The S&W M&P Shield is highly recommended by a number of firearms training schools and instructors, just as the rest of the striker-fired S&W M&P handgun line and Glocks.
The S&W M&P Shield has proven to be reliable out of the box and through tens of thousands of rounds. The 9mm is preferred, as the .40 S&W version's higher recoil is more abusive to the handgun and shooter with little improvements in ballistics. The 9mm version reliably cycles all brands and types of 9mm ammunition. The build quality is very good and the trigger out of the box isn't bad. The trigger will improve over time. The magazine springs are initially quite stiff and I recommend the
Makershot magazine loader. Keep the magazines loaded and the magazine springs will break in and soften up.
The handgun is quite thin, which is good for concealability, but less than optimal for controllability due to the thinner grip. However, you get used to it. The stock three-dot sights are good, as they are made out of steel and easy to acquire. They are slanted though, which makes racking the slide one-handed on a straight edge (like a belt) difficult. The slide stop is a slide stop and not a slide release! Some handguns, like Glocks, have a slide stop with a weak slide stop spring, making it possible to use/misuse the slide stop as a slide release. The S&W M&P Shield has a stiff slide stop spring, making it impossible to use/misuse the slide stop as a slide release.
If you plan to use this handgun for concealed carry, get the not ported version with no thumb safety. The downside to a ported handgun is that the slide needs to be ported as well, opening up the handgun to let in dirt, lint and other foreign material. 9mm is not a particularly snappy round (as opposed to .40 S&W for example), so getting a ported version is for gamers that want to hit steel as fast as possible. The thumb safety is outright stupid. It is difficult to operate and not needed. I have yet to see a person in a defensive handgun class not to fail to disengage it. If you get one with the thumb safety, leave it in the off position, permanently.
I bought my S&W M&P Shield 9mm a month ago and have 1,000 rounds of Blazer Brass 115 grain FMJ training ammo and 300 rounds of
Link Removed self defense ammo through it. I had one failure to eject with the training ammo due to a low charge. I put the
Ameriglo CAP sights on it, as I am not good with three-dot sights in general due to my astigmatism. I am confident in this gun and have no reservations in carrying it.
There is still a rebate for the S&W M&P Shield:
Link Removed. Up until June 30, the rebate was $75. With the new rebate, you get 2 additional magazines, 2 25-round boxes of Hornady Critical Defense ammo and the Caldwell pistol magazine charger. The Shield already comes with a 7-round and an 8-round magazine. Shield magazines are about
Link Removed, so this offer of 2 additional magazines is already pretty good. I personally don't care for Hornady Critical Defense ammo as it doesn't pass the FBI standard. The Federal HST, I mentioned, does and costs $21 for 50 rounds. I have never used the Caldwell pistol magazine charger.
PS: I am moving away from the XS Big Dot sights, as I am faster and more accurate with the Ameriglo CAP sights.
