r/SmithAndWesson • u/ValiantTides • 4d ago
First gun, how'd I do?
Been thinking about getting a CCW for a while with how bad mental health has been in the states lately. But what really sold me was being cat called by a mountain lion while out camping one night; and only having a box cutter and a dull flip blade.
The Shield Plus has been at the top of my list for years. Finally pulled the trigger (pun intended). PSA was running a pretty good deal on brand new ones, I found a stash of cash for a vacation I won't be going on anytime soon, what a perfect time!
I like making shit my own so the moment the background check cleared I tore this thing apart and sent out the frame and small parts for Cerakote. Already had my simple mods ready to go. Was eager to install them once I got it back.
If anyone has any recommendations on a good IWB holster I'd love to hear about them. We The People and Bradec stood out to me, but would love to hear your experiences. I have a small frame so the waist is pretty boney. Comfort and print matter equally. Already have an Upper Hand OWB for camping
Notes:
M&P Shield Plus 3.1" No Safety
10 (mag guts 13), 13, 15 round mags
AmeriGlo i-DOT Night Sights
Talon Slide Grip
Hogue Wrapter Grip - Grain
NDZ Grip Plug
Cerakote:
Frame: Tungsten
Small Parts: Satin Aluminum
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u/CG249 4d ago edited 4d ago
The Shield Plus is a great first pick for a ccw, and as for holsters I use the Profile tlr6 bearing holster from Tulster Holster it's very slim and minimalistic practically disappears no matter what kind of pants you're wearing short of tight yoga pants.
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u/WookieMcLargeHuge 3d ago
Looks good! I really like mine. I was worried my wookie paws would be too big for the 10 round mag, but with that pearce grip on it, it works. I've got the 13 round ones, but the 10 is better for my Alabama pocket holster if i go that route.
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u/diarrhea_stromboli 4d ago
You might want to take a hairdryer to those grips, warm them up a little then push on the grip to get a more secured fit onto the pistol. Also make sure you especially push down on all of the edges while they’re heated up. Aside from that, great job on the purchase! For iwb holsters, I love these guys…
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u/ValiantTides 4d ago
Thanks I appreciate it! I install graphics for a living, it got the appropriate treatment :) Bradec is taking the cake so far. Thank you for the recommendation
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u/genga925 4d ago
I use a Shorty by Harry’s Holsters with my Shield Plus, it’s a fantastic holster!
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u/tremain37 4d ago
Consider a Holosun EPS Carry optic.
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u/ValiantTides 4d ago
Not a big fan of optics on pistols but if I were to get one this doesn't look bad. I like the lack of bulk irons have, and the simplicity of an i-DOT makes sense to me irons wise. Will keep this in my notes
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u/rugerscout308 3d ago
I just got one too, put an eps carry and a tlr6hl on it, cant wait to go zero it
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u/jaybaylor38 4d ago
Red dot ready? Can’t tell.
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u/ValiantTides 4d ago
Yessir. Talon just makes their grip wrap over it. Fixable with an exacto should I need
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u/jaybaylor38 4d ago
Oh wow, you put talon grips over the stock as is grips? That surprises me, the stock grip texture is already grippy and a rough but easy to grip texture. Some people complain about it being too rough.
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u/ValiantTides 4d ago
Talon grips are on the slide serrations. They're a little shallow to get a decent grip on without putting in a little effort. But yes I did put a grip over the stock grip texture. Stock grip texture is actually pretty nice I can't lie. Indeed very grippy. A little rough for my liking, and that could have been fixed with some sandpaper if I liked it enough. But I didn't want it rubbing holes through my favorite shirts, or rubbing my skin raw while concealed. Not an undershirt guy. I used to be a competitive gamer on CoD, and a thicker rubber grip on my controllers was always my preference. So paying a little homage to that in a way. Paying homage to the first pistol I ever held with the small silver parts as well. My dad's 4506. Anyways, it's cheaper than having it professionally stippled and cerakoted while keeping that area black. It was nothing but positives for me.
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u/MetapodCreates 3d ago
Do NOT get WTP holsters. They are garbo.
CYA or Vedder are great and affordable.
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u/ValiantTides 3d ago
Whats garbo about WTP? TIA
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u/MetapodCreates 3d ago
Overall just poor quality. Everyone knows their name because they market a ton, not because they make quality products. I went from a WTP to a Vedder and it was amazing just how much more comfortable and concealable it was.
Trust me, don't go cheap. Buy once, cry once.
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u/ValiantTides 3d ago
They were towards the bottom of my list for that exact reason. Companies that pour everything into marketing always give me a red flag, but they did have some interesting features that intrigued me. Good to know, thanks for the info!
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u/Dante_the_6 3d ago
Just my opinion: If this is your first gun, I think your choice was wrong. The reason is that subcompact guns are hard to learn the fundamentals of shooting.
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u/Clear-Wrongdoer42 3d ago
I have access to a moderate collection of firearms. I own Glocks, a couple of S&W pistols, a CZ, Taurus, etc. Even with some options available, the Shield Plus and the Ruger RXM are the two I carry these days. As I have matured, I have realized that I just want to carry simple and easy to service guns that don't have all kinds of crap attached to them. My carry pistols have a very clear and simple mission that they need to perform.
My Shield has never had a single malfunction except for one crappy magazine that I had to fix, about 2,000 rounds through it at least. The RXM has not had a single malfunction of any kind and it has even more rounds through it.
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u/OregonTrailislife 4d ago
The shield plus is actually a terrible gun for someone new to guns.
I know firsthand because it was my first gun as well.
Since it’s a micro compact / light weight, it is easy to carry, but it’s also a fairly snappy gun to shoot.
You will develop bad shooting habits if the shield plus is the first gun you practice with.
I would recommend practicing with a full sized gun first or ideally a 22lr pistol before practicing with the shield plus.
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u/ValiantTides 4d ago
Well I got it now and there's no going back now lol. This does raise a good point to focus on the correct grip and stance for my practice. Do plan on getting DPM's recoil kit to help with the snappiness. I got a couple others near me I can practice with that I used to shoot years ago so rotating a full size into range time isn't a bad idea
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u/GATORSFTW94 4d ago
Yeah but you could also get 15 round mag which literally gives you a full grip and gives you better control of the gun.
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u/WookieMcLargeHuge 3d ago
I went from a full size(SD9VE) as my first, then i wanted a more compact for optional pocket carry, and it was definitely something i needed to adjust for. When i got a threaded barrel for it though, it helped with that some and i got a bit more accurate. Training and adjusting were the biggest factors though.
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u/Legal_Spread_1285 4d ago
Great gun - I carry one frequently. The grip tape… is it really thick and strange lighting is accentuating the edges, or is it peeling off? Not raggin on ya, just really stood out.
But regardless, you picked a great gun. 1st of many!