New pistol for carry

[WIMUSKY]

In case someone is interested. Looks like it's 1" longer....

Review: M&P Shield Plus Performance Center - The Shooter's Log

The Smith and Wesson M&P Shield Plus Performance Center is the culmanation of decades of experience making quality pistols for self-defense.

blog.cheaperthandirt.com

 

[WIMUSKY]

Just when I thought I had it figured out I saw another option. As of now, I'm looking at M&P. I see they have a Shield EZ. It has a ported barrel to reduce muzzle flip, that's a plus... Still part of the Performance Center family like the one above. However, I think the EZ has a SA trigger and the one above is a DA? The SA would have little to no take up? Also the the EZ comes with less capacity clips..
Told the wife about seeing the EZ. She asked if I bought a gun.... Looks like I have the green light!

SHIELD EZ | Smith & Wesson

Since 1852 we’ve been an industry leading manufacturer of pistols, revolvers, rifles, and shooting accessories. We continue to bring innovative firearms to market that meet the needs of every shooter and deliver on exceptional quality with a brand you’ve learned to trust.

www.smith-wesson.com

 

[WIMUSKY]

Here's my top 3..... Not in any order. There's features I like about all. Combine a few into 1 gun and it would be perfect.. Hope to shoot a friends Ruger Max9 this weekend...

 

[JimS123]

I've been following this thread because I'm in the market for one of the models recently talked about.

Just a word of caution....many of the 10+1 Shield Plus models are MA compliant and are fitted with a 10# trigger. Yeah right....LOL. I'm stuck with a 10+1, but I don't like to have to upgrade $$ to go to a performance model.

I'm anxious to hear the range report of the Max 9. That is the lowest cost option. However, I have read varying reports about the trigger. S&W triggers have always been then best.

I have a Walther P1 (P38) to trade. Its an arsenal refurb with a new barrel, etc. I can't wait to see how bad the dealers try to lowball me on that one. Last time I tried to sell a military model to a dealer he wouldn't even take it at any price. Today everyone wants black plastic.

 

[WIMUSKY]

Glad I'm not boring everyone. 10# pull? Need 2 fingers to pull it.... Naw, I pulled a couple Shield Plus at the gun shop.
Max 9 I really liked after watching that vid. All I could think was, dang!
The Performance model I have on my top 3 list has a ported barrel and slide version. So it's a combination of the best of all 3. Has a price to go with it.... Have to zoom to see the ports. Black plastic? Never been a fan, especially long guns. Now it's basically the only choice for handguns....

 

[southkogs]

@WIMUSKY : a word of advice (that perhaps you've already considered) - don't just shoot, or dry fire the guns when you look at them. I recommend that you stash them where you intend to carry them, and try your draw and fire with them.

Having a gun that shoots the way you like is a piece of the puzzle with these, but also how it carries and draws comes into play. Again, the LCP won for me because it shoots well enough (dinky little .380) but it carries almost effortlessly. It's really easy to carry in several different ways. AND it works well with how I draw. Some other guns while they shoot fine just didn't meet those criteria for me.

 

[aspeck]

I like the way the LCP carries, but not how if feels (although it has been my primary carry piece for probably the last 4 or 5 years) ... I am looking at the LCPII, the M&P Max 9 and the EZ. Trying to figure out the best for me ... price, carry, pull, shoot, and feel. It all has to work.

 

[JimS123]

10# pull? Need 2 fingers to pull it.... Naw, I pulled a couple Shield Plus at the gun shop.
Black plastic? Never been a fan, especially long guns. Now it's basically the only choice for handguns....

You must have looked at the 13 cap mag models if the trigger pull didn't bother you.

Certainly, plastic is the majority, but not the "only". I often carry a Chief's Special", and they are still available. Even blue ones with nice wooden grips...

 

[dwco5051]

You must have looked at the 13 cap mag models if the trigger pull didn't bother you.

Certainly, plastic is the majority, but not the "only". I often carry a Chief's Special", and they are still available. Even blue ones with nice wooden grips...

View attachment 352356

A Mod 37 Airweight was my back up piece for many years. Loved it and when we would qualify both guns my score would only be a few points lower than with my 4" issue sidearm. It was also my personal carry piece until my present wife claimed it as her purse gun. Been looking at several small wheel guns ever since. I like to KISS. Pull the trigger it goes bang every time. No need to put them all in the X-ring at 25 yards in a possible stressful situation.

 

[JimS123]

Well as luck would have it I ended up sealing a deal today. I was toying with a Max 9 or a Shield Plus. Most of the gun shops are almost bare to the walls but on a whim I stopped in one of my favorites this morning. I couldn't believe they had both.

After trying both there was no contest. The Ruger won hands down. When they looked over my trade and said "even trade" I had to keep my composure. I was willing to add a hundred, but a clean deal with no sales tax was more than I expected. My Walter traded for 2 1/2 times what I paid for it.

Range report next week.

 

[aspeck]

Well as luck would have it I ended up sealing a deal today. I was toying with a Max 9 or a Shield Plus. Most of the gun shops are almost bare to the walls but on a whim I stopped in one of my favorites this morning. I couldn't believe they had both.

After trying both there was no contest. The Ruger won hands down. When they looked over my trade and said "even trade" I had to keep my composure. I was willing to add a hundred, but a clean deal with no sales tax was more than I expected. My Walter traded for 2 1/2 times what I paid for it.

Range report next week.

That is awesome, Jim. As luck would have it, I never have anything to trade in ... boating accidents and all, you know.

 

[WIMUSKY]

You must have looked at the 13 cap mag models if the trigger pull didn't bother you.

Certainly, plastic is the majority, but not the "only". I often carry a Chief's Special", and they are still available. Even blue ones with nice wooden grips...

View attachment 352356

Nice little wheel. The sheild plus trigger pull is at 4.5#s, spec'd it out.
Congrats on your purchase. Why do you feel the Max9 is hands down better than the Shield Plus? I'm going to shoot a Max today......
A handful of years ago I traded a Remmington 7400 for a Browning BAR Safari. Both semi .06s. They gave me $20 less than I bought the Remm for and I used it for 20yrs. It still looked practically new..

 

[JimS123]

Why do you feel the Max9 is hands down better than the Shield Plus? I'm going to shoot a Max today......

The dealer had a display of compact 9s. I asked for a shield Plus because up to now I was thinking that would be my choice. It felt OK, the trigger pull was OK and I liked it.

Then, to my surprise he said he had a Max 9 too. I was concerned about some of the online reports about trigger pull. He had previously installed the mag extension on the one in the gun.

It slipped into my hand like it belonged there. The extension allowed my pinky a place to go. It didn't (to me) feel like a typical Ruger trigger and my perception was it was more than good. About 3 seconds later I said "I'll take it".

He said Oh no wait, you need to try a Hellcat. It didn't feel right and I didn't like it at all.

So, why hands down better? I can't quantify an answer, other than it just FEELS right.

So, for the range report.

My plan was to go to the Cabin this week and try it out in between winterizing jobs. But anyone that knows me knows that I couldn't wait that long. I went to the club today and because of work parties the indoor range was closed and I was relegated to the 25 yard outdoor range (in the wind).

I find 9s are somewhat tricky, thus I have 4 different formulas / bullet designs to suit every one I own. I ran 200 rounds thru the max 9 and it ate every variety without a hiccup. They all patterned the same - low and to the right. A simple drift of the rear sight centered the shots but I had to aim high to hit the bull. But of course it was not my plan to test it at a 75 foot target.

Recoil was actually very acceptable. Certainly more comfortable than my LCP II.

All in all, I am quite please with my choice.

 

[WIMUSKY]

Thanks for the review. Nice and thorough and real range data.......
That being said, 3 of us fired it yesterday at approx 30'. Only 30rds. Maybe if we shot 200 it would have performed much better. But our initial impression was not good. It felt fine, but the trigger pull was bad, very bad. We all shot low because the barrel would drop while trying to touch it off. It also jammed about 5 times. Here's a really good vid that reviews the Maxx 9. We experienced the same issues. I'm glad I fired it, because it's not for me.... It was the 1st one I thought I would buy....

 

[WIMUSKY]

I just ordered the M&P 9 Performance Center Shield Plus
Fiber Optic Sights, Red Dot Optics, Ported Barrel and Slide. 4" barrel, shield plus has a 3.1". Same grips. Held the shield plus, great grip. Need to check out trigger pull when it arrives b4 I lay down the benjamin's....... Happy with the review. They also mention other sidearms...

 

[JimS123]

Thanks for the review. Nice and thorough and real range data.......
That being said, 3 of us fired it yesterday at approx 30'. Only 30rds. Maybe if we shot 200 it would have performed much better. But our initial impression was not good. It felt fine, but the trigger pull was bad, very bad. We all shot low because the barrel would drop while trying to touch it off. It also jammed about 5 times. Here's a really good vid that reviews the Maxx 9. We experienced the same issues. I'm glad I fired it, because it's not for me.... It was the 1st one I thought I would buy....

I saw that review before. It was what made me leery about the trigger. In the shop I was pleasantly surprised, and that was confirmed on the range. This is my 3rd striker fired pistol and my perception was that the trigger was better than the other 2. Certainly better than my Glock.

I DID fire it with a rest and that confirmed the low shots, so my conclusion is that it was not operator induced. Other reviews showed shots to point of aim, but all were at 10 yards. I'll let you know later in the week when I can get to my own range and can put the firing line wherever I want it.

Also, I didn't see the mechanical issues that both you and the video experienced. I shot Winchester white box 115 gr. jacketed RN, and two 124 lead cast bullets. One was a RN and the other a CN. They all patterned the same and no FTF or FTE or slide locking open at the wrong time.

My conclusion is that maybe quality control is an issue if some guns perform differently than others.

 

[JimS123]

I just ordered the M&P 9 Performance Center Shield Plus
Fiber Optic Sights, Red Dot Optics, Ported Barrel and Slide. 4" barrel, shield plus has a 3.1". Same grips. Held the shield plus, great grip. Need to check out trigger pull when it arrives b4 I lay down the benjamin's....... Happy with the review. They also mention other sidearms...

I didn't like the hold or the trigger pull of the Shield Plus. But of course the one I tried was the 10+1 model with the flush mag. The Performance Center model did pique my interest, but unfortunately it isn't compliant over here...

 

[WIMUSKY]

I didn't like the hold or the trigger pull of the Shield Plus. But of course the one I tried was the 10+1 model with the flush mag. The Performance Center model did pique my interest, but unfortunately it isn't compliant over here...

What part of the Performance is none compliant?

 

[JimS123]

What part of the Performance is none compliant?

It ships with a mag that has a capacity over 10 rounds. The "std" and "optics ready" versions all have 10+1 versions, but not the Performance.

As an aside, I am a S&W aficionado and thus belong to the S&W forum. I googled "Max 9" on the "other guns" sub forum and found a bunch of stuff. One guy said it was the worst trigger he ever saw, and another said it was the best. One guy said the POI was 1" ABOVE the POA, and another said it shot low. I just wish we could all get our stories straight.....LOL.

 

[WIMUSKY]

It ships with a mag that has a capacity over 10 rounds. The "std" and "optics ready" versions all have 10+1 versions, but not the Performance.

As an aside, I am a S&W aficionado and thus belong to the S&W forum. I googled "Max 9" on the "other guns" sub forum and found a bunch of stuff. One guy said it was the worst trigger he ever saw, and another said it was the best. One guy said the POI was 1" ABOVE the POA, and another said it shot low. I just wish we could all get our stories straight.....LOL.

Perfomance I believe has a 10+1 and 12+1..... Same with the Shield Plus.... I just hope the trigger pull is just as good as the guy in the vid said. He also said, S&W knocked it out of the park with the Performance. I'll be the judge of that.... lol. If I don't like the Performance, I'll have to start all over. Maybe look at Glocks..

Yeah, the Max 9. 3 of us thought the trigger pull was not good. For the guy who said it was the best must not have pulled many triggers.lol I pulled and pulled and thought, fire already.... We all shot low. Just like vid said, the barrel would drop as the trigger was squeezed. That's why they make different guns. We all have different opinions....

Did you notice if it shot better after putting a bunch of rounds thru it, thus loosening it up?