Should I Replace My G43 With a Shield?

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vjp

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I recently acquired my first M&P pistol, an M&P45. Today, I acquired another one, an M&P9 for $375 plus tax used but in new condition. I'm considering replacing my daily carry, a G43, with a Shield to keep it all in the same family. I know this is the Smith forum but I'm thinking that you guys will give a more honest opinion of the Shield compared to the Glock.
 
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I have had both and both are great guns but I now carry the Performance Center 9mm shield with the mag guts system for the short carry mag.

This set up gives me 8+1 in a package that is barely larger that a G43 and smaller than a G26


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I love my full size M&P 9. My favorite to shoot. It just "feels" right. My carry gun is a 9mm Shield Performance Center. Nice carry gun. (I carry with the 8 round mag.) Just my 2 cents.
 
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Shields are one of the best. values..

...in the world of CC, Shields are reliable without costing big bucks. There is nothing wrong with the Glock, far from it, dang good gun.

Other attributes to the Shield are trim, not blocky. Very easy to carry and very comfortable to shoot. The DOA trigger reminds me more of a single action gun. Lifetime warranty.
 
vjp said:
I recently acquired my first M&P pistol, an M&P45. Today, I acquired another one, an M&P9 for $375 plus tax used but in new condition. I'm considering replacing my daily carry, a G43, with a Shield to keep it all in the same family. I know this is the Smith forum but I'm thinking that you guys will give a more honest opinion of the Shield compared to the Glock.
Click to expand...

My personal experience (honest opinion) favors the Shield with trigger mods over the Glock 43. I love my Glock 19 but the single stack Glocks don't feel right to me.
 
Bonephish said:
My personal experience (honest opinion) favors the Shield with trigger mods over the Glock 43. I love my Glock 19 but the single stack Glocks don't feel right to me.
Click to expand...

I am just the opposite. I have large hands and picked up a 43 over Christmas. I actually like the 43 better than the Shield. Now I did add a +1 grip extension to my Glock mags and that made a big difference in the feel of it.
Honestly, you cant go wrong with either one.
 
I have a full size and a shield and like that they are in the same family as it's so easy to switch between guns, and maintenance them. But if you like and shoot the glock well,why spend the money? (Unless you gots plenty extra) The two guns are very similar in function and breakdown. Now if u like the feel of the shield better, which I persoannly do, or you naturally shoot it better, (both about the same for me), then by all means go for it. You should be as competent and comfortable with your carry gun as possible.
 
My opinion, more the same than not. I prefer the grip angle of the Shield, because it's what I'm use too. My wife prefers the G43. These days I carry the Shield 45. No plans to get rid of either 9mm.
 
Keeping your carry guns in the same family makes sense. Sights, operational controls and grip angle are all very similar.

Having a Glock 43 instead of a Shield is not necessarily a big deal--if you shoot it well and it's reliable.

However, in your situation I would recemmend selling the G43 and buying a Shield for greater compatibility. Buy locally and ask to check the triggers on several Shields. Sometimes brand new they are gritty or jerky. Some are very good new.
 
I got my Shield back in 2012 when they first came out. Had the G43 debuted at the same time, I probably would have bought it, instead of the Shield.

I shoot both very well out to 45' and both are great little pistols.
I like the G43 very much, but not enough to trade my Shield for one.
Had I bought a G43 first, I'd probably say that I like the Shield very much, but not enough to trade a G43 for one.

I have various carry pistols on various platforms. The Shield and my old S&W Model 19-3 are the only S&Ws I own.

Try a Shield (rent, try a friends, etc) before making the change, but if you simply need an excuse to get a new pistol, then by all means, "because I want them all to be M&Ps" is a good enough excuse. :)
 
I have both and I carry both. I personally like the shield better because of the ergonomics on it. Plus, to me it just shoots better. I honestly like them both, but if you are breaking in to the M&P line of pistols, I think it would it make sense to have the same platform across the board.
 
If you go back and search there were some threads on this topic in the past that you may find informative.

With that said, I have both and carry the Glock and have placed the Shield in storage. Don't get me wrong I like the Shield a great deal and shot perfect with it when I qualified. I have even suggested it to others when they are looking for a handgun because it is very easy to shoot and accurate.

It also took a little while to get broken in and has had a hang up or two since that time. Not sure if it would be the ammo, the shooter or the gun but the Glock has had zero issues with anything I have put down the pipe.

I figure at the distances I would be using this particular style of handgun at and the minimal difference in round count I would lean toward the one that has shown to me to be the most reliable.

Of course though many times in the summer you will see me stuffing a 442 in my pocket.
 
I would pick the shield. I love the g43 but if we are talking EDC, i like having the extra capacity in the shield. I personally stay away from magguts or anything else not factory that messes with mags. I like the g43's sights more.

I will add i am from Massachusetts and owning a glock is not easy (as in easy to find, since glocks must be transfered and can NOT be purchased from a shop). That being said, buy and shield and send me your g43
 
vjp said:
I recently acquired my first M&P pistol, an M&P45. Today, I acquired another one, an M&P9 for $375 plus tax used but in new condition. I'm considering replacing my daily carry, a G43, with a Shield to keep it all in the same family. I know this is the Smith forum but I'm thinking that you guys will give a more honest opinion of the Shield compared to the Glock.
Click to expand...
I bought a G43 first and really like it. Then I tried, liked and bought a Shield. Big fan of both . Personally I'm not getting rid of either one.
 
I carry a PC 9mm Shield and like it. I also like the Glock 43, but the lack of a thumb safety kept me from buying a G43. After years of shooting 1911 style guns, I prefer the safety models.
 
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