Shot the Shield, Love the Shield, shoulda' listened to the Doc

[kontoulas]

New shield 9

Shot my new Shield 9 yesterday and I love it. Like the trigger a lot feels good in the hand. Added the Talon rubber grip which seems to help in our heat and moisture. Great gun for it's price point.

 

[rwsmith]

shoot target loads......

Shoot target loads in something bigger until you recover.

 

[gunny4053]

Shot my new Shield 9 yesterday and I love it. Like the trigger a lot feels good in the hand. Added the Talon rubber grip which seems to help in our heat and moisture. Great gun for it's price point.

Congrats on the Shield, and Welcome to the forum. For the Shield, the Talon rubber grip seems to be the one that works. I replaced the Talon granulate grips on mine with the rubber, and find it works better with my holster of choice.

Good Luck and good shooting.

 

[gunny4053]

Shoot target loads in something bigger until you recover.

Good idea, though I think sending some .22 down range might give me a quick fix.

 

[lambertjr]

Brought my brand new Shield 9 home today and put about 50 rounds downrange. I'm happy, happy, happy!

Two years ago I sold my CS9 and regretted it ever since until today. The feel, weight, trigger pull, reset, ease of mag change, and cost have won me over big time!

Now I hope they come up with the Shield in .45....But I'm not selling this 9 if they do.

 

[tedburns3]

Thanks for your informative, detailed response, Gunny.

I have been considering the Sticky, but also the DeSantis Pocket-tuk for the Shield, because it serves similar use, both IWB and pocket.

I really prefer pocket carry, so first will see how I feel with my new Shield (waiting period) with a Nemesis, and a UM #4 pocket holster, before spending more on either the Pocket-Tuk or Sticky holster.

Update: Received this great firearm last night, and feeling the ropes. In any event, it conceals pretty well in both the Nemesis and the Uncle Mike's #4 pocket holster, with the lead going to the UM #4.

No further holster purchases are contemplated at this time.

I did notice with my new Shield there appears to be a 'slot' in the butt that would likely house the portable 'tool' used to lower the sear deactivation lever. This slot only is accessible with the 7-rd magazine attached as it's covered by the 8-rd magazine.

I don't believe such tool comes with this firearm, though, and was wondering if there's such a tool dedicated to the Shield for those who intend to use it mostly with the 7-rd magazine (and in the event of a 'fight', hope there's no need for a tactical reload with the 8-rounder! ).

 

[M&Pmeister]

I did notice with my new Shield there appears to be a 'slot' in the butt that would likely house the portable 'tool' used to lower the sear deactivation lever. This slot only is accessible with the 7-rd magazine attached as it's covered by the 8-rd magazine.

I don't believe such tool comes with this firearm, though, and was wondering if there's such a tool dedicated to the Shield for those who intend to use it mostly with the 7-rd magazine (and in the event of a 'fight', hope there's no need for a tactical reload with the 8-rounder! ).

Not sure I understand what you are referring to. The sear deactivation lever is only used for removing the slide for field stripping. Even then, you could always just pull the trigger instead of using that lever.

Personally, I rarely bother pulling out the "tool" from my FS and C, which come with it. There is always something lying around (pen, pin, screwdriver, etc.) that is more convenient than having to pull that tool, which is seated in the pistol grip pretty darn tight.

 

[sdeeut69]

Congrats on the shield! I just sold my external safety one a month ago and bought the new non-external safety model. Shooting it tomorrow with the wife for the first time, fully expect it to be every bit as awesome as the last one. Bought the 40 shield after selling the other 9 and was not in love. Great pistol, but not as fun at the range like the 9, so I bought a new one and won't be looking back. Hope you get better soon and can get back to shooting the hell out of your shield. Take care.

 

[tedburns3]

Not sure I understand what you are referring to. The sear deactivation lever is only used for removing the slide for field stripping. Even then, you could always just pull the trigger instead of using that lever.

Personally, I rarely bother pulling out the "tool" from my FS and C, which come with it. There is always something lying around (pen, pin, screwdriver, etc.) that is more convenient than having to pull that tool, which is seated in the pistol grip pretty darn tight.

I called S&W and there is no such tool dedicated to the Shield. The tool is used to switch backstraps and lower the sear deactivation. I am too lazy to take a picture of my CA Shield grip butt. With only the 7-rd mag inserted, there appears an oval shaped area where such a tool could reside as in other M&P's.

Field-strip: Pulling the trigger with a CA Shield, is a definite no-go, especially with that magazine disconnect safety requiring reinsertion of a mag to pull trigger, and cycling .

Dangerous as with the CA Compliant Shield you are asking ironically for trouble by doing it the non-approved way by pulling said trigger (not even mentioned or referred to in the manual) because the mag one drops during clearing and then reinsert in a hurry to field strip may still have rounds in it and then a surprising BANG.

Any gun that requires, like the Glock, that one pull the trigger to field-strip is LESS SAFE than one that does not (Shield, other M&P's, XDm, Beretta 90 series, Sig?, etc.).

 

[Beat Trash]

Gunny, hope your recovery goes smoothly.

I have one of the original safety model Shields. One of the guns made and shipped when the Shield was first announced.

My wife has a Shield that was made in the summer of 2013. Both guns are 9mm.

I installed an Apex hard sear I both guns, along with Ameriglo night sights. The ones with the bright orange front sights.

The stock triggers in both guns were serviceable. But the Apex sears made them just a bit nicer.

My Shield is on my soft body armor as I eat lunch and type this. It's my BUG while at work. It's my slip in my pants while I putz around the house gun. And it's my vacation gun when in low threat places like Sanibel Island in Florida.

For off-duty carry, I prefer something a bit larger than the Shield. But my Shield has replaced my "little guns" like my Kahr PM9 and my J frame 642.

Gunny, listen to your Doc. But once you're ready, you're going to thoroughly enjoy your Shield. Most shooters tend to start to compare their performance with the Shield to a larger size duty gun, and not to a single stack sub compact. Once you get back out to the range, let us know what you think of yours.

 

[gunny4053]

Beat Trash, Thanks, recovery is coming along slowly but surely. Doc let me return to work, but I'm limited to lifting 10lbs for a couple weeks. The guys at work are babying the Old guy...a lot, so for now I'm making coffee.

Of the few rounds I was able to fire, I found the Shield to be very easy to control. Muzzle flip was absolutely minimal, and the ability to return the sights to target rapidly was a breeze. I think it's a keeper. For now, I'm content to pack it around in Sticky holster and make it feel wanted.

Good Luck and good shooting.

 

[M&Pmeister]

Field-strip: Pulling the trigger with a CA Shield, is a definite no-go, especially with that magazine disconnect safety requiring reinsertion of a mag to pull trigger, and cycling .

Dangerous as with the CA Compliant Shield you are asking ironically for trouble by doing it the non-approved way by pulling said trigger (not even mentioned or referred to in the manual) because the mag one drops during clearing and then reinsert in a hurry to field strip may still have rounds in it and then a surprising BANG.

Any gun that requires, like the Glock, that one pull the trigger to field-strip is LESS SAFE than one that does not (Shield, other M&P's, XDm, Beretta 90 series, Sig?, etc.).

Can't speak for LE, but IMO mag disconnect is a bad idea for civilian use, but that's besides the point. Personally, I consider pulling the trigger to release the slide no more dangerous than dry-firing. Safety comes from personal discipline of ensure a firearm is thoroughly cleared before take down or dry firing. If I have to rely on a lever inside a gun to keep my from shooting myself, I have no business handling a gun.

Do I think the sear de-act lever is a good idea and better than Glock not having one? Yes. Do I consider it a safety tool? No. More a convenience one.

But that's just me. So glad I don't live in a State where I need the Gubmint to tell me what is "Approved" method for take down.

 

[lhump1961]

Quadruple bypass. Split me like a grape and took about a 1/4 mile of spare vein out of my leg to redo the plumbing. Not exactly what I had planned for the Summer.

Also, Welcome to the forum.

My dad had that done 5 yrs ago...said the leg healing was worse than the chest...commenting that he must have been the donor for all the patients that day! He recovered quickly and 100% so here's to you expecting the same. Modern medicine is amazing.

 

[gunny4053]

My dad had that done 5 yrs ago...said the leg healing was worse than the chest...commenting that he must have been the donor for all the patients that day!

I must have had the same doctor.

 

[tedburns3]

Can't speak for LE, but IMO mag disconnect is a bad idea for civilian use, but that's besides the point. Personally, I consider pulling the trigger to release the slide no more dangerous than dry-firing. Safety comes from personal discipline of ensure a firearm is thoroughly cleared before take down or dry firing. If I have to rely on a lever inside a gun to keep my from shooting myself, I have no business handling a gun.

Do I think the sear de-act lever is a good idea and better than Glock not having one? Yes. Do I consider it a safety tool? No. More a convenience one.

But that's just me. So glad I don't live in a State where I need the Gubmint to tell me what is "Approved" method for take down.

The approved method comes from S&W in the manual. Pulling the trigger appears to be intentionally omitted.

Agree and disagree with portion in bold.

It would be great if everyone were as safe as you purport to be but that just isn't reality. In fact, I would imagine that most people who have negligent discharges weren't aware of their mistake, otherwise it wouldn't have happened. Even the best of us are subject to human error, mistake, inadvertence, distraction, 'hitting the brakes when should've pressed gas pedal', etc.

An error that anyone who has been around firearms much is dropping the magazine and forgetting to check the chamber. The magazine disconnect prevents ND if shooter thereafter inadvertently pulls said trigger. Otherwise- BANG!

Another error is not dropping the magazine first, clearing the chamber, then dropping the magazine. Round in chamber- BANG, unless there's a magazine disconnect safety.

I really like even more the prominent, tactile loaded chamber indicator required in my State. LCI's have been in existence since at least the German Luger came upon the scene, if I am not mistaken.

How do you feel about the mandatory seat belt and motorcycle helmet laws?

 

[M&Pmeister]

Ooh, don't get me started on helmet laws... We've hijacked this thread bad enough as is. Sorry, gunny.

I do like tactile loaded chamber indicators, but I prefer the nanny state not dictating firearm design. Anyhow, being a lefty, I prefer it on the right side underneath the ejector. Have a few pistols like that and really like the ability to feel it with my support hand without looking down or having to draw the pistol closer. Some of the top-of-slide indicators are way too large and gawdy. They also create stress riser on the slide.

 

[gunny4053]

You two are fine, nothing like spirited discussion to bring out things we sometimes forget or take a look at from a different perspective. Now, if you start resorting to name calling, we may have to set you in the corner for a timeout.

ted, it's funny you should mention "hitting the gas instead of the brake", my garage door is really feeling your comment right now (hence I won't be showing this to my wife, she feels bad enough as it is).

Good Luck and good shooting.

 

[gunny4053]

A little update, I took the Shield out with friends for another go today. For my part, I feel great and my chest is none the worse for wear. The Shield was flawless, shooting reloads and factory ammo with ease. Amazingly accurate and fun to shoot. A buddy of mine was ticked off, his first shot with my Shield was right on target, and his response was, "I can't believe I shoot this better than my Glock". Yep, he really said it. He and his girl friend were going to a LGS to look at one (maybe two) when we finished shooting. To add insult to injury, I shot his Glock better than he did also. Nothing like abusing a friend.

Good Luck and good shooting to everyone.

 

[tedburns3]

You two are fine, nothing like spirited discussion to bring out things we sometimes forget or take a look at from a different perspective. Now, if you start resorting to name calling, we may have to set you in the corner for a timeout.

ted, it's funny you should mention "hitting the gas instead of the brake", my garage door is really feeling your comment right now (hence I won't be showing this to my wife, she feels bad enough as it is).

Good Luck and good shooting.

Sorry for your wife's little mishap!

Cheers,

 

[plowboy1]

Plowboy 1

I just purchased my first m&p shield 40cal. Haven't had time to fire it yet. Due to a funeral. And making arrangements. But gonna try to fire it tomorrow. I've only seen good reviews on this weapon.does anybody have any pointers on how I should break it in.