I just bought a s&w shield this gun came with 1 standard magazine and one extended magazine that has the sleave that fits over it. I would like to have 2 more mags to go with it but I want them to all be the same. I feel like the extended magazine defeats the purpose of buying a small gun but if I use the standard mag my third finger hangs off. I have seen some mags with a hook on them to accommodate the third finger but I don't know where to find them. Suggestions please.
Magazine options for s&w shield.
- Thread starter coyotewsm
- Start date
Dragline45
New member
Who cares if it defeats the purpose, I carry my Shield with the extended mag and its not any harder to conceal than the flush mag. Adding a finger extension to the 7rd mag will make it just as long as the 8rd mag and you lose a round in the process. Two handed I shoot the Shield equally as well with the flush and extended mag, though one handed I shoot it a whole lot better with the extended mag giving me a full grip.
I guess I have a average hand size. I've had my Shield for 2+ years now and having the 8 rd mag with the pinky extension is very comfortable with me to shoot with. 8 rd mag and 1 rd in the tube for 9 rds makes me very comfortable also.
If one has a smaller hand size then a 7rd mag with that extension may be better.As far as concealment goes, I usually use it with a pocket holster and find it works as well with both 7 & 8 rd mags. My personal feelings are with the growing of terror attacks on US soil, having that 1 extra round for 9 rds plus I carry a spare mag every where I go now just makes sense.
If one has a smaller hand size then a 7rd mag with that extension may be better.As far as concealment goes, I usually use it with a pocket holster and find it works as well with both 7 & 8 rd mags. My personal feelings are with the growing of terror attacks on US soil, having that 1 extra round for 9 rds plus I carry a spare mag every where I go now just makes sense.FYI: Magguts has a modified spring, follower and base plate for both the 7 and 8 round 9mm Shield magazines making them 8+1 or 9+1. This thread describes the modified magazines. Within this thread, there's a link to Youtube video which shows how to modify the stock S&W magazine for an additional round. Both methods work.
http://mp-pistol.com/mp-shield-pistols/42223-1-mag-capacity.html
This is the actual spring assembly:
http://mp-pistol.com/mp-shield-pistols/42223-1-mag-capacity-3.html
I carry my 9mm Shield with 8 in the "small" magazine and one in the pipe for a total of 9. I use the Pearce finger extension and added a Hogue slip-on grip. Also, I filled the slide engraved lettering and S&W logo with white finger nail polish making the gun look very spiff. This process is widely described on various Youtube videos.
http://mp-pistol.com/mp-shield-pistols/42223-1-mag-capacity.html
This is the actual spring assembly:
http://mp-pistol.com/mp-shield-pistols/42223-1-mag-capacity-3.html
I carry my 9mm Shield with 8 in the "small" magazine and one in the pipe for a total of 9. I use the Pearce finger extension and added a Hogue slip-on grip. Also, I filled the slide engraved lettering and S&W logo with white finger nail polish making the gun look very spiff. This process is widely described on various Youtube videos.
Last edited:
Dragline45
New member
My point was that the notion that using the extennded mag defeats the purpose of the gun shouldnt be enough to stop someone from using it. If the extended mag feels better, allows you to shoot better, and carries more ammo, then go for it if you can mange to conceal it.
I agree with you, though there are a lot of ifs in that sentence that might not all work out for the OP. You're right there's no reason to blindly accept the standard way to do something, but there's the possibility that the OP has his reasons and one of those ifs didn't hold true for him/her.
I'd play Devil's Advocate and say I don't get the point of the Shield to begin with. For just a little bit more width you could carry a 9c and have 12 rds instead of 8 and the option to use a fullsize M&P magazine with 17 rds as a backup (which would take you two extended magazines with the Shield). You'd also have a pistol that's even shorter in overall height than a Shield with the extended magazine, which in my experience affects concealability more than a little bit of width. Of course there will be those for whom the width isn't comfortable.
Last edited:
Dragline45
New member
The difference in width between a Shield and 9c is more than just a little bit, its pretty drastic. The 9c or Glock 26 is as thick as their full size counterparts. Anything much thicker than the Shield I wont carry IWB as I find it too uncomfortable.
Magazine options for s&w shield.
Like I said some find it uncomfortable. But what is drastic to some isn't to others. I imagine the same is true with the extended magazine for the Shield.
Like I said some find it uncomfortable. But what is drastic to some isn't to others. I imagine the same is true with the extended magazine for the Shield.
lee n. field
New member
Short magazine for pocket carry. Extended magazine as the spare mag, and for when the gun is carried in a belt holster.
That's what I do with my XDS. Yes, my finger gets curled under the baseplate of the short mag. I deal with it.