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Ported Shield V/s non ported

23K views 26 replies 12 participants last post by  PaPow 
#1 ·
Looking at possibly getting rid of my 43 and getting a new Shield in .9mm I see there is a performance center ported shield and a regular shield, I see the pc shield comes with fiber optic sights and a better trigger.
The plan is to compare the Shield 9mm to the Glock 43 9mm and decide which is the best for concealed carry. and my shooting ability.
The ported barrel doesn't affect me when shooting and I don't care about the lack of nite sights on the pc model, because lets face it how many times have you actually used your carry weapon?
If you have the money to buy either the ported model or the regular model which would you choose and why?
 
#2 ·
I carry a shield and it has been flawless n range sessions and training. I would never carry a ported pistol for carry however. First porting is pretty useless on a 9m (imho) and low light flash from ports could be a problem. I would get a standard shield and then upgrade or tune the trigger if you feel that is needed.
 
#8 ·
I have a MP ported pro and the porting does make it louder to shoot at the indoor range but outdoors I can't tell the difference, as for muzzle flash I don't notice it at all
My fast fire follow up shots are faster, the felt recoil is a little lower. My only real gripe is a dirty front sight but that's just a swipe of the finger every few mags.
Iv'e got the ported Shield on the way so I think I'll keep it.
 
#9 ·
I can see the ports as being a problem if the gun is held in a protected position at ones side and waist high, as one would employ it if in contact distance with a doer. The gases might cut.

I have a ported M&P and I'm not going to test it. :)
 
#10 ·
I haven't shot mine from retention or 1/2 hip yet.

The ports on the Shield are angled from each side, and don't point straight up.

That said; the manual says not to shoot it "from the hip." Of course, most firearm manufacturers manuals advise not to do several things that many shooters do, anyway; "factory ammo only," "must be kept unloaded," and so on...
 
#13 ·
And really who here has actually had to fire their cc weapon in a self defense situation? Did you have to fire it from your car seat, or up close and personal? Did the ports burn your eyes out or blow your ear drums? Maybe it set your coat on fire.
I chose the ported model over the regular model for 3 reasons
1st- being resale value, if I end up not liking it I should be able to sell this faster than a non ported model just because there aren't any ported shields around but the local selling sites around here are full of non ported shields.
2nd- I buy my guns to shoot them Even if I chose to carry it as my CC gun I still plan to shoot the He** out of it. The porting may make it easier to shoot.
3rd- I bought the ported model just because I can.
 
#14 ·
I love my PC Shield. It's my primary carry. I shoot with it about once a week and with the hi viz sights, smooth trigger, and porting to ease muzzle flip it keeps me feeling very confident in my ability to put shots on target. As far as the porting being a "danger" if I have to fire from a vehicle or other restricted platform...sure beats the alternative of being possibly being killed.
 
#15 ·
I too absolutely love my PC shield, it's my primary carry too. I'm not concerned about the muzzle flash at night, and here is a nice video to illustrate that point, good vid, but the night shooting starts at 14:55 if you want to skip ahead.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6dWDFcoFFs

As for discharging from a car, or in close proximity to my body.I'm not all that worried about it, if it ever comes to that I've already got bigger things to worry about. However I would not say it's an invalid concern for others if they have it either. That being said, I'm thinking about coming up with a test for it!

I think I may build and arc shaped media holder so I can shoot with it over the ports at various distances. See what kind of damage it will do to paper, cotton and blended fabrics, at various distances, and see what happens. Although even if it won't puncture paper... neither will a hand full of sand, and I wouldn't want that thrown in my eyes, let alone out of a port at 900 fps. IDK... just thinking out loud.

Chris
 
#18 ·
Anyone thats THAT worried about the porting with night shooting AND close up shooting, just buy the standard shield barrel and install it if you think it bothers you. Its not like the porting in these PC shields does that much anyway. Absolutely NOT, it will NOT blind you at night. In my much younger days, i use to pack a 4inch 357, trust me, these shields arent going to blind you whatsoever, nore are you going to get that much sh*t blown up in your face compared to an old 357 wheel gun. I`ve shot many a 357/38`s in darkness, the ported shield is a blessing. Most people are just over thinking these ported barrel shields.
 
#19 ·
I shot mine from retention a few weeks ago. I fired six rounds, and not only was there no blast or fouling bothering my face; there was absolutely no soot or anything at all on the white shirt that I was wearing.

I guess S&W knows a little something about making handguns after all...

I traded my standard Shield 9 in on a 45 Shield a few weeks ago.

I'm very happy with the PC one, and didn't really see myself ever using the standard one again.
 
#21 ·
The burning powder escaping through the ports of a short barreled pistol, often does so at several times the speed of a bullets muzzle velocity. It is a real danger if that high velocity burning mass comes into contact with your skin, face, or clothing. It's much worse than the disbursed blast that escapes between the cylinder and barrel of a revolver (which has been known to singe, burn, cut, and even sever fingers), in part because it's a tightly concentrated blast column.
 
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