Today I stopped by the gunshop and saw that they had 2 new M&P shields in stock. They actually had two in 9mm and two in .40. They were priced at $425. I've never been particuarly fond of small guns so I just looked them over and left. About an hour later I realized that the 9mm felt pretty good in my hands and figured if I didn't like it I could probably get my money back since I know several people who have been wanting them, so I called and told the owner I wanted it and would pick it up when I got off of work.
My previous experience with pocket guns: I never liked the 380s from SIG or Ruger and thought they were snappy. I liked the berettas and Walthers but they were quite a bit larger. In 9mm I have shot the XDs, Nano, and LC9. I thought the XDs was the nicest of the three but it was too blocky and not comfortable. Therefore I went into the S&W purchase a little skeptical. I will also mention that I have only one experience with a Kahr, and I simply couldn't hit anything with it. Also I have fired a Kimber solo and it simply would not fire 115gr bullets reliabley.
My initial impressions: Gun felt good in hand with both the regular magazine and the extended magazine. magazine didn't seat flush with frame but that was only minor. The thumb safety is very unpopular for many. Sights looked cheap but functional. The trigger felt gritty all the way through. With all of that said, it was however an overall attractive gun.
I got home and took it out to my home made range on my dad's farm. I didn't have alot of time so I just hung a cardboard piece and made a bullseye dot with a marker. I brought 50 rounds of Federal 115gr, 25 rounds of Federal HST 115gr, and 25 rounds of Hornady 124gr. I also had about ten rounds of Hydra Shocks that I emptied from another gun magazine. The first rounds I shot were the Hydra Shocks. They all fed perfectly and I shot relatively well (5 inch or so groups from ten yards. I then ran the FMJ Federals through the gun and the results were about the same with a couple of flyers but I had started shooting faster. Then I ran the Hornadys through the gun. They were more erratic and my groups widened out to about 7-8 inches, but still effective. Lastly, I shot the Federal HST rounds. They shot around a 4 inch group much like the other federal rounds I shot. In total I fired 115 rounds from the gun.
Impressions: The gun had zero failures and operated smoothly. The gritty trigger did not bother me at all when I started shooting. I've read some complaints about the trigger weight, but I found it to be fine and well suited for a small carry gun. The thumb safety was very easy to slide down with the thumb. After shooting it, I actually think I like the safety. I'm use to a 1911 and the sweep was almost natural. The gun had very little felt recoil and was not at all snappy. I was very surprised at how fast I was able to re-focus on the target after firing. Double taps were easy and accurate. With a little range time I'm sure I can tighten the groups up a bit, but I found that it was remarkably accurate for a small gun. It did seem to prefer federals, but that may not be a fair comparison since the Hornady shells were 124gr, and I only fired 25 of them.
I give Smith & Wesson an A for the design of the shield. It is by far my favorite of the small 9mm pistols. I am going to keep the gun and try and pocket carry it. I went to Wal Mart and got a cheap pocket holster, but it seems to work well. The liitle gun is accurate, contollable, and fed everything I put in it. I wish someone would go back to aluminum triggers and do way with the little trigger safeties, but I guess that is too much to ask for. I had an M&P several years ago and it had serious rust issues. I'm hoping S&W has sorted all of that out now, because for a carry gun, especially in a pocket, it is going to occaisinally get a little sticky. I guess only time will tell on that part. I'm not going to put my 1911 up for Home Defense, but I do think the Shield may become my every day carry piece.
I'm going to an indoor range on Saturday and I will post pictures and do a follow up. I haven't included pics because I hate the little thumbnails and I am going to set up a photo bucket account tomorrow and post some real pics Saturday. Thanks goes out to the member of the Forum that told me how to do that!
My previous experience with pocket guns: I never liked the 380s from SIG or Ruger and thought they were snappy. I liked the berettas and Walthers but they were quite a bit larger. In 9mm I have shot the XDs, Nano, and LC9. I thought the XDs was the nicest of the three but it was too blocky and not comfortable. Therefore I went into the S&W purchase a little skeptical. I will also mention that I have only one experience with a Kahr, and I simply couldn't hit anything with it. Also I have fired a Kimber solo and it simply would not fire 115gr bullets reliabley.
My initial impressions: Gun felt good in hand with both the regular magazine and the extended magazine. magazine didn't seat flush with frame but that was only minor. The thumb safety is very unpopular for many. Sights looked cheap but functional. The trigger felt gritty all the way through. With all of that said, it was however an overall attractive gun.
I got home and took it out to my home made range on my dad's farm. I didn't have alot of time so I just hung a cardboard piece and made a bullseye dot with a marker. I brought 50 rounds of Federal 115gr, 25 rounds of Federal HST 115gr, and 25 rounds of Hornady 124gr. I also had about ten rounds of Hydra Shocks that I emptied from another gun magazine. The first rounds I shot were the Hydra Shocks. They all fed perfectly and I shot relatively well (5 inch or so groups from ten yards. I then ran the FMJ Federals through the gun and the results were about the same with a couple of flyers but I had started shooting faster. Then I ran the Hornadys through the gun. They were more erratic and my groups widened out to about 7-8 inches, but still effective. Lastly, I shot the Federal HST rounds. They shot around a 4 inch group much like the other federal rounds I shot. In total I fired 115 rounds from the gun.
Impressions: The gun had zero failures and operated smoothly. The gritty trigger did not bother me at all when I started shooting. I've read some complaints about the trigger weight, but I found it to be fine and well suited for a small carry gun. The thumb safety was very easy to slide down with the thumb. After shooting it, I actually think I like the safety. I'm use to a 1911 and the sweep was almost natural. The gun had very little felt recoil and was not at all snappy. I was very surprised at how fast I was able to re-focus on the target after firing. Double taps were easy and accurate. With a little range time I'm sure I can tighten the groups up a bit, but I found that it was remarkably accurate for a small gun. It did seem to prefer federals, but that may not be a fair comparison since the Hornady shells were 124gr, and I only fired 25 of them.
I give Smith & Wesson an A for the design of the shield. It is by far my favorite of the small 9mm pistols. I am going to keep the gun and try and pocket carry it. I went to Wal Mart and got a cheap pocket holster, but it seems to work well. The liitle gun is accurate, contollable, and fed everything I put in it. I wish someone would go back to aluminum triggers and do way with the little trigger safeties, but I guess that is too much to ask for. I had an M&P several years ago and it had serious rust issues. I'm hoping S&W has sorted all of that out now, because for a carry gun, especially in a pocket, it is going to occaisinally get a little sticky. I guess only time will tell on that part. I'm not going to put my 1911 up for Home Defense, but I do think the Shield may become my every day carry piece.
I'm going to an indoor range on Saturday and I will post pictures and do a follow up. I haven't included pics because I hate the little thumbnails and I am going to set up a photo bucket account tomorrow and post some real pics Saturday. Thanks goes out to the member of the Forum that told me how to do that!
