What makes the Shield9 so pleasurable to shoot?

[martybee]

I have several S&W handguns (all auto loaders), but I prefer the Shield above all the others. It is the newest of my handguns yet I have put more rds. through it then any of the others. I seem to favor it when I make my selection of guns to take to the range for TP. I've put over 1,900 rds. through it with no issues!

When I first got it and shot it at the LGS&R, I had trouble putting rds. in the target! Brought it home and cleaned it after about 50 rds. The barrel was fouled, (Copper) so I used a bronze brush and some copper solvent to remove the fouling.
I was thinking of selling it and getting an LC9sPro, but now I'm glad I kept it; as it has shown no further evidence of fouling since.

It's not easy to take down and reassemble, but still managable. (I am quite elderly, feeble and drool a lot), but still love to shoot!

The Shield worked out fine for me!


mb

 

[jaweber68]

idk But I agree. I have a Shield 9mm and I love this gun. Shoots great. Feels comfortable in my hand. Spot on target. Absolutely great gun in my opinion.


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[Ranger17]

just picked up my new Shield 9 (PC) and tried it out last weekend. First time ever shooting one in fact. Was a bit surprised, as I've often read how some can struggle a bit with it compared to other models (double stacks?). But it felt nice in the hand, and the improved sights and trigger over the other MP models was noticeable as well. Both the wife and I did pretty well with it for a first try, and enjoyed shooting it.
I'll have to get a few more range trips thru it to get a better feel for how i rank it among my small but growing collection. I can say say at this stage it is far better than my compact 9 was for me which is good as that's the gun it replaced.

 

[wanderson7262]

Shield 9mm

As one who owns both a Ruger LC9S and a Shield 9mm, I can say the Shield is much more enjoyable to shoot on the range.

The size & weight of Shield is noticeable over the LC9S. The LC9is slim so it's easy to carry but the grip isn't just slim, going from the front to the back of the grip it actually tapers inward instead of bulging out a bit like the Shield. May be helpful to those with smaller hands but feels odd to me.

Adding Talon grips to the Ruger helped a lot, I've not felt like I have to add them to the Shield. Shooting one handed the Shield is MUCH easier to control.

Shield trigger is a little heavier than the Ruger but has much less travel and a shorter reset. Shield also has less muzzle rise so rapid fire is much faster than the LC9S. Also the LC9S is the only gun that seems to rub the side of my finger if I put more than the tip on the trigger. Just an annoyance, but I have medium sized hands. I don't need a blister on my finger to remind me of my sloppy trigger work.

Shield also has factory 8 round mags, with the Pearce extension it feels like a full size pistol. Also my 10 round Promag seems to be running fine, no issues, so that's a nice option for inexpensive range mags.

For me, these are two very different guns. I used to have a Sig P938 Sport for a pocket gun and it just didn't fit my hand and wasn't controllable enough to be 'reasonably accurate', even with the 7 round mag. The Hogue grip it came with helped but that also made pocket carry harder. The LC9S is the absolute smallest gun that fits both my hand and my pocket.

The Shield is a gun you run a box or two of ammo thru and not feel like you've been beat up. More range time=better shot. Took me a few outings to 'get the hang' of the Ruger, the Shield was shooting good groups first time out. Much more forgiving.

 

[martybee]

wanderson7262:
Thank you for the reply post!
I enjoyed reading it. Very interesting and informative!
I guess I made a wise choice.

mb

 

[Slingn]

I love my shield. Took a little getting used to, but I shoot it nice and straight now. My only issue is when I go from my FS mp 40 pro to the shield 40, I still have to alter my grip and finger placement. The trigger of the pro is just so much nicer and lighter then the shield. Well, all but the reset, the shield wins that one. When I shoot one a lot, I then have to make adjustments with the other. It's getting better though. Actually, I'm fine at the range, but outside, under a little stress like chasing wounded hogs, I'm not as good as I thought I was, but more practice will fix that I'm sure


The shield in 40 does have significant recoil with SD rounds, at least compared to the full size. I would probably have been better served with the nine, but I stock a lot of 40 ammo, so that keeps it simple.

Shoot, it's rainy day here, maybe a little range time is in order. Wish sg ammo would load up on more Speer lawmen at 12 bucks a box. I've just about gone thru the case I bought last month.

 

[Whitwabit]

Kinda funny but the Shield didn't do anything for me .. didn't seem to fit my hand ..

But the same feelings and things you do with the Shield I feel about my 40 Compact with the large back strap on it .. take it to the range every trip and it has become my carry over my Beretta Px-4 this past year ..

Wish the Shield had the inter changeable back straps design also ..

 

[joe44va]

Because I am also along in years with arthritis in my left thumb I bought a Walther CCP. It fit my hand better and the slide is easier to rack than any of the other single stack 9mm carry pistols I tried. It is, however, a bear to field strip, more difficult than a Shield. I'm in the process of attempting to grow a third hand to get the thing back together. Hard to have everything you want. It's also warranted for only one year. My opinion, keep the Shield.

 

[ColoFirefighter]

I agree. My wife and I fell in love with them quickly. I rented one at the range, a box of ammo later and I was hooked. We were out looking for new guns and she asked about them, tried one out and boom she was sold. We bought two that day. His/hers 9s. Mine has the green CT, hers is a stock model. We're taking them out tonight actually for the first time since purchase to put a few boxes through.

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[savios27]

My EDC pistol. It took about two hundred rounds to break it in well but I love it. I have the .40 version too but it is definitely harder to handle. I truly love shooting this gun. I did upgrade to the APEX trigger. That improved the gritty feel of the factory trigger.

 

[Targets Guy]

I, too, am a happy Shield 9mm owner.

 

[Ceapea]

I was about to buy a shield, 9mm, no thumb safety. I shot several mags thru one recently, the plain shield that is. Then I got a hold of a Sig P239!! Not in the same class, price or weight wise, but it is a whole new world for comfortably shooting a compact 9mm handgun! I have more than 400 rounds down the tube and i can tell ya', This thing doesn't seem (to me) to recoil...very little if anything. I need to get a video of my shooting it. That or have my BIL shoot it and watch him for recoil. It is absolutely my favorite little 9 at this time. And I have a few different ones too.
I didn't want to hi-jack this thread, but all this talk of easy to shoot, comfortable 9mm handguns, and I had to say it.

 

[RustyGunn]

got about 2000 rounds thru my EDC without any issues and don't even think about my other options for carry anymore. thank you S&W.

 

[loridah]

I just purchased a Shield 9mm. I have not shot it yet, but I always strip mine down and clean it before shooting it. I had no problems field stripping this pistol. Just need something to get the magazine lever out of the way and works fine. I wanted something to carry that was larger than a .380 and I like this one so far. Fits nicely in the small of my back and the grip feels comfortable in my hand. Cant wait to shoot it.

 

[Mithrandir]

the S&W Shield in 9mm is like the Goldilocks of all handguns....

Not too big... not too small....
Not too thick... not to thin...
Not too 'spensive... not too cheap....
Not too much recoil... not too little recoil....
Not too many rounds.... not too few.....

I hate Plastic striker fired pistols.. and it drives me crazy how much I like this gun!!!

 

[Lickureye]

Next to my .45c, the Shield is my second choice for shooting, but my first choice for concealed carry. This is one firearm that once I held it, I had to shoot it. I borrowed one at the range, put 50 rounds through it and came out and bought one. They were on sale for$399. How could I refuse? I also have a Kimber Solo 9mm. That one is for sale now. Now how about a Shield with an alloy frame?

 

[1911Teacher]

I tried the Shield and Glock 43 side by side. Ran about 50 rounds in each and several drills. I could not tell any difference in how I shot them. Both were great. The Shield was about $100 cheaper. Love my shield.

 

[rwsmith]

Ergonomics.....

It fits well in you hand and recoil doesn't feel heavy at all. I have a lighter Kel Tec that downright hurts when you shoot it with defensive ammo. IF it wanted to change anything about the Shield, I'd like where the grips meet your hand to be a little fatter. The trigger is so darn good, too. It's close to a single action trigger. A million other people think that the Shield is a winner, too because they had made that many at the first of the year.

 

[Lman57]

I like my Shield I have had it almost a yr. I have a little over 800 rounds through it it fits me just fine. I like shooting it a very accurate pistol if I do my part.

 

[Terry]

Traded a Glock G30 for a Shield (PC) in 9 mm and have never regretted it. The trigger on the PC is fantastic and in my older years the 9 is a lot easier on me. Topped it off with a set of True Glow TFO sights, Talon grips and have one heck of a piece.