First Look: Samson Manufacturing S&W Shield Pocket Comp

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posted on January 30, 2018
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For 2018, Samson Manufacturing is making the popular Smith & Wesson M&P9 Shield easier to shoot than ever, thanks to its all-new Pocket Comp design.

Newton's Third Law, "For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction," is inescapable, and the less mass there is in a 9 mm carry pistol, the more shooters will feel the energy from that shot. Fortunately, the firearm industry develops ways to mitigate that felt recoil in compact-sized carry guns, and the Samson Manufacturing Pocket Comp is the latest innovation designed to manage the snappy Shield handgun.

“Not only is the Comp small enough for pocket carry, the attachment system is unlike anything currently in use on a handgun” Samson Spokesperson Dave Biggers said.

The compensator is machined from 7075 aluminum and is treated in a black hard-coat anodized finish to enhance the strength and durability of the product. Attaching it to the barrel of an M&P Shield is easy, since the Pocket Comp locks into place atop a barrel nut.

The nut screws onto standard threaded barrels with a 1/2x28 TPI threaded muzzle and features insertion points for hex-head screws that secure the comp in place over the barrel nut. When the compensator isn't in use, the nut can remain in place as a thread protector for the threaded barrel. The design operates reliably with the OEM recoil spring and is designed to function well with a range of projectile weights, though the company recommends shooting bullets weighing no less than 124 grains.

To mitigate the recoil of the diminutive S&W M&P9 Shield, the compensator redirects the propellant gas escaping from the muzzle with each shot, using the force from this escaping gas to counter the natural recoil experienced by the pistol. This lessens the amount of felt recoil experienced by the shooter, enabling them to better handle the gun and get back on target quicker.

While the Samson Manufacturing Pocket Comp extends from the end of the barrel an extra 1.15 inches, the overall profile of the product is designed to blend in with the slide design on the S&W Shield, appearing like a natural extension of the pistol. The comp measures 1.3 inches high and 0.85 inch wide and weighs 1.2 ounces.

The suggested retail price on the Sampson Pocket Comp for the S&W M&P9 Shield is $64.99.

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