The new .45 ACP Shield from Smith & Wesson expands the line to include this ever-popular, big-bore cartridge.
For more information, visit www.smith-wesson.com.
To purchase a Smith & Wesson Shield pistol on GunsAmerica.com, click this link: https://www.gunsamerica.com/Search.aspx?T=Shield%20Smith.
There is likely no segment of the firearms market that is more crowded with choices than the concealed carry handgun market. The lion’s share of consumer choice in that market is the 9mm, and among the plethora of single-stack sub-compact 9mms available Smith & Wesson’s M&P Shield reigns supreme. If you own one you know why. And for those who wanted ballistic performance in excess of the 9mm cartridge, the Shield has also long been available in .40 S&W (after all, who doesn’t offer the caliber that bears one’s own name!). That left only one segment of folks wanting – but when that group wants, they want louder than anybody. There are just those who feel that no line of handguns is complete until it is offered in .45 ACP. Well folks, Christmas is coming about six months early this year – because the new Smith & Wesson .45 ACP M&P Shield is here at last!
Making the early announcement at the 2016 NRA Annual Meeting, Smith & Wesson effectively drowned out anything that anyone else was talking about. From that opening day at NRAAM to now, the .45 Shield has been the buzz. And unlike many other new models that are talked about, displayed, and sometimes even demonstrated – this one really exists. And it’s on its way to your local gun store right now. Hold on – before you grab your sleeping bag and twelve months of gun magazines to camp out in front of the store – read on and I’ll tell you more about it.
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My test and evaluation (T&E) copy of the 45 Shield arrived with the optional manual thumb safety, but thankfully without the magazine disconnect safety. Copies will be available with and without each. Depending upon where you live, that choice might be made for you. At first look, I was astonished that this big bore powerhouse was seemingly no larger than its 9mm sibling. I’ve had the 9mm Shield for years and am intimately familiar with its dimensions. Lifting the .45 Shield from the box for the first time, I could feel one eyebrow rise partly in wonder and partly amusement – paying homage to the late, great Mr. Nimoy. Why, this gun is not much bigger than the other Shield – or if it is, I can’t perceive it without a caliper. “Fascinating”!
The dimensions are different in most places, but sparingly so. The most obvious increase in size versus the smaller caliber Shield is the length. If you are an experienced concealed carrier then you’ll likely agree that this is the most forgiving of all key dimensions. The .45 is thicker only by thousands of an inch, and my eyes can’t perceive it. Neither can my holsters. A firm Kydex or similar holster will be better if it is made to fit the .45 Shield, but leather or mixed material holsters, such as the new Alien Gear OWB I tried it in will accept it. And my litmus test holster – the DeSantis pocket holster – swallows it up just fine. Oh, and a bonus for the extra length is a longer sight radius.
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The author felt that the dimensions of the Shield .45 (behind) and Shield 9mm (front) were quite similar.
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The author pointed out that he felt the only real difference in size between the two was in overall length.
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Shooting the .45 Shield
I was eager to shoot the pistol and answer my own biggest question: What is the recoil going to feel like? I’m no stranger to subcompact .45s and I know firsthand that a full box of ammo can be a challenge to get through at the range. They can be nothing short of punishing. I was extremely impressed with my first shots – and continued to be impressed through hundreds of rounds – at just how soft this little .45 shoots. The engineers at Smith did a fine job of fitting the proper spring assembly, and the M&P ergonomics help considerably. I’m not exaggerating when I say that you can shoot this gun all day at the range. I will add the caveat that when you feed it some serious self-defense rounds, like the Federal HST +P loads, you can tell the difference. Even then however, the shooter is not punished.
Keeping the .45 Shield flat, even during rapid shooting, was surprisingly easy.
The sight picture on the .45 is the same as other Shields, as the sights are identical. The white three-dot configuration is highly effective, and the front sight post fills the rear notch nicely. At 10-15 yards the Shield likes a tight 6 o’clock hold, with the bullseye balanced on top of the front sight. The shooting experience with the .45 Shield is quite pleasant. The ergonomics of the M&P Shield platform is very good, as most shooters will agree – but the new Shield in .45 ACP adds a new grip frame texture that would be a newsworthy story all on its own. This new texture is more aggressive and abrasive, like grit. It virtually locks your hand and the pistol together, and prevents slippage during recoil – even on a hot day with sweaty hands. All of these elements combine to make rapid fire a reality and follow-up shots are easily placed on target.
To test the accuracy of the .45 Shield, and to provide a consistent launch platform that would help me evaluate the way the gun shoots, I used a bag rest 15 yards from my target, and ran 5 different high-quality loads through the gun to evaluate groups. The results were good considering this distance is more than twice the textbook 7 yard self-defense distance that we’ve all come to swear by, thanks to the great work of Dennis Tueller. Five shots from each ammunition type produced fairly consistent results averaging just about 2 ½” groups. To help eliminate the variable of this particular shooter and his mistakes, I also measure the best 3 shots – and those averaged just over 1 ¼” groups with the best performers under an inch. I recommend doing similar testing with any gun you plan to carry and at least 3-5 different top brands of self-defense ammo. You’d be amazed how some guns just seem to prefer certain ammo, and you won’t know which performs best in your gun until you test it.
The rest of my shooting was done off-hand at a distance of 10 yards from a standard IDPA target, aided by a stick-on target dot to help me focus. The accompanying video shows those shots in addition to the rested tests. In this writer’s opinion, the .45 Shield is a darn good shooter. Smith & Wesson says it’s okay to shoot +P ammo in the 45 Shield, but warns that doing it a lot will accelerate the wear and tear on the gun. They do warn against using any +P+ entirely.
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The only FMJ tested from the bag, the SIG Elite Performance did very well.
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The only +P load tested, the Federal HST produced the best results.
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Remington Golden Saber had the best 5-shot group.
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Take away the flyer, and Hornady Critical Defense was quite impressive.
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The Controls
If you’re familiar with the M&P line, then you’ll already know where all the controls are and how they work. Except in one case it may be a matter of learning what doesn’t work – at least not how you might expect it. Specifically, the slide stop / slide release control has become just a slide stop. At least on the copy of the .45 Shield I tested. My 9mm Shield is one of the guns I know I can slam a round in the chamber with just a flick of my thumb, but the .45 Shield wouldn’t let me do that if I stood on it and jumped up and down (okay, I didn’t really try that because that would probably break five of the four basic rules of gun safety). It’s not a big deal, and if they have made an engineering decision to make it harder to use the control to release the slide, well okay. But otherwise it should work. A small complaint overall.
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The trigger of the .45 Shield features an integrated hinged trigger safety that is designed to help prevent unintentional discharges.
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After a few hundred rounds, the trigger measured a crisp 5 lbs., 4 oz. average from five pulls.
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The pistol comes with two mags. The flush mag holds 6 and the extended (shown) carries 7.
This copy of the .45 Shield is equipped with the manual thumb safety. I generally avoid external safeties on striker fired handguns, so I rather enjoyed playing with it as a sort of novelty. It works very well. Placed almost perfectly for the user to flick off with the thumb and providing nice response via a “click,” it is easy to operate and functioned as designed. I was pleased that you can engage the safety and still manipulate the slide. There is something to be said for that. I still don’t like them – but it’s a good control.
The magazine release button is also pure M&P and functions perfectly. Easy to locate, easy to use, and the magazines drop free every single time.
If you are a southpaw however, you might be disappointed that of the controls on the gun, only the magazine catch can be reversed.
The New Stuff
Okay, the obvious new feature is the caliber itself – but with that aside, the most noticeable new feature of the new Shield is the grip texture. Far from a subtle design change or gimmicky improvement, the new texture on this pistol would be newsworthy even if it were the only change. Using a “pointy granulate” pattern, Smith & Wesson has created a much more aggressive texture that digs into the skin and keeps this gun slip-free while shooting. I give a big thumbs up to the change, but time will tell if this new design makes its way to the 9mm and .40 S&W versions.
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The .45 carries the same popular sights that are very effective.
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That wide-mouth barrel is 3.3 inches long and has a nicely turned crown.
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The other noticeable change externally is the presence of a thin row of serrations at the muzzle end of the slide. Forward serrations are all the rage, especially if you want to look tactical. But this thin strip of swirl patterned cuts is not really enough to grasp for a press-check with any confidence. I count this change as purely cosmetic. That said, it looks good and I’m okay with it.
Conclusions
The new texture on the frame is much more than just fashion—it’s a huge improvement.
Let me be the first to say that Smith & Wesson is going to have a winner with the .45 Shield. And even if I’m not the first to say it, I’m claiming it anyway. If you don’t like M&P Shields then you will surely seek your joy elsewhere, but if you do like the Shield, and you like the .45 ACP cartridge, then you are going to be beside yourself happy over this gun. Smith & Wesson has addressed two of the things that customers have complained about with the Shield – the grip texture and the trigger. The much-maligned M&P trigger system continues to improve, and the one in this little .45 is remarkably good. The pull is smooth and grit-free, and the break is clean and crisp without any spongy feeling. Reset is of respectable stroke length and provides good feedback. The .45 Shield is not a subcompact beast that you must tolerate once or twice a year to feel like you train with your carry gun – it’s a gun that you’ll enjoy shooting, and those training sessions might just become frequent and productive.
If the trucks carrying the new .45 Shield are not already on the way to your neighborhood gun store, they will be soon. Now might be a good time to grab the sleeping bag, cooler, and phone charger and find a spot out front.
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Field strip is simple and can be done without a trigger pull, like all Shields.
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Smith & Wesson gets fashion points for the front slide cuts, but not so much for practicality.
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Guys “Space age” was SIXTY years ago.
Get over it.
Materials science has come a long way, so I really won’t be impressed until we have ceramic barreled and titanium framed recoilless handguns with brassless incendiary or explosive rounds.
S&W handguns are all made in the USA by our fellow Americans.
Just saying…
Smiff done hit the jackpot with the Shield 45. I wouldn’t really call it a subcompact. I’ve owned those, and pretty much dislike them with the exception of my P238. I’d call this a thin compact, or a small service-sized pistol. Call it what you want, it provides a very compact pistol chambered for .45acp that fits medium – big hands. I carry with the extended magazine, and it fits my largish hands very well. I have Peirce pinky extenders on y two spare mags, and they give a great purchase. When it’s all said and done, Smiff has created what I think is the perfect self-defense pistol: a caliber that gets the job done whether it expands or not (all fall to the ball, eh), in a gun that is just small enough to conceal nicely under an open shirt, but yet just big enough to provide a good sight picture and a good grip. It’s a helluva fighting pistol. The only warning I’d give about this is don’t limp wrist it. Keep a firm grip on this puppy or the “limp wrist goblins” will use all their evil trickery against you.
Lol you guys are worse then motorcyclists with your brand bashing. I bought my .45 shield abour 4 months ago and I love it. The slide release problem cleared up by the third time at the range.
I have the Shield 45. Its my #1 CWW gun. Very comfortable, conceals very nicely, never prints, and is a great gun to shoot. The recoil is not bad at all/ Very manageable for a 45. Actually its more manageable then my 40 Shield to tell you the truth, but I’m not getting rid of my 40 any time soon/.
Saving up for the .45. carry a 9mm at work.(like a chiefs special) i have to say, out to 15 yards, my 9mm shield is MORE accurate than my full size.40 M&P. I wonder if the .45 shield is also.
Two people mentioned the Sig P320 as being better hands down they said the trigger beats all the others mentioned.That might be true when the gun fires, Mine went back to Sig twice, when it did fire a round most times it would not go back into battery. It would not fire a whole mag without jamming. Several people tried it,same problem.When it came back from Sig the first time it was worse- failed to go into battery after firing the first round. The second time it went to Sig they changed the fire control mechanism, New serial number, meaning I had to re- register it and out of ten mags ,9 had the same problem- So I sold it and got a shield in 45 , in the past I have owned glocks , they fire everything every time- you could probably even get away without ever cleaning it –
I don’t like that Sig is using its customers as a researcher and development team-
The Shield fires every type of ammo you put through it every time-
i just purchased the M&P 45 shield, but was curious why in my pistol i have a chambered bullet side indicator, yet when a bullet is in the chamber it does not bulge out. Can any expert check their shield if it has the same issue, please.
that indicator on the side doesn’t indicate a loaded round. it indicates a slide out of battery in the dark. opposite of what your are thinking. if you feel it pushed out, you know the round is not fully seated. also, the smiths have a hole on the top looking down into the breach so you can visually look for brass to see if a round is chambered.
Just look at the top, into the little hole. You should see brass if there is one in the pipe.
I have both the M&P Shield 9mm and M&P Shield 45. My 45 has 600 rounds through it made up of a number of FMJ ammunition included my self defense loads, Federal 230 HST. I’ve had zero malfunction of any kinds with great accuracy at self defense distances. As for the slide stop, it is not a slide release. To keep the pistol as thin as possible S&W designed a small slide stop. When I first load my Shield I insert a full magazine then sling shot the slide to rack a round into the chamber. With the slide locked back I remove the empty mag, insert a full mag and again sling shot the slide.
Looked at this mp 45 shield, it seems like a huge value and very well thought out! I have med size hands and was able to get all fingers on the grip. The best part is the trigger its better than any of the other mp pistols. I am a glock fan boy, no shame there but this mp 45 shield is amazing bang for the buck! I had an xds 9 3.3 and i could not shoot it for shit, that xds confounded me like no other, was uber reliable but i could not hold tight groups, my fault i guess xds just not my cup of tea. I still need to find my perfect summer carry gun. 45 shield might end up being it, but i also want to check the mod2 xd guns they seem pretty slim for the capacity. Thank god we have so many options!
The 45 shield, like every other gun, has both good and bad points. On the good side, it is very thin, therefore more concealable. The slide stop/release/ lock can be somewhat stiff to operate if you’re lacking in hand strength,however, it’s virtues exceed it faults. By the way, I speak from. 45 years of. experience with 25 of those. as a trainer with the firearms division of the State police academy. Afterall, they’re just handguns folks, just handguns.
This gun flew under my radar, while doing my annual hunt for the ever elusive “is there a concealable .45 with more than 6 rounds that I might actually be able to wear without a lot of layers in southern summer heat” I stumbled onto this gun at a LGS. I as soon as I compared it to my G27 (was my EDC) and felt it in my hand I knew I’d finally found my EDC .45 that I’d been lusting after for a very long time. I IWB hip carry so grip length and width play a big role in how well I can conceal, a short thick gun (G27) works okay, but a long thick (anything larger than a 27 basically) grip prints on me like crazy, especially in a t-shirt and jeans. This shield with it’s thin overall profile blends right in even with a simple IWB leather holster (AlienGear is in the mail). Once I get my AG holster I’m confident this gun won’t print a bit.
So far, I’ve been very pleased with this pistol. I have very few complaints… 1 is the slide release, you can’t even call it that at this point… it’s slide stop, calling it a slide release is a bit of a stretch unless your thumb is made of crowbar and you can do 1 thumb pull-ups. The second is prepping the gun with +1 in the chamber, I typically drop one in vs racking and adding to the mag. If you’re not aggressive with the initial slide release while having a chambered round, in my case the slide can stop just shy of being closed, we’re talking 16th’s of an inch, I’m not sure if the gun would operate in that state, I’m almost positive it wouldn’t.
The last point is the grip, I think it’s great, but after a hundred rounds at the range it did begin to irritate the middle of my palm… I’ll chalk this up as me being a little bitch and I wouldn’t change the grip, but for extended range time this gun might become painful to shoot once you hit the 300 rounds mark. Second point on the grip is for concealed carry I have started wearing an undershirt (this became true with G27 after stippling as well) as the extra texture on the grip did rub and cause discomfort after extended wear.
All in all, I’m happy with it and it will ride my hip for the foreseeable future.
In my initial review I stated that the slide release was basically unusable. I’ve put some more rounds through this little guy and it must have done the trick and loosened up the spring as I’m able to easily manipulate the control to release the slide as easily as on my Glock.
…, I typically drop one in vs racking.
That’s an excellent, if not the best, way to damage the extractor. ALWAYS feed from the mag, and then replenish the round.
is there and extended mag for the 40
Yes, S&W makes extended mags for all their Shields
I shall not criticize or launch into any emotional diatribe regarding them “space age” alloy and composite material or plastic weapons with or without external or internal safeties and other of those marvelous implements in their designs. They are, good, excellent, supreme and satisfy if not the needs at least the emotions and fancy of many in the shooting public as well as whomever chooses to issue those to our troops, immediately followed by LE.
I suppose we all remember the stampede on Beretta 92s/M9 when the military was issued those.
My personal view and I shall emphasize it is ONLY my own preference not designated to pick on anyone or any weapon, is very simple.
380 : Walther PPKS. Proven since the 1930s
9mm : Browning GP35 aka Hi-Power, preferred by both the SAS and Waffen SS
45 : 1911, Good enough from Chateau-Thierry to Khe San
All the literature, singing choirs, line dance and music on those new “wonder weapons” sell the goods. The above mentioned trio got the job done.
Are those latest weapons better. Indeed they are. However in a high stress situation, how much difference will it make ? in humble and respectful opinion , very little or none.
Sometimes I feel that firearms are like women hats, FOLLOW THE FASHION.
I hope I did not offend anyone, as such was not my purpose
Thank you very much
PPK was 1930s, PPK/S wasn’t until late 1960s.
It is hard to say anything bad when you are launching bowling balls at the bad guy.
First off, great article. Well written and informative. I own the S&W Shield in 9mm and .40 cal. I have put hundreds of rounds through both of them without a problem. The .40 is snappier in recoil and the 9mm is just a bit easier to shoot quickly with follow up shots. I have been waiting for S&W to come out with a Shield .45 and just purchased one. Not sure of what others are paying but I paid $342.00. As soon as I put at least 300-500 rounds through it, it will become my carry pistol. After 33 years in LE I am somewhat partial to the .45! Buy the way, I also own Glocks 26, 27, 19, 17, 23, 22, and 21. Yea, for awhile I got a bit carried away. I like my Glocks and totally trust their performance ( carried a 19 as a Govt Contractor in horrible conditions ) but the S&W Shield is, for me anyway, a bit more concealable. Hey, to each their own! No matter what firearm you carry or depend on, you have to shoot it a lot and often to maintain your skills.
Nice article Marty, can I ask, where did you purchase a new 45 shield for $ 342.00? My current weapon is my Glock 19 gen 4 but looking @ the 45 shield for my Truck Gun and some carry! Thanks, Bill
I OWN THE S&W M&P .380 BODYGUARD, THE SHIELD .9MM STANDARD AND .9MM PORTED PERFORMANCE CENTER MODEL, THE .40 CALIBER AND MOST RECENTLY ACQUIRED THE SHIELD IN .45 ACP. I ALSO OWN THE M&P .45 COMPACT MODEL. I FIND THE SHIELD .45 ACP IS EXTREMELY RELIABLE, COMPARABLE IN SIZE TO THE SHIELD .9MM AND .40 CALIBER MODELS AND CERTAINLY ABLE TO STAND OFF ANY INTRUDER. THE COST WAS NOT PROHIBITIVE EITHER. I HAVE FIRED PERFECTA AND CHEAP TULA AMMUNITION FROM IT WITHOUT ISSUE, AS WELL AS AGUILA AND WINCHESTER BRANDS, ALL WITHOUT ISSUE. MANY HOLSTER COMPANIES SUCH AS DESANTIS ALREADY RELEASED A HOLSTER MADE ESPECIALLY FOR THE SHIELD .45 ACP (WJICH I PURCHASED AND AM PLEASED WITH THE FIT AND FINISH) HOWEVER, WITH THAT BEING SAID, I TEND TO USE PHALANX DEFENSE SYSTEMS COMPACT HOLSTER FOR ALL THE SHIELD MODELS. THIS MULTI-FIT HOLSTER HAS IMPRESSIVE RETENTION AND COMFORT, AND MINIMAL PRINTING EFFECT AS WELL AS BEING ECONOMICAL COST WISE. BOTTOM LINE: THE S&W M&P SHIELD .45 ACP IS A DEFINITE CROWD PLEASER AND WELL WORTH THE PRICE. ON A SIDE NOTE, I AM PROUD TO BE THE FIRST OWNER OF A SHIELD .45 ACP IN WEST TEXAS.
You mentioned the slide stop/ release being tougher to use on his one over your 9 you’ve had for years. I’m just wondering if that might be something they changed over the whole Shield line because my 9 I bought back in April is the same as you describe with the .45. I never even try to use the slide release to drop one in due to the safety violations I would be committing trying to use both hands and squeeze down that hard.
Have a relatively new shield 9 with the same slide stop release problem. My shield bodyguard, on the other hand, works like a champ! See no reason to spend a ton of money on a gun that is functionally not one bit better than the M&P Shields
Will consider the Shield 45, but I won’t wait in line or pay a premium. Only chumps pay for hype. Oh, and stfu about your Blocks and VD”S. Nobody cares.
Not available in the Peoples Republic of Californiastan!! 🙁
That is the residents fault for allowing such nonsense to happen.
They can move if they want to enjoy what rights the rest of us have worked hard to keep.
Well, seems that none of you have fired a Significant P320. It’s trigger is better any of the fore metioned!
That`s a fact. Double action trigger feels close to single action.
love the P320—-beats this Shield thing hands down
totally different handguns
I haven’t seen this gun up close yet but if the trigger is a bad as some other S&W autos I’ve seen lately I’ll stick with my Kimber .45 and Sig 9mm. Both have great sights and great triggers. I recently shot a friends S&W Bodyguard and was shocked at the terrible sights and I have a $99.00 pellet gun that has a way better trigger. So I’ll wait awhile before standing in any lines for this new gun. I don’t see anything here to warrant trading in my 1911s. Meh.
I recently shot (again ) a close friend’s S&W 9mm Shield, and found the trigger on his, to be more than “good”, in comparison to my Glock 9mms! I came LATE to the Glock Camp, and am now very heavily “invested” in Glocks, in 9mm and .45, so I’m not financially “inclined” to sell one off, to get an M&P pistol in either caliber. Yeah, I AM that “frugal” (read into what you choose)
However, I know personally three other long time law enforcement friends, who have switched from their 1911 Kimbers over to the M&P and are anxiously awaiting (salivating is more an appropriate description ) over shooting (fondling) the “new” .45 Shield.
In the interest of “fairness”, I’ve never been a convert to Kimber 1911’s, but that’s just my personal subjective opinion, I prefer my Springfield 1911s, they have worked and do work just ducky for my needs, when I was on the job, and now that I’m retired.(retreaded). I don’t think ANY of us, needs to be an unpaid beta tester for ANY firearms company. Wait a year, then see how this new model shakes out before purchasing one.
I echo the comments here, about uniting to be the formidable wall of Constitutional Rights Supporters against those political whores who seek to deprive US, of our inalienable rights. They sure as hell don’t come from CzarinaHillary, nor any other human! No retreat, no surrender on our RIGHTS!
Amen!
The S&W Bodyguard is not a so called (range pistol). It’s meant for defense. Are you talking about the BG 380? I shoot my BG 380 at the range every once in a while, just to check the function. It’s not a pleasant gun to shoot at the range, but it’s great for what it is intended for, which is CCW. It’s a get off me pistol.
Ok guy’s and gal’s this is about the S&W Shield. Ford or Chevy Sorry I am a Chrysler guy I also like a grip safety. So I am a Springfield guy. But that does not mean I will trash the other guy. I just think we should spend our time and money if you have any on stopping the jerks that want to take our rights away. Oh yeah if I could I would have at least one of each. Thanks for reading.
HOOAH, Mr. Parker. HOOAH
I will stick with my HK45ct which holds 8+1 and 10+1. Love this DA/SA gun!
I can hardly believe it. The comment section wasted no time at all turning this review into a glock circlejerk.
Review is about a S&W. . . ‘aint it??
Amen!!!
First thing I noticed……..there’s that #&@(* thumb safety!
I own both a G19 and M&P Pro and Shield. I prefer the M&P because of the superior grip-to-bore
angle. I also find the M&P to be every bit as reliable as a Glock. However, in my opinion, the best
striker fired trigger pull is the Walther PPQ M2 Try it and you’ll agree.
Yes sir, I have the Walther P99 and the PPQ 45. Both have excellent triggers. DA/SA pistols are always a plus! Walther is by far my favorite firearm. I also had the M&P shield, 40S&W. Notice I say HAD?.. The grip was the issue, with that power, the old smooth grip was not enough. M&Ps seem to be decent firearms tho.
I have the PPQ in .40S&W and cannot agree with you more.
Makes me want to throw rocks at my G24!
Never owned a Glock many friends do and that’s probably why I don’t. Wanna be different I owned a Shield 40 loved it so much sold it an bought a Shield ported in 40…..sold my 40 Shield to a friend a Glock owner he loves it as does his wife. I’ll wait till they port the 45 hopefully soon and then I’ll buy one. Smith makes a great product I own many semi-auto and revolvers they eat any ammo have nice style/design and hold up well. Years ago their customer service was something that needed help but it looks like they’ve heard and listened to the yelling consumer……price are reasonable too… Good Eval…Thanks
You don’t have to wait, buy one now and send it to magnaport. they do great work and I can really tell the difference in the way my friends Kimber 9mm 1911 shoots. My 1911 .45 cal. is my ccw and woods gun, and i use shot shell for the smaller honery critters, so I cant port it until I get a dedicated woods gun..
I have the Shield in .40 and my wife has it in 9. Never shot a Glock….picked up up the shield and tried it at the LGS..bought mine and then a year later bought my wife her’s. Us having old eyes..my wife 63 years young and me going to be 60, I put the Crimson trace laser guards on our pistols, mine in green and hers in red. We like the shields…if someone gave me a Glock, I wouldn’t turn it down, but wouldn’t go out and buy one.
I love my smith 40,I put the clip on it so it’s holster-less and it’s awesome!!! Looks and sounds like 45 is next one I purchase.
Did you ever notice when someone brings out a version of a new Caliber they also say that is comperable to the glock if not better(right) What it really means we don’t do it as well as glock but almost as good
Glock got it right first time out of the box(PTGB) I have stopped listening to all these idiots The average encounter for the public in a handgun situation is less than 10 ft(even less and less than that) and 2 rounds fired (not my oppinion actual facts)
Glock does that better then anyone in the gun making world!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What nonsense. If the Springfield XD had come out before Glock there would be no Glock today. The Springfield is more accurate, has a better trigger from the factory , has more safety features, and doesn’t feel like you’re holding a two-by-four when you try to shoot it. The Glock was a pioneer but got left behind in the dust long ago. Now it seems to be more of a religion than a gun.
So true
Then come back in 25 years and give us your report on the Springfield Shield 45ACP.
Glock will still be the #1 CCW weapon in 45ACP.
It’s early, I meant S&W Shield.
Well Rich, since Springfield doesn’t make the Shield, it would be impossible to give such a report. However, in regards to the differences between Springfield, S&W and Glock, the one absolute thing I can say is they are pretty much subjective; in other words, to each his (or her) own.
I carried a S& W revolver, as well as Smith’s early generation 9mms for several years as an LEO; I never had any significant problems and was pleased with the guns. We eventually switched to (first gen) Glock 9mm, and ultimately to the Glock .40; again, both guns worked well and I was secure in carrying them.
Since retirement, I have owned and, fired several other guns….including two of my favorites: Springfield Armory 1911 Range Master (compact) and a Kimber Ultra Carry II. Without any hesitation, I regard the Kimber as a far superior gun – to S&W, Glock, Sig and Springfield. And yes, I know this is a different platform, but I’m simply addressing gun manufacturers in general.
You may not see it the same way. I know that, but I don’t get rabid thinking you might disagree or make some inane comment such as “come back in 25 years”. Who the hell knows what guns will be like in 25 years? Most likely, they’re going to be much different than they are today. On the other hand, that may give you the opportunity to challenge someone’s opinion on the phaser du jour.
In the immortal words of Sgt. Hulka, “Lighten up Francis”.
in 25 years, it will still be the gun that owners shoot themselves the most with and why the term glockleg was needed.
they were not designed for ccw but for open carry LEO’s. and name one serious glock shooter that doesnt replace their trigger… their sights…. their barrel… if it was a good gun to begin with, no one would replace all these right after buying a new glock. even after changing all those parts, it still doesnt shoot as good as a good 1911. and not as safe either.
police forces only got them because they were cheap and reliable. if they were going for quality they wouldnt have switched to glocks.
I have the XD-E in .45 acp , now that is a game changer.
I also have the S&W Performance Center M&P Shield in .45 acp .
Either one works for me!
I agree with you Mike K. you are 100% right on it. There is so much Monkey see Monkey do in this consumer buying world everyone seems to want to do just what everyone else is doing without exploring other areas Springfield XD is a great gun as well as the Smith Shield it just gets down to which one fits you better.
Amen, live my XDs .45
Love it.
Maybe to you Glock does it better than anybody else, but a Glock doesn’t fit me worth a damn–the grip angle is too far off perpendicular to point naturally for me, the underside of the trigger guard digs into the skin of my middle finger, the trigger pull feels awful, and the gun has a weird vibration in my hand when I fire it. The trigger pull feel can be fixed to some extent, and with judicious application of a Dremel tool and a sanding roll the trigger guard issue can be fixed to some extent, but the grip angle, as far as I know, can’t be changed. They are a fine pistol that’ll take a lot of abuse and still keep going, but they certainly aren’t the ne plus ultra for everybody that you would have us believe.
SEEMS LIKE WITH THE INCREASE IN MASS SHOOTINGS AT MALLS, THEATERS, AND IN THE OPEN, WE ALL BETTER BECOME MORE PROFICIENT AT LONGER DISTANCES. LIKE 20 YARDS.
I have a Glock 30 and a Tarus PT-145. The Taurs shoots just fine. The Glock has that stinking HUMP on the grip that causes you to shoot above the target. Stories abound of police in a panic situation shooting dozens of rounds over the perps. One story had them fire over 30 rounds and never hit the perp,,, ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF A BED!! They have come out with ”fixes” which proves the grip is bad. In a panic mode, you don’t have the time to remember to lower the barrel so you hit the target. Many times you may have to shoot with one hand while ducking, and IT AUTOMATICALLY WILL POINT ABOVE THE TARGET… Sad but true, So, I carry the PT-145… If I get a chance to shoot the new S&W and it fits my hand, I may get one.. The Glock is just not good for panic shooting. Hold a Glock, and another weapon without the Bump in the handle, and stretch out both arms without looking, open your eyes, and the Glock will be pointing above the other weapon…
Honestly, I am used to the internet nonsense posted about certain handguns and such……but even then, some comments leave me dumbfounded.
I actually sold my Glock 43 because I got a job that would interfere with my ability to conceal carry, but now that we’re moving to a non-municipal building I’m in the market for a subcompact. Considering this strongly, or a Glock 30s. Decisions, decisions. I’ve never gotten to shoot a S&W striker before but I assume it’s similar to Glock.
I think the Glock trigger is better, but otherwise, yes, the SW striker fired system is very very similar to a Glock. I bought the shield 1st but wouldn’t be negative about carrying any Glock.
I must disagree the shield has the best factory trigger of any m&p or glock
me too!
I have never heard anybody say the glock trigger is better, i think he was joking…
I’m still laughing after reading that.
The grip and grip angle of the M&P is far better (IMHO) than the glock.
I sold my Glocks and now own all the M&P’s, except this new one yet.
The new trigger system is as good as any Glock trigger so far. IMHO
+1`i also sold all my glocks and now own all m&ps
I’d recommend taking a hard look at the XDs. I’ve had mine for years, have put hundreds of rounds through it with nary a malfunction. Good trigger, and the 4″ barrel version gives a better sight radius.
believe it or not the XDM 3.8 .45 is very close in size to the M&P .40C . I EDC a shield 9 and just picked up an XDM in .45 and I t will probably be my winter carry in Stealthgear Flex. Great trigger and recoil management.
this does look interesting, I’ll have to shoot one when they become available.
Ditto.
I’ve had both the Sheild and several Glocks. I did liked the Sheild but I am parcial to the 45. I currently carry a Glock 30S and love the gun. I have shot hundreds of rounds through it of various types of ammo without issue. I look forward to shooting the new Sheild but at this time would highly recommend the 30S.
+1 on the Glock 30S.
My EDC is the 30SF.
I’ll take more rounds and a little more width over less ammo in the mag. Plus my Glock 21 mags fit and preform flawlessly.
Geeeeezz if there’s one thing that there is no shortage on is opinions…..and ya know what they say about them…..wish they would say both good guns and mostly just comes down to small personal likes and dislikes and quit nitpicking like a couple of old woman at at flea market geeezzzz