Is the Shield worth the wait? Or spend more on a PPS?

[tek610]

My wife will have her CC permit in 30 days, so we've been renting a variety to see what we'll purchase for her to carry. The Shield looks to be perfect (for its price particularly), and I've held one, but never shot one.

But- we shoot 3 or 4 times a month and I've yet to see one at our LGS, for sale or rent. So We rented a Walther PPS in 9mm because the specifications are similar enough to give her a feel for the Shield. Well, she shot the PPS pretty well and liked it a lot, so much so that we rented it again tonight. She still likes it, still feels good (for both of us).

My question: Should I wait for the opportunity to shoot the Shield before I make a decision? Should I buy the PPS (NIB for $589- available right now)? OR-

Should I just wait and buy the Shield when I hopefully luck into the chance? (probably easier than waiting for a rental to show up, then buying a NIB- the chance of me seeing two in my LGS seem quite remote)

If it wasn't for that $150-$200 price difference, if they were the same price, I'd take the available gun now.

 

[Dr_B]

I have the Shield in .40. For me, it has turned out to be the best carry pistol option l have tried. Size is good, ease of concealment, accuracy, good sights, comes with an extra mag, easy follow-up shots (at least in my hands), and good price. I know they're hard to find. But I've fired the 9mm and the .40 and they're excellent. I liked the Shield so much l sold my j frame and lcp. Personally l would order a Shield and wait.

 

[Noah]

I'd say order a Shield online. The one I shot was fantastic. The trigger and recoil were both remarkably close to the M&P Full size I shot at the same time. The fit in the hand and gun control (haha) were excellent with the short or extended mags. The gun was also very slim and light. A Shield in 9mm would be my first choice for a deep carry or back up gun.

 

[beag_nut]

How will she carry the Shield? I tried one at our range, and while it functioned well (but a raspy trigger), it was too bulky to fit my jeans pockets, an absolute priority.

 

[CZ57]

Wait for the Shield! My shooting partner is very intense on CCW issues and knows his stuff. He bought a PPS and had had several problems with it. S&W is the importer of Walther pistols in the U.S. so it seems that S&W learned from the mistakes of Walther in this case and corrected them with the Shield. The PPS originally had a two piece feed ramp that didn't work. The S&W is a single unit. Also, the shield is considerably beefier in the lock-up area of the pistol. The shield does not malfunction whereas the PPS had quite a few. He is very satisfied with the Shield and I have fired it a number of times. While there is very little difference in weight, there has been a major difference in reliability. Walther has since addressed the problem supposedly but the Shield is a superior pistol, plus it is made in the USA and is about $150 less.

 

[fastbolt]

I recently handled and used a Shield 9 on the range. I'm going to order one.

One of the things that might bear some consideration in choosing between the Shield 9 and the Walther PPS is that S&W offers a limited lifetime warranty for the Shield, versus the Walther 1-year warranty for the PPS.

 

[Fishbed77]

The PPS is easily the nicer of the two pistols. Much better fit & finish, nicer trigger, and despite it's size, it shoots like a much larger gun.

That said, it costs more, so it should be nicer.

 

[thefish]

I'm still waiting for a shield to some in. In the meantime I picked up a Taurus 709 slim in stainless for 250 and it has turned out to be a fantastic ccw. Very compact, lifetime warranty, and shoots well.

 

[vaherder]

PPS

Have had one for a few years w/o any problems and put over 5K rounds down range. Saved my life a few times. You might also want to look at the P99AS Compact. For concealed carry I wouldnt trust my life with anything else.

BTW although Walther says a year they will usually take care of it for you as long as you own it. Chances are you will never need it.

I had the chance to shoout a Shield in 9mm. Put about 200 rounds through it at the range. Nice gun for the price but it is not in the same class as a PPS. PPS is worth the extra money. You get what you pay for. If I was looking for something in the Shield's price range it would be my top pick but again the PPS is worth the price.

Buy the PPS and make her happy.

 

[Esoxchaser]

The PPS is a much better shooting pistol than the shield (and really fun to shoot as well), but is a bit bulky for pocket carry. I know it's not on your list, but the P938 has the best attributes of both pistols you asked about. Great shooter, easy to conceal.

 

[Jed Carter]

I own a S&W Shield 9mm, normally do not like carrying anything this small, still have to holster carry, just too large for pocket carry. Recoil very managable even with +P ammunition, shoots great for a 3" barreled pistol. Beretta Nano, and the Walther were on the short list, I felt that holsters and accessories would be more readily available for the S&W, just need to change the sight to Tritium night sights and it may be may daily beater, right now a Glock G19 and a SIG RCS 1911 (CCO size) are my go to pistols for CCW. So far the Shield has only 600 rounds of several types of FMJ and jacket HP ammunition, zero issues, zero malfunctions, still wish it had factory night sights, but the 3 dot sights are visible in vey dim conditions. I think if all goes well in Nov, the supply of 9mm Shields should outstrip demand buy the end of Winter.

 

[jfrey]

I have 3 Shields and my FIL has a PPS. Bottom line: GET THE SHIELD. The trigger on the Shield is much more shooter friendly. Lighter and easier to shoot. The PPS is totally over priced and over engineered. The striker spring is too heavy and makes the trigger stack whe you shoot it. Haven't shot the third Shield yet but the first two have been completely trouble free. The safety on the Shield is a non-issue. If you like it (I do) use it. If you don't like it- don't use it. S&W really got it right when they introduced the Shield.

BTW: I still prefer my Gen 3 G19 to either one.

 

[Mr.Revolverguy]

Here is my opinion of the Shield
M&P Shield Review

 

[WRGADog]

I own a PPS

It is a great handgun, very easy to conceal, accurate, reliable, and very versatile with 6, 7, or 8 round capacity. The PPS also has excellent ergonomics. You will not go wrong with the PPS. I can't offer advice on the Shield as I do not own one and have not shot one.

 

[Shipwreck]

See, I have the opposite view. The shield is the best subcompact I have ever owned or shot, and I have owned many over the years.

I don't even like M&Ps, but the shield has a different trigger. I have almost two thousand rounds thru the pair of shields I have. I liked the first one so much that I spent 2.5 months tracking down a second one.

 

[TMann]

I have a PPS and like it a lot. I've owned a few other single-stack semi-autos (S&W 3913, various Kahrs, Sig 225 and 239) and like this one more than any of them. The PPS is solid and heavy enough to be a easy gun to shoot, but it's slim enough to carry easily under just a t-shirt. The 6-round magazine is pretty short, so you may be able to pocket carry it as well.

I've never shot a Shield, so I can't comment on it, but if your wife is happy with the PPS, I don't see any reason to wait for the Shield.

TMann

 

[tek610]

Thanks- more thoughts?

Thanks for all of your input. I expected that it would be a pretty divided opinion.

Let me throw this one in the mix (same general criteria: single stack 9mm, striker-fired, DAO)-

Thoughts on a Kahr CW9? We rented it a while back, before she had any skill, so she doesn't recall the feel, but I recall a bit more snap, and the long, heavy, revolver-style trigger. It may be worth another look to see if it works for her. It's in the Shield price range, but available.

 

[jfrey]

Had a CW9 for a while but it was picky about ammo. Traded it on a G19 and never looked back. The G19 does alternate carry duty with the new Shield. I won't have a pistol that doesn't shoot my loads. Never a problem with the G19 or Shield. Can't say that about the CW9.

 

[FMF Doc]

I shot both, had the money to buy either, and walked out the door with the Shield, a holster, lots of ammo, and NO REGRETTS. I don't think you gain anything measurable from all the money with the PPS over the Shield.

 

[skywalkrNCSU]

I have a PM9 which is basically the same thing as a CW9 and I absolutely love it. Easy to pocket carry, if I carry IWB it absolutely disappears, and it shoots like a dream considering it's size.

 

[scaatylobo]

Shot both side by side

A close friend and his wife got their CCW [ thanks to me ] at the same time and she got a 9MM Shield and he a 9MM PPS.

I got to shoot both of the gun first and since then often.

I found the PPS to have a MUCH better trigger and to be a VERY accurate pistol.

The Shield was easy to shoot but not as accurate and a bit more felt recoil.

The Shield is smaller ans would be a better ankle carry than the PPS [ still doable with either ].

I would go for the PPS if it were my money.

But its all a matter of ergonomics and up to HER personal choice.

 

[kr8ter]

I've had my PPS for about four years now, defiantly one of my favorite pistols. It's a .40 and has less felt recoil than my full size .40s. I'm not sure if it's the way it fits my hand or the duel recoil spring.
If the shield had been available at the same time it would have been a hard choice. I like S&W and bought the SW99 instead of the p99. Two things the PPS has going for it are lack of a "safety" and a place to mount a light.

 

[FireInCairo]

I have never shot the Shield, but handled one in a store. I opted for the PPS for a few reasons: I think the triggers are better on the Walthers, I liked the look of the Walther better, and I think the Shield is a little too tall for my concealed carry preferences (the PPS is a bit longer, but that's easier to conceal than height. ymmv

I own the PPS .40 and it handles really, really well for a .40. Not too snappy, very accurate, and about as big as I'd go for a concealed carry gun.

 

[Shipwreck]

I had a PM9 Kahr for 2.5 years - sold it the very week I got my first Shield. Rapid fire is MUCH easier with the Shield.

 

[FMF Doc]

I have never shot the Shield, but handled one in a store. I opted for the PPS for a few reasons: I think the triggers are better on the Walthers...

You need to shoot the Shield then. The trigger may look like the old M&P but it is MUCH better. It is one of, if not the best striker fired trigger pulls out there.