What makes the Shield9 so pleasurable to shoot?

[Lockback]

If such a thing were possible, I'd say S&W hit a 6-run homer when they developed the Shield. I think it's the best carry gun on the market, bar none.

 

[Krkschnbrg]

I totally agree although I shoot the 40 bit have loved this since I got it a year a go. It fits my hand perfect and the trigger pull is the best.

 

[ppfd]

For me the overall size, weight and shape of the gun.

I had a Glock 26 that was like carrying a literal block on my hip. That said it was one the the best shooting pistols I ever owned. I just could not deal with the size and the way it carried.

 

[Elliot45]

I like my 9mm Shield from the beginning. I love it even more now. I recently bought the Apex sear and installed it myself, not too hard to do. It really reduced the trigger pull, feels even better thant the Ruger LC9S. It is much more fun to shoot at the range and my accuracy has improved. I also opted for the Apex Ultimate Trigger Block which smooths out the trigger even more and isn't very expensive eitherI had it installed at the same time as the TruGlo Pro night/day sights since the rear sight must be removed anyway. At this time it is easily my favorite CCW. Like someone said, just the right weight and has less recoil than a lot of other single stack nines. Regards, Elliot45

 

[ckcrranch]

Ceapea, from your reply I take it you like the Sig 239 over the Shield. Am I correct? Would you say the same of the Sig P938? I guess I've always been a little leery of exposed hammers and single action for concealed carry guns. Probably silly I know.

 

[Ceapea]

Ceapea, from your reply I take it you like the Sig 239 over the Shield. Am I correct? Would you say the same of the Sig P938? I guess I've always been a little leery of exposed hammers and single action for concealed carry guns. Probably silly I know.

Yes, after shooting the 9mm Shield for 10 to 15 minutes, about 7-9 mags full, (taking my time to be as accurate as possible) then handling and shooting the P239, I much prefer the P239. Not in the same class for CC, though I have no problems CC'ing my 239. But then again, the Shield can't hold a candle to the 239 for accuracy. At least not in my hands. Another plus for the 239 is, it fits any of my mid size Glock holsters. Cool!
As far as the 938 goes, I have fired two of them. I don't think I'd take one if it were given to me! Seriously, I would take it and sell it fast. The two I have shot had horribly heavy triggers (for SA), and were not accurate at all. This, from a guy who has and likes a Sigma. But with the Sigma, you expect a heavy trigger. I think that the two 938's had heavier trigger pulls than my SW40VE. The Sigma is MUCH easier to shoot accurately.
The same guy with the 2 938's, has a 238 for his wife. It has the same terrible trigger. I LOVE Sig products! Except those two.
Most people with the 938 love them. I must have handled two lemons.

As far as exposed hammers go, that is why I like my DA/SA Sigs. But I do have a P220 SAO Match...for Match shooting.

 

[wcroadie]

OP, not sure what you mean by not easy to take down and reassemble? The shield 9 is the first gun I purchased, I just cleaned it 2 hrs ago, IMO it cannot be more easier to take down and clean.

I have 600 rounds through it, no issues, love this gun and carry it often.

 

[Ceapea]

Accuracy. Let me say this, about that...

When I first shot the Shield, I liked it very much! I was planning on getting one. I thought that it was accurate for a small pistol.
A few weeks later, I went to a match at a gun club a few hours away from my home. On the way back, I stopped at a local gun store. They had the Shield and several Sig pistols. I have wanted a P239 for a couple of years. They had a Scorpion w/the SRT. When I held it, it felt like it was made for my hand alone. It was perfect! "Could I dry fire it?" I asked. Yes you can, I was told. Heaven! Is all I can say. The smoothest DA trigger of any kind that I had tried. I have 4 other DA/SA Sig pistols, many revolvers, some with custom trigger work. None compare to the trigger on this 239. I tried it next to the few Sig Legion pistols that they had. The legion is supposed to be the best DA trigger they have put out. Well, the DA and SA on the 239 blew the Legion out of the water! Three employees there and my brother in law all agreed. I can't say that this is normal, but the 239 that I now have is sweet!!
Oh yeah, accuracy.
Again, very easy to shoot accurately. I don't know if it was here, at these forums, or another. But I recently posted about my accuracy testing results. Side note, I also bought a Glock 30S on the same visit. When shooting them both for the first time, I set up my target and walked away, to a point that I felt was good for test firing them both. I used my laser range finder...13 yd, 39'.
With my first four mags (and many, many more since) I was able to keep 8, 16, 24 and 32 rounds inside of 4" at 39 feet. Most were inside of 3". Each mag was shot DA for the 1st round.
Surprisingly, the G30S shot almost identically. The most accurate striker fired 45 acp that I have, or have ever shot. That is another story though.
I love shooting. I like shooting small groups even more. My Sig P series pistols, and this one Glock, consistently shoot tighter groups than most anything else I have. That includes a Custom Kimber 1911 in 45 ACP for competition and a S&W 9mm 1911 Pro Series. The one gun that shoots the best, most often, is my CZ 75 Tactical Sports. It's crazy, stupid accurate.

 

[martybee]

OP, not sure what you mean by not easy to take down and reassemble? The shield 9 is the first gun I purchased, I just cleaned it 2 hrs ago, IMO it cannot be more easier to take down and clean.

I have 600 rounds through it, no issues, love this gun and carry it often.

When I said it was not easy for me to take down and reassemble, I was referring to the fact that the short barrel, Stiff RSA and difficulty in locking back the slide was something a lot of shield owners complained about! I am 85 yrs of age and not as dexterous as when I was younger. The fact that I have over 1,900 rds. through it was helped me in that regard.
As I said, not easy, but manageable! Every time I take it out and shoot it, it gets easier to do!

mb

 

[wcroadie]

When I said it was not easy for me to take down and reassemble, I was referring to the fact that the short barrel, Stiff RSA and difficulty in locking back the slide was something a lot of shield owners complained about! I am 85 yrs of age and not as dexterous as when I was younger. The fact that I have over 1,900 rds. through it was helped me in that regard.

As I said, not easy, but manageable! Every time I take it out and shoot it, it gets easier to do!



mb

Damn didn't realize you are 85! Congrats on reaching that age, I can only hope I'm that lucky, and I hope you have many many more years of shooting ahead of you.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[dlombard]

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.

Agreed, but that gun costs twice as much so it better feel amazing to shoot. I got to shoot one with a Hauge grip sleeve, and the palm swell and squishy feel made that the best shooting experience I've ever had and one day, I'll maybe get one, but once federal CCW reciprocity becomes a thing, the Shield9 will be my EDC for sure.

 

[Ceapea]

Agreed, but that gun costs twice as much so it better feel amazing to shoot. I got to shoot one with a Hauge grip sleeve, and the palm swell and squishy feel made that the best shooting experience I've ever had and one day, I'll maybe get one, but once federal CCW reciprocity becomes a thing, the Shield9 will be my EDC for sure.

I have to agree with you on the squishy Hogue grips. I have a P232 with the Hogues on while they are grippy, they are wider than they need to be. My 239 has the G10 grips which are some of the most "sticky" grips I have handled. Amazing, really. Thin, really thin too.
Hey, I like the Shield. I was thinking about getting one since they came out. Even more so after shooting one.
From an economics stand point, it was an unfortunate happenstance, when I found and got to hold the 239!
But after shooting the 239, the economics became moot. There really is no comparison, either in the comfort (really very little recoil from this heavier little pistol) and accuracy departments.

 

[judgecrater]

Shield

I have had my 9mm for about 2 years and had no problems after firing about 800 rounds. I reload for mine and it is happy with all bullet shapes and weights. It functions fine with light target loads and heavy loads.
I do find the slide difficult to rack compared to all my other autos and a full magazine does not insert easily if the slide is forward.
I carry mine everyday in a Galco King Tuk. The pistol is very accurate and hits silhouettes at 50 yards if I do my part. I am very please and have no intention to finding a different EDC.

 

[wanderson7262]

Sigs

As much as I like my Sigs (P220 & P226) I had a P938 Sport 13for over a year and never really liked it, just too small & snappy for a 9mm. The Hogue grip helped with control but the added width & stickiness made pocket carry harder. I replaced the factory trigger spring with one from a Colt Mustang .380 and it really lightened the trigger. Never understood why Sig wanted to ruin a good SA trigger with a 10 lb pull.

I think you've got to try a few different guns til you figure out what fits your hand best. So far the smallest guns I'm comfortable with are a Ruger LC9S & Kahr PM45. I found the Kahr PM45 was easier for me to handle & shoot accurately than a Kel Tec P3AT.

 

[martybee]

I have been shooting mostly 115gr. ball ammo in my shield9. I just received a shipment of 124gr. ball to use at TP. The Shield shoots just fine with the lighter bullets, but the RO suggested I try some of the slightly heavier rds. Hopefully, I will get a chance next week!

mb