny safety like EdinDenver mentioned. The Glock was slightly smaller than the Shield and I had a number of other various Glocks, so I kept the Glock and sold the others.

 

[JaPes]

Had the G43 hit the market back in 2012, when the Shield did, I probably would have come home with the G43... But it didn't. Back then, the Striker action choices (in ths size) were the XD-S and the Shield. Even the Ruger LC9S didn't come out until a couple Years later. While LC9S trigger may be nicer than the (original) Shield's, the recoil didn't feel nearly as smooth.

For me, both the Shield and the G43 feel very smooth to shoot, but as much as I like the G43, I don't like it enough to trade my Shield for one.

Your sequential experience is the exact opposite of mine. When I decided I needed a single stack 9mm, the choices were G43, Shield, and XD-S. Even though trusted friends who know me advised that I would like the Shield better over the long run, I was dead set on buying a G43. After about 6 months, I realized I should have listened to them.

I liked the Shield 9mm more than my G43, but the differences weren't enough to push me into trading/selling my G43. Then the Sheild 45 came out. Bye-Bye G43.

Edit to add:

I traded into an XD-S 9mm while I had the G43. I can't remember what the deal was, but I was definitely on the up-side. I had it for a month. I upgraded the trigger. I shot it. I just never liked it. I can honestly say that I just don't get along with XD's.

 

[Kanewpadle]

I’ve shot both the Shield and G43 extensively. The 43 suits me better. I’m not a Glock fanboy. I like all guns. But if I need something Glock related, my LGS has it. Can’t say that about most other brands.

 

[ColbyBruce]

I have some trigger time on the various Walther, Kahr and XD pistols of similar size and I would take a Shield or Walther PPS before any of the others; a Walther PPS M2 over the Glock 43 and pray I didn’t have to choose between a Kahr or XD.

 

[alwslate]

These two guns are so similar it is mind boggling that the S&W can be $150.00-$200.00 cheaper than the Glock.

Well you know what they say"you get what you pay for". I have
a G43 and have no complaints. The Shield has been out for a
while and I have seen so many complaints on here about them
that I have never even considered buying one.

 

[Breakaway500]

I sold my G43 and now carry a...Random P64 in its place. Yes I am strange...

 

[Muss Muggins]

Looking them over and handling them, I can only think that both of them would make the greatest .22 LR semi auto pistol since the demise of the Beretta 70/71 series.

I have always wondered why Glock hasn't entered the .22LR market yet . . .

 

[GeoJelly]

I don't yet have a Shield - but I have both an LC9s and the newer EC9s. I also have a G43 and either of the Rugers are better in my eyes. As mentioned, one more round, steel mags, the safety, and especially the ergos. That said, the Rugers do have a more challenging takedown procedure, and I don't think they are built to last multiple lifetimes like the Glocks. Speaking of takedown procedure, albeit off-topic, I really like what Mossberg has done with their MC9 (I think) where you lock the slide back and remove the striker assembly ...

 

[Valmet]

I’m a Glock fanboy from way back but when it comes to the small, single-stack 9s, I actually prefer the Shield myself.

 

[ColbyBruce]

I have always wondered why Glock hasn't entered the .22LR market yet . . .

Me too. I had a AA .22 conversion kit for the Glock 26/27/33 and it was unreliable on my two 26’s and my son’s 27 and 33. A few years ago I bought a AA kit for the Glock 29/30 and it runs great. I bought a 29/30sf frame and now have a complete pistol.

 

[Bulldawg Dad]

I have owned 2 Shield 9's and shot a T&E LC9 when they were first introduced. I never could feel real comfortable with the Shields and opted not to purchase the LC9 after the T&E program. I sold my 2nd Shield to purchase my G-43 and have never looked back. I've carried Glocks on duty since 2001 and the G-43, albeit smaller, works and shoots as good as my other 14 Glocks (not to mention the G-48 I have on order). Yes, I guess you can call me a Glock fanboy. The only other Polymer Pistol I own is a newly acquired S&W M&P 2.0 9mm that I won at a Pistol Tournament (shooting my G-34). To each, his own.

I will say that the exchange of ideas and likes on S&W Forum is more civil than on Glock Talk.

 

[LVSteve]

.....and pray I didn’t have to choose between a Kahr or XD.

Can we assume you have an extreme dislike of long triggers and long resets?

 

[ColbyBruce]

Can we assume you have an extreme dislike of long triggers and long resets?

The long trigger pull and slight hump in the trigger guard of the Kahr and the grip safety on the XD turn me off.

 

[Old Corp]

In the late 90's I bought one of the fairly early Kahr PM9's.
At the time, it was about the only quality 'tiny 9' on the market.

It was a little balky on break-in but since then has been flawless.
The Kahrs have very revolver-like DA trigger pulls that just get smoother with use.

Now I'm all about getting and using 'new and improved' models of handguns, but honestly can't see any of the sub-compact 9mm's such as discussed here doing anything better than my Kahr. So here it is in it's 20th year of being carried pretty regularly.

It started as an OD carry gun, and now is Summer/warm weather carry either in pocket holster of Don Hume JIT slide holster.
It works 100%, smooth, slim, accurate and I paid a real premium for it way back when. (CW9 current models were a great move by the company - PM's were darned expensive).
Guess it's remaining until I'm exposed to something truly better.

 

[oink]

We have an XDs (45), a shield 9, and a G43. I actually consider them all pretty equal leaving which is best a matter of taste. The G43 was originally
mine but my wife liked it better than the Shield I got her so we traded. I'm happy either way.

 

[GregG]

The 43 is very accurate in my experience. No regrets here.

 

[Faulkner]

LC9s was sold at the LGS a couple weeks ago...gladly picked up my check yesterday. My only complaint about the LC9s was the safety - it's small and cumbersome. Love the Glock 43 with night sights. Extended mags make for a decent option at home with 9 rds. Factory stock mags make for a decent option to carry. I have no experience with the Shield and have no opinion.

The Ruger LC9S Pro does not have an external thumb safety, in the Glock fashion. Problem solved.

 

[Mahalo_.32]

A friend of mine had a shield, I ran 5 mags through it and for some reason the feel for it just was not there for me it felt uncomfortably small to me . The Glock 42 and 43 were better for me. I also like the Taurus PT111 G2, it feels very nice in the hand and shoots really good. 2- 12 round mags 199-249.00

Here is a pic of mine daily carry.

 

[oink]

I like most all of the little guns mentioned. I still say the Shield V1 for $250 is a no brainer. ($250 at PSA through today) And I still like the V1 best. I actually have the Taurus PT111 G2 also. It really isn't a bad little gun and does feel good in the hand. Not the worlds best trigger though and I don't think there's much you can do for it. But I still like the gun. The magazines are too expensive for a cheap gun. I guess the Sig is the standout in the category for size and capacity and unfortunately price. However, I'm OK with the capacity of the Shield and I like the hand feel of the Sig least of all but that might be addressable.

 

[marathonrunner]

These two guns are so similar it is mind boggling that the S&W can be $150.00-$200.00 cheaper than the Glock.

Looking them over and handling them, I can only think that both of them would make the greatest .22 LR semi auto pistol since the demise of the Beretta 70/71 series.

the shield by far is much better than the G43. When I got my G43 I had to put a flat face trigger and a hogue grip to keep it from sqirming with every shot. The Shield out of the box is much much better.

 

[daglockman]

I am a Glock guy at heart, but love all kinds of guns. I made the mistake of buying a first gen Shield with a safety, and I dislike it. I should have gotten a no safety model. My bad. I carry a 43 daily. Shield keeps the safe secure from the inside. The Glock resale value is better, but as mentioned before, at $250 for the Shield, I am not looking for a investment gain and they are a great value.