Moved to Idaho, Shield Plus over CA Compliant Shield?

[Danodog]

I love the Shield for what it is. I had a CCW in California and trained on that gun. I bought two of them as it worked well for me. Now that I have out of state options, I was looking at the Shield Plus. Has anyone made the jump, and what are your thoughts? Thanks in advance.

Dano

[acaligunner]

I still have the OG shield it’s gtg, but I did handle a shield plus and it’s basically the same size with just a tad thicker grip, That should fit / dissipate recoil better than the thinner OG shield

[Capybara]

I live the Shield for what it is. I had a CCW in California and trained on that gun. I bought two of them as it worked well for me. Now that I have out of state options, I was looking at the Shield Plus. Has anyone made the jump, and what are your thoughts? Thanks in advance.

Dano

I carried the Shield 1.0 for the past eight years. Two years ago I added an off roster Shield Plus PC. I still carry both and often train with them side by side and here is my quickie report. For me, shooting both and bouncing back an forth, they both feel identical in the hand to me as far as frame and frame width.

1. Grip Texture
The Shield Plus PC has an amazing sandpaper-like grip texture that the original lacks. I put a Talon grip on my older Shield and it helps but I much prefer the grippier sandpaper like texture on the Shield Plus

2. Factory Irons
The sights on the Shield 1.0 are okay, nothing special but usable. The Fiber Optic sights on the Shield Plus are better. Not a lot better but about 20% easier to see. That said, I have just put big, white TruGlos on my H&K VP9L, My CZ75 B and my Beretta PX4 Storm and I am adding them to my Glock 19 this week. The TruGlos are better than the Shield Plus sights, at least for me. I practice at an indoor range and it's often dark and hard for me to see the sights, the TruGlos actually glow in the dark which the Shield Plus PC Fiber Optic sights only glow when hit with a light source. Great for outside but for indoor low light, not good. I don't believe in Green/Red dots on my carry pistols, makes them too bulky and I don't like trusting my life to electronics. I have a green dot on my VP9L and it's fun but I wouldn't trust my life to one personally and chances are any engagement will likely be at 10 yards or under and good chance you'll have to point shoot anyway so the sights are probably not a HUGE concern on a carry pistol.

3. The Trigger
The trigger on the Shield 1.0 is garbage, we all know it. Of course, it can be changed for a better trigger like the Apex but realistically, you don't need a match trigger on a CCW gun that would likely be used at 5-7 yards statistically. The Shield Plus has a better trigger and the PC version I bought has a slightly better trigger than the regular Plus. Also, as you've probably experienced, shoot a few thousand rounds and even the 1.0 trigger smooths out.

Realistically, all of the shortcomings of the Shield 1.0 can easily be remedied with aftermarket stuff. I just put the Handle It Grips on those four pistols, the Handle It Edge Edition, which I like MUCH better than the Talon Grips. https://www.handleitgrips.com/produc...ment-parts-kit
You can add many different sights to replace the stock sights. So the question is, do you want to send $250 to upgrade your 1.0 or probably about double that for a Shield Plus? Both great guns, I still carry and practice with both.

[mossy]

I was roster exempt in CA and carried a Shield Plus for a while. Never really cared for how stiff the springs were in the extended mags, but never had any real issues with it.

[rsrocket1]

I shot 50 rounds through my Shield 9 1.0 this week and as a 25 yard gun, it ain't fun to shoot particularly with +P ammo. I tried again at 5 yards with "normal" 9mm ammo and it was fine. I like good triggers but in a self defense life threatening situation, the 1.0 will be fine for me. The thin single stack grip makes concealed carry very comfortable where every 1/4" counts. CCW is all about compromises. I would love to have my 9.5" Super Redhawk 44 magnum if I really need it but I ain't going to carry it daily.

[enorbit3]

I also made the upgrade from shield 1.0 to plus. Better capacity, same package, optic ready slide fits both, better grip texture. Great CCW pistol. Carry mine like 9 months out of the year.

[Capybara]

I also made the upgrade from shield 1.0 to plus. Better capacity, same package, optic ready slide fits both, better grip texture. Great CCW pistol. Carry mine like 9 months out of the year.

Do you actually carry with an optic? I've tried with my Max 9 and I just don't like it. I don't like the extra height, bulk and relying on something electronic in a potentially life or death situation. What say you?
I have them on some of my range toys and they're ok but carrying with one seems to rub me the wrong way. Too many years of carrying without one, I guess old habits die hard.

[ABR]

I ditched the Shield for the 365x. Put a Holosun on it and train with it often.

I carried the Shield for years, but a hand injury prevents me from racking the slide on it. I’m still doing PT for the injury but won’t be carrying the Shield due to mag capacity and the lack of optics. I do not need readers to see my target with the Sig. 17+1 is also a nice feature.

Both pistols run 100%.

[SDDAVE56]

Well now that you have "out of state options" , try some other brands, in addition to the Shield Plus. I have a Shield. It's one of my CCW guns. As I see the CA Roster, nothing has jumped out as a replacement for my Shield.

[enorbit3]

Do you actually carry with an optic? I've tried with my Max 9 and I just don't like it. I don't like the extra height, bulk and relying on something electronic in a potentially life or death situation. What say you?
I have them on some of my range toys and they're ok but carrying with one seems to rub me the wrong way. Too many years of carrying without one, I guess old habits die hard.

Yeah I have a Holosun 507K w/ACSS reticle and it doesnt come off the pistol. My other CCW is a G19 w 507C (ACSS). It doesnt bother me and yes carrying with no optic is slightly easier/more comfortable. The battery has to be replaced every 6 months or so with the acss reticle and the shake awake. Since i am constantly moving, the optic never really turns off unless I take off my holster. I will likely get an EPS carry for my Xmacro CCW.

It has been slightly difficult to transition from Irons to optics. I am so used to focusing on the front sight that i have to re-train my brain to be target focused and not red dot focused. I try and practice my sight picture every day or so.

[Danodog]

Thanks for the input, it is greatly appreciated.

[land locked]

OP, owned 43X, 365 comp, shield 1.0. I carried the shield more than anything else. Sold the 43x and 365. Now I have 2 S&W shield plus, non CA. My favorite carry guns for size, weight, capacity, optics, grip texture and shootability.

What did you end up buying?