My first firearm.....

[black]

So i recently received my MA
LTC Id like to exercise that right more fully as does the wifey.
Its a full rights license ..concealed carry.

How does one go about finding a firearm for potential concealed carry? Reccomendations? Where to rent one use it see if it fits, condusive to how ill use it. There is a wilmington firearms show in about 2 months i was hoping i could zero in on one or two and possibly purchase ther and or any accessories.?

I'd like one firearm for home defense/ protection and concealed carry but ideally could one fit all my wants?

I was generally thinking a mosberg 500 or similar for around the house, and then another for concealed carry and/ or home protection? The big thing is that the wife would like to use it too but I figure each of us will have their own preference for a handgun. Thus i was thinking a mosberg for home as i doubt she will conceal carry any time soon, and then my own concealed carry.

Anyone have any insights? Suggestions or direction?

[jasnmar]

OK. Just so I'm clear... An FID is different than an LTC. I'm not arguing with you about what you have, but be aware that they are different and have different allowances.

There are plenty of places that will let you "rent" firearms for use on their range to get a feel for what you like.

There are different considerations for "home defense" weapons vs edc (every day carry) weapons. It's kinda like asking what motorcycle should I buy for every day off road and track days. Just like with motorcycles there are also varying opinions on what's best for what.

There's nothing wrong with a Moss 500 for home defense, in general. Personally I'm a fan of something typically shorter for confined spaces (a carbine length rifle or handgun). That said the other consideration for home defense is generally stopping power and the 500 is no slouch there. My dad makes fun of me for picking a 9mm as my combination edc/home defense handgun (he has a. 44mag for home defense).

For you, the other consideration is what your SO is capable of managing / being comfortable with. Go to a range that rents weapons for use and use them. Bring her. This is really going to be about what you are comfortable with more than any other consideration. Unfortunately I am not familiar with the ranges in MA. MFL in Manchester certainly allows rentals, but can be a bit of a madhouse. I'm sure some of the MA residents can help with places closer to you.

If it were me, I'd start with a "mid range" hand gun. 9mm, .40, .45, .357. Revolver or semi auto based on comfort. Sized in "carryable", but also appropriate for home defense (which generally means compact, but not sub-compact). They are fairly good "all purpose" weapons until you know what specific things you are looking for.

[e30addict]

By FID you mean LTC-A Unrestricted right? There's a considerable difference.

Finding a good carry gun is a lot harder than I originally thought it would be. Which one is best for you depends on where/how you're going to carry it, what kind of clothes you'll be wearing and the environment you'll be carrying it in. General rule of thumb that you should carry the biggest gun you comfortably can and I personally think the more simple it is the better. There are some good threads on NES and YouTube vids that can help direct your thought process.

Try as many different types as you can before buying one of your own. Fit matters way more than you think. If it's not comfortable it will just sit at home and you'll never have it with you.

I have a few different 9mm you two are welcome to try ranging from sub-compact to full size if you'd like.

Don't buy something at the gun show. There are a few good shops in Woburn that have great prices and selection all the time.

Bob's in Salisbury will rent you stuff to try as well. Stay away from there on weekends though. A lot of the shooters there can be sketchy.

[Hoon]

Ask 10 people and you'll get 10 answers. As someone who carries almost daily, these are mine.

Your wife, being a new shooter is likely to be sensitive to recoil, so a 12ga is probably not the best idea. While they're out there, i've met very few women who are comfortable and proficient with a 12ga shotgun. A 20ga or an AR is better suited to home defense for people with smaller frames (most women) if you decide a long gun is right for your home/your home defense strategy.

As far as pistols, it's a game of compromise. Good range guns typically make poor carry guns, and vice versa. If you plan to actually carry everyday, you're going to want something relatively small. A full size is great to shoot, but then you're likely to be uncomfortable in the car, dressing for the gun, etc. If you're uncomfortable with the mass of the gun, it'll end up home in the safe instead of on your person.

I know a lot of guys will claim they carry a full size daily, but i've met very few that actually do it. Personally if i had to have one pistol only for home defense and an every day carry, it would be a single stack 9mm (something in the size range of the M&P Shield). 8-9 rounds, slim, and easily concealable but still shoot-able. In a good holster, you can wear it for 16 hours comfortably...which i'm sorry but i just can't do with something like a glock 19. You will feel the bulk of a double stack pistol, thinness is important to me for a carry gun.

You should shoot a lot with your new pistol to become proficient (at least a couple thousand rounds, practice rapid but accurate double taps, controlling muzzle flip, weak and strong hand shooting, etc)...which means 9mm offers significant savings compared to .40 and .45. After a couple thousand rounds the savings of 9mm will pay for your next gun. I have owned and shot thousands of rounds of every major caliber, but i find myself almost exclusively shooting 9mm for both club competition and self defense.

There are so many options these days, and it really comes down to personal preference. You need to feel and dry-fire a few different things, because what works for one person might not work for the next. Shoot everything you can, rent some different guns, etc. If you have a friend with a decent collection, try carrying a couple of their guns (if that's legal in MA, i don't know??) and see what you find comfortable and what you don't, especially in cars, bending over, etc.

There's no one size fits all on this. I'm sure many people will disagree with my personal opinions, but it all comes down to what works for you.

[black]

Edited my ltc/ FID reference Duh on me. Im on zero sleep due to an 8 day newborn lying on my chest . Lol....

Some great info to start.. I was hoping there'd be a range so wifey could try.

So it appears me and her can essentially share a handgun for home defense then? I was under the noob impression her preference in weight and balance would warrant her own home devense weapon.

As for a concealed carry im really going to have to do some reasearch... What is everyone carrying ? Pros and cons ?
And when people mean what clothes will i be wearing im assuming this is something id carry in a variety of clothes/ environments, a do it all if you catch my drift

Apologies on the typing im on an ipad typing with one finget / hand as said newborn is still on my chest

[Garandman]

The Smith & Wesson M&P series is extremely popular, available in 9mmP or the currently vogue .40 S&W. They have a Compact as well and they have adjustable hand grips.

SIG makes a wide range of pistols in NH. Their training facility is fantastic and you can shoot anything they sell. They have women only courses and MA-approved CCW courses as well.

The absolute last place you want to economize is a self defense firearm.

Ask 10 people and you'll get 10 answers. As someone who carries almost daily, these are mine.

Your wife, being a new shooter is likely to be sensitive to recoil, so a 12ga is probably not the best idea. While they're out there, i've met very few women who are comfortable and proficient with a 12ga shotgun. A 20ga or an AR is better suited to home defense for people with smaller frames (most women) if you decide a long gun is right for your home/your home defense strategy. .

We have both and I don't agree. The 20 GA is lighter so felt recoil is similar and there are many more 12GA loads available. The "Tactical" loads actually have quite a bit less recoil and their are some reduced loads available as well. We use #4 buck in the 20 GA and 12GA both. Speer used to sell the Lawman tactical #4 and I bought a bunch.

[Stromper]

If you have kids then lock up ALL weapons in the house as the statistics say much more likely to hurt the family then a bad guy
The 12 ga pump is a good choice inside NOT a round in the chamber
IMHO they arrest people if they shoot a wounded intruder now that he is no longer a lethal threat do big 1st shot impact is a good thing

Unless its part of your job don't go anywhere you think you need a gun to go there. The legal system seems to hate DIY protection
and regardless of your permit your in a raft of expensive shit if you use your gun.

I have a few pistols the "carry gun" is a Smith air weight 5 shot aluminum smith in 357, also shoots less powerful 38's Smith & Wesson® 642 Airweight® Revolver - Internal Hammer | Bass Pro Shops

Small light belly gun, easy to hied, loud noise maker and wheel guns don't jam

The helter skelter is is a 14 shot 45

[GingahNinjah]

Manchester Firing Line has a large, varying selection of firearms for rent/demo. took the girlfriend there a couple weekends ago to shoot both the Sig P238 .380 and the P938 9mm to see which she preferred. She really liked the .380 however I ended up buying the 9mm last week from Sig cuz 9mm is the better carry round and I found that there is a .22 conversion kit for the 938 so she can still shoot that. The 938 has become my everyday carry. it is a bit smaller than the Taurus 709 slim that I carried and with the optional extended mag, with pinky extension, it carries 7+1 in the pipe and is very comfortable to handle and carry. The staff at MFL is wicked knowledgeable. It wouldnt hurt to leave the kid with the inlaws for the day and take a ride up there and feel out some stuff. their range fees are $16 per person per hour and gun rentals are $10-20(iirc) depending on what you want to shoot. biggest down fall is that if you rent their guns you have to buy the ammo from them and they mark up the ammo. tho thats still cheaper than buying a gun that it turns out you dont like and trying to flip it.

[xrocket21]

My only suggestion is shoot. Go to a range or whatever and shoot. Shoot shoot shoot. Try different guns, feel it out. Its tough for anyone to suggest something when comfort is ver specific to the person. Im 6'5" 245 and can handle my Ruger 357 with a 6" barrel easily, but in my wifes hands it just looks ridiculous. Its all about the feel, and only you know what feels good.

[Hoon]

I typically carry a gun most people hate, Bodyguard .380 in a Desantis pocket holster. The trigger sucks, but i can still shoot it very accurately, it has been very reliable, and i can conceal it in any clothing without a holster on my belt which is convenient.

I typically carry it appendix or pocket. That small of a gun in the appendix location, you completely forget it's there. It's not the gun i'd want to get into a gun fight with, but i'm too lazy to put a holster on my belt most of the time, and i certainly wouldn't want to be shot with it.

When i do use a holster, i carry either an M&P Shield 9mm, or a Glock 36. They're both excellent guns. The Shield has a mediocre trigger IMO, and the Glock feels fantastic in my hand. The G36 is a low capacity .45 (6+1) but is the slimmest glock besides their .380, fits my hand very well, etc. G36s are not tolerant of limp-wristing, and most of the girls who have shot it have induced malfunctions because of that. In my hands, it's been 100% reliable even in hundreds of rounds of one handed shooting.

I like Talon grips (granulated, not the rubberized ones) on all my carry guns, as well as XS night sights (they're expensive, but worth it IMO). On a self defense gun, you want sights that work in no/low light and are setup for rapid target acquisition. This is not ideal for target shooting, but target sights don't work well on carry guns.

For home defense i use an Adam's piston driven AR15 with soft point ammo and a red dot. With a good muzzle brake on a little .223, it's loud but there is almost no recoil which allows extremely fast follow up shots with no muzzle jump. No magnification allows shooting with both eyes open, which is great for rapid target acquisition and use inside 100yds. It's been one damn good rifle so far.

[jasnmar]

As Hoon said, you are going to hear a lot of different opinions on this.

As I said, try stuff, figure out what you are comfortable with.

Assuming you want a handgun, you'll need to think about what type. Semi-auto vs. Revolver is the most basic decisions. There are some important differences. The primary advantage to a semi-auto is (generally) capacity (there are other reasons depending on what you want) and reload time. Being in MA (unless you find a pre-ban handgun) you will be limited to 10 rounds in a semi-auto. Most (not all) revolvers are going to be 6 rounds. Semi-autos are more complicated than revolvers. Semi-auto's are harder to operate than revolvers. Semi-autos (in theory) more frequently experience a failure (jam, doesn't fire) than do revolvers. After a couple thousand rounds with my "budget" semi-auto hand gun I've not had a failure or jam so far, using cheap(ish) ammo.

Basically the first set of tradeoffs is simplicity (with lower capacity / slower reloads) vs. complexity (with higher capacity / faster reloads). This seems like minutiae, but in a life threatening situation, with the adrenaline through the roof, can make a difference.

Your second choice is probably going to be about caliber, but because of some basic differences the calibers available (or at least common) for revolver vs. semi-auto are somewhat different (but there is overlap). The caliber question is a bit hard to address, as it also depends on how big (frame size) of a weapon you want / intend to have. It comes down to how much stopping power you need vs. how much recoil you can deal with (Garandman mentions this with the 12 vs 20 gauge thing, but it is also true for handguns).

Your next choice is going to be frame size. Just because I'm familiar with the line (and caliber), you start with a "full size", such as the SR9. 26oz, 7.5" long, 5.5" high, 1.25" thick. On the plus side it is a big gun. It's heavy. It is going to be (reasonably) easy to manage when shooting. There's a lot of places to grab/control the weapon. Felt recoil is going to be relatively low as it is heavy. On the negative side it is a big gun, it's going to be challenging to conceal and possibly uncomfortable. In the compact range is the SR9c. 23.5oz, 6.85" long, 4.6" high, 1.25" thick. A few oz lighter. About 1" less length, and about 1" less height (thickness is the same, because both are "double stack"). Finally, in sub compact the LC9. 17.2oz, 6" long, 4.5" high, and .9" thick. Significantly lighter, about 1" less length, almost the same height, about 1/3" less thick. On the plus side this is a small gun. It's light. It's easy(ish) to conceal. On the negative side, it's small and light. It's going to be hard to get a lot of hand surface area on to control it. When shooting the same round as above there's going to be more recoil that the shooter needs to manage, as there isn't as much weight to absorb the recoil.

Shooting a full size gun and shooting a sub compact (in the same caliber) are completely different experiences. Concealing them is as well, and that's generally the tradeoff.

There are of course light calibers as well that allow you to have a small frame but little recoil (.22, .25 etc), but you are sacrificing "stopping power" for a more manageable recoil.

Try stuff .

[e30addict]

So it appears me and her can essentially share a handgun for home defense then? I was under the noob impression her preference in weight and balance would warrant her own home devense weapon.

Maybe. Maybe not. You never know for sure until you both shoot a bunch of stuff. A handgun is a security blanket for home defense though. IMO, even though I have both, an AR is ideal for some of the reasons a few people have mentioned. Ease of use and short barrel length. There's a reason the police use them for close quarters. The ballistics of a .223 round are better suited to minimize collateral damage vs. a handgun round as well. It's the opposite of what you'd initially think. That said, if you really want a 12 gauge pump there are reduced recoil loads available that don't thump as hard as a 3" slug will

As for a concealed carry im really going to have to do some reasearch... What is everyone carrying ? Pros and cons ?

I have 3 guns that I carry. An M&P Shield, Glock 26 and a Glock 19.

The Shield is a nice small single stack 9. You need to upgrade the trigger either thru an Apex kit or have Lou at Business End Customs modify it to be usefull. It holds 8-9 rounds depending on the magazine you load. It was my first carry gun but mostly sits in the safe now. The Glock 26 is a little brick. Double stack 9 that holds 11 rounds. It's my go to. Simple, extremely reliable and conceals very well. For something so small the capacity is amazing. The Glock 19 is the goldilocks in their 9mm line. I prefer shooting it over all the other handguns I own. The biggest advantage is you can get pre-ban mags for it and carry 16 rounds with you without needing a second mag. That's also it's disadvantage for me. It's harder to conceal for me so I only have it when I'm going somewhere where I don't particularly care if it prints some.

And when people mean what clothes will i be wearing im assuming this is something id carry in a variety of clothes/ environments, a do it all if you catch my drift

Not really possible. It will always be a compromise. I can hide the Shield in shorts and a relatively tight t-shirt. Basically I can wear whatever I want with it on me. For me to hide either of the Glocks I need a looser shirt. If you're the type that typically wears something like a hoody or similar cover garment this is of course a little easier. Shirt and tie changes things. There are tuckable holsters but you need to size clothes accordingly to make them work ideally. Now tie in environment. If you are going to be in a place where people will flip and make a big deal out of you carrying (which can be a huge hassle) your choice of clothing and carry gun is going to be different than if you spend time in an area where if you happen to print (or accidentally expose it) the response is more meh.

Also consider where you might be going. Ex. If I'm going to visit friends in Dorchester the G19 comes with me and I dress around it. In other cases what I wear is more a priority and I choose the gun that fits the clothes best.

What others have said about getting in a lot of range time is key too. I personally wanted some more experience and training than the MA minimums before I started walking around with something. I've taken a few course at Sig and they have been awesome. They always make me think about different situations in a way than I previously did. I don't always agree with some of the things that have come up in class but they certainly made me think about a few things more in depth. One thing that always stuck with me that I constantly remind myself of is that every round you miss with if you're involved in a shoot is currently averaging $1,000,000 each when you get sued.

[Stromper]

If you are preparing for terrorist with semi auto assault weapons then maybe shot capacity has a point in the discussion.

If its your average criminal etc. event then you only need a noise maker to extricate from the situation. He runs away and you run away in the opposite direction

Most revolvers and shielded revolvers have a hammer block so they are safe to carry with a round in the chamber.

If you end up in court defending yourself with a maximum capacity magazine be prepared to hear that you were
preparing to have a situation.

Here is the precident case Bernhard Goetz - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Falko]

I'm going to try not repeat many things already stated. But not knowing what your wife's build is, I would recommend a mid size single stack 9mm of a heavier construction. The weight will offset some of the recoil, you can get low velocity rounds for the 9mm (essentially long 380 rounds) which help make the initial training easier (although getting/borrowing a .22 for first trip to the range is best for building comfort/confidence). The single stack is narrower and allows for better use of some aftermarket grips for smaller hands. I personally carry a double stack 40 with Hogue grips. I wouldn't recommend that combination for everyone. My other carry is a .357 revolver with combat type grip. It feels bulkier but I like it better for feel and overall confidence.

For home defense, I would recommend a pistol caliber carbine, like a CX4 or the like. Not a fan of a rifle cartridge in a house unless you are using fragmentation bullets or some other type of low penetration ammunition. But that is my opinion. I use safety slugs in my handguns for home defense and carry for that reason. The pistol caliber carbines are really easy to shoot with minimal recoil, I think your wife would enjoy that. I also have a Mossy 500 with "law enforcement" buck shot. They are low velocity and don't seem to buck too much at all and that is 12GA.

Everyone is different in their opinions. Do some research as you are doing and make your own conclusions. But as someone stated get out there and do some shooting with different weapons.

[Imbeek]

I have 3 guns that I carry. An M&P Shield, Glock 26 and a Glock 19.

The Shield is a nice small single stack 9. You need to upgrade the trigger either thru an Apex kit or have Lou at Business End Customs modify it to be usefull. It holds 8-9 rounds depending on the magazine you load. It was my first carry gun but mostly sits in the safe now. The Glock 26 is a little brick. Double stack 9 that holds 11 rounds. It's my go to. Simple, extremely reliable and conceals very well. For something so small the capacity is amazing. The Glock 19 is the goldilocks in their 9mm line. I prefer shooting it over all the other handguns I own. The biggest advantage is you can get pre-ban mags for it and carry 16 rounds with you without needing a second mag. That's also it's disadvantage for me. It's harder to conceal for me so I only have it when I'm going somewhere where I don't particularly care if it prints some

Great advice here. You can go out your mind with options in guns but if you go try a shield and g19 or 26, and pick one, it's unlikely you will regret your choice later. The g19 is my favorite too, it's just might be one that you find a tad big and square to carry concealed everyday depending on body type, clothing, and comfort threshold.

[GingahNinjah]

geez all of this gun talk you'd think that everyone in New England had the day off or some shit... GET BACK TO WORK!!!! lol

[Hoon]

For home defense, I would recommend a pistol caliber carbine, like a CX4 or the like. Not a fan of a rifle cartridge in a house unless you are using fragmentation bullets or some other type of low penetration ammunition.

Not to nit-pick, as any round that will effectively incapacitate a human being will also go through several interior walls, but pistol rounds go further than .223. High velocity and low mass means the .223s really fall apart quickly when they hit things. You can also use ballistic tips which break apart very quickly, or soft points which are halfway in between. If you shoot a human with a ballistic tip, it's not going to exit. They generally don't exit on 35lb coyotes.

The ballistics of a .223 round are better suited to minimize collateral damage vs. a handgun round as well. It's the opposite of what you'd initially think.

This.

Great advice here. You can go out your mind with options in guns but if you go try a shield and g19 or 26, and pick one, it's unlikely you will regret your choice later. The g19 is my favorite too, it's just might be one that you find a tad big and square to carry concealed everyday depending on body type, clothing, and comfort threshold.

True, can't go wrong with any of them really.

We have both and I don't agree. The 20 GA is lighter so felt recoil is similar and there are many more 12GA loads available. The "Tactical" loads actually have quite a bit less recoil and their are some reduced loads available as well. We use #4 buck in the 20 GA and 12GA both. Speer used to sell the Lawman tactical #4 and I bought a bunch.

This is true, i generally don't think about the "low recoil" loads but they do work and they do shoot a lot lighter than standard loads.

geez all of this gun talk you'd think that everyone in New England had the day off or some shit... GET BACK TO WORK!!!! lol

The driveway is calling me

[PhilB]

I will strongly echo what others have said -- there's no substitute for trying out a lot of different choices. If you and your wife end up being comfortable with the same gun, you can share it, but it's not unlikely that you will end up with different guns. In general, I advise the largest caliber that you can reliably hit with -- a hit with a .22 is better than a miss with a .45.

Also when trying guns, go through all the operations. For my mom, for instance, racking the slide was a significant factor. She has some arthritis, and weak hands, and out of my entire collection the only semi-auto she could rack the slide on was the Beretta 92F. So that's what I got her. If her hands get any worse, she'll need a revolver. I shot 9x19mm for a long time, but eventually moved to .40S&W. I like the Glocks because they have the slimness and capacity of a semi-auto, but with the utter simplicity and reliability of a revolver; I use a fullsize for the home and a compact for carry. My wife is more of a traditionalist and doesn't like the plastic guns. She uses a compact 1911 (Kimber Ultra-Carry) in .45ACP.

I also echo the concerns about storage. Guns that are not needed to be readily available should be in a safe. Your defense gun(s) should be in a quick-access lockbox. There are several available that use a push-button combination, which is quick to access of you know the combo (and practice a bit), but keeps it secure from curious children.

PhilB

[nhbubba]

Do you shoot a lot? Have you fired a lot of hand guns?

Are you sure you want your first handgun to be a "carry" gun? These "carry" guns make compromises. Compromises that effect handling.

When I was shopping, I was mortified at how hard it was to get a good hand-hold on these compact carry pistols. I'd much rather start with a full/standard size, shoot it for a while, and then start shopping a carry weapon afterwards. A standard frame handgun can still be very effective for home defense. Possibly more effective. ... Although you should buy a shotgun while you are at it. Any 12-ga pump will do. Dicks' sells them for $200.

That said, were I shopping for a carry weapon, the M&P Shield would be the pick to beat. Either in 9mm or .40. Reasonable price. Great feel. Accurate. Nice trigger.

[Falko]

Not to nit-pick, as any round that will effectively incapacitate a human being will also go through several interior walls, but pistol rounds go further than .223. High velocity and low mass means the .223s really fall apart quickly when they hit things. You can also use ballistic tips which break apart very quickly, or soft points which are halfway in between. If you shoot a human with a ballistic tip, it's not going to exit. They generally don't exit on 35lb coyotes.

The driveway is calling me

This pretty much mimics what I was saying. But I have found though that pistol caliber safety ammo is more readily available. The safety slugs I use will not penetrate through two separated layers of drywall. But they will still provide sufficient knock down power. I just don't trust a 3000 fps round to stop at a wall. Everyone has different thoughts on the subject, it is all what we are comfortable with.

I would strongly agree though, driveways are requiring attention. Cheers.

[AEG]

...
That said, were I shopping for a carry weapon, the M&P Shield would be the pick to beat. Either in 9mm or .40. Reasonable price. Great feel. Accurate. Nice trigger.

Not to high jack this thread too much but someone here just ranked the Shields trigger as mediocre. It is on my list as EDC as well and I tried it at the club. I hated the custom grip on it so my feel was a bit off. Could not tell anything negative about the trigger though.

[Hoon]

It was me who made the mediocre trigger comment. I have one (free state model, no thumb safety), and the trigger doesn't make me hate the gun, but i would prefer it to be a little lighter. It does break clean though, and that's the most important part.

I definitely do prefer a glock trigger over the M&P triggers. Again, it's mostly personal preference. I can be picky with my guns (especially rifles).

The MA models have a horrible 10lb pull...that's a must replace item for me, and frankly a 10lb trigger is more of a safety hazard than a typical 5-6lb trigger. It's harder to be accurate with a 10lb trigger on a small frame gun.

OP the good thing about learning to shoot a compact first is you'll get over the fact that your pinky isn't on the grip, and it won't bother you. It does almost nothing for you if you're using your support hand correctly, but it's a mental thing for a lot of people who try to transition from a full-size to a carry gun.

[nhbubba]

It should be noted that I could barely be considered a recreational shooter. My experience is not that deep. I liked trigger on the Shield I shot. AFAIK it was "factory". I'm not even sophisticated enough to tell you what I liked about it. But I liked it. I actually liked it better than my own Sig P2022.. The sigs were the my high water mark up until then.

[LuvDog]

I had a shield and could not get over the trigger pull. I could have fixed it with an apex kit, but decided it wasn't worth it.

Like has been mentioned above, the only way to pick a good carry gun is to try them out.

[e30addict]

Not to high jack this thread too much but someone here just ranked the Shields trigger as mediocre. It is on my list as EDC as well and I tried it at the club. I hated the custom grip on it so my feel was a bit off. Could not tell anything negative about the trigger though.

It should be noted that I could barely be considered a recreational shooter. My experience is not that deep. I liked trigger on the Shield I shot. AFAIK it was "factory". I'm not even sophisticated enough to tell you what I liked about it. But I liked it. I actually liked it better than my own Sig P2022.. The sigs were the my high water mark up until then.

I had a shield and could not get over the trigger pull. I could have fixed it with an apex kit, but decided it wasn't worth it.

The free state trigger is much different than a MA trigger on the Shield. Shoot them back to back and you'll cringe.

The MA models have a horrible 10lb pull...that's a must replace item for me, and frankly a 10lb trigger is more of a safety hazard than a typical 5-6lb trigger. It's harder to be accurate with a 10lb trigger on a small frame gun.

Yeap. Ironically part of the reason NYPD misses there intended target so much. Politicians and there unintended consequences because they don't understands jack shit about what they do.