[ShaneS]

A friend and I scored two new S&W M&P Shields in Central Texas yesterday - at two different stores in two different towns.

This morning I loaded both the 7rd and 8rd magazines so the springs could compress and loosen up a little. However, I accidentally left the 8rd magazine at the office.

For the first five or so magazines I shot, I loaded the 7rd magazine to capacity, chambered a round then topped off the magazine to utilize the full capacity of the pistol and try to induce a jam from stiff springs if possible. The 7rd magazine was a little more difficult to load than the 8rd. The 7rd magazine was definitely more difficult to seat in the magazine well when the slide was closed. This is a potential drawback, making a magazine change on a closed slide quite difficult in a crisis situation. However, it is unlikely one would do a tactical reload with a smaller capacity pistol. Probably a non-issue.

I shot:
(26) rounds of standard Winchester 115 gr. FMJ range ammo
(22) rounds of Winchester 124 gr. NATO
(7) rounds of Speer Gold Dot 124 gr. HP
(10) rounds of 3.8 gr. Titegroup, 124 gr. plated light reloads

65 Total rounds fired, maybe more. I might not have found all the cases.

Most of the magazines only had one type of ammo loaded at a time, but I varied the type of ammo with each magazine. That is, I didn't load and shoot just one type of ammo until I moved on the the next type. It was random. Feeding was 100%. Accuracy was very good when I did my part. Recoil was very manageable but seemed like the recoil of .40 S&W rounds in a Glock 23. Sights are great. Oil oozed like crazy from every opening. The pistol felt good in the hand. It looks robust and strong for a small pistol (not flimsy or toy like).

The trigger feels like a Glock but has a heavier final pull before the trigger breaks (6-6.5lbs). The trigger has a very short reset point, making follow up shots very fast if needed. I hope the trigger gets a little lighter with use/wear, but it is much better than the long heavy trigger pull of the Ruger LC9 I owned.

Overall, I am very impressed. My only concerns are the difficulty of seating a 7rd magazine and the heavier trigger pull (for accuracy). I wish it didn't have a manual safety. I would already trust it for concealed carry since it fed 100% reliably. It is the best compact single stack 9mm I've shot so far. I haven't read any threads about the Shield so these are my unbiased observations.

I also ordered a Kahr CW9 this past weekend, thinking I didn't have much hope of finding a Shield. I can't wait to get it and compare the two. I'm keeping both.

[Rustin]

Carry the seven, keep the 8 as a spare. It's a cc pistol, no need for an extension and you shouldn't have any problems seating it. Thanks for the report.

[bac1023]

Thanks for the report.

[Folsom_Prison]

Congrats!

[unit1069]

Thanks; and I haven't yet read a negative report on the new Shield pistol. It might be Smith has a winner from the git-go with this gun.

[Bruce M]

Thanks for the range report - it appears most who shoot this gun like it.

[Beanie-Bean]

Congrats on finding the two Shields! I ordered one from Davidson's GoG, and the FFL dealer asked how I was able to get one from them--this was a day or so after it was announced/released. Glad you were able to find some.

Contact S&W directly if you're looking for extra magazines. The customer service department is first-class, taking my order for another three magazines (2-7, 1-8) last week. Later during the week I received a postcard from S&W acknowledging the order, and explaining the backlog. They should arrive next week sometime.

Mine is loosening up a lot since I've been putting lots of rounds through it, and have been firing primarily 124 gr. through it. I did carry it for a day this week after reading about the "issue" but didn't experience anything bad at all.

I've been very impressed with how well the guns functions, and will add it to the regular carry rotation when the new magazines come in.

Enjoy your new Shield!

[Roger G23]

Congrats and thanks for the great report.

[3rdgen40]

Another happy Shield owner.Congrats.

[ShaneS]

Update: I went to the range today with my new Shield which is the subject of this thread.

I fired another:
(18) rounds of standard Winchester 115 gr. FMJ range ammo
(17) rounds of Winchester 124 gr. NATO
(2) rounds of Speer Gold Dot 124 gr. HP
(5) rounds of 3.8 gr. Titegroup, 124 gr. plated light reloads
42 total rounds fired this session, 107+ total rounds fired in the new Shield!

Feeding was 100% reliable. Accuracy was very good. Recoil was very manageable even with the warmer NATO and Speer GDHP +P rounds and the shorter magazine.

- PLUS -

My friend, who got a Shield the same day with me, shot at the range today.

He fired:
(50) rounds of Speer Lawman
(57) rounds of Winchester 9mm NATO
107 Total rounds through his new Shield with 100% reliability. He felt the recoil was manageable and likes his Shield too.

I still wish the trigger was as light as the standard Glock trigger and the pistol didn't have the thumb safety, but I can definitely live with those. I continue to be impressed with the design, features and solid construction. The polymer frame does not seem flimsy but very solid. I'm pleased that both Shields have been 100% reliable from the start, the first 100 rounds in each.

[Glock40man]

Thanks for the report!

[ParkerRev]

I'm a new member and the other M&P Shield user. Thanks to ShaneS for introducing me to Glock Talk and for helping me get started in shooting.

The Shield is a definite keeper, along with the Gen 4 G23. We put 100+ rounds through both of them yesterday without problems.

[Bruce M]

Originally Posted by ParkerRev

I'm a new member ....

[3rdgen40]

Originally Posted by ParkerRev

I'm a new member and the other M&P Shield user. Thanks to ShaneS for introducing me to Glock Talk and for helping me get started in shooting.

The Shield is a definite keeper, along with the Gen 4 G23. We put 100+ rounds through both of them yesterday without problems.

Welcome to GT.Congrats on your new Shield.I have 600 rounds through mine now with zero issues.I even mixed 2 types of JHP's and ball ammo in the same mag several times to try to get it to choke.It is not the least bit picky about ammo types.It will eat anything...

[MilitantBEEMER]

Congrats. I have a deposit down and am currently 5th in line. From everything I have read, I have been waiting for this pistol all my life

[TSAX]

Congrats, having 2 of the same gun is a wonderful thing, just watch this

last man standing fire fight - YouTube

last man standing fire fight - YouTube

[rem2429]

I bought one this week myself and put 17 rounds of old federal hydro shocks through it. I hope to get to the range tomorrow for some further testing.

[JuneyBooney]

Originally Posted by TSA

Congrats, having 2 of the same gun is a wonderful thing, just watch this

last man standing fire fight - YouTube

That is a good video.

[glock2740]

Congrats on the new Shield. I've yet to get my hands on one yet.

[Andy W]

I fondled one at the gun shop yesterday. Very nice little gun. Smith & Wesson is gonna sell a **** ton of them unless some kind of catastrophic design failure starts occuring. The trigger on it is a bit heavy but nice and crisp. Decent reset point with an audible and tactile click. They need to put this trigger in all their M&Ps. When I get my CC permit, this pistol is gonna be at the top of the list.

[BuckyP]

The only bad thing I've heard to date has been that if you pull the slide back it may stay that way. After reading that, I tried it with my tried and true G30 and, guess what, same thing.

OK, I lied, there is one more bad thing... I CAN'T Get one!

[TxGlock9]

I'm about to shoot a buddy's new shield with the apex DCAEK kit tomorrow. I'll tell ya how it goes!

[TalkToTheGlock]

Thanks for the review/report. I am going to pick one up on Monday that my LGS is holding for me.

[cowboy1964]

The M&P 45c is also very difficult to load a full mag into when the slide is closed. Not a huge deal but I don't know why gun makers can't get simple details like this right. My M&P 40 does not have the issue though.

[ShaneS]

A Shield or any subcompact pistol in .40 doesn't appeal to me at all. I'm a big fan of the .40 but not in a smaller pistol.


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