WHICH ONE ?

[rodcfancher]

Shield 9 or 9 c...

 

[shortbil]

Which ever one that makes YOU happy

 

[micocyco]

Shield 9 or 9 c...

I have 9c & I would not trade it for a shield.
But I saw the shield for $339 + tax so I am thinking 9c for winter shield for summer )

 

[Saudade]

I have both, and a Shield so you can guess my answer.

(OK, I bought the FS first).

 

[DeathF.above]

There isn't a right answer. If it were me I would get the full size 9 and then a shield later on down the road if you don't have one. That's my plan someday.

 

[69248]

The 9c is always the answer.

 

[JAMMAN]

9C. Rent them both if it is an option, let your palm decide.

 

[Rastoff]

Are you asking about 2 guns or three? It looks to me as though the decision is between a Shield chambered in 9mm and a M&P 9c.

If it is between just those two, get the 9c. The Shield is probably the best of the small guns. Still, it's difficult to get a proper grip on the Shield. This compounds any trigger control issues. The Shield grip is so short that it's hard to insert a mag without pinching the palm of the hand. The 9c has this same issue, but to a lesser degree.

 

[AGoyette]

I really like the 9c. All the benefits of a FS 9 with a shorter grip which makes it easier to conceal. I find mine to be more accurate than my 5" Pro.

 

[macski222]

Very common question.

I'll say this... I have both. I started with a 9c and then bought a shield about 2 years later. I have carried my 9c less than a handful of times since I got the shield. On paper the size difference between the two isn't much, but when it's on your waist you can really feel the difference.

Put a Hogue handall jr on the shield and it's a keeper. I'd say go with the shield... but you can't really go wrong either way. Don't let people make you think the shield is harder to be accurate with or harder to shoot than the 9c. I can outshoot my 9c with the shield easily now, and I've got about 5k rounds downrange in the 9c. It's all about the practice.

 

[kbm6893]

With the single stack 9MM's so available, I can't see carrying a compact. The slimmer grip and slide really makes a difference.

For some reason, I can't get into pretty much any compact version of full size guns. They just look too stubby to me. The proportions look wrong. Fat slide and grip but short grip just looks wrong. I've owned a bunch of single stacks. The 3913 always carried easier than they 6906

For home defense, I'd take the full size. For carry, in a S&W, I'd take the a Shield. I carry a Ruger LC9-S and my home gun is a full size Ruger SR9.

 

[MichiganScott]

I carry a 9c. I looked at the Shield when it first came out and decided that it is not enough smaller that my 9c to give up the additional cartridge capacity.

 

[cracker57]

It is a simple as "get both". I EDC a 4oc in the winter and a 9mm sheild in the summer. Both are carried in the Milt sparks VMII and there are times with each I forget I have them as they are so comfortable.
Good luck on your decision, or just get both that way there is no decision.

 

[rodcfancher]

Well , I should have stated I do have the Shield 9 and really like as my edc. But I would like to have the 9 c also. Thanks everyone.

 

[bulldogman]

I had the 9c (had) and have a shield, I hated where the backstrap of the 9c was half way up the palm of my hand. With the extended mag of the shield there is more to hold on to comfortably than the 9c. I sold the 9c and bought an FS9. Don't take this as a slam against the 9c it's a great gun, you have to figure out what role you want to fill with a gun, the shield conceals better and if you have plans for full size down the road then the shield makes more sense. If you are only going to have 1 gun then the 9c might fit your needs better.

 

[Smoke]

The grip on the 9C is shorter and fatter than the Shield and it just didn't feel right in my hand. I went with the Shield

 

[wantmoresmiths]

I was fortunate enough to be at a match sponsored by S&W. They had a display set up, and I was able to hold both the compact and the Shield. The shield felt best in my hand. As many other have said, you are the only person who can decide which feels best in your hand.

 

[Mark40]

For me the Shield is only slightly easier to carry, while the compact is much more comfortable to shoot. Also with the increased capacity, I don't feel the need to carry extra mags. But you know what they say about opinions. Try them both if you can. They are both excellent guns.

 

[JWH321]

I bought my 9C before the Shield was announced. I held off buying a Shield for a bit because I thought there was little difference. I finally bought a Shield with the idea that I'd use both for a bit and then sell the one I liked less. That was two years ago. I still have them both. I'll be darned if I can pick one over the other. But they are both super. The Shield fits better with lightweight clothing. But its slide is a bear to rack. The 9C is a bit fatter so I can't just stuff it in my belt and go. I carry it in a paddle holster mostly. It shoots 12 rounds and has a 17 round mag available. See. Better buy both.

 

[Smitty357]

It depends on its intended use. I had a 40c for awhile before I bought a Shield. After carrying the Shield around for 12+ hours a day for a week. I realized how much better it fit the CC bill. However, the compact is a nice ranger weapon. I use to enjoy bringing it to the range, but that was as far as it went. Sold the compact long time ago and bought me another 1911 for a range gun. Ultimately I retired that particular 1911 and bought be another 1911 ranger weapon. Long story short. The compact no longer had a place in my little collection. Everything else I own can do what the compact does and do it better.