Recently, for our anniversary, I got my wife a J frame S&W .38 Special +P 5 shot revolver. She wanted a wheel gun because she can't rack the slide on her .380 or her Ruger SR40. Nice little piece.
I went to Shoot Straight today because they were having an End of Summer Sale and looked at the Ruger LC9 with and without factory installed Crimson Trace Laser ($329 and $399 respectively) and the S&W M&P Shield 40 for $379 + tax and background check. All nice carry weapons but the nod went to the Shield 40 for a number of reasons. It is light, narrow, fits my hand well, has 2 mags (short 6 round and full grip 7 round) and I have a ready supply of 40 acp ammo on hand so I don't need to buy another caliber (9mm - even though it is 1/2 less than 40 acp). Got free range time with purchase and tried it out. I need some work with it as my technique is still a work in progress but I like the trigger (rated just over 6 lbs. with .3" travel) a lot better than the LC9 which has a looooong pull. I got the one with the external safety. I feel a lot better with that feature. I carry with the safety on at all times since it is so easy to flick it off should the need arise. It will be my concealed carry at night when I walk my dogs. I never want to use it but like they say "it is better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it."