S&W Shields 9MM

[Bull Elk]

I'm a Glock and Beretta guy, having never owned a S&W Shield. Honestly, I don't know much about them. However, yesterday one of my hunting buddies, who also owns a busy gun shop in Northern CA, called me about a shotgun I ordered. He also mentioned that he had just received his last shipment of S&W Shields 9MM (he received 6). He told me that this model will fall off the roster at the end of April and wanted to know if I wanted one or two (myself and my wife). He said that once they are put out in the sales gun case, they will be gone likely within a day or two.

My questions are this:

1. What is special about a Shield in 9MM and what am I getting that I don't have with my Glock 17?

2. Since my friend prices his firearms at a reasonable price, is $590 plus tax and dros a good price for a Shield?

3. Just because it's falling off the roster, is it worth buying one or two?

UPDATE!!!!!!!!!!!! Okay, I get the picture. Depending upon the gun store, the price of Shield's seem to be all over the place. Some of you have said you can buy them under $400, some $450, some $499 and yes, some above $500. I guess it all depends what someone is willing to pay and the availability of the handgun. As an update, my "friend" has sold 4 of the 6 Shields for the price I quoted; however, after handling a Shield, it was clear that my hand was too large for such a narrow pistol. My wife prefers her Glock 17 (she's not interested in CC). So neither of us bought one. I also stopped at two other Sacramento gun shops last Saturday. Neither had any Shields in stock and said that it's hit and miss getting them. Both said that it is their understanding that the Shield is falling off the Roster in July. Apparently others don Calguns do not believe this will happen. Personally I don't know and am only repeating what was shared with me. Come July we will all find out, although now that I'm not interested in buying one, it's not on my "must watch list".

You comments and input are appreciated!

[Sticka]

If your "friend" is charging you $590+ you need to look for better friends.

[Bull Elk]

Price

If your "friend" is charging you $590+ you need to look for better friends.

I just found three new Shields for sale in Nor Cal, $649, $679 and $729. $590 sounds like a reasonable price. I'm more interested in the difference between it and a Glock 17? Not sure if I need or want one at this time.

[speedoguy]

If your "friend" is charging you $590+ you need to look for better friends.

your friend must not be a fan of lube

he's charging about $150 over average price for the ca version of the shield.


also, the shield isn't falling off the roster at the end of April.

[Dattebayo]

1. What is special about a Shield in 9MM and what am I getting that I don't have with my Glock 17?

2. Since my friend prices his firearms at a reasonable price, is $590 plus tax and dros a good price for a Shield?

3. Just because it's falling off the roster, is it worth buying one or two?

You comments and input are appreciated!

1. Mainly size. It is a bit lighter, slimmer, and quite a bit smaller in length compared to your Glock 17. It makes concealing a bit easier. The Shield is a single stack magazine allowing them to slim the profile down quite a bit. You will lose a bit of velocity because it is just a 3 inch barrel, but overall, for ccw, it is a great choice.

2. That seems to be a rather high price. Turner's sold quite a few of these at $439 + tax and DROS which they have cleared out their first batch, but are taking pre-orders on another batch they plan to get before July fall off date.

3. That is for you to decide. If you can get a non-CA model without the LCI, it commands a high price. You are looking at a 2/5 price increase. After SSE costs though, it comes out to just about the price you would pay for a used one.

[speedoguy]

1. Mainly size. It is a bit lighter, slimmer, and quite a bit smaller in length compared to your Glock 17. It makes concealing a bit easier. The Shield is a single stack magazine allowing them to slim the profile down quite a bit. You will lose a bit of velocity because it is just a 3 inch barrel, but overall, for ccw, it is a great choice.

2. That seems to be a rather high price. Turner's sold quite a few of these at $530 which they have cleared out their first batch, but are taking pre-orders on another batch they plan to get before July fall off date.

3. That is for you to decide. If you can get a non-CA model without the LCI, it commands a high price. You are looking at a 1/5 price increase. After SSE costs though, it comes out to just about the price you would pay for a used one.

turners is $439 plus tax and dros, not $530

[Dattebayo]

turners is $439 plus tax and dros, not $530

my bad, made the edit after looking at my paperwork.

[glock_this]

#1

-It's on the roster and will be
-No microstamping
-Great specific CCW sized & weight pistol (narrow low bulk) - this is the key
-Gets pretty rave reviews
-Generally speaking its affordable
-S&W M&P line (what the shield is based on) is a pretty proven line by a proven company
-comes with a free LCI which is the life of any anti CA party

[TMcGuff]

anything over 450 plus tax and dros you are getting screwed. you need better friends.

[etherwalker]

I bought a free state (SSE) Shield for $550 ($624 otd). $590+ for a rooster Shield seems too high. Also, S&W has said that they will keep the rooster Shield and one other semi-auto on the CA roster. So there's no rush to overpay for one now and, as was said above, "you need to look for better friends."

[Marquand]

To reiterate speedoguy's comments, the CA legal M&P Shield is one of three semi-auto pistols that Smith & Wesson IS keeping on the list. The relevant quote from Smith's statement to TTAG:

Both the M&P Shield and the SDVE pistols are expected to remain on the California Roster of Handguns Certified for Sale as long as no changes are made to those models and the company does not plan to make changes to them for this reason. All other Smith & Wesson handguns are at risk of eventually falling off the roster over time. The company expects that any current production revolvers that fall off will be re-tested and returned to the roster, since microstamping does not apply to revolvers.

[riderr]

1. What is special about a Shield in 9MM and what am I getting that I don't have with my Glock 17?

size.

2. Since my friend prices his firearms at a reasonable price, is $590 plus tax and dros a good price for a Shield?

You should reconsider buying shotgun from him too. CA model can be bought at Turner's at $439+tax+fees, non-roster model OTD price is a tad more expensive

[Lead Waster]

I just found three new Shields for sale in Nor Cal, $649, $679 and $729. $590 sounds like a reasonable price. I'm more interested in the difference between it and a Glock 17? Not sure if I need or want one at this time.

I just picked up an SSE'd Free State 9mm Shield, $480 out the door.

[drewness21]

I just purchased a Shield 40 yesterday at the fountain valley turners. Just a hair over $500 after tax and dros. And upon doing some research I noticed the shield 40 can have the barrel and magazine swapped with the 9 and still be functional. Safely functional that is.

[skosh69]

your friend must not be a fan of lube

he's charging about $150 over average price for the ca version of the shield.


also, the shield isn't falling off the roster at the end of April.

This^^^