The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > Hogan's Alley > Handguns: The Semi-automatic Forum

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old February 22, 2013, 07:22 PM   #1
Uncle Malice
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 11, 2009
Location: Phoenix
Posts: 4,580
M&P9 Pro & Shield = Great Combo

While I have quite a bit of experience with most of the more popular guns on the market today, I will admit that I largely keep coming back to Glocks. I've grown to like them a great deal for their simplicity, reliability, ease of maintenance, and acceptance of neglect. With that said, I don't particularly dislike any of the other popular guns on the market - except for maybe the Beretta... but that's only because I really don't like, and couldn't get used to, the slide mounted safety.

For quite some time, my EDC has been the Gen4 Glock 19. While there was nothing wrong with it, it's still a little big for when I want/need deep concealment or pocket carry. I had the Walther PPS for about 3 years and really liked it. I sold it about 6-8 months ago when I was being impatient about wanting something else. I liked the PPS because it was small enough for me to pocket carry in cargo shorts and "tactical" pants. I kind of regretted that ever since... but I had my eye on the M&P Shield. Two different friends of mine had picked them up and really liked them. I saw one at my LGS a couple of weeks ago and couldn't pass it up. Put a few rounds through it with zero issues and it seems so reliable it has replaced my G19 as my EDC as of this week. It's so nice and light to carry. Ergos are excellent. I am not ashamed to say that I actually like the Shield better than the PPS that I had... even though it's nearly $200 cheaper. (I think the PPS has come down in price these days, but I paid a little over $600 when I got mine)

In a similar fashion, I sold my regular M&P 9 about a year ago when I wanted something else at the time. I regretted that almost instantly and knew I would pick up another one at some point. It had the full Apex DCAEK kit in it, but I hadn't upgraded it to night sights yet. Today I stopped into my LGS and they had a few regular M&P 9's and 3 M&P 9 Pro models. These are the newer Pro Series model with the standard 4.25" barrel - not the extended. The factory trigger is better, but it needs the rounded safety plunger from Apex to smooth out that gritty take up. I've been dry firing it all day and it's already smoothed out some... but I will probably still upgrade it with Apex parts. More importantly, the Pro model comes with factory night sights. It also has the new style backstrap with the softer rubber and new texture which is really comfortable.

The combo of the full size M&P and the Shield really seems like an excellent combo to me and I highly recommend it to anyone.

__________________
Handguns: 2x Glock 19.4 | Glock 26.4 | HK USP 9 | HK P2000 | HK VP9 SK | HK P30 | CZ Shadow 2 | CZ P-10 C | CZ P-07 | CZP-01 | S&W 360PD
Rifles: DDM4 | SGL 21 | SAM7K | Draco | PSA PDW SBR | ASA Side-Charger SBR | CZ Scorpion K SBR | Aero M4E1 9" 300blk SBR | Angstadt Jack9 SBR | Savage Mark II FV-SR
Shotguns: Mossberg 590A1 20" SP | Mossberg Shockwave
Uncle Malice is offline  
Old February 22, 2013, 11:07 PM   #2
Mrgunsngear
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 13, 2011
Location: Carolina
Posts: 3,415



M&Ps are great guns, I'm not sure I'd give up my Glocks for them (okay, there's no way in hell I'd do that ) but they are an excellent option for those that don't like Glocks for a variety of reasons.

Congrats and enjoy
__________________
Mrgunsngear Youtube Channel
Mrgunsngear is offline  
Old February 23, 2013, 08:55 AM   #3
Mastery
Member
 
Join Date: October 15, 2005
Posts: 26
Nice writeup. Each gun feels different to each person. I've got a M&P 9 full size that I've had for years, but it's just not for me and will get traded off soon. The trick is to find something that works for you, whether for HD, EDC, or work. This sometimes means finding different guns from different manufacturers that take care of all of these needs.
Mastery is offline  
Old February 23, 2013, 09:29 AM   #4
+1k ammo
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 9, 2013
Posts: 235
Nice review and pictures!

My Shield is on the way, glad to see you like it and a good idea to have both so there is a familiarity with the guns.


I do own and like Glocks, but how much simpler is a Glock than an M&P? I may pick up a full size Pro model if I like the Shield. Speaking of, I should check on that thing, the gun store should be calling any day now!!!!!
+1k ammo is offline  
Old February 23, 2013, 10:46 AM   #5
Uncle Malice
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 11, 2009
Location: Phoenix
Posts: 4,580
Quote:
I do own and like Glocks, but how much simpler is a Glock than an M&P?
The M&P is a bit more of a pain to detail strip. Roll pins are more difficult to get out than the Glock retainer pins. More parts in the M&P with the sear, tiny sear spring, etc. The M&P slide is a bit weird in that the rear sight has to be removed(or slid over at least) in order to remove the striker safety plunger(Apex DCAEK kit has a replacement).

The M&P is what I would call difficult. It's just a good bit more tedious than the Glock - which I can fully detail strip and reassemble inside of 5 minutes. That's not really a big deal under normal, every day use, but maybe it's psychological in that I know I can replace any part in a Glock in a couple of minutes no matter where I am (assuming I have my parts kit, which I usually do).

Obviously I'm not bashing the M&P here. I love it. The ergos are so damn good... and reliability has been on par with my Glock's from my experiences. I even took my old M&P out to the desert for some shooting and did some pseudo 'torture' tests.. just dumping hand fulls of gritty desert sand all over it... and it ran just fine. I expect the same from this one.

Hopefully I can get out today or tomorrow and do some shooting with it.
__________________
Handguns: 2x Glock 19.4 | Glock 26.4 | HK USP 9 | HK P2000 | HK VP9 SK | HK P30 | CZ Shadow 2 | CZ P-10 C | CZ P-07 | CZP-01 | S&W 360PD
Rifles: DDM4 | SGL 21 | SAM7K | Draco | PSA PDW SBR | ASA Side-Charger SBR | CZ Scorpion K SBR | Aero M4E1 9" 300blk SBR | Angstadt Jack9 SBR | Savage Mark II FV-SR
Shotguns: Mossberg 590A1 20" SP | Mossberg Shockwave
Uncle Malice is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:15 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.04690 seconds with 10 queries