Two of the most popular carry guns from two of the most well know manufacturers; the Shield and G43 set the standard for ultra concealable single stacks. Weighing in at 18.03 and 17.95 ounces respectively, the Shield and G43 are perfect for those looking to keep their EDC as lightweight as possible. But what sets these two pistols apart?
Introduced in 2012, the Shield took the concealed carry community by storm. Right out of the gate, the M&P Shield was offered in 9mm and .40 caliber, giving gun owners the chance to own a great little gun in something other than .380. Not too long after, the Shield also branched out into a .45 ACP offering. With little competition, the Shield quickly became one of the most popular carry guns.
Remember when the first Transformers movie came out in 2007, and then the new Chevy Camaro took center stage? The demand for the Camaro was astronomical, with people lining up to place orders and make reservations for the new model, which didn’t come out until 2 years after the movie was released. By that time, everyone had bought Mustangs or just plain lost interest.
Cue the Glock 43. Glock fans had begged and begged for a single stack 9, and all they got was the 42 in .380. By the time that Glock released the 43 in 2015, the Shield already had the market to itself for 3 years. But, being a Glock, sales picked up and now both pistols are very popular.
The Shield is great for quite a few reasons, with the first being cost. At $325 from a local gun shop ($295 with a rebate), the Smith is a steal. With that comes my second favorite part about the Shield: the sights. While night sights are arguably superior, these metal sights use a three-dot set up and are incredibly vivid. So much so that they can be clearly seen from across the room.
This gun, however, is not quite “perfect”. External safeties are all well and good, but the Shield’s safety is so low profile that it is hard to sweep off on the first try. Secondly, the take down requires an additional step compared to the Glock, and an additional tool is required to effectively field strip the gun. Yes, this is very nitpicky.
Two things that keep this Glock from truly reaching “perfection” are the sights and the price. The current gun market is flush with single stack nines from various manufactures selling great guns at great prices. Coming in at $499 from the same gun shop, the Glock is almost $200 more than the Shield.
The last gripe with the 43 is the plastic sights. The “ball in the bucket” sight picture is great, especially for newer shooters, but the flimsy plastic isn’t ideal. Everyday carry guns tend to get banged up, and the plastic sights may not always cut it. But, as with the Shield, the positives outweigh the negatives. Glocks are some of the highest quality and most reliable handguns on the market, and arguably the most user friendly in terms of maintenance.
So which is the best gun? Well, it depends. Both guns have their pros and cons, and it really just comes down to what you’re looking for and how much you’re willing to pay. At under $300 for a new Smith & Wesson M&P Shield, you really can’t go wrong. And a single stack 9mm with Glock reliability and build quality makes a great case for the Glock 43. I guess the only way to tell is to go out and shoot.
