Shield Vs M&P Compact

Kennydale

Kennydale

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I carry a Ruger SR40C. it is a great firearm with a great trigger. But it is my first and only firearm. Looking for a second. I have read that the Shield has a great trigger but the M&P C not so much. I am really interested in an out of the box ready to go carry, and i really am not interested in after market triggers (IE:Apex). I wouldn't mind a Shield with a spare magazine (or two). The M&P Compact I imagine can take a full size M&P Magazine and that would give me the same option that my Ruger gives me.

Anyone know if S&W has made both models consistent in trigger quality ?
 
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Kennydale said:
I carry a Ruger SR40C. it is a great firearm with a great trigger. But it is my first and only firearm. Looking for a second. I have read that the Shield has a great trigger but the M&P C not so much. I am really interested in an out of the box ready to go carry, and i really am not interested in after market triggers (IE:Apex). I wouldn't mind a Shield with a spare magazine (or two). The M&P Compact I imagine can take a full size M&P Magazine and that would give me the same option that my Ruger gives me.

Anyone know if S&W has made both models consistent in trigger quality ?
Click to expand...

Triggers on both are comparable. There is a discussion on the Shield vs M&P 9c going on right now over in the M&P section.
 
1

Neither the handguns you are considering, nor the one you have has a 'great' trigger.

I think they are all inferior.

Try a good 1911 to see what a 'great' trigger is like.

Go from there in your comarisons.

Just my opinion, of course.
 
There is a a lot of difference between the Shield and the MP Compact.(mostly size and a mag capacity)

The Shield is a MP. Totally different size gun. The "guts' are pretty much the same.

Depends on what size and caliber you want.?? Go to the store and feel the triggers for yourself.
 
Due to my hand size I have a 9c and it is a great firearm. The trigger is on mine is very good also. It comes down what feels the best when you hold it and when you are shooting it.
 
I had the same problem trying to decide between the Shield and the compact. Went to the gun store, handled the both of them, and decided on the Shield. No regrets.
 
For me, the Shield was more ideal for CC due to it being a thin, single-stack. I never really considered the 9c. I find the trigger on my Shield to be surprisingly smooth and light. I shoot it more accurately than I do my SD40VE. I've never shot a 1911 so I don't have a frame of reference but, as others have said, that's an apples to oranges comparison. I don't think you can conceal a 1911 quite as easily. :-)
 
I have a 40c and a 40 shield. The triggers are not as bad as everyone says they are. There are better but there are definitely worse. U will have to try them both. Imho u can't go wrong with either one. Good luck with your choice, or do what I did and get both!!!! ;)

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 using Tapatalk
 
there isn't much difference between a SR9C and m&p9C in size/capacity, i'm assuming the 40's also are very similar. Also the shield is not much smaller except being a thinner single stack.
 
The trigger on my 40c isn't too bad. Before I bought it I mainly shot my 1911s, so it took me a little while to adjust to the new feel of a striker fired pistol.

I have pretty big hands and when I held a shield it felt way too small. The 40c feels like it was made for my hand. Sure the grip is very short, but it's not very difficult to shoot with just your middle and ring finger holding the gun. Plus, it comes with a pinky extension if you need it.
 
I have a Shield 9 and had a 9c, bought the Shield first then the 9c. The trigger on my Shield is slightly heavier than the 9c but has a crisper break, the 9c a little mushier, they both smoothed out nicely after dry firing and actual use but overall prefer the Shields trigger. Ended up selling the 9c since I had no plans to carry it and didn't like the shortness of the grip on the backside, just recently added a FS 9 and have no regrets sending the 9c on its way.

It's funny, in a self defense situation I doubt you'll ever tell the difference between most triggers, what's important to me is a short reset to prevent short stroking.
 
If you plan on keeping your Ruger compact, I don't see much of a reason for the 9c (unless you want a 9mm instead of .40). The Shield is very different than the 9c, and fits a different need. The Shield is super concealable, smaller/lighter, and holds less rounds than either the Ruger or 9c. As for trigger feel, and as others mentioned, neither are exceptional but both are fine for striker-fired pistols.
 
My shield is my carry weapon of 12+ hour days. My compact was being used for a range weapon. Much more fun than my shield at the range. However I'm also a 1911 collector and have a few too many of them. So the compact went bye bye since it no longer fit in anywhere. Shield is for carry and the 1911s are for range. Actually I carry a few of my kimber ultra carry from time to time also. But in the long run I still have no use for a compact. Sold it and I've never looked back nor have I regretted getting rid of it.
 
I have been carrying the FS9 for a few months and have decided I want something more compact and have been testing out different pistols to see what I like the best. I think the SR9c is not too bad, but the trigger feels too light for me and I don't care for the LCI. Don't care for the shield, it is too thin for my hand but I am diggin the M&P9c. The first time I shot the 9c the magazine pinched my pinky finger but the more I have tried it the better it feels compared to anything else.
 
mdthanatos said:
I have been carrying the FS9 for a few months and have decided I want something more compact and have been testing out different pistols to see what I like the best. I think the SR9c is not too bad, but the trigger feels too light for me and I don't care for the LCI. Don't care for the shield, it is too thin for my hand but I am diggin the M&P9c. The first time I shot the 9c the magazine pinched my pinky finger but the more I have tried it the better it feels compared to anything else.
Click to expand...
I have the SR40C. The best thing about it, is the trigger. I need to try out the Shield and M&P Compacts. My only drawback is I keep reading about how much M&P's need Apex upgrade.
Your comment on the light trigger on the SR now has me rethinking the M&P. The range I go to rents them. Need to do a side by side.
 
There have been a number of improvements to the M&P trigger. New style (H stamped) trigger bars. improved slide stops, and performance center sears.

However, it's quite hit or miss if any M&P you buy has all or some of these.

OOTB, my Shield has a good smooth break, a little overtravel and some flex in the trigger itself. Has a good tactile and audible reset.

OOTB, my FS had a gritty feel, lot's of creep/flex, very little reset.

OOTB, my 9C had a gritty feel, some creep/flex, no reset whatsoever.

I polished the trigger bar and shot the cr@p out of my FS and C and that has virtually eliminated any gritty feel.

I recently swapped out the S stamped trigger bar for the "H" and sear housing block (with the PC sear) on my C and it's a world different. I plan to swap the slide lock too.

It's good enough where I don't feel I need an APEX kit in my C anymore. They are also OEM parts so I believe I will have no problems with any future warranty claims. I also like the notion that it's all factory parts in case anyone asks what mods I made. I will do this for my FS as well.

None of this has changed the weight of the trigger pull as far as I can tell. They will never compare to the feel of a decent 1911 trigger (I have 2). But then, they don't need to.
 
Just to clarify, the M&Ps don't need the Apex upgrade, but many like it. Hence the term upgrade. I have the Shield, and the trigger is just fine. Give them a try side by side, that's your best way to evaluate the next purchase.

Good Luck and good shooting. :D
 
rwsmith said:
I just like the way that the Shield feels compared to the c version. It seems made for me just like my 3rd gen.
Click to expand...

How can a Shield and a Gen3 Glock both feel like they were made to fit your hand? They feel so completely different. It's not just feel, it's circumference (which is not as subjective). My two primary carry guns are my Glock 26 Gen4 and my Shield in 9mm. The grip is so much thinner on the Shield. It just doesn't fill my hand like the Glock so it's nowhere near the comfort and purchase I get with the latter. My Shield carries more comfortably, but my Glock is more comfortable to hold. It's a trade off in my mind. They both shoot and carry well enough, but I would say my Glock carries better than my Shield feels. I have medium sized hands (large glove).
 
Sheepdoggit said:
How can a Shield and a Gen3 Glock both feel like they were made to fit your hand? They feel so completely different. It's not just feel, it's circumference (which is not as subjective). My two primary carry guns are my Glock 26 Gen4 and my Shield in 9mm. The grip is so much thinner on the Shield. It just doesn't fill my hand like the Glock so it's nowhere near the comfort and purchase I get with the latter. My Shield carries more comfortably, but my Glock is more comfortable to hold. It's a trade off in my mind. They both shoot and carry well enough, but I would say my Glock carries better than my Shield feels. I have medium sized hands (large glove).
Click to expand...


I'm assuming he's referring to a 3rd gen Smith, not Glock.
 
While I do agree that M&Ps aren't known for having great trigger feel, the Compact and Shield are not exactly range guns or target pistols. They are primarily self defense weapon designed for conceal carry. If and when they are pressed into service in an actual gun fight, the shooter is likely so pumped full of adrenaline, that trigger feel would be the last of his/her worries.

I'm keeping mine stock, as they work well enough for their intended purpose.

Now, when I eventually get that M&P Pro CORE 5" with a nice reddot, I might care a bit more about the trigger feel.
 
I went with the 9c because living in Fayetteville we have several issues with gangs, as well as people getting attacked by more than one person. Therefore I wanted more rounds. Maybe it is overkill but it makes me feel better. I didn't like the trigger though, the amount of over travel and pre-travel, so I replaced the trigger with the Apex FSS. Out of the box though it will perform just fine.
 
I shoot a M&P pro 9, 40c, 9 mm Shield and Sig 1911, all are different, a matter of getting used to them. All good. IMHO carry guns require a heavier pull....
 
Last edited:
I have both and don't feel any real notable differences between the triggers. I do, though, much prefer the grip length on the Shield when the extended magazine is inserted. I find the grip on the Compact too short for comfort. A pinky extention won't help because it is the REAR of the grip I find too short on the Compact model. I don't mind short grips on pocket pistols, but do mind short grips on guns with any real weight to them.
 
I own a shield 9 and shield 40 also a 40c all have apex triggers.out of the 3 i prefer the 40c hands down
 
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