New S&W Shield.....

I bought my 9mm Shield last summer after renting one and a Glock 43 . The main difference between the two rental guns was the Shield trigger was much better. Add to that saving over $100 going with the Shield was a no brainer. Now they are even more of a savings!

About the only improvement I would like to see in the 9mm Shield is to have the same grip texture are the 45 Shield I bought later.
 
Reading all these posts sure tempts me to buy a Shield. Fortunately, for me, I already have two CW9s (which I find superior to the Shield) to quell those urges. ;)
 
Wow, if I'd known about the rebate, I would've waited 10 months or so before getting mine at what now seems like a terribly over-inflated price of $365.

I got the 9mm version after test-driving it against several other sub-compact style handguns. The Shield simply fit my criteria better than the other guns I tried out.

Anyway, to date, I've put close to 1,000 rds through it. So far I haven't had a single failure or malfunction of any kind. About 400 of that was MassAmmo's Sasquatch 115 gr. ammo, and the rest has been a mix of WWB, CCI, and my own reloads.

As others stated, the grip didn't feel quite right in my hand, but a Hogue Handall with a couple wraps of grip tape underneath solved that for me. My only real issue has been the very stiff magazines springs, that eventually convinced me to get my first speed loader device, an Uplula, which has been as good as advertised.

I also recently picked up an Apex Tactical trigger kit (just the aluminum trigger without the replacement sear) just because I dislike plastic triggers. Apex claims that the trigger kit reduces pre- and over-travel by 20%. I have no way to verifying that, but it definitely reduces pre-travel significantly and seems to allow the trigger to break a bit more crisply. Trigger pull weight seems unchanged.

I just took a defensive handgun course using my Shield and it performed flawlessly. Of course, I did a lot more tactical reloads than everyone else, but I needed the practice anyway.

Normally I carry a 1911 in 9mm for EDC, but I have to admit my Shield is quickly becoming a favorite carry gun around here.
 
but I have to admit my Shield is quickly becoming a favorite carry gun around here.

Reliability is everything when relying on any handgun for self-defense. Sounds like the Shield is worth counting on.
 
I don't know about everything, but certainly a top three consideration. And of the semi-autos I've bought in the last ten years, it is the most reliable so far. In fact, the only 9mm in my safe that has eaten all of my reloads without choking, including the rounds the Glock and the 1911 choked on.
 
There are better guns, imo, but there are not better $250 carry guns!


I'm kind of an idealist. The Shield with a thumb safety is close enough to ideal to me.
 
My only personal dislike of the shield is how snappy the recoil in 9mm is even compared to the Glock 43. But value wise with the rebate it cant be beat which is why I bought one with Night sights.



Hmm
My first shield was a 40 my current is a 45 and the recoil on both is (to me) very manageable and less felt than many polymer compacts like Glock or others. My buddy has a 30s in 45 I prefer my shield even though it is smaller and lighter it feels better to shoot. Could be the stubby glock grip and funky angle. I also only use the extended mags in my shields so ky pinky stays on the grip.

I always take my shield to range day and it sees at least 150 rds each time. And it does not wear you out doing it.

All in all these little guns are a great value.


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At today’s pricing, the Shield 9 and 40 are the best value pricing I have ever seen for a compact concealed EDC. The pistol is a close combat defensive weapon; not a recreational target pistol.

Its magazine capacity and recoil make it enough and manageable for the “traditional” defense encounter (fast and few rounds expended). The reliability and accuracy of the Shield for its purposes (up to 15 yards or so), make it equal or superior to the highest priced revolvers or pistols.

These are the reasons that I say the Shield is the best value pricing I have seen.

I own two 9mm Shields and alternate them for my EDC.
 
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