Who's got an M&P Shield?

[jackelope]

Thinking about picking up a .40 S&W Shield...the last significant "review" type threads on here were about a year ago...so a year in, what's everyone think? I'm pretty much set on a .40 as my caliber choice. I'm also looking at the xdS as a close 2nd but I don't know if I want that tiny little pistol in a .45 as reviews say it's real snappy.
Thanks in advance.

[Biggerhammer]

The XDS with 230's is snappy. But if you put on the wuss mag extension and run 185's it shoots like a .40. But with the mag extension what's the point? Now your grip is almost as long as a Glock 23 .40. The whole idea of the XDS is a low profile for carry. A mag extension just defeats the purpose.

[jackelope]

Any experience with the Shield?

[Biggerhammer]

Not at all. The .40 Cal is a excellent carry cartridge. I've probably carried a Glock 23 .40 more than all my other handguns combined. Might take a look at the Kahr .40's. I've never owned one but I think I'm going to pick one up after shooting several. Super dependable and they were accurate for me. Several good friends never leave home without them and their big Glock guys.

[270Shooter]

I have shot the shield and just bought an xds 45. Recoil is really not as bad as everyone says on the xds. I actually think the recoil on the shield is only slightly less than on my xds. I have small hands though so I can shoot it pretty well. The shield is nice too, it's what my girlfriend has, but I shoot the xds better and I like the grip saftey and ambidextrous mag release since I am left handed. Both are very concealable.

[mountainman]

I have shot the shield and just bought an xds 45. Recoil is really not as bad as everyone says on the xds. I actually think the recoil on the shield is only slightly less than on my xds. I have small hands though so I can shoot it pretty well. The shield is nice too, it's what my girlfriend has, but I shoot the xds better and I like the grip saftey and ambidextrous mag release since I am left handed. Both are very concealable.

agreed! The sheild has slightly less felt recoil then the xds, but either are controlable for most expereinced shooters..

Josh, check out the thead on the XDS an reports frompeople that do alot of shooting with them! More concealable than a Glock, except for the 42

[Jim the Plumber]

Haven't shot a Shield however I own and have fired the XDs.  I run the standard length mag bases and have no trouble controlling the pistol with 'warm' 185's or 230 grain defensive ammo. My friends 14 YO, 90# daughter, with minimal familiarization, had no problem shooting the XDs.  And that was with factory 230 grain Remington  ammo. ( no death grip needed).
Slight disclaimer, she shoots rifle, pistol and shotgun more than most.
jackelope, if you're in the Wenatchee area, you're more than welocome to test run my XDs.
   

[Biggerhammer]

Jackelope,

I guess the reviews you read on the XDS's must all be wrong according to several here and several unknown but mentioned girls.😉

[Machias]

I have the .40 Shield and love it.  I have about 500 rounds through it so far, no problems at all.  LOVE IT!

[Quackwhacker]

I also have the shield in 40. Over 500 rounds through it with no issues. My wife enjoys shooting it. Easily concealed. I am still looking for the perfect holster if anyone has suggestions.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

[poopooheaddad]

Love my Shield .40 200 rounds no problems, fits good, light, went with a Theis holster (http://theisholsters.com/) realy like how I tuck it behind the pants or the belt, handle sticks out abit, might need to adjust. Paid around $385.00 new for the Shield in Wenatchee

[wildmanoutdoors]

Myself and my fishing bud both have shield 40's. They have been great little guns. I have probably over 1000 rounds thru mine.

[jrebel]

I also have the shield in 40. Over 500 rounds through it with no issues. My wife enjoys shooting it. Easily concealed. I am still looking for the perfect holster if anyone has suggestions.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

Don't want to thread jack but Adam at www.gunfightersinc.com makes amazing holsters.   

[Machias]

Wow they need a little work on their website, can't read the links at the top of their page.

[jackelope]

Wow they need a little work on their website, can't read the links at the top of their page.

It looks fine to me.
 

[wildwood]

Im between a 9 and 40 right now   already have M&P 40 pro series  figure be better to just go buy bulk rounds of 40 instead of both 9 and 40  but kinda buying it more for my wife to shoot but she does like to shoot my 40 more than the 38 snubby I bought her

[papisjeep]

the 40 is a little snappy but the 9mm is very manageable bought one for me wife as her every day carry

[jackelope]

Went and handled both pistols today. I think I'm pretty set on the Shield. The xds is a nice gun but it's too small for me. I've got big mitts and I just didn't feel comfortable with that thing. I suppose I could buy an extended mag with a grip extension but them I'd be a girl. ? Not too concerned about concealing it but I want it light and compact.

[Biggerhammer]

 

[carpsniperg2]

My best friend in Lynnwood got one last year and really likes it.

[CementFinisher]

Shield shoots great, i find it very comfortable in hand and accurate. trigger is good but different feeling just like its big cousin the M&P series. disappears in a supertuck deluxe. sig 938 is awesome also. Friend has one and it shoots with the best of em

[mountainman]

Went and handled both pistols today. I think I'm pretty set on the Shield. The xds is a nice gun but it's too small for me. I've got big mitts and I just didn't feel comfortable with that thing. I suppose I could buy an extended mag with a grip extension but them I'd be a girl. ? Not too concerned about concealing it but I want it light and compact.

lol, only to those that cant shoot it!

But yes, nothing wrong with the Sheild...it is, after all, an M&P, right?

[Machias]

Wow they need a little work on their website, can't read the links at the top of their page.

It looks fine to me.
 

Werid, the letters at the top of the page are tan on a light gravel looking background.  I can see that there are words there, but can't make out what they say.

[wafisherman]

I've been carrying a shield the last fews days.  .40.  Was a little surprised at how blocky it was and not as comfy as I expected.  I wonder how much more the 40 weighs fully loaded vs a 9mm?  The springs were also very stiff.  Mags hard to load and the slide hard to pull back.  It probably just takes some time to break in a bit, but I have handled others in this same class and it seemed like it was 50/50 in some being hard to rack back and lock and others were very simple and smoother to operate.

Shooting it was nice.  I expected more recoil but it handled as I would expect a 9mm.  So the 9mm must really be nice.  My 20yr old daughter shot it a few times and thought the recoil was comparable to my Beretta 92 (9mm).

This gun I've been carrying is my friend's who let me try it out.  He paid an arm and a leg at a gun show for it.  If I could find it for around $400, as I've seen here and there, I'd think it was a good value.  But definitely would hesitate to drop the $500 plus that he did...

[splitshot]

  bought a spruced up shield in 9 yesterday but have not shot it yet.   it has a trigger deal done to it and different sights.  also has a piece of rubber to make the handle bigger .  I like it.  it is about the same as my xd subcompact.   mike w

[Windwalker]

Have a Walther PPS in 40 myself -

Wife carries a Shield 9mm and loves it-

Here are some options to ponder.

Triggers - Apex- https://apextactical.com/store/product-info.php?pid65.html

 Two geat holster options..IMHO
 OWB- RAVEN Phantom holster - http://raven-concealment-systems.mybigcommerce.com/smith-wesson-custom-phantom-modular-holster/

 IWB- Crossbreed SuperTuck Deluxe- http://www.crossbreedholsters.com/SuperTuckDeluxe.aspx

Leather holster options - I highly recommend BRL- (Big River Leather holster)
The CCP (Concealed Carry Pancake) reinforced and DLI Double Loop IWB are awesome. 

http://www.bigriverleather.com/owboutsidewaistband.html

With cartridge improvements/technology a lot folks are jumping on the 9mm bandwagon. 45-40 & 9 all suck shooting FMJ so practice is where the rubber meets the road and that is where a case could be made for the 9mm.  Easier and cheaper to shoot and practice.. save the hot rod expensive stuff for defense.

I still like my 45 and the 40 isn't too expensive but..if you want to shoot something that won't eat you out of house and home get a 9 and shoot the hell out of it.

Most can shoot a 9mm better than a 40 especially if in a small package. Accuracy is everything- can't miss fast enough to catch up.
Just my 2 cents- have fun shopping. You can always buy several and decide later..

Oh yea- for loading the Shield- get a UpLULA
http://www.maglula.com/PistolMagLoaders/UpLULA%E2%84%A29mmto45ACPmags.aspx
Last couple of rounds go in stiff- If yer shooting alot it will pay for itself.

[wafisherman]

Over on the smith and Wesson forum, there are several reports of the .40 cal shields blowing up while being fired. 
I took the .40 out for some range time last night and put about 40 shots down the pipe and had one FTF.  Not very impressive.  I'm hearing too many stories various issues from both the 9mm and 40.  Folks sending them back and having to wait a while to get them back because S&W is so backed up with all the work from the faulty Shields.  Now is that a higher rate of issues than any other gun out there?  I'm sure it is a small percentage of total sold, since they can't keep them on the shelves.  At least the marketing campaign has been solid.  Let's hope once it settles, the reputation of the Shield will come through, but I'm leaning toward waiting a few years and see how this first batch is holding up...

[scottcrb]

was looking at getting one myself gonna keep an eye on this thread.

[splitshot]

  what is ftf?   thanks,  mike w

[CementFinisher]

Ftf- failure to fire.... fte- failure to extract

[wafisherman]

Ftf- failure to fire.... fte- failure to extract

I used it wrong then.  In my case it was failure to feed.  Slide locked back and the round wasn't fully extracted from the mag.

[CementFinisher]

the round is stripped from the mag when the slide goes forward. when the slide moves rearward it strips it from the breach.

[CementFinisher]

if the slide locked back, you most likely accidentally hit the mag catch and it dropped far enough out to not catch, or you bumped up the slide catch. if what you meant was that it failed to extract and you got a stove pipe then you had a light load , squib load, or you limp wristed.

[skeeter 20i]

I have had the shield 9 for a while now probably 800+ rounds thru it.  Love it 

[CementFinisher]

All makes and models have their bumps in the road. All of the new single stack composites have had some troubles starting out. it seems that they have been worked out and are good to go. XDs 9mm- serial numbers between XS900000 and XS938700 XDs .45ACP- serial numbers between XS500000 and XS686300 had recalls
S&W shield August 19, 2013 and before requires trigger hinge pin inspection to see if it needs recall work done.
Cant go wrong with either guns, just buy new, or know what to look for

[wafisherman]

if the slide locked back, you most likely accidentally hit the mag catch and it dropped far enough out to not catch, or you bumped up the slide catch. if what you meant was that it failed to extract and you got a stove pipe then you had a light load , squib load, or you limp wrested.

whatever the reason, I would blame the gun.  Shouldn't be that easy to cause it to choke.  Have never experienced that with my Beretta 92 or my s&w 3914 (though that one is still pretty new to me).