Glock 43 vs Shield 9mm

[m16ty]

Well I've been looking for a more compact carry gun. My Glock 19 is may standard winter carry gun and  and general carry gun when I'm not trying too hard to conceal. In the past I'd carry various pocket .380s when I needed better concealment than the 19 offered, but these small .380s aren't doing it for me anymore. I'm just tired of fooling with them, and my accuracy is awful shooting them and any distance.

I was pretty much set on picking up a G43, that was until a friend of mine let me shoot his Shield, now I'm torn between the two. I really like the way the shield felt in my hand and the way it shot. I've only held a G43 and haven't shot one but the Glock did fit my hand pretty well also. I've searched the web and have seen several comparisons between the two firearms already, and the conclusions of all I've read is there isn't a nickle's worth of difference between them. I just though I'd throw it out there and see what TGO had to say.     

[Steelharp]

I speak as a guy that was in general not an M&P fan. That changed when the .45 Shield appeared. Dumped my G36 for one, and never regretted it. I would pick the Shield over the 43, easily.

[TNman207]

You might want to check out the Sig P365. Light weight, good grip for a small gun, and holds more rounds than the G43 or Shield. I have only held one but is on my list is on my list to buy.

[txbrown]

I agree with Steelharp. Both my girlfriend and I tried to like the 43 but we both kept going back to the Shield. Much better shooter. They improved the trigger with the 45 acp version and the 2.0 is sweet. 

Having said that, I just picked up a P365 and it is amazingly accurate. Put 250 rounds through it Friday and no issues. Birthdate on gun was March 29. Sig puts that on the label. I will keep my Shield for now but the P365 is worth a serious look if you do not have a carry gun. It will replace several in my rotation if it continues to impress.

Edited May 6, 2018 by txbrown
Typo

[tntnixon]

I have loved glocks for a while now. I also was not a big fan of the original M&P line (that trigger just flat out sucked). That being said, I have a shield 2.0 and like it much better than the G43. S&W has just gotten it right and fixed the things they didn’t get right the first time. I did add Trijicon XR HD sights to it (because these are my favorite sights out there and make it onto all my weapons) but it really needs no further upgrades (if I put an apex trigger kit on it , it’s a want vs a need). 

[tmauto769]

I have a PC shield in .45(had one in 9 at one time) my wife has a G43, they are both great guns, I wear an XXL size glove so the 43 is a bit hard for me to keep a hold of when shooting, so that is why I went with an s&w over a glock. The .45 is even a little bigger than the 9 so for me that is even better. I say whichever fits you better, because none of ours have ever had any failures and all of them are reasonably accurate for their size.

[BrasilNuts]

I own neither, but have shot both.

I love Glocks, I carry a 19 every day and shoot a 34 or 19 in IDPA and USPSA.

That being said, I preferred the Sheild to the 43.  It wasn’t even a close contest for me.

The Sheild fit my grip better and I shot it consistently faster and more accurately than any other plastic gun I’ve ever fired.

There was no learning curve either, just picked it up and instant gratification.

I can’t comment on how it feels to carry, but I’m sure it’s more comfortable than a 19.

[chances R]

M&P fan here.  No question with the shield.  My EDC.  I have the 1.0, 2.0 some improvement.  From what I have read on some instructors sites, avoiding the PC with the porting.  Getting metal frag blow back; especially shooting from retention.  Friend of mine from an agency said that they could not use any ported guns for similar reason.

 

[txbrown]

Chances R, I agree with you on the ported handguns. 

[ondundu]

I own a Shield and just bought a G43. I would not sell a Shield to get a G43. My Shield has been excellent, 100% reliable with a nice trigger, and very accurate, and is more comfortable to shoot than the Glock. And for IWB carry, I don't see the Glock as providing many advantages.

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Edited December 16, 2020 by ondundu

[tercel89]

I say go with the 43 . I have had both. I like both but I'd go with the 43. Both are reliable but when it comes to complete disassembly to clean inside the striker channel and all other parts , the Glock 43 is way easier to disassemble. With the Shield you have to remove the rear sight which holds the striker safety plunger and all. That's just too much bull crap to have to go through to thoroughly clean a pistol. Bottom line is the 43 is a very simple gun , very little parts and very reliable in my opinion and to completely disassemble it all you need is a punch or a nail or anything skinny. With the Shield you need a roll pin punch for the roll pins and an allen wrech for the rear sight . The 43 allows you to do any thing you want to do in the field with pretty much anything you have around you , no special tools. Just an FYI , I am different from most others as I think of simplicity and reliability even if it means the pistol may have a slightly heavier trigger pull and even if the pistol is heavier and thicker.

Edited May 15, 2018 by tercel89

[m16ty]

I ended up picking up a Shield yesterday. I held both and the Shield seemed to fit my hand better. I'm a Glock fan and really was leaning toward the Glock, but with the Shield having a better fit, and almost $100 cheaper, the G43 will have to wait. 

I carry OWB under a untucked shirt. I can hide a LCP .380 pretty well, even under a T-shirt. I know the Shield is bigger but I'm hoping I can still hide it decent. I ordered a Blackhawk CQC Serpa (my preferred carry holster) tonight, I'll have to wait until it gets in to try carrying it.