M&P Shield 9mm Questions

JustKeepSwimming

JustKeepSwimming

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My wife has decided to leave the dark side and dump her Glock 26 as her EDC. She just ordered a Shield 9mm with the factory tritium night sights as it is a much better fit for her very small hands and she shoots it well.

Anything I need to know or think about? We have only owned Glocks so this is my first experience with the Shield.

Going to have her shoot the hell out of it for 500 rounds or so and shoot a few courses with her "The Well Armed Woman" shooting group before converting to it as an EDC.

Any insight or experiences (+p 124 grain HP as carry ammo okay?) would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks, in advance, for your time gang....
 
I don't have a whole lot to say about the shield. I have one and have put hundreds of rounds through it . It's accurate reliable and easy to take down. It's also had a very good price point .

I think she made a great selection and she should enjoy it. It's considerably thinner feeling than the glock.
 
Look on Smith-Wesson website for the $75 manufacturer's rebate for any Shield bought between April 1 - June 30. I just purchased my 2nd Shield yesterday. The only thing I have added to my first Shield is a set of Talon grips, and I highly recommend that addition. Will do the same for the 2nd.
 
Papermaker said:
Look on Smith-Wesson website for the $75 manufacturer's rebate for any Shield bought between April 1 - June 30. I just purchased my 2nd Shield yesterday. The only thing I have added to my first Shield is a set of Talon grips, and I highly recommend that addition. Will do the same for the 2nd.
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Ha! My wife bought it. Think she'd miss a coupon for $75.00 :)

And thanks for the reply and the grip suggestion. Noted and I appreciate it.
 
Load the magazines and leave them loaded. The magazine springs tend to be strong and the last round can be a challenge to load.

Also leave the slide locked back for a few days. The recoil spring is strong and there seem to be a lot of complaints that the slide can be hard to lock back at first.
 
gc70 said:
Load the magazines and leave them loaded. The magazine springs tend to be strong and the last round can be a challenge to load.

Also leave the slide locked back for a few days. The recoil spring is strong and there seem to be a lot of complaints that the slide can be hard to lock back at first.
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Excellent info! Thank you.

Putting together a list for my wife.
 
Best I can find for the factory 8 round mags is $31.99 at Midway, Brownell's, etc.

Anybody have a different/better source or is this pretty much the standard?
 
JustKeepSwimming said:
Best I can find for the factory 8 round mags is $31.99 at Midway, Brownell's, etc.

Anybody have a different/better source or is this pretty much the standard?
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Those are usually the best prices for mags I have bought recently.
 
I bought mine used. I have stippled the frame and added fiber optic sights. Supposedly the gun has a Apex trigger kit in it. The trigger breaks very clean and 6lbs. Love it. Carry it everywhere.

I have one of the promag 10 round mags that works great for the range. Going to buy a few more. And they cheap.

I carry Hornady 130gr critical duty ammo. No issues. Shoots great. Standard pressure.
 
Great information gentlemen!

Thank you all for your insight and experiences. I do appreciate it.
 
SDIVER2006 said:
Ditch the crappy sites..
wife got fiberoptics for her shield
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I mentioned in the OP that she ordered the Shield with the factory installed tritium night sights. Are you referring to those or the standard OEM sights?
 
Meckmeister said:
I recall Lawmen's changed their policy to sell only to LEOs and first responders. I guess you qualify.
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It's a fair question, although I was in there a month or two ago looking for something I couldn't find aywhere else and they said they would still sell ammo to non-LEO/First Responders. All their other stuff is definitely still available to the rest of the buying public. I guess mags are a little gray area and I don't know their policy.
 
I like mine, been carrying it for probably 4 years now and never had a hiccup. Carry ammo is 147 grain HST's, which seem to expand well, even out of short barrels. Only thing I've done to it was add some Talon grips.
 
No issues with my Shield and its been my EDC since I brought it home.
Still waiting for my sight pusher to arrive to swap my sights out and install the Apex DCAEK. May add some Talon grips or do a little stippling but more of a want than a need.
As far as mags Quantico Tactical usually has 3 S&W mags for $72 and they will let you mix and match.
 
Only issue I have had with mine is a rusty Mag button. It was one of the first ones to come out and I am pretty sure they fixed it with later generations......and I do run with mine in a belly band, so not completely unexpected. EDC for years and years with 147 +p HST's and no problems other than the mag button
 
Wife brought home the new Shield today. Very nice pistol and she is stoked with it.

Quick questions: Is it just me or is this thing pretty "tight" when new? Slide is fairly stiff to rack and the slide "stop" seems like the manual says it is: A "stop" and not a "slide release". I'm sure everything will loosen up with time but I was curious if any of you remember what yours was like new out of the box?
 
Yes, mine was super stiff. All of the M&P pistols have "slide stops" instead of "slide releases". However, if you work it enough you can get it to function as a "slide release" as well. I have been told doing it runs the risk of breaking it but I still do it on all of my m&p's and have yet to have an issue.
 
Gear Head said:
Yes, mine was super stiff. All of the M&P pistols have "slide stops" instead of "slide releases". However, if you work it enough you can get it to function as a "slide release" as well. I have been told doing it runs the risk of breaking it but I still do it on all of my m&p's and have yet to have an issue.
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Thanks for the info and the reply. Good to know and I appreciate it!

Interesting branching out from Glocks and seeing the subtle nuances and differences between manufacturers. The little yellow "take down" tab threw me as well.
 
From the many times I shot the Shield in IDPA, most of my malfunctions occurred when I tried to use the slide stop on reloads. After enough hangups I use only the slingshot method for the little guns now.
 
Listen to him then ^^, I don't shoot my shield much at all. On my full size comp m&p's I don't have issues though
 
Starkherz199 said:
After enough hangups I use only the slingshot method for the little guns now.
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Good to hear. I have been telling my wife that the slingshot is the new way to go with the Shield. Not like she has a choice as she, nor I, can get the slide stop to release the slide! Practice, practice, practice...
 
Gear Head said:
I never use it, I just pull the trigger.
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Will have to give that a try tonight. Would be nice to break down the pistol without having a little tool to move that yellow tab downward.
 
gc70 said:
Load the magazines and leave them loaded. The magazine springs tend to be strong and the last round can be a challenge to load.
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Man you were not kidding! Got them loaded up, barely, and sitting around until my wife goes shooting Saturday.
 
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