9mm – Walt in PA

Back in 2013, Smith & Wesson rolled out an advertising campaign for a new gun. Gun People across the web began to take notice and there was a lot of speculation as to what would be released. When word finally broke that Smith & Wesson would be bringing out a single stack 9mm, modeled after their popular M&P Line, there was a frenzy of interest. As friends in the gun community began buying them (or being put on waiting lists because they were so popular), I took a different approach. I weighed the benefits of the new M&P Shield against what I was already carrying - a Springfield XD Sub Compact and a Smith & Wesson Bodyguard. After careful consideration, I determined that the M&P Shield just wasn't the gun for me. Sure, it was cool, but I didn't need one. Months passed and I couldn't help myself. I didn't want to want one but it was happening. I was lusting after the new Shield. A few years have passed since the release of the Smith & Wesson Shield and it has remained high up on my list of desired firearms. I kept telling myself that as soon as I had the spare cash that I'd treat myself to one. Breaking Down and Buying a Shield Back when my interest in a Shield was at an all time high, I couldn't swing spending $400 on a gun that I didn't need. I had more important things to spend my money on - like weekly USPSA and IDPA matches (Match Fees and Ammo can get rather expensive on a weekly basis). Since then life has happened and I've been out of the competitive shooting scene for a couple of seasons. Despite my lack of competitive shooting, I've tried to keep up with the gun community and have had the pleasure of handling a few M&P Shields. I've been setting a little money aside, here and there, and finally squirreled enough away that buying myself a Shield was an option. As luck would have it, this was right around the time of a mass shooting and the threat of aggressive gun control. When I walked into my local gun shop to buy one, the best he could do was put me on a very long waiting list. Life happened again, my car needed work, and my Shield Money was spent on necessities. The process started all over again. Only this time, when I walked into my local gun shop to make a purchase, he had one in stock and I walked out the proud owner of a Smith & Wesson M&P Shield in 9mm. My Plans for the Shield This week I put in an order for a Concealment Solutions Sidewinder OWB Holster. With the colder months fast approaching, I plan to carry the Shield under a jacket or coat. I find the idea of easy access more appealing that fighting with several layers of clothing. I also had this crazy idea to hit the occasional IDPA Match to practice with my new carry gun. I don't forsee myself being very competitive but I really want to at least dabble in the shooting sports once again. A new baby and a wife with a hectic work schedule won't allow me to shoot as often as I used to. Even so, I'd like to get back to shooting the occasional USPSA Match (if for no other reason than to catch up with friends) but that is an entirely different blog post.