Shield vs XDS

[Shooters Plus]

Shield or XDS for a concealed carry gun? We get asked this question at least 2-3 times per day in the shop and I constantly see it brought up on the gun forums so I decided to do a article on our gun blog with my personal opinion and comparison of the two. Hoping it may help for those still on the fence between these two guns.

http://www.shootersplus.com/shooters_plus_blog/view/30551/shield_vs_xds

Good luck,
Zack Phillips
Shooters Plus

[Marktallica]

Very nice! This is a decision I will be wrestling with toward the end of the year, so thank you for a thorough comparison.

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[1CavScout]

Nice write up. I prefer (and carry) an XDs, but both are good conceal guns.

[NiteQwill]

I like, own and carry both. But I carry the shield 99%of the time because of capacity.

Overall though, the xds is better, refined gun.

[Dannicus]

I prefer the XDS; it just works better for me and I hate the manual safety on the Shield.

It's all personal preference, tho. They are both great Ultra compact CCW pistols.

[KrisDSA]

Not a every true test as it wasn't 9mm vs 9mm

[EatsEverything]

You mentioned that S&W just put out a version that doesn't have a manual safety.

My guess is this version is not on the Roster and would need to be SSE'd. Could you confirm?

Based on other threads, it would seem we may be looking at probable issues putting SSE'd handguns on CCWs.

[BigL]

I would have bought the XDs if it didnt have a grip safety and LCI. If your too dumb and need a little red protrusion on your slide to know that you have ine chambered you dont need to own a handgun. Otherwise the XDs is a better built gun.

[highpower]

I own and carry a Shield exclusively. I have yet to figure out what the big deal is with them having a safety. It may be because I have been shooting 1911's for many years, but I have no trouble with it. All you have to do is train yourself to sweep the safety off when you draw your gun. Really, it's quite easy.

[SoberClurichaun]

Great write up, I own a Shield and am in the process of starting for my CCW. Think I'll have to SSE a XD-S so I could have a 45 for CC.

[gocasexphom]

good,This is a decision I will be wrestling with toward the end of the year, so thank you for a thorough comparison. thanks

[FresnoRob]

Great write up, I own a Shield and am in the process of starting for my CCW. Think I'll have to SSE a XD-S so I could have a 45 for CC.

Same here. I want a .45 carry so the XD-S is what I'm looking at.

[superbarnie]

Thanks for the write-up. Very informative. Btw, is the Shield even going to be available in California? I heard that S&W is withdrawing from California because of the microstamping requirements.

[RollingCode3]

I like the trigger on the XDS a lot more than the Shield but the XDS is a lot heavier than the Shield.

[rogervzv]

Thanks for the write-up. Very informative. Btw, is the Shield even going to be available in California? I heard that S&W is withdrawing from California because of the microstamping requirements.

Incorrect. S&W has stated that the Shield will stay in California.

I pick up my Shield 9mm today and I intend to include it in my CCW line-up.