Shoot my Shield 9mm better than my G19

[bsmiley]

Range trip today. Took my Shield 9 and my G19g4. My friend brought his G19g3 and G30g3.
I have Ameriglo Pro I-dots. Green front on G19, orange front on Shield. Friend has XS big dots.
I have an Apex DCAEK in my Shield and a Apex flat trigger and striker block plunger in my G19. My friend has polished his trigger bar and his striker block plunger.
Thoughts:
1. I like the I-dots a little better, especially the orange front sight.
2. I like the Apex Glock trigger better than stock.
3. I feel like I get a better grip on the G19, more from my support hand.
4. The Shield has the best trigger, smooth and crisp.
5. I shoot the Shield better than either G19. I can shoot it faster and more accurately.
6. The Shield feels better to shoot. I think it must be the Glock grip angle.
7. 45 acp kicks a lot more than 9mm.
8. All four pistols run great and would all be good choices. The Shield shines in that it is so small and thin, weighs less and feels better.
9. Magguts would give the Shield the same capacity as the G30. I think I will get at least one.
10. Over 400 rounds in my Shield with zero issues.
If I could only pick one, I'd choose the Shield.

 

[gostovp]

Gostovp,

You're a good shot. I don't have a Glock 19, but I've shot it and it certainly shoots much better for me than my 9mm Shield. Although YMMV, I wouldn't recommend the Shield to a beginner. I finally got to the point where the Shield is accurate up to 15 yards. The Shield still does not work well for me at 25 yards. Nevertheless, I going to put some of Trijicon's HD RX sights on it as soon as I receive authorization to purchase a Sig Sauer P320.

I'm an 'ok' pistol shot. Its like anything, you need to practice to get better, but you also need equipment that fits you (like golf, running or trap shooting or even baseball...properly fitted or sized clubs, shoes, shotgun stock or even a bat can make a difference in how you perform).
In regards to shooting my Shield better than my G19 I really think it has to do with just how well the Shield fits the contours of my hand and the thinness of the grip. I have shot compound bows/archery for 3 decades (another sport where you have to have proper fit for accuracy) and in that sport, thin grips are considered better for accuracy...many archers remove the stock grips from their bows to make the grips even thinner (I do this on my hunting bow and wrap it with a couple layers of Camoform tape). I think the thin grip of the Shield keeps me from inducing torque into the pistol, and the shape of the grip and how it fits well into the web of my hand for me really reduces the felt recoil.

 

[gostovp]

After the responses to this thread, I may sell my G19 and invest in some MagGuts for my 8 round Shield mags.

 

[Hhenry]

Since getting my Shield, in the range trips I have taken both my Shield and Glock G19 to the range together I find that I shoot my Shield actually BETTER than my G19. I like the Glock don't get me wrong, and my Gen 4 G19 has been 100% reliable, however like many people I just don't have the 'Glock' hand that is a perfect fit for the Glock grip, and like many other people on the 'interweb' I have a tendency to shoot my Glock to the left (common Glock complaint...I don't have this issue with my Shield, my 1911, my Kahr PM9, my Ruger SR22, my GSG 1911 22lr).
The width, length, and back strap and shape to the grip right under the slight beaver tail on the Shield fits my hand just right, while the Glock just doesn't fit 'as good', and the finger grooves on the G19 don't perfectly line up for me.
Even the perceived recoil from the Shield feels better to me because my hand just seems to fit better one it.
So questions:
1. How do the full size M&P 9mm's compare in grip (other than width) to the Shield?
2. I love the capacity of the G19....but I wouldn't be opposed to using my Shield as my 'nightstand' pistol as well...Should I be concerned about not having 15+1 at my disposal compared to 8+1?
3. Anyone else gone away from a Glock to the Shield (or M&P) like this because of the Glock grip?

Your experience is quite common. I left a Sig 320sc, Glock 26, and the 43 twice for my Shield (9mm/No Safety/Factory Night Sights). Why? I can shoot it more accurately. I for one am convinced that the 18 degree grip angle makes ALL the difference (for me).

I just added a 4.25" 2.0 to my bag. It is amazingly accurate! Superb trigger! Compared to my beloved Gen 4 19, both the 2.0 and the Shield top it! With the small grip module, the grip is still wider than the Shield.

Glad to read your experience! Great thread!!

 

[Dad_Roman]

2. .but I wouldn't be opposed to using my Shield as my 'nightstand' pistol as well...Should I be concerned about not having 15+1 at my disposal compared to 8+1?
3. Anyone else gone away from a Glock to the Shield (or M&P) like this because of the Glock grip?

#2....Nightstand use could be 10+1+10 with the promag. I know there is a lot of consternation about promags but we have thousands of rounds through them with no problems. This is what mamma has on her side. Probably go to the 45's when mag extentions start showing up in the marketplace.

#3....My boy took my Shield9 away from me a couple months ago and recently told me he parted out his Glock and got rid of it (and he was a trublu fanboi)

We all love the Shield.

 

[Valueman]

As others before me have observed, the Shield is the smallest gun I have ever owned that (for me) shoots like a larger one. In my hands, the accuracy of the Shield matches any non-custom firearm that I own.

A couple of weeks ago I decided to shoot a local IDPA match using my Shield in the CCP (Compact Carry) division. Over six stages of fire I had one shot outside the down zero circle. Needless to say, I was quite happy with that little experiment.

I have no plans to sell my Glocks. but I am very happy with the Shield performance.

 

[brettskywalker]

I love my shield 9mm, other than a light stippling job & fluorescent green painted front sight dot its bone stock. I have approximately 8-900 rounds through it. As a defensive carry gun, I think the trigger feels great right now & I am able to shoot it very accurately. I bought the 5 inch 2.0 a month ago & its a nice shooter. As far as the FS grip, obviously wider & longer, but also wider front to back. Using the smallest backstrap will bring it closer to feeling like the shield. A bigger change in the feel between a FS & the Shield is when the support hand comes in. The longer & wider front to back, grip of the FS gives you a little more contact on the gun. The trigger on the 2.0 is much better than 1st gens, but the initial 1st shot take up is way too long. I alos have a 1st gen FS m&p45 & its a little wider all the way around than my 2.0 9mm

 

[greeenteeee]

Gostovp,

You're a good shot. I don't have a Glock 19, but I've shot it and it certainly shoots much better for me than my 9mm Shield. Although YMMV, I wouldn't recommend the Shield to a beginner. I finally got to the point where the Shield is accurate up to 15 yards. The Shield still does not work well for me at 25 yards. Nevertheless, I going to put some of Trijicon's HD RX sights on it as soon as I receive authorization to purchase a Sig Sauer P320.

I can relate to this thread and I was going to mention distance. Within 15 yards, I shoot marginally better with my Shield (PC and standard with Apex sear) over my P320. At 25 yards, I can only hit steel with the P320 though.

Since your'e about to pick up a P320, maybe this vid would be of interest:

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-51z3XX7qE[/ame]

 

[Horn]

Too Much Most of The Time

Since getting my Shield, in the range trips I have taken both my Shield and Glock G19 to the range together I find that I shoot my Shield actually BETTER than my G19. I like the Glock don't get me wrong, and my Gen 4 G19 has been 100% reliable, however like many people I just don't have the 'Glock' hand that is a perfect fit for the Glock grip, and like many other people on the 'interweb' I have a tendency to shoot my Glock to the left (common Glock complaint...I don't have this issue with my Shield, my 1911, my Kahr PM9, my Ruger SR22, my GSG 1911 22lr).
The width, length, and back strap and shape to the grip right under the slight beaver tail on the Shield fits my hand just right, while the Glock just doesn't fit 'as good', and the finger grooves on the G19 don't perfectly line up for me.
Even the perceived recoil from the Shield feels better to me because my hand just seems to fit better one it.
So questions:
1. How do the full size M&P 9mm's compare in grip (other than width) to the Shield?
2. I love the capacity of the G19....but I wouldn't be opposed to using my Shield as my 'nightstand' pistol as well...Should I be concerned about not having 15+1 at my disposal compared to 8+1?
3. Anyone else gone away from a Glock to the Shield (or M&P) like this because of the Glock grip?

If you're packing a pistol for self defense all of this talk about magazine capacity __and some packing extra magazines__ may be too much most of the time. I mean where is the "end" number?
In my personal experience it starts and is over in seconds and at very short distances.
I agree with you about the "Glock grip". Had a G26. Very good shooter and reliable. Other than brass to the face__and over my head. I found the grip not for me. That said, I do have a G43 and
find the grip acceptable. However, my packing 9 is a Shield. My
"packer" for out on my desert or nearby mountains is my Sig P320 with Buffalo Bore's Outdoorsman rounds.
If you find you are needing your SD pistol you'll be fortunate to get off two shots. Of course I'm still "trained" for those five shots.
Stay safe
Poli Viejo
Now I'm waiting for the "what ifs".

 

[rwsmith]

That's why we call them....

That's why we call them 'Blocks'. I'm not being derogatory, just that a Glock is a Glock and it caters to people that have the hands for it.

 

[Mister X]

I carry a snub revolver more often than anything else, so I see no issues with the Shields's capacity for carry, but home defense is very different from my perspective.

As a civiian, in a public/concealed carry defense scenario, complete avoidance is the primary goal followed by escaping the conflict. I think a 5 round J-frame or a single stack auto like then Shield is sufficient for this role.

In a home defense scenario, I can't readily avoid the confrontation and escape is not often a practical option, especially for those of us with children. I will have to make a stand and in that context, I want all the capacity I can get. I have come across far too many home invasion cases involving multiple intruders to be comfortable with relying solely on a revolver or single stack auto. More often than not, the intruders flee once the shooting starts, but I don't think it wise to count on that occurring and choose to prepare for the possibility of multiple determined intruders who still engage even when confronted with armed resistance.

YMMV

 

[MP1SG]

Mister X
I agree but where does one draw the line??
The sig academy teaches 2 to 6 rounds per threat, So if an armed home invasion happens with lets say 3 perps your firing as little as 6 rounds or as many as 18. And thats if they are all hits under no stress, where does one draw the line. So one needs to carry a Glock 17 (or the like) to defeat that threat.
My thought's are, shoot a gun you shoot well, shoot it accurately and shoot it fast. Practice scenarios that would mimic a home invasion or an every day life event. Practice one handed shooting in the event your holding a child. Practice practice practice,
for me the Shield 9mm fits that role well, Its very very accurate 100% reliable and easy to shoot. I have been using the maggots +2 inserts which have been 100% reliable even after 600 rounds. That gives my 10 rounds of Speer Gold Dot 124+P which in my opinion is a formidable fighting gun for its size.
Just my 2 cents

1SG
Out

 

[gostovp]

Some very good points made about home defense weapon. I had my G19 posted here for a little bit and took it down, shot a 9c and just didn't like it like I thought I would. I'm thinking of not taking a bath on selling it and keeping it and just saving up for a full size M&P or SD series. Maybe I will remove the finger grips humps on the G19...got a buddy that will do that and re-stipple the front strap for me if I want...he stippled his XD9 and did really sweet job on it, so I trust him not to Bubba it up.