papersniper
Member
I recently purchased both pistols. Both were purchase for concealed carry, eventually. I've run about 200 rounds through the Smith and 75 through the Springfield. Yesterday I took both to the range for a little informal side by side shooting and comparison.
S&W Shield - Has given no failures of any kind in 200 rounds. The grip feels good, although just a bit thin. Not a so much as to be a problem. The trigger pull on this pistol is excellent, almost as good as the LE Module trigger on my H&K USP 40 S&W when I was with the PD until 2006. Trigger travel is short (for a striker fired pistol), smooth and light. Using the standard sights with this pistol I shoot just a little low at 21 feet, maybe 3 inches. Windage is perfect. The two 7 round and 1 8 round magazines were stiff to load, but are getting easier as they are used. Same for "racking" the slide; very stiff at first, but easier now. The "slide stop" which I use as a "slide release" as on my other self-loaders works easier after about 50 rounds. Initially I could not easily release the slide from full back with my thumb. Now I can, which is my preferred method of closing the slide. Takedown for cleaning, etc is a bit cumbersome with a little yellow lever that must be lowered to remove the slide. I'm getting used to that.
Springfield XD-s - I've had one FTF in 75 rounds, and I am not sure why. That happened at about the 50th round, when using the 7 round magazine that was staggered Blazer Brass 115 gr FMJ and Gold Dot 124 gr JHP (non plus P). I THINK the pistol did not go fully into battery. I don't normally stagger magazines like that, but I was using up some ammo and tried that. Might be a factor, but I don't see how. Now I'll have to start again with "qualifying" this pistol for carry. Anyway, I fired another 25 rounds of the Blazer Brass without incident. The trigger pull on the Springfield is long and heavy, but still smooth. In spite of that, my XD-S is a little more accurate at 21 feet than my Shield. The sights are also perfectly adjusted for this range. I really like the feel of the XD-s in my hand. It feels a bit thicker or hand filling in my smallish hand than does the Shield. Neither is a criticism, as I'll quickly get used to either. The one 7 round and one 8 round magazines I have for this pistol functioned well and are easier to load than the Shield's. The slide stop (aka release) is easier to manipulate than that of the Shield, even considering the difference in the number of rounds fired in the two. The fit and finish of the magazines seems a bit better than the Springfield, although both are very good I think. I thought I'd like the Springfield's sights better than the Smith's, but turns out when I shoot them I like them both the same. Take down on the Springfield is different from most of my other full sized self-loaders (S&W, SIG, H&K, Colt), but again, not a problem. It has take down quirks like the Shield does.
I'm interested in hear from others who own both pistols. And especially from anyone who has had a FTF as I did. I have never had that happen with any pistol other than a 1911, and that was definitely a magazine issue.
I'm posting this in the S&W Forum also.
Deek
S&W Shield - Has given no failures of any kind in 200 rounds. The grip feels good, although just a bit thin. Not a so much as to be a problem. The trigger pull on this pistol is excellent, almost as good as the LE Module trigger on my H&K USP 40 S&W when I was with the PD until 2006. Trigger travel is short (for a striker fired pistol), smooth and light. Using the standard sights with this pistol I shoot just a little low at 21 feet, maybe 3 inches. Windage is perfect. The two 7 round and 1 8 round magazines were stiff to load, but are getting easier as they are used. Same for "racking" the slide; very stiff at first, but easier now. The "slide stop" which I use as a "slide release" as on my other self-loaders works easier after about 50 rounds. Initially I could not easily release the slide from full back with my thumb. Now I can, which is my preferred method of closing the slide. Takedown for cleaning, etc is a bit cumbersome with a little yellow lever that must be lowered to remove the slide. I'm getting used to that.
Springfield XD-s - I've had one FTF in 75 rounds, and I am not sure why. That happened at about the 50th round, when using the 7 round magazine that was staggered Blazer Brass 115 gr FMJ and Gold Dot 124 gr JHP (non plus P). I THINK the pistol did not go fully into battery. I don't normally stagger magazines like that, but I was using up some ammo and tried that. Might be a factor, but I don't see how. Now I'll have to start again with "qualifying" this pistol for carry. Anyway, I fired another 25 rounds of the Blazer Brass without incident. The trigger pull on the Springfield is long and heavy, but still smooth. In spite of that, my XD-S is a little more accurate at 21 feet than my Shield. The sights are also perfectly adjusted for this range. I really like the feel of the XD-s in my hand. It feels a bit thicker or hand filling in my smallish hand than does the Shield. Neither is a criticism, as I'll quickly get used to either. The one 7 round and one 8 round magazines I have for this pistol functioned well and are easier to load than the Shield's. The slide stop (aka release) is easier to manipulate than that of the Shield, even considering the difference in the number of rounds fired in the two. The fit and finish of the magazines seems a bit better than the Springfield, although both are very good I think. I thought I'd like the Springfield's sights better than the Smith's, but turns out when I shoot them I like them both the same. Take down on the Springfield is different from most of my other full sized self-loaders (S&W, SIG, H&K, Colt), but again, not a problem. It has take down quirks like the Shield does.
I'm interested in hear from others who own both pistols. And especially from anyone who has had a FTF as I did. I have never had that happen with any pistol other than a 1911, and that was definitely a magazine issue.
I'm posting this in the S&W Forum also.
Deek
