First 50 through my 9mm Shield.

[nickel plate]

My S&W M&P Shield is the off roster varient model via SSE purchase. I took it up to our mountain property, set up two targets, one at 5 yards and another at seven yards. On the very first seven shot magazine fired, the last shot failed to leave the slide open however it did expell the last spent cartridge. Grumble, grumble. The remainder of the shoot went flawless.
The first magazine had seven rounds, the rest of the seven round magazine reloadings only had six rounds as it was pure torture to press in the seventh. I'm a tall man and just a bit over 200 lbs with good sized hands but that seventh round was holding up my shoot as I had other pistols to work with.
I'm used to all metal semi-autos and this being my first polymer frame, the 9mm Shield was acting rather snappy which showed up on the two targets so I may need to figure out a different style of grip. I had many high and low piercings with several bulls, all of which were narrowed in within the vertical center line of both targets.
Ammunition used: Fiocchi 115 GRN FMJ. The reason I only shot 50 rounds is that when I picked up the new Shield, my LGS had no 9mm ammunition to sell but I did find some at another local LGS-two box maximum so I have one left for the next shoot, next month.
Based on short usage, I do like this pistol and I hope the recoil and magazine springs will loosen up SOON.

[ElDub1950]

Nice! Hoping to pick one up this summer if they become readily available. Don't want it enough to pay for SSE

[nickel plate]

Originally Posted by ElDub1950

Nice! Hoping to pick one up this summer if they become readily available. Don't want it enough to pay for SSE

Are you crazy? fifty bucks??

[ElDub1950]

Originally Posted by nickel plate

Are you crazy? fifty bucks??

Yeah, I'm cheap! And since I just 'want' instead of 'need' I'll wait

[nickel plate]

Originally Posted by ElDub1950

Yeah, I'm cheap! And since I just 'want' instead of 'need' I'll wait

Fifty dollars more and you could be shooting an M&P Shield?? Life is to short my friend...

[Cyc Wid It]

Use a mag loader?

[nickel plate]

Originally Posted by Cyc Wid It

Use a mag loader?

Good choice, didn't have one and the temperature was hovering around 39 degrees.

[SVRider]

Leave the mags fully loaded for a week or two and they should loosen up.

[InGrAM]

Originally Posted by Cyc Wid It

Use a mag loader?

Originally Posted by SVRider

Leave the mags fully loaded for a week or two and they should loosen up.

This ^

[repomanNWP]

Congrats on the Shield, I'm drooling over one now. Are you willing to say who did the SSE work for you? I may just get stupid and buy one at a premium off Gunbroker, I'm interested in the .40 cal model and want to have it in my hot little hands for a CCW class at the end of April. Thanks.

[robojet]

I would really like one of these, but will wait for reasonable heads to prevail. I watched a gunbroker auction get bid up to $800. Insane.

[NutFarmer1]

Where would you have it shipped if purchased on gunbroker?? I'm not familiar with that process with sse and all.

[USM0083]

The mag springs will wear in eventually. I've been carrying a M&P 45 as a duty pistol for the last year, and the 10th round was really hard to load.

Are you used to striker fired pistols? How much vertical stringing are you getting? It sounds like you just have to get used to the trigger.

[nickel plate]

Originally Posted by USM0083

The mag springs will wear in eventually. I've been carrying a M&P 45 as a duty pistol for the last year, and the 10th round was really hard to load.

Are you used to striker fired pistols? How much vertical stringing are you getting? It sounds like you just have to get used to the trigger.

This is my first to own and ever shoot a striker fire pistol.
What is vertical stringing? I have an idea and an answer but please do clarify "stringing".

[Fate]

Originally Posted by nickel plate

This is my first to own and ever shoot a striker fire pistol.
What is vertical stringing? I have an idea and an answer but please do clarify "stringing".

Vertical stringing is the vertical dispersement of shots you're reporting. It's like a line being drawn along the target with bullet holes. Several things can cause it. Are you covering your target with the dot on the front sight? M&Ps are designed for that sight picture, not the traditional tip of front sight blade.

[repomanNWP]

I've not done it but the SSE process, simplified, goes like this:

1. You buy an off-roster handgun, and have it sent to an FFL
2. That FFL performs the necessary gunsmithing changes to the gun - typically longer barrel is needed
3. You take ownership of gun from FFL, and can legally restore it back to original condition.

The key here is to find an FFL that can do the mods. I contacted my LGS today, and they said that they haven't done any SSE's for the Shield yet, and if I can figure out a longer barrel for the .40cal shield that would be compatible, and if I was willing to give them the barrel after it was all said and done, they would be interested.

Is it a lot of trouble to go through, yes, but what else are you going to do with your time and money?

[skosh69]

Originally Posted by repomanNWP

I've not done it but the SSE process, simplified, goes like this:

1. You buy an off-roster handgun, and have it sent to an FFL that performs SSE"s
2. That FFL performs the necessary gunsmithing changes to the gun - typically installs a longer barrel is needed and blocks the magwell
3. You take ownership of gun from FFL, and can legally restore it back to original condition.

The key here is to find an FFL that can do the mods. I contacted my LGS today, and they said that they haven't done any SSE's for the Shield yet, and if I can figure out a longer barrel for the .40cal shield that would be compatible, and if I was willing to give them the barrel after it was all said and done, they would be interested.

Is it a lot of trouble to go through, yes, but what else are you going to do with your time and money?

Fixed it for ya....Not all FFL's perform SSE's! There is no gunsmithing involved as nothing is changed to the pistol only than to install a barrel at least 10" long and to block the mag well with a removable block.

To the OP, thanks for the brief range report, keep those mags loaded like I mentioned before and you'll have no issues loading them later!

[bsg]

PM sent.

[repomanNWP]

Definition of "gunsmithing" not withstanding, the key here seems to be finding a 10" long barrel that would be compatible in the Shield .40cal version. If I can find that, I'm in like Flynn. Anybody got ideas? I'm going to write to S&W and ask them for suggestions.

[ElDub1950]

Wow now they've changed their web site for the 9 & 40 CA versions to say:

"Estimated Availability - TO BE DETERMINED"

For the 9 they used to say December then January. For the 40 they would say mid spring.

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/w...layErrorView_Y

[nickel plate]

[QUOTE=ElDub1950;10553186]Wow now they've changed their web site for the 9 & 40 CA versions to say:

"Estimated Availability - TO BE DETERMINED"

For the 9 they used to say December then January. For the 40 they would say mid spring.=QUOTE]
************************************************** *****************************

Now doesn't my extra fifty buck SSE deal sound better?

[ElDub1950]

[QUOTE=nickel plate;10555698]

Originally Posted by ElDub1950

Wow now they've changed their web site for the 9 & 40 CA versions to say:

"Estimated Availability - TO BE DETERMINED"

For the 9 they used to say December then January. For the 40 they would say mid spring.=QUOTE]
************************************************** *****************************

Now doesn't my extra fifty buck SSE deal sound better?

Well, certainly sounding more reasonable. Guess I'll ask around the Sac area to see what they want. I had heard it varies between $50 and $200.

We'll see what they say.

[smittty]

FYI, You can pre-order the ca version from turners.

[nickel plate]

Originally Posted by smittty

FYI, You can pre-order the ca version from turners.

This Turner pre-order has been going on for some time now. Has any Calgunner actually picked up a new California version from Turner's or for that matter any gun dealer anywhere else in the state?
I too was one of the many waiting for the California version Shield to arrive but when S&W first started to push the delivery date further out I switched tactics and sought after the SSE standard version.
Shot another fifty today at a private hillside residence and let a couple other guys shoot it-sweet little 9mm.

[TheBest]

Who did your SSE?

[awiner]

Originally Posted by nickel plate

Has any Calgunner actually picked up a new California version from Turner's or for that matter any gun dealer anywhere else in the state?

Turners is quoting March delivery on the 9mm but that is still to be seen as it has already been pushed back once.

I saw one online FFL that had stock but they show out if stock now.

[Ewcmr2]

Originally Posted by awiner

Turners is quoting March delivery on the 9mm but that is still to be seen as it has already been pushed back once.

Once! I was told November, then December, then January, then "we don't know".
Should have got the clue when sales person said "you can buy LC9 now and put deposit on Shield for when it comes in"

[optimus-primer]

Originally Posted by awiner

Turners is quoting March delivery on the 9mm but that is still to be seen as it has already been pushed back once.

I saw one online FFL that had stock but they show out if stock now.

I went in yesterday asking about the up-coming sale and was quoted possible June delivery.

[repomanNWP]

Just picked up my Shield in .40 cal from Tracy Rifle...couldn't have gone any smoother. After i get done riding my bike at Laguna Seca on Monday, this gun is going to see a lot of action. Sorry top rub it in....(actually, not so much :-) uploadfromtaptalk1364096290415.jpg

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk 2

[nickel plate]

Originally Posted by repomanNWP

Just picked up my Shield in .40 cal from Tracy Rifle...couldn't have gone any smoother. After i get done riding my bike at Laguna Seca on Monday, this gun is going to see a lot of action. Sorry top rub it in....(actually, not so much :-) Attachment 217968

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk 2

Isn't it a shame that such a fine crafted pistol comes in such a crappy cardboard box! I know, you don't shoot the box...
I put another flawless fifty through it last weekend. At the same shoot my pricey little Sig P238 .380 jamed up several times bringing the grand total of 19 mechanical failures in 200 rounds-called Sig to send me a shipping label.

[e46sc3]

Nice to see your happy with your Shield ... look forward to owning one whenever they start showing up.

Sorry to hear about your P238. I've never had any issues with mine or my wife's. Could it possibly be the ammo?