To buy or not to buy.....that is the question!

[policerevolvercollector]

Yet another LGS is closing here.

The have a new in box Shield .40 for $377 out the door. Good buy??

Opinions on the Shield??

 

[wtburnette]

Several online sources have the gun for under that price, some under $350. Even with free shipping on some of those, you have to add the FFL fee, so their price out the door with tax included isn't the best, but isn't bad.

I've read good and bad about the Shield in .40, but a lot of good on the Shield in 9mm. I personally own a 9mm Shield and love it. Sorry, not much help except on the pricing.

 

[rock doc]

Since you are apparently a police revolver collector, the Shield doesn't fit in, but at $377, that's a used to be a good deal when they first came out. Not so much anymore. Buds has them for less, with free shipping.

 

[ColbyBruce]

That is not a screaming deal, Dead Center and Dana Safety Supply in Buford sell the S&W Shield for $389.99 & $399.99 respectively. Dana Safety gives LEO's a discount. Who is going out of business?

 

[N4KVE]

At least he can inspect the gun for blems, or scratches which he can't do on an internet purchase. That's worth a few bucks to me. GARY

 

[AR-Getsome]

I commented one time that $399 wasn't a good deal and the op got his feelings hurt. If you like the pistol. Buy it. It's there, you can get it on the spot and take it home without waiting for it to ship.

 

[71velle]

So Buds is $365 and you will have to pay a FFL fee and you can get out the door for $377 local. Sounds like a great deal to me, what are you waiting for?

 

[dullh]

So Buds is $365 and you will have to pay a FFL fee and you can get out the door for $377 local. Sounds like a great deal to me, what are you waiting for?

I'd buy from Buds. If Buds is $365, for me that would be free shipping, no sales tax and only a $10 transfer fee at my dealer - $375 and it's in my hand.

I wouldn't buy it because I don't do .40, but whatever floats yer boat...

 

[dullh]

At least he can inspect the gun for blems, or scratches which he can't do on an internet purchase. That's worth a few bucks to me. GARY

So tell me exactly what's the advantage? NIB is NIB whether you grope it first or buy it over the internet...if it ain't NIB they don't call it NIB...

 

[71velle]

I'd buy from Buds. If Buds is $365, for me that would be free shipping, no sales tax and only a $10 transfer fee at my dealer - $375 and it's in my hand.

I wouldn't buy it because I don't do .40, but whatever floats yer boat...

OP states $377 out the door. So for 2 bucks more he can buy from the place that lets him hold it instead of a place that showed him a picture of it. No wonder why the LGS is closing....

Im not a fan of the 40 in such a small gun either, but some guys love the 40.

 

[dullh]

OP states $377 out the door. So for 2 bucks more he can buy from the place that lets him hold it instead of a place that showed him a picture of it. No wonder why the LGS is closing....

Im not a fan of the 40 in such a small gun either, but some guys love the 40.

That's the trouble with the internet...you can find exactly what you want!

I would love for my dollars to stay locally, but fact is when I go into a local shop around here they either don't have what I want, or I can beat their prices by a significant margin online. I'm going to go where the prices are lower.

There are two shops around here that have been around over 20 years, and they're good, but not great. Since Sandy Hook, there have been exactly 9 new "gun shops" that have popped up here locally, and 4 have already gone out of business. Using such an event to open a gun shop is not exactly a good business model.

Not knowing the shop the OP says is going under, I would still hazard a guess that the shop he's talking about is exactly one of those Johnny-Come-Lately types that opened up to ride the "Obama's gonna ban our guns" wave for a while, not understanding 1)the panic buying couldn't ( and wouldn't) go on forever; 2)the nature of the business or 3)planning for the future. Now this shop is going bye-bye, just like untold others that opened up around the nation for the same sorry reason...

 

[wtburnette]

So Buds is $365 and you will have to pay a FFL fee and you can get out the door for $377 local. Sounds like a great deal to me, what are you waiting for?

I actually saw $344 at Sportsman's Outdoor Superstore and that's with free shipping. I've bought from them in the past when I bought my M&P VTAC and it was a great experience. My local FFL is $15, so it's right at $359. If the LGS wasn't going out of business, I'd pay the extra $$ to support them, but with them going out of business, I don't think I'd feel the need to give them my money. On the other hand, if they're serious about getting rid of inventory, you might be able to get them to drop another $10 - $15 off. If that were the case, it'd be worthwhile to walk in and pay for the gun and take it home with you, rather than buy online and wait a day or two. In any event, if you buy it there for $377 out the door, you're not paying much over the cheapest internet price plus FFL.

 

[71velle]

I actually saw $344 at Sportsman's Outdoor Superstore and that's with free shipping. I've bought from them in the past when I bought my M&P VTAC and it was a great experience. My local FFL is $15, so it's right at $359. If the LGS wasn't going out of business, I'd pay the extra $$ to support them, but with them going out of business, I don't think I'd feel the need to give them my money. On the other hand, if they're serious about getting rid of inventory, you might be able to get them to drop another $10 - $15 off. If that were the case, it'd be worthwhile to walk in and pay for the gun and take it home with you, rather than buy online and wait a day or two. In any event, if you buy it there for $377 out the door, you're not paying much over the cheapest internet price plus FFL.

Would still cost more online they list it at $369 so add the FLL and its more!!

http://www.sportsmansoutdoorsuperst...180021/smith-and-wesson-mp9-shield-9mm-pistol

I guess I am old fashion and prefer to do business face to face if possible and willing to pay a few bucks more if necessary to do so. Also at the LGS its dealing with 1 person not 2.

 

[wtburnette]

Would still cost more online they list it at $369 so add the FLL and its more!!

Smith & Wesson M&P9 Shield 9mm Centerfire Pistol | Sportsman's Outdoor Superstore

I guess I am old fashion and prefer to do business face to face if possible and willing to pay a few bucks more if necessary to do so. Also at the LGS its dealing with 1 person not 2.

Apples and oranges. You linked to the 9mm version when the OP is discussing the .40 version:

Smith & Wesson M&P40 Shield 40 SW Centerfire Pistol | Sportsman's Outdoor Superstore

If the FFL is reasonable ($20 or less), you come out decently ahead buying online. $13 - $18 isn't much, but it is something. Possibly enough, or almost enough for 50 rounds of aluminum cased Federal ammo

 

[M29since14]

...Opinions on the Shield??

I was pleasantly surprised by the Shield in .40-caliber. After a little experience with my Kahr PM9, which can be tiresome after a few magazines, I expected it to be pretty snappy. It's not so much so, so if that is a concern for you, I don't think it will be a problem. I would rather shoot the Shield .40 than the PM9 any day.

The one I have shoots nicely to point of aim at 10-yards, if I pay attention to the trigger. If not, I can crunch them over a bit left. It makes nice groups with just about any ammunition in 180-gr weight. I have not tried lighter bullets but will get to that eventually. No malfunctions of any sort. I use a Hogue Hand-all on mine. I like - and use - the thumb-safety. Great little gun, as far as I am concerned.

 

[S&WForty]

I love my Shield 40. I just wish I had heard of them after supply caught up with demand. Mine was purchased for MSRP and I waited about 12 weeks after ordering it. Having shot a friend's G27 many times with my SW99 full-size and SW990L compact, I can confidently say my Shield has less recoil than the other three .40 pistols. I am slightly more accurate with it vs my friend's G27, and definitely a better shot with it vs my SW99s.

 

[SidearmSam]

The Shield is a great little pocket cannon. Check out my opinions on it.

 

[wtburnette]

So what did you end up doing OP?