M&P Range Report - Shield and Compact (9mm)

[jagee]

Thanks, PappyD!

I have not shot either gun in 40, but have heard the Shield 40 is much more 'snappy' than the 9...which would make sense. I think the Shield 9 is manageable, not sure I would want any more though. For the compact, I think if you are used to shooting the 45 then a 40 will almost seem like a 9...if that makes sense

I've noticed more 40 ammo on the shelves lately, but since you reload that really isn't a concern of yours...

My biased vote is 9, just because I've shot it and like it.

 

[gregkl]

Thanks for the continued reports. I will probably buy the 9. I have a snub nose I'm selling first so I will have some of the money towards the Shield. Then I just wait for a decent price.

Hopefully between now and then, I will have the opportunity to shoot one. If I get down towards Indy, I'll contact you to see if we could meet.

 

[rbMPSH12]

Just picked up a new Shield, but not so impressed right now. In a very short time I had both failures to eject and to go into battery. I can't tell you how many in what total of rounds because it was so unexpected and I thought, well that won't happen again. But it did, maybe 3 in 50. I am disappointed because I've been lead to believe that the Shields have great reliability. I don't like to blame these failures on ammo, which were factory loads, because I expect all modern guns to run well with whatever cheap ammo that's available. My xd-m and sig 226 never have a hiccup with cheap ammo.
On the positive side, I really like how it feels in the hand and during shooting. I was pleasantly surprised with its accuracy; much better than my Kahr pm9, which even has had trigger work done on it.
I considered the xd-s when looking to get another concealed carry gun, as I love my other Springfield, but I just couldn't justify the $200 price difference.

Were you limp wristing at all? May be the culprit. I've had 0 malfunctions in my Shield 9 (> 1200 rds) and only heard great things from others also.

 

[jagee]

Thanks for the continued reports. I will probably buy the 9. I have a snub nose I'm selling first so I will have some of the money towards the Shield. Then I just wait for a decent price.

Hopefully between now and then, I will have the opportunity to shoot one. If I get down towards Indy, I'll contact you to see if we could meet.

Glad I could help. I had a long wait for mine from a LGS in Terre Haute, my grandpa found the best price over there but the wait for delivery was about 6 weeks.

 

[BiscuitNaBasket]

Very cool jagee! I love my M&P9c as a edc. I had a M&P9 FS that I use to carry but I wanted to tone down the size.

 

[jagee]

Very cool jagee! I love my M&P9c as a edc. I had a M&P9 FS that I use to carry but I wanted to tone down the size.

I'm relatively new to EDC, started to carry a Kel-Tec P11 then decided I didn't feel comfortable with the trigger and shooting it if the need were to arise so I quit. I decided on the Shield for EDC now because of the thin profile for IWB carry...the compact is my favorite of the 2 though, will probably add a light and make it my night stand gun.

 

[BiscuitNaBasket]

I'm relatively new to EDC, started to carry a Kel-Tec P11 then decided I didn't feel comfortable with the trigger and shooting it if the need were to arise so I quit. I decided on the Shield for EDC now because of the thin profile for IWB carry...the compact is my favorite of the 2 though, will probably add a light and make it my night stand gun.

I haven't invested in a rail light for my compact yet, but it does serve as my bedside firearm.

I would still like to buy a Shield9 in the future for those times when I cannot be seen with a firearm.

 

[Sgtusmc]

I've drooled for a good year over getting the shield in 9. My current EDC is a FS M&P VTAC. Love it.

 

[mpurcell88]

Nice review jagee! I finally took my new M&P9fs to the range this weekend; this was the first time I had ever fired a gun. I fired just a little over 100 rounds in the hour I was there and had 2 rounds fail to feed. Has anyone else had this problem? Overall I was impressed with the gun and my groupings. Excited to take it out again! (FWIW I was using federal 115gr)

 

[ViperJock]

What's a reasonable group size for a shield (off hand-no rest) at 10yds? The reason I ask; a gun store salesman recently overheard telling a customer that the gun was worthless past 21'. Now, I chalked that up to "dude can't shoot for ****" but what is the realistic expectation for this piece?

 

[gregkl]

Nice review jagee! I finally took my new M&P9fs to the range this weekend; this was the first time I had ever fired a gun. I fired just a little over 100 rounds in the hour I was there and had 2 rounds fail to feed. Has anyone else had this problem? Overall I was impressed with the gun and my groupings. Excited to take it out again! (FWIW I was using federal 115gr)

I wouldn't give it any concern. New gun, first time shooting it. Could just need a few rounds to "loosen" it up or maybe you limp wristed a shot or two. If it helps, keep a log of your shooting. I do so I can track various attributes of my range time. Malfunctions is one of them. Right now I am doing my version of a torture test. I am shooting it weekly and not cleaning. I want to see how many rounds I can get through it before I have a malfunction. I am at 300 or so right now.

 

[mpurcell88]

What's a reasonable group size for a shield (off hand-no rest) at 10yds? The reason I ask; a gun store salesman recently overheard telling a customer that the gun was worthless past 21'. Now, I chalked that up to "dude can't shoot for ****" but what is the realistic expectation for this piece?

This is from a full size from 20 yards and my first time ever shooting:

(Link just in case it didn't upload: PicPaste - 28daec52595d50cee7ed26daf27bf277.JPG)

 

[mpurcell88]

I wouldn't give it any concern. New gun, first time shooting it. Could just need a few rounds to "loosen" it up or maybe you limp wristed a shot or two. If it helps, keep a log of your shooting. I do so I can track various attributes of my range time. Malfunctions is one of them. Right now I am doing my version of a torture test. I am shooting it weekly and not cleaning. I want to see how many rounds I can get through it before I have a malfunction. I am at 300 or so right now.

Okay, thanks for the tip! That's what I was kind of leaning towards, or the spring in my magazine was the other idea.

 

[ViperJock]

This is from a full size from 20 yards and my first time ever shooting:

(Link just in case it didn't upload: PicPaste - 28daec52595d50cee7ed26daf27bf277.JPG)

So clearly capable at practical distances. Thanks for posting.

 

[bradrob]

I have a new Shield 9 and have only had one FTE in +/- 300 rounds. I was using WWB which I don't use anymore. I've had good luck with Speer Lawman (115 and 147 gr) and Federal (115 gr). It's definitely snappier than I anticipated, and I tend to shoot low left. The trigger pull is also a bit heavier than I thought it would be. I have no problem with the accuracy of my full size 9. I'm looking forward to getting back to the range to see if it loosens up a little.

 

[Maddog1]

I am considering a shield in 40 cal. the gun fits my hand fell with the extended mag.

 

[BBSparkle]

So clearly capable at practical distances. Thanks for posting.

I'd hope so. I haven't had the chance to try the Shield, yet, but my BG380 could hit the propane tank reliably at ~50 yards.

 

[jagee]

What she said...

FTFY

 

[IndyT0m]

How much bigger is the Compact vs the Shield? I was thinking of getting the 9mm Shield for EDC but in your pictures the Compact really doesn't look that much bigger especially with the
extended Magazine inserted in the Shield. I may have to rethink this. Maybe forget about the Shield and go with something a little larger for all purpose duty. Thinking maybe M&P Compact 9, Sig Sauer SP2022 or Walther PPQ.

 

[wtburnette]

How much bigger is the Compact vs the Shield? I was thinking of getting the 9mm Shield for EDC but in your pictures the Compact really doesn't look that much bigger especially with the
extended Magazine inserted in the Shield. I may have to rethink this. Maybe forget about the Shield and go with something a little larger for all purpose duty. Thinking maybe M&P Compact 9, Sig Sauer SP2022 or Walther PPQ.

I just got to shoot a PPQ yesterday and it was really nice. It's about the same size as a Glock 19, with a slightly longer grip (and a capacity of 17 instead of 15). Shoots beautifully, has a fantastic trigger and great ergos as well. I'll be picking one up soon and would heartily recommend it!