Which gun? XDs or Shield? (9mm)

[fallhunter]

Just seeing what everyone feels is the better firearm. The Springfield XDs or M&P Shield. I am going to purchase one and looking to see what others think. Give me more to go off of on my research. (Since shooting them first is definately not an option.)

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[10mmauto]

Funny. The same thread is going on the XD forums. The first post was a guy who said, "Duh. This is the XD forum. What do you think will win?" Last I looked, people seemed to be favoring the Shield.

Could of made this a poll, but to be fair, you'd have to include the Walther PPS.

But I'll put in my choice. XDs!

 

[BlackTalonJHP]

If you want a single-stack 9mm semi-auto, go with the Shield
If you want a single-stack 9mm full-auto, go with the XDs

 

[Broke Hoss]

I don't know that 1 is really "better" than the other. But when I was comparing the 2:

I liked the feel of the XDs in my hand better than the Shield. The Shield was just to thin in the grip for my hand.

I prefer not having a manual safety on my EDC, so the XDs wins there as well.

However, the XDs was more expensive, & came with things I would not use. So the Shield was more economical.

Also, at the time I was looking, Shields were available & the XDs was in the middle of their recall.

Both are good weapons. Fondle them both & make every attempt to shoot 1 of each. Find which one works best for you.

 

[Senior1956]

I held both before purchase. Ended up with the Shield. Yes, a thinner grip than the XDs. The XDs seemed a bit "blocky" to me and has a very aggressive texture (which in itself is not a bad thing) But the Shield just FELT better to me. For my own personal taste...I also prefer the extended magazine for someplace to rest my pinky.

To each his own though. Best bet would be to see what feels best for YOU.

Doug

 

[71velle]

When I made that decision I thought maybe XD was a little better made, but the shield felt like it was made for my hand. Both have great reviews, probably cant go wrong with either. The price is close enough that should not come into the equation imo. I was unable to shoot before buying too and plan to shoot my Shield for the first time next Saturday.

 

[Jagrmaister]

XDS is better quality but costs more. I have one in 45 and its been a great handgun. I owned a shield 9before it and it was just alright. Flipped a lot. Now I own a .40 shield that i have yet to shoot but is knowingly going to have a lot of muzzle flip. The grip on them is thin and lacks traction in my opinion. I ordered a set of the talon grips to try out so hope that helps. The xds in 45 is my choice out of the two options. If you just want to shoot 9 though I'd forego the fancy case and accessories, save some dough, and buy the shield. Unless you want to spend even more coin, shoot 9, and have a really sweet carry gun in the Sig P938. Or have the option of every caliber by buying all 3, and just be done with it.

 

[fallhunter]

XDS is better quality but costs more. I have one in 45 and its been a great handgun. I owned a shield 9before it and it was just alright. Flipped a lot. Now I own a .40 shield that i have yet to shoot but is knowingly going to have a lot of muzzle flip. The grip on them is thin and lacks traction in my opinion. I ordered a set of the talon grips to try out so hope that helps. The xds in 45 is my choice out of the two options. If you just want to shoot 9 though I'd forego the fancy case and accessories, save some dough, and buy the shield. Unless you want to spend even more coin, shoot 9, and have a really sweet carry gun in the Sig P938. Or have the option of every caliber by buying all 3, and just be done with it.

I don't like sig and really do not like exposed hammers. They showed it to me and before even seeing the price tag I said it can go back in the case.

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[RobzGuns]

I've owned pistols from the XD and XDM lines for years and when the XD-S came out in .45 came out, I kinda liked it, but I'm not a .45 fan, but was pretty sure I was going to pick up on an XD-S9 once they came out.

When it did come out in 9mm, I shot it side-by-side with my Shield. Shot for shot, my accuracy and groupings were pretty much identical, but I just didn't like the grip, trigger, or perceived recoil as much as the Shield. My hand is sore after 3 or 4 mags through the XD-S9, whereas the Shield is smooth enough to be an All Day Shooter. As much as I was hoping I'd bring one home with me, to join the rest of my XD products, I just didn't like it enough to justify bringing home another pocket 9 (yes... It fits in my Shield's pocket holster)... Especially one that would fall into the "Shoot a Little, But Carry a Lot" category (like the PF-9, LC9, Nano, etc)

The XD-S is nice, but not an extra $100-$150 more nice.

 

[shawn mccarver]

This response will probably annoy many, but I vote for: "all of the above." We are very lucky to have good pocket-size 9mm autos that work. In the past, small autos were finicky. We now have 380s the size of older .25s, and 9mm pistols the size of older 380s, and they are reliable.

Thus, in no particular order, I would feel fine about any of these 9mm pistols: S&W Shield, SIG Sauer 290RS, Beretta Nano, Springfield XDS, Ruger LC9, Glock 26, and perhaps others.

 

[Jagrmaister]

I don't like sig and really do not like exposed hammers. They showed it to me and before even seeing the price tag I said it can go back in the case.

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Why you gotta discriminate? Haha, joking aside I'd stick with the shield then even with its shortcomings due to the price. Another poster said he didn't care for the xds trigger. I found my 45's trigger to rival my first shields by far, and have a slight edge on my second shield as well. I have a feeling its a per basis for either gun and if you can try out the very example you're going to pick before purchase than I recommend doing so.

 

[guncoachgt]

IMHO, and granted I haven't had my Shield long at all, but I do own both. For a CCW I'd say the Shield is better. It's more slim and compact, no worries about printing. But for an overall pistol, I'd go with my XD. I love that thing, it's so reliable. It's just not comfortable to carry.

 

[B3500]

It comes down to what your anticipated carry style will be. Printing is a function of the gun's size, mostly it's the grip height, not so much based on width, where you will carry the gun and what you plan to wear for clothing along with your own body shape and size.

A form fitted/clingy type shirt requires much more effort to conceal than a loose shirt that is tucked or not. I carry a Glock 30S and a MP40c and for me printing issues are minimal with my clothing style. Even an untucked loose t-shirt in the summer works fine with my set up.

Hold both and see which you like best. The thinness is so similar that to me either will do the job. The grip is slightly thinner for the Shield so see if that works for you or not. For me the extra grip thinness of the Shield did not work for me.

Last difference for consideration is the XDS has a passive grip safety and the Shield has a slide safety you need to practice swiping off whether you actually activate the safety or not.

 

[GKC]

I bought an XDs in .45 when they first came out, but I didn't care for it. The texture on the frame just didn't feel comfortable to me. I was offered more than I paid for it, so I sent it on its way. I haven't tried one in 9mm, but I assume the frame texture is the same. (I guess you could put a grip sleeve on it...although I'm not sure how that would work with the grip safety; a cut-out, perhaps.)

I like the Shield, and if the grip is too thin, a Hogue or other grip sleeve is available. The Shield is the gun I'd choose.

 

[Smitty357]

I've had both at one point in time. However, it boiled down to me keeping the Shield. I liked the XDS Glock style trigger. But aside from that, my Shield is the in hands better weapon (for me).

My little brother bought an XDS in .45 as soon as they came out. We made a range session a few days later to shoot his .45 and my .40 Shield. After 2 mags of the Shield down range, he put his XDS .45 back in his bag and told me to find him a Shield. I found him a .40 Shield a week or so later and he sold his XDS for $100 more than he bought it for. In the end my little brother ended up with a .40 Shield and a 9mm factory drop in barrel. Like many of us, he now has one gun that shoots both calibers.......You couldnt pay him to buy another XDS.

 

[Captain Skippy]

I own the XDs .45 and a Shield 9. I bought the Shield while my XDs was away at the factory recall. NOTE: if you decide on the XDs demand the paperwork that verifies it has had the ongoing factory upgrade. I do not think any upgraded ones are in stores. Look for a roll pin in the exposed grip safety. That being said, I really like my shield. They are virtually the same dimensions but for me the shield is easier to carry. Sights are better on the shield and I actually like the grip safety since I'm a 1911 fan. Of course the 9mm is easier to shoot and you get two more rounds in 9mm vs. 45. I'd say between the two 9s it's a toss up. Try to handle and shoot both before you buy. The XDs might be hard to find in stores because of the recall. And XDs spare mags are non existent right now because Springfield is giving one mag away with the upgrade. They're both good guns.

 

[Shoo2tr]

I have the XDs .45 and M&P40C, so no Shield and no plans to obtain one. That said you can't go wrong with either the XDs or Shield. Choose the one that feels and points most naturally in your hand. Also consider the controls as the Shield will have the manual safety and the XDs the grip safety. I'm one that is in the camp of not wanting a manual safety on one of my striker fired DAO guns so that may be a factor for your consideration.

Performance and size-wise I feel it's a toss up but it is truthfully my opinion that the XDs is the better of the two as far as production quality is concerned, but that quality and the other extras included in the case come with more cost.

 

[AGoyette]

I have been reading this thread with great interest as the XDs in 9mm has been on my wish list. However, I handled one a week ago at a gun show. It was new and had gone back to Springfield for the recall already. I have to admit I hated the trigger pull! It was very heavy. Much heavier than the triggers before the recall. I am reevaluating it, I disliked the trigger pull that much. If fixing the recall made the triggers so much heavier, will having the trigger lightened mess it up?

 

[b_san]

Can't stand any of the XD line (and I like Springfields other than those), they're just a poor 3rd choice compared to any Glock or M&P in my opinion and that cheese grater grip on the XDs isn't helping to win them a convert. Normally carry a G27 but the Shield gets carried many times too and serves it's purpose well. It's just a shame S&W isn't developing it in .45 as well.

 

[N4KVE]

Just got back from the Ft. Myers Florida gun show where we had both Shields, & XDS's, & we didn't sell a single one. $389 for the Shield, & $529 for the XDS. We usually sell all of them. Looks like supply has caught up with demand. The big seller this weekend was AK's. GARY