I've been wanting to get a S&W M&P Shield 9MM for a long time, and I finally got one by trading a Glock 23 to one of our Lt's at work. It feels amazing on my hip and in my hand. The difference in thickness is amazing between this and a Glock. The 8 round mag with the extension is much needed for my gorilla hand as well. Got a Cover 6 hybrid IWB holster, but had to swap clips with my crossbreed as they were too long and very thin compared to the crossbreed.

 

Nice, I have not held this weapon, but it looks similar in size to my Springfield XDS .45.

They're very similar, it was a tossup between those two weapons but the price was what swayed me toward the shield.

They're very similar, it was a tossup between those two weapons but the price was what swayed me toward the shield.

If you don't mind me asking, what kind of price can you purchase one of these for.

Academy has them for $399 everyday, Cabelas has them on sale right now for that price but they're regularly $449. The XDS is $579 at Academy. I got my Glock at officer pricing 4 years ago so I actually traded straight up without losing anything.

Academy has them for $399 everyday, Cabelas has them on sale right now for that price but they're regularly $449. The XDS is $579 at Academy. I got my Glock at officer pricing 4 years ago so I actually traded straight up without losing anything.

In your experience has the S&W been as reliable as the Glock.  I recently sold my Glock 17 and kind of regret it to a small degree.

In your experience has the S&W been as reliable as the Glock.  I recently sold my Glock 17 and kind of regret it to a small degree.

I can't really say yet as I've only shot it once. The Glock is one of the most reliable guns you can buy, but they dont make a single stack 9MM (yet) so I had to go another direction for concealed carry. We put about 50 rounds through it the other day I got it and we had no issues, but that's not much of a sample size.

It will be interesting to see how it does over time.  I have not been completely satisfied with my XDS, either it or I have a problem when manually charging the weapon. If I load a magazine with the chamber closed and manually charge the weapon  it sometimes does not feed properly.  However if I lock the bolt back and load a magazine and then use the magazine release to charge the weapon it has not failed. 

 

Any ideas.

The only thing that comes to mind is that somehow the magazine is not seating properly. How do you grip the back of the slide when you charge it?

Very nice gun.  I bought one of those a few weeks ago.

The only thing that comes to mind is that somehow the magazine is not seating properly. How do you grip the back of the slide when you charge it?

over the top, fingers gripping one side and lower portion of my hand on the other.

over the top, fingers gripping one side and lower portion of my hand on the other.

Got you, just had to ask. They train us to positively extract and positively chamber, meaning you pretty much slam the slide forward when chambering the round. That could be something to try.

Got you, just had to ask. They train us to positively extract and positively chamber, meaning you pretty much slam the slide forward when chambering the round. That could be something to try.

I shot a little earlier this week and the gun shot great  and had no ejection or feeding problems.  I just went a tried your suggestion of positively extracting and charging the weapon and it worked perfectly.  I had used my G17 for a long time and it took a lot less effort to charge it, I was just being a little too gentle with the .45

 

Thanks again 

 

Love my shield. Got about 450 rounds through mine without a single issue.

I got a Shield a while back myself and enjoy how small it really is.  Easy to conceal, good ergonomics, lots of available mags, and accessories are abundant.

Nice piece!  My cousin just bought a 9MM shield, it felt really nice in the hand.  It sure made me want one to replace my Glock 27 for summertime carry.  I love the Glock but it is so dang thick.

My next purchase. Sold my SR9c been wanting the shield for a while now.

Might want to look at the Singlestack mag GLOCK 36 in .45 caliber.

Conceals very nicely and very accurate and reliable. The single stack and the shorter grip make concealment optimal.