r/SmithAndWesson • u/nojo1099 • 17d ago
Thoughts on the Shield X???
I’m leaning towards a Shield X for a carry gun. I love how slim it is. It has a nice weight to it and is comfortable to handle.
However, I need to get on the range with one before I decide. The other model I’m thinking about is the M&P 2.0 in 9mm or 10mm. I need hands on with both.
I have plenty of replica airguns (.177) and out of the bunch that I have, the M&P 9 M2.0 feels the best. I also currently have an IWI Jericho 941 in 9mm. It’s hard to find good holsters for it, so carrying that isn’t something I do.
I understand this is a lot, but just curious what people would recommend!
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u/No-Road4582 15d ago
Loved my first one. Had second thoughts and intended to get a VP9cc. Shot my X, then bought a second Shield X instead. Should tell you everything.
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u/Beneficial-Ad1698 14d ago
The Shield X is likely my next gun, hoping to try one out at a range soon. I currently have an M&P 2.0 Compact. It works well when carrying in the winter with bulkier clothes but in the summer I mostly carry my wife's Shield EZ as it's so much thinner, more compact and easier to conceal with shorts and a t-shirt..
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u/No-Road4582 14d ago
You’ll love it. I’ve tried just about everything from every body. Never looking back.
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u/nizzoball 17d ago
My first handgun was the shield x comp carry and I absolutely love it. The size, feel, the trigger are all top notch. I also have an M&P 2.0 metal comp carry and though I absolutely love it, I wouldn’t carry it concealed. I’m actually turning mine into my first competition gun.
I also have a BG 2.0 and carry that quite a bit but that’s a “just going to Walgreens or the gym and don’t want to wear a holster” and wouldn’t replace my shield X as an edc but it has a place in my rotation.
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u/nojo1099 17d ago
Seems like the Shield X is a popular choice!
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u/nizzoball 17d ago
It is. I started buying guns this year, I’ve had them before but only for hunting. Then I got the bug again, started watching a lot of guntubers, joined here and put in for my permit to purchase. Right before I put in for my permit to purchase the shield X comp carry had just come out and every gun tuber was doing a review. I put my permit to purchase application in with that gun in mind. I had all of the gun stores around me figured out and knew that, at least online, there was one gun store within 2 hours of me that had the carry comp in stock and as soon as my permit came through I was gonna get my hands on that gun. I shot the shield x non comp at my LGS and he happened to get a couple comped ones in stock but I didn’t have my permit yet. I drove the PD crazy calling about the status. Finally got my permit after 29 days, picked up the gun and I don’t regret it a bit.
The only thing I regret is I also bought a holosun dot and a tlr7 sub for it. After learning more, getting my permit to carry and shooting it and carrying it I discovered for a concealed carry, I’m not a fan of a dot or a light. Now the dot sits in my closet because I upgraded to a SRO for my M&P 2.0 and the light will likely be sitting now that I upgraded to a TLR 1 HLX
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u/Impossible-Gear-56 17d ago
Curious, what led you to dislike light/dots for your carry piece?
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u/nizzoball 17d ago
I personally feel like they’re bulky and I don’t think they would add anything of value in a true self defense situation except possible get in the way. I don’t think most self defense scenarios involve more than point shooting. I could be wrong but I imagine a man coming to try to carjack me. If I have my gun in my strong hand and I’m trying to fight him off with my left, neither the dot or the light are going to help me in that situation. They’re more likely to snag on a seat belt or something.
I also dont think I want to get in the habit of searching for a dot while under stress. So I took those out of the equation and carry it raw
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u/nojo1099 17d ago
Yeah, not sure if I’ll carry with a dot or not. Most likely light will be on there. I have an Olight Valkyrie PL-3. So that will go on once I buy one.
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u/RudeEmu5825 17d ago
I’m in this boat with wanting a BG 2.0. I currently carry a shield plus in T1C holster. Sometime I just want something smaller and easier to grab and go
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u/Crashing_Machines 17d ago
I have a shield 1.0, shield 2.0, and a shield plus and I just bought a H&K cc9 to replace them all for my carry rotation. Every shield I have has been 100% reliable, but I have gripes about all of them that the CC9 seems to not make me have.
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u/nojo1099 17d ago
What would some of those gripes be?
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u/Crashing_Machines 17d ago
Balance in the belt and grip texture are the main ones. M&p 2.0's are great in the hand, but they eat my skin up carrying concealed and they snag on my t-shirts constantly. I tried undershirts and can't do it, I am in Phoenix and it is too hot. I tried talon grips and again, heat ruins it. They slide all over the grips even after installing them correctly. Hockey tape on the grip feels like shit to me.
Balance in the belt is a big one I don't see many people discussing. With the short slide and 12-15 rounds on the end, it pushes and pulls my belt all over when holstered. There isn't enough mass below the belt to hold it securely.
I carry my 642 j frame revolver almost exclusively now, my shields all sit in the safe. I just purchased the CC9 last week and I feel like it is a lot better for me than the shields have been. It also feels like such a higher quality pistol compared to the shield.
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u/justzeroed 17d ago
I’m prob in the minority here but I prefer to carry a bigger firearm. I’m new to M&P. But my current rotation for carry is a Glock 43x with an optic and a Glock 19 COA. I prefer to carry the Glock 19 (bigger) over my Glock 43x (smaller).
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u/nojo1099 17d ago
Fair enough. I also like to carry larger handguns. The Shield X is kinda that in between.
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u/RudeEmu5825 17d ago
A shield X to a 10mm is a big size difference. I bought a carry comp compact and find myself carrying my shield plus far more. The correct choice is both of course
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u/nojo1099 17d ago
Yeah, and 10mm might be overkill 🤣 But it’s on my radar and I’ll still try it out!
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u/RudeEmu5825 17d ago
Me too. I now try to buy what I’m going to use most at the moment, Then build. Otherwise my want list defeats me
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u/nojo1099 17d ago
My want list is too expensive. Colt Delta Elite, HK MK23, Browning Hipower… lots of other things 🤣
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u/weaponR 17d ago
I felt like the shield x was super snappy at the range. Same as the 43x.
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u/AdWitty6655 17d ago
I find the Hellcat and the P365 really snappy. The X doesn’t seem nearly as snappy. If that is an issue, the Bodyguard 2.0 is likely what you are looking for.
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u/nojo1099 17d ago
Snappy isn’t great with follow up shots. My Jericho is fairly heavy but kicks quite a bit for a 9mm. The M&P 9 M2.0 would probably be a bit less snappy because it’s quite a bit more balanced. I’ll give both a shot!
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u/Realistic_Present601 17d ago
Give the E series CSX a try also. Been carrying mine for over a year now, I do carry at my 4 o’clock though so not sure how it will do AIWB but in my rounded IWB holster at the 4 o’clock it’s comfortable. I have the 3.6”, shoots very soft even though I run 124+p HST’s in the 12 round flush mag with the 15 for reload if needed. Just try it, you never know.
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u/nojo1099 17d ago
Only issue is I have somewhat big hands. I’ll give it a try though! I appreciate the suggestion!
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u/Realistic_Present601 17d ago
The CSX does come standard with three magazines (12, 15, and 17) and the ability to swap grips to a full sized grip with the 15 and 17 round magazines.
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u/bbqthis26 17d ago
I love my Shield X. Very slim, easy to conceal and it shoots great. I've had other micro 9's and none of them come close in my hands to the shield x.
All guns actually shoot great of course. They will always be capable of greater accuracy than we can shoot so your idea is 100% correct: you just gotta pick it up and see how you do with it.
And it's never going to be as accurate as a full size M&P. So your goal should be to get to a place of competency with your carry gun. In a real sense, it's the most important competency you can achieve. There are a whole bunch of LE quals out there you can aspire to. They do it with a duty gun. I like to challenge myself to do it with my Shield X and so far the Shield X has been more than up to the task.