NRA Gun Gear of the Week: Shield v. Shield—Conclusion

by
posted on August 20, 2017

Having addressed the sights, trigger and recoil management qualities of a standard 9-mm M&P Shield, it made sense to pit the project gun against the Performance Center Shield in head-to-head shooting match. The 50-round course of fire included drills chosen to test speed—from the holster and shot-to-shot—accuracy, strong- and weak-hand-only performance, and target-to-target transitions. The results were quite satisfying. 

Regarding the sights, American Rifleman's Joe Kurtenbach found that he was consistently a touch faster—one- or two-tenths of a second—with the project gun, thanks to the big, bright front sight which was very easy to pick up and put on target. However, accuracy was just a little bit better with the Performance Center model, that gun’s finer front sight yielded tighter groups and one less “miss” during the 50-round test—for most of the drills 2” bullseyes were used, and any shot outside the bull was considered a miss. 

The triggers on both guns were a revelation. Both were smooth on the pull, crisp at the break, and featured short resets that were clearly denoted by tactile and audible cues. The Apex Tactical trigger was noticeably lighter, and definitely added some flair, but both triggers performed very well, and both were clear upgrades over the stock bang-switch of the standard Shield. Shot-to-shot split times were virtually identical with both guns, illustrating just how evenly matched the two upgraded pistols are. 

Another factor to consider when looking at shot-to-shot splits is the overall shootability and recoil management of a given firearm. Based on the shot timer, and the feel in hand, here again the guns are evenly matched and, again, both are improvements over the base model. The PC’s ported barrel and slide performed as intended, counter-acting the effects of recoil and reducing muzzle rise. The project gun’s Talon grips provided excellent purchase, really anchoring the small gun in hand and allowing the shooter’s grip to better control the gun’s movement when firing.

All in all, Kurtenbach reports that both guns were a lot of fun to shoot—a sentiment not commonly associated with full-power sub-compact semi-autos.

For more commentary and conclusions from the Shield v. Shield project, including a price and value comparison, watch this week's NRA Gun Gear of the Week video above.

Additional Reading:

NRA Gun Gear of the Week: Shield v. Shield—Concept
NRA Gun Gear of the Week: Shield v. Shield—Sights
NRA Gun Gear of the Week: Shield v. Shield—Trigger
NRA Gun Gear of the Week: Shield v. Shield—Recoil

 

Latest

Fn Americana 545 Tactical Giveaway
Fn Americana 545 Tactical Giveaway

The Great FN Gun Giveaway At NRAAM 2025

Here’s a chance to win a custom, one-of-a-kind FN 545 Tactical pistol at the 154th NRA Annual Meeting & Exhibits, April 24-27, in Atlanta, Ga. No purchase necessary.

Training With Moving Targets

Most target shooters understand static or bullseye-type stationary targets quite well, but did you know that adding motion into your training routine will improve practical marksmanship and the skills necessary to conquer defensive situations?

USA Shooting Celebrates 30th Anniversary

USA Shooting marks a historic milestone in April as it celebrates 30 years as the national governing body for international shooting sports within the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee.

Rifleman Review: Rock River Arms LAR-15M .17 HMR

Building a reliable semi-automatic rifle chambered for the .17 HMR can be a challenge, but Rock River Arms seems to have solved the issue with its unique RRA .17 HMR AR-style rifle.

New For 2025: Tanfoglio Hexagon Tactical & Hexagon P

Tanfoglio manufactures CZ 75 pattern pistols in a variety of forms, and for 2025, the company is adding two new variants to its lineup with the Hexagon Tactical and Hexagon P.

See New Guns & Gear At The NRA's Annual Meetings In Georgia

Freedom-loving American patriots gather every spring at the NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits to celebrate their liberty and check out the newest crop of guns, optics, ammunition and accessories. This year, 2025, the fun will take place in Atlanta, Ga.—we hope to see you there!

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.