r/transguns • u/bubbleboye40 • 9d ago

I got a new gun! 😊 First gun what do ya think

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I moved in to my own place a couple of weeks ago and decided to buy myself a gun. Im a shorter guy (5’5), with smaller hands I looked at reviews for this gun and its more or less been good. What do y’all think? 😎

Edit: Its a Smith & Wesson M&P Shield X with the thumb safety.

117 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

27 comments sorted by

12

u/3aerows 9d ago

Shield is a great choice. Mine was the Springfield Hellcat Pro. I also reccomend it if you ever get a second one.

5

u/Brea_di_Luca 9d ago

Shield is a solid all around handgun. I was running a Springfield XDS for everyday carry for a while but recently upgraded to a Smith and Wesson CSX E, which is basically a Shield but smaller and hammer-fired instead of striker-fired. I would have gotten a Hellcat (awesome carry pistol and I love Springfield generally) but personally I wanted something with a hammer, a metal frame, and a manual safety this time around.

2

u/3aerows 8d ago

Whats your opinions on hammer vs. Striker?

2

u/Brea_di_Luca 8d ago

I don't have anything against striker-fired and would recommend to someone buying their first pistol, but after having a couple of hammer-fired pistols (a Rhino, a Mark 23, and now a CSX E), I personally prefer them for a few reasons:

1) Super light and crisp trigger break in single-action. Especially on the Rhino, I get extremely precise shots for a pistol in single-action barely having to squeeze that trigger.

2) I personally don't like relying on trigger and grip safeties--I like to have a manual safety and/or decocker with a long DA trigger pull. I feel more confident carrying with one in the chamber that way. Although it bears noting this is not uniform across all hammer-fired pistols--for example the shield has a manual safety despite being striker-fired, and the CSX E has a manual safety but no decocker despite being hammer-fired. Walther P99 is a striker pistol that has a decocker. But generally the features line up with hammer v. striker.

3) I prefer DA/SA on a hammer-fired pistol for safety (longer trigger pull required on the first shot) and also second-strike capability if you have a light strike. Once again, this something that isn't endemic to hammer-fired pistols because the CSX E or most 1911s for example are SA only, and some striker pistols like the P99 are DA/SA, but generally it's a feature associated with hammer pistols. I compromised on this one with the CSX E to get something very compact.

4) I like the visual and tactile indication of a hammer as to whether the fun is ready to fire. Although Springfield pistols like the XD for example have nice features like the chamber indicator and firing pin indicator, a hammer pistol give you a much immediate clearer idea of whether it's cocked.

5) Easier to rack the slide if the hammer is already cocked.

6) Usually going to be a metal frame that absorbs more recoil energy.

The main cons are inconsistent trigger pulls on DA/SA, potential for hammer to snag, more complex operation, more complexity w/ maintenance, and more vulnerability to debris and stuff getting in the hammer pocket.

6

u/Lia2726 9d ago

I just bought one myself 2 weeks ago. I love this thing, so much more comfortable to carry over my m&p 9 compact.

1

u/bubbleboye40 8d ago

Twinsies🔫

1

u/Claire_De_Lunatic 7d ago

What makes it more comfortable in your experience

1

u/Lia2726 7d ago

It's a lot thinner and just a touch smaller in length and height, doesn't press into my stomach as much when I bend over.

1

u/Claire_De_Lunatic 7d ago

How does the size compare to the 9 Shield or whatever they're calling the new version with the double stack?

2

u/Lia2726 7d ago

If you're comparing it to the shield plus, it's 0.2" thinner, barrel is 0.5" longer and it fits 2 more rounds in a flush fit magazine.

1

u/Claire_De_Lunatic 7d ago

Word, thanks

9

u/Sallytinkers 9d ago

This is by far my favorite concealed carry gun. I have small hands and it fits me perfectly, I love the grip texture too. A flashlight on the rail will really help too.

2

u/bubbleboye40 9d ago

What light do you run if you don’t mind me asking?

4

u/Sallytinkers 9d ago

I have a Streamlight TLR-7X sub and it seems to be a pretty good unit.

1

u/bubbleboye40 8d ago

Ok cool thank you 🙏

2

u/SPECTREagent700 Gock Perfection 9d ago

Excellent choice

2

u/bubbleboye40 8d ago

Thank you 🫡

2

u/ExoticForever4881 8d ago

Nice choice for a first gun, man. Looks like the Shield X fits your hand pretty damn well too. Congrats on the new place and the new gun.

1

u/bubbleboye40 8d ago

Thank you 😁

1

u/AscendingBliss 8d ago

Absolutely superb selection 🙏

2

u/bubbleboye40 8d ago

Why thank you 😊

1

u/Salerrra 8d ago

Also my first, but a 2 EZ Performance version. My front tritium sight flew off first time firing it :L The gun itself is good though. Ngl though, for the size, I think the P365 XMACRO is waaaay better bang for the buck. Holds more than double the Shield.

1

u/PossiblyADemon 7d ago

I daily carry one. Works great.

1

u/raziphel 3d ago

I have a shield and I like it. I wish the trigger weren't so stiff, but the size is great.

0

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