Smith and Wesson Shield X

February 15, 2026, 08:24 AM

I love mine. I didn't think they could do any better than the Shield Plus but S&W did. The small differences in the grip design really change the way it feels in the hand and it is much more comfortable to shoot. I like the new sights they are putting on them as well with the front having a "bright ring" around the tritium vial and blacked out rear. It makes it much easier to focus in on. The trigger, like the Plus is much better than the 2.0. I did a little light sanding to the grip texture on one side so when I carry it, it doesn't irritate my skin.

February 15, 2026, 08:26 AM

92fstech

quote:
Originally posted by GCE61:

Dammit, it was your G43X picture in the games gun thread in the gallery (along with shooting my brother's) that got me into the G43X in the first place, and now that I've bought one you're changing teams on me, lol! I'm kinda invested in the Glock now...bought an optic and Ghost connector, and just spent another $125 at GlockStore yesterday for mags and a grip angle reduction backstrap (because I'm too impatient to wait for GritGrips).

I'm glad you figured out the trigger grittiness issue on the Shield X. The one I tried in the shop really sucked, but it's nice to know it's a simple fix...you'd think Smith could have polished those parts a bit before sending them out the door. I'm still liking the Glock, but the Shield X has a lot of good stuff going for it, and I need to try and shoot one sometime. Everybody seems to say it recoils softer than the Glock, and I'd like to evaluate that for myself.

February 15, 2026, 09:05 AM

GCE61

quote:
Originally posted by 92fstech:
quote:
Originally posted by GCE61:

Dammit, it was your G43X picture in the games gun thread in the gallery (along with shooting my brother's) that got me into the G43X in the first place, and now that I've bought one you're changing teams on me, lol! I'm kinda invested in the Glock now...bought an optic and Ghost connector, and just spent another $125 at GlockStore yesterday for mags and a grip angle reduction backstrap (because I'm too impatient to wait for GritGrips).

I'm glad you figured out the trigger grittiness issue on the Shield X. The one I tried in the shop really sucked, but it's nice to know it's a simple fix...you'd think Smith could have polished those parts a bit before sending them out the door. I'm still liking the Glock, but the Shield X has a lot of good stuff going for it, and I need to try and shoot one sometime. Everybody seems to say it recoils softer than the Glock, and I'd like to evaluate that for myself.

Haha, yeah don’t get me wrong, I’m still carrying a 43X in an Incog appendix holster everyday. But the wife and I are both liking that Shield X. Just ordered her a Tulster Oath holster for it off Amazon.

March 08, 2026, 07:08 AM

GCE61

The snow melted enough that we could walk around the outdoor range without slipping on ice.

Set up some targets at 15 and 25y for the wife to practice with her new blaster and new holster.

We noticed the groups printing for both of us consistently to the right, so I told her no worries I’ll bump the rear sight over a smidge for ya.

Yeah right! I haven’t worked on M&P sights in years and quickly remembered how TIGHT they are.
This sucker didn’t budge with two different sight pushers models, bent up my aluminum Dawson drifts, but finally came out after putting the slide in the freezer for an hour then giving the sight a sharp smack.