When I started to carry it was either a G26 or G19, but I work where I need to have a shirt tucked in and when I carried IWB I always ended up getting my back banged up one one way or another. I don't think putting a wedge inside a belt and cinching it down is good for my spine. Seems to work for everyone else, just not me so I switched to pocket carry.
Initially I went with a S&W 642, but in training classes or doing any kind of drills really sucks with 5rds and a slow reload. Personally I carry spare ammo on speed strips in the other pocket. I found that hornady american gunner 125gr XTP shoot very well out of my gun and I don't think it's too much to manage for me.
After a while of this, I missed the speed of a magazine reload, but just as importantly I missed being able to have a tritium night sight. For those reasons I really liked everything I read about the shield when it came out and eventually I bought one. I've pocket carried a gen1 for years, then switched to a gen 2 with factory nights when that came out. The shield is a time proven, rock solid, top notch pistol that you can bet your life on once it's proven itself with enough of a round count.
Something you may want to consider and something I've looked at quite a bit is the Sig P365. It's the same size as the shield, but more ammo. The only reason I haven't bought one and made the switch is because I think they still have a primer strike issue, but when/if that ever gets dialed in I'd make the move in a heartbeat all other things being equal.
Initially I went with a S&W 642, but in training classes or doing any kind of drills really sucks with 5rds and a slow reload. Personally I carry spare ammo on speed strips in the other pocket. I found that hornady american gunner 125gr XTP shoot very well out of my gun and I don't think it's too much to manage for me.
After a while of this, I missed the speed of a magazine reload, but just as importantly I missed being able to have a tritium night sight. For those reasons I really liked everything I read about the shield when it came out and eventually I bought one. I've pocket carried a gen1 for years, then switched to a gen 2 with factory nights when that came out. The shield is a time proven, rock solid, top notch pistol that you can bet your life on once it's proven itself with enough of a round count.
Something you may want to consider and something I've looked at quite a bit is the Sig P365. It's the same size as the shield, but more ammo. The only reason I haven't bought one and made the switch is because I think they still have a primer strike issue, but when/if that ever gets dialed in I'd make the move in a heartbeat all other things being equal.