utm fk

still EZ | February 2020 G&A 47
Pardon the Pun Shooting the
M&P9 Shield EZ was easy.
Our first shots were hits. The
comfortable, textured grip
frame features a high cut at
the back of the triggerguard,
which allows for a high and
secure grip on the gun. The
combination of the grip and
PERFORMANCE
LOAD
the short trigger reset made rapid follow-up shots a simple task.
It was obvious that the M&P9 Shield EZ is a gun that will be easy
for shooters with different experience levels to master.
Recoil and muzzle rise were a bit stout with defensive ammo
such as SIG Sauer’s Elite 124-grain V-Crown load, but it wasn’t
unmanageable or painful. In contrast, the 100-grain Hornady
Critical Defense Lite was very pleasant to shoot and would be my
recommendation for shooters who are shy about recoil. Winchester’s
147-grain load fits the bill for those who prefer more
bullet weight in a self-defense load. Our sample’s mechanical
accuracy potential at 25 yards was not exceptional compared to
other defensive 9mm pistol on the market, but we found it more
than adequate for its intended purpose. Running drills between
7 and 10 yards, it was no trouble to keep all of the shots grouped
within in the A-Zone of a silhouette target.
The Smith & Wesson Shield has been on the short list of great
carry guns since its
introduction. With the
VEL.
(FPS) ES SD
BEST
GROUP
(IN.)
AVG.
GROUP
(IN.)
Hornady Critical Defense Lite 100-gr. FTX 1,109 40 11.8 3.3 3.69
SIG Sauer Elite V-Crown 124-gr. JHP 1,127 46 15.3 2.24 2.47
Winchester Defender Elite 147-gr. JHP 917 25 9.1 2.6 3.11
Notes: Accuracy is the average of five, five- shot groups from a sandbag rest at 25 yards.
Velocity is the average of five shots recorded by an Oehler Model 35P chronograph.
addition of the Shield
EZ series, this already
excellent handgun
design is even more
attractive to a new
segment of potential
customers. For those
looking for a compact,
lightweight 9mm pistol that’s easy to load, easy to rack and shoot
and loaded with safety features, the M&P9 Shield EZ is the pistol
you’ve been asking for.