M&P shield or Glock 26

[dprimm]

I shot both the Shield and 43 at Parabellum. I HATED the trigger on the Shield. Shoot both or all that you are considering. Well worth the time and money investment to shoot them all -- see what works.

 

[TechJunkie]

I have both a Glock 26 and M&P Shield 9. I bought the Shield 9 because I wanted a thinner and lighter gun for IWB carry. I have to dress professionally every day so my shirt has to be tucked. The thickness of the Glock 26 creates a bigger bulge in my belt line and the weight difference is noticeable. I have tested the two side by side to see if it was my imagination or if there were true differences. IMHO the Sheild is more easily carried IWB when having to tuck a shirt and be deeply concealed. It is also more comfortable to carry all day. I will note that the grip on the Shield is a little longer than the Glock 26, however, with the cant of my holster this is not an issue and it doesn't print.

These are just my opinions based on my needs and use. I love my Glock 26 as it has been 100% reliable since the day I first pulled the trigger in July of 2000. If I didn't need to carry so deeply concealed and I just wanted a gun to throw a t-shirt or jacket over in a hybrid holster and roll the G26 would more than suffice. The Shield, however, better meets my need for deep concealment and has gone unnoticed. Even other people who carry have missed that I was carrying.

As to function, I shoot the G26 and Shield with the same level of accuracy. The Glock 26 has a lighter trigger but it also has several thousand rounds through it. The trigger on my Shield isn't bad. It is heavier but it breaks cleanly and it has lightened and smoothed with use. The grip on the Shield definitely feels thinner in the hand but strangely that isn't bad. It is noticeable, but due to the depth of the grip it still feels well placed in my hand. Both have shot and functioned with 100% reliability with any ammo I have run through them.

The Glock 26 has been with me for a while and has been a faithful companion though countless hunting trips, rain, snow, dirt or anything else nature could throw at it and never failed me. It is a little jealous of the Shield but it is enjoying some down time. At the end of the day, if I could only own one, and EDC was my primary need, I would choose the Shield. I come to this decision because it meets my current EDC needs the best. I am glad to have both however.

 

[10mmMarc]

I have never liked S&W autos, going back to the early 80's , I just hate them, but I gave up my model 26 because a model 19 isn't that much bigger and I can conceal it fairly easily, but for those really hot humid and muggy days, I bought a shield after comparing them with several other guns, shoots great extra mags are available everywhere, they are now offering them with night sites and those come with 2 of the higher capacity mags versus just one on a standard site model.
there are a variety of holsters available, I don't think you will be regretting a Shield.

 

[maxmayhem]

shield gets my vote or s & w subcompact....glocks are over rated

 

[Mycroft]

I love my Shield, but don't buy anything without shooting it first. How the gun feels in your hand when dry-firing it is not the same as when it's throwing lead down range.
I bought a Glock 30 several years ago because Glock was all the rage and .45 ACP is God's own caliber. It felt great in my hand - at the dealer. But once I took it to the range I found that the finger grooves on the grip prevented my hand from aligning right and I could barely keep all the rounds on the target at 25 feet.
I traded it for a Springfield XD-9sc and could land every round on a 9 inch paper plate at 25 yards.
Some people prefer Glock, other prefer S&W or Springfield. There's a reason for that. Be happy we have a lot of options to choose from.

 

[Hoosier9364]

Glock 26 hands down because you can make it short with the base magazine all the way up to accepting the 17 Rd mags. You can never have enough ammo

 

[307SD]

I know it's not in the OP title, and please forgive me for bringing another model into the thread, but.............

Does a Ruger LC9s fit into this discussion. I currently don't have any one of the three, but soon. I plan on the rental shoot and get the real feel approach, so I will be trying several, including these.

I mention the LC9s as I have a friend that has one and I really like it. The wife likes it as well.

 

[ART338WM]

Like it has already been said many times try out as many guns as you can before you buy. Glocks are obviously great reliable guns, but I simply can not get comfortable with the grip. I tried out guns from CZ, XD, Walther, H&K, Kahr, Ruger and Kel-tec and after dozens and dozens of S by S comparisons I bought the Shield because it met MY criteria in a EDC IWB gun. Light, thin, small = extremely concealable good capacity, very good accuracy and good trigger, easily modified if I so wished. I have put about 500 rounds through mine of all kinds of ammo and are extremely happy with it. I use the newest IWB holster from Alien Gear and are quite happy with it as well. I did install a Peirce grip extension on the smaller mag. Works great. Should add Im a big guy and like pants and shorts with big pockets and using a Desantis pocket holster I can easily and comfortably carry my Shield in my front pocket (small mag W/Pierce grip extension) and have on countless occasions. I can not get over the accuracy of such a small HG at 15 yards. I am 100% satisfied W/my Shield, others experiences and opinions may differ but I found the trigger on my Shield quite to my licking and MUCH, MUCH preferred it to any of the guns I listed. Although Ruger's latest version of their LC9 has a new re-designer and is quite good per Gun Tests Mag. And although it's not a true pocket pistol, it can be carried so quite well as I have proven at least to myself.

HG's for CC are like bows for hunting let the gun pick you.

 

[VERT]

I know it's not in the OP title, and please forgive me for bringing another model into the thread, but.............

Does a Ruger LC9s fit into this discussion. I currently don't have any one of the three, but soon. I plan on the rental shoot and get the real feel approach, so I will be trying several, including these.

I mention the LC9s as I have a friend that has one and I really like it. The wife likes it as well.

In my opinion no. I have seen a couple LC380, LC9 and LC9s come to the firing lines. They are OK but not replacements for the Shield or Glock 26.

 

[2008blackwrx]

glock 26.

 

[HamYankee]

This is the best advise so far.

Point Blank in Carmel has a G26, Shield, G43, and XDS all in the rental inventory. Stop by and shoot them all and then make a decision. You wouldn't buy a car without driving it first right?

 

[frenchiectfd2203]

I will put in my two cents because I have owned both. I am a left hand ahooter and had two shields before I decided this is a no go for me. Every time I went to shoot the shield the mag would drop because my palm would depress the mag release somehow. This could be to a grip issue or too much pressure with one hand. Doesn't matter but I don't want that happening to me in a worse case scenario. I have a glock 26 along with about 8 more and I have to say it fits me perfect. This is what you should look for, what fits you, what feels comfortable. Not what does this look like, does it match my shoes... You won't care if you really need it. Go with what works. Just curious if any other left handers have met this problem.?

 

[VERT]

I will put in my two cents because I have owned both. I am a left hand ahooter and had two shields before I decided this is a no go for me. Every time I went to shoot the shield the mag would drop because my palm would depress the mag release somehow. This could be to a grip issue or too much pressure with one hand. Doesn't matter but I don't want that happening to me in a worse case scenario. I have a glock 26 along with about 8 more and I have to say it fits me perfect. This is what you should look for, what fits you, what feels comfortable. Not what does this look like, does it match my shoes... You won't care if you really need it. Go with what works. Just curious if any other left handers have met this problem.?

I have not seen a lefty have problems with the shield mag release. But everyone's hands are different. For some people the G26 is too wide. Some people don't like the shield because they feel it is too narrow.

 

[Denny347]

I have not seen a lefty have problems with the shield mag release. But everyone's hands are different. For some people the G26 is too wide. Some people don't like the shield because they feel it is too narrow.

I carried my G27 for years then I switched to my Shield and now the G27 feels too blocky.

 

[HamYankee]

Add a poll. I'd like to see some poll results on this.

 

[other dave]

Sig P290RS

 

[VERT]

All this talk of choosing between the Shield and Glock 26. I think I will go against the crowd and give the PPS a try. But I am a bit eccentric and like my guns like my women, German and a little curvy.

 

[Amishman44]

Tough one. They both feel VERY different in the hand. After carrying my Shield, my G27 feels fat. However, my G27 shoots better and holds more ammo....tough choice.

I've shot the 9mm shield...shoots great! I own Glocks because they're more accurate and fit my hand better! Comfort is most important in an individual's EDC choice!

I've had friends who've sold their Glocks and bought shields...and turned around and sold their shield's and re-purchased Glocks...and have been glad they came back to the dark side!

 

[BigBoxaJunk]

I picked up a Shield Saturday at the 1500 and shot it at Point Blank in Carmel later the same day. I had considered a Glock 43, but I settled on the Shield.

I really like the gun. I shot 100 rounds with no problems, and the trigger is much better than the one on my full-sized M&P 9.

 

[Fenway]

G26