Performance Center M&P 9 Shield

[Rick McC.]

I bought this one a few weeks ago, and wanted to give my latest range report, after shooting BUG with it recently.

The pistol shot flawlessly, and was very easy to keep on target, including steel at 10, 20, and 30+ yards.

My only shots of the day out of all five stages that weren't "zero down" were on a swinger.

The Performance Center Shield (with the Apex Tactical striker block installed) has just taken over the title of "best shooting little gun" that I own, from my Kahr CM9.

The PC Shield, in addition to the barrel porting and slide lightening cuts, comes with a performance center sear, and a fairly light (compared to a standard Shield) trigger pull.

For whatever reason, this PC Shield had a much grittier takeup than that on my standard Shield; which is why I installed the Apex striker block.

Anyway, of extreme interest to me was today's stage of six shots fired from the retention position.

As some may know; many shooters (including me previously) feel that having a ported carry pistol is a mistake, and consequently, have little use for one. "Conventional wisdom" is that it'll blow fouling and hot gasses up into the shooter's face when fired from close in such as the one handed low retention position.

I shot the six shots from retention in 1.72 seconds "zero down," and had no discomfort from fouling, hot gasses or anything else. As a matter of fact; there was no fouling, soot, or anything else to be found anywhere on the white shirt that I was wearing.

So, another "everyone knows" is put to rest. Apparently, Smith and Wesson know a little bit about building guns after all.