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Smith & Wesson M&P Pistols All Variants of the Smith & Wesson M&P Auto Pistols


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Old 09-08-2016, 07:59 PM
kannonvaggon kannonvaggon is offline
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Default Another Shield 45 convert ...

Well... I've been carrying my very trusty Shield 9MM for a couple years now and been very pleased with it. Just a very nice EDC for me.

I mentioned recently that I "lusted" just a bit for a Shield in 45ACP cuz I do like that ammo a lot and especially like the shotshells in 45ACP for my ongoing forays in the southwestern deserts. No comparison between those shells in 9MM versus the 45.
BUT.... Is THAT enough to get me to lay down my dollars for what is more or less exactly what I already have?

Ya know what? I bought one this week and I LOVE this little bugger. The parts are actually maybe a bit better made than my 9MM version. The RSA is also just a tad softer right out of the box. The mags are indeed on the tight side, but that should loosen up fine in a few weeks I think.

The pistol got cleaned briefly, and a bit of running it in. Operated better than I had expected as far as nice group and relatively easy to keep on target even with the short mag. No problem.
It's not as soft as a 9MM, but it's not brutal in any way and it is very " satisfying" to throw larger metal down range. All I tried so far was 230 GoldDot which it ate readily, as my wallet can attest.

So far, I'm very happy with the Shield in 45 ACP. VERY NICE pistol. AND it fits perfectly in my Hidden Hybrid holster made for the Shield 9MM. I thought I'd mention that part since it's always nice to not have to buy yet another holster. I have a little Galco IWB jobber that it doesn't seem to fit as well, so YMMV . It's just that tiny little bit larger than the 9MM. So far I haven't had an issue with the rough grip stippling on my side but we'll see how that goes without any sanding.

Now to get some shotshells before I head to the desert again next month! Those rattlers better give me some space cuz daddy's coming home and he's got a hand cannon ! No quarter shall be given nor expected...
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Old 09-08-2016, 09:40 PM
LAA LAA is offline
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Same here. I have a Springfield XDM 45 ACP with the 5.25" barrel, that is the most accurate of all my semi auto's. I figured that if the Shield was half as good, then I'd be happy. I already own the 9mm Shield. The Shield did very well on it's first shot. Almost center of the bullseye at 7 yards, and was doing very well at 20. Went through 200+ rounds, without any failure.

Used Winchester 230 white box, Fiocchi 230 FMJ, Federal 230 Personal Defense, and Remington 230 Ultimate Defense. Same thoughts on recoil also. I shot the 45 & 9mm side by side for comparison. The 45 isn't bad at all.
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Old 09-08-2016, 11:41 PM
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kannonvaggon, what shot shells do you use, and where do you get them? I love CCI, but a call to CCI and one of their distributors yielded a "it's not that popular, so production isn't a high priority", response. I've found 38, 9mm, .40, and .44, but no .45.

Oh, and congrats to everyone on their Shield .45's.
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Old 09-09-2016, 01:45 AM
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I'm so super excited for my shield .45 to come in. My brother picked one up today and I was REALLY impressed with it. the extra weight feels nicer than my trusty 9mm shield and the new grip texture is amazing. Trigger is distinctly better when dry firing too. We didn't get to shoot it sadly, but if it shoots as nicely as people say I think I'll sell my Walther PPS m2 that I have collecting dust (my shield 9mm just couldn't be beat) and use that to pay for this one (as long as I don't get a lemon, kinda nervous that it will have issues since all the kinks may not be worked out yet)
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Old 09-09-2016, 08:21 AM
kannonvaggon kannonvaggon is offline
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I haven't found any CCI shotshells yet either. When I wasn't needing them I recall seeing the 45s at a couple shops I visit. Now I've been looking around and not seeing ANY. Every online store I've visited is out of stock also. I'm gonna try getting a couple dealers to try to order up some and see what happens.
If anyone knows where they have some inventory let us know.

I may have to talk my local reloader guy into getting the dies to make up some from 308 cases . He probably isn't in any rush to fiddle with loading the shotshells cuz there isn't a huge market in the local area. I know I don't want to go back to reloading my own stuff these days. Haven't been into that for a long time and sold off all my RCBS gear.

When I find a source I'll post, but so far I'm coming up dry. They are out there sitting in a dust covered corner of a shop.... somewhere....
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Old 09-09-2016, 08:37 AM
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So....you bought a new Shield 45.....

Why? Because you know the quality and reputation of the Shield line, and you loved your Shield 9mm and the Shield 45 just makes good sense to you.

These are the same reasons I bought mine...

You sir are a wise man.
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Old 09-09-2016, 09:01 AM
VAPA VAPA is offline
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I bought one a couple a days ago, I was in my LGS picking up a SW22 Victory that I ordered, while waiting for my background check the salesman said they just got in a M&P 45 Shield, soon after holding it I found myself filling out another 4473.
Like it even more after shooting it yesterday and am looking forward to the mag springs relaxing.
I had a XDS 3.3 & a 4 and was unable to shoot them semi accurately, this gun seems to fit my hand better.
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Old 09-11-2016, 07:01 PM
kannonvaggon kannonvaggon is offline
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I checked everywhere I know of on line and all of our local area shops and have not come up with any shot shells in 45.... bummer .....

The CCI factory guy said to " wait until late March or early April when snake season starts which is when they try to have stock out to the distributors" ... which isn't a great answer but it the answer I got.

I'll keep checking around and see what comes up. No joy so far.
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Old 09-11-2016, 08:29 PM
Jersey James Jersey James is offline
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I really like my Shield 40, but when the new 45 Shield came out, I knew I would have to have one. That being said, I think I'm going to wait awhile and see if Smith & Wesson comes out with a Performance Center model, (hopefully) as I have never owned a ported firearm.
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Old 09-11-2016, 08:41 PM
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AaHhhhhh....get it now, you know you want to. Porting is really over rated on these little guns, and the .45 is not that snappy to start with. Pick one in your flavor (with safety or without), throw a set of FO sights on it, and you're good. The trigger is already pretty good.
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Old 09-12-2016, 07:24 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kannonvaggon View Post
I haven't found any CCI shotshells yet either. When I wasn't needing them I recall seeing the 45s at a couple shops I visit. Now I've been looking around and not seeing ANY. Every online store I've visited is out of stock also. I'm gonna try getting a couple dealers to try to order up some and see what happens.
If anyone knows where they have some inventory let us know.

I may have to talk my local reloader guy into getting the dies to make up some from 308 cases . He probably isn't in any rush to fiddle with loading the shotshells cuz there isn't a huge market in the local area. I know I don't want to go back to reloading my own stuff these days. Haven't been into that for a long time and sold off all my RCBS gear.

When I find a source I'll post, but so far I'm coming up dry. They are out there sitting in a dust covered corner of a shop.... somewhere....
Midway had them in stock a week ago....I bought 3 boxes at a gun show a couple of weeks back $15/box.
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Old 09-12-2016, 09:17 AM
kannonvaggon kannonvaggon is offline
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Now that I've carried and operated the pistol for a little while....

The safety ( I happen to LIKE a thumb safety ) is just slightly larger and functions very nicely with an audible click. It doesn't stick out any further but the thumb latch part is just a hair bigger in surface and it seems to work nicer than on the 9MM. YMMV

The pistol is loosening up some. It is for sure easier to rack than my 9MM even though that one has several thousand rounds through it. The RSA sits a little "looser" in it's place under the barrel in the slide. It doesn't sit quite so tight into the "saddle" at the chamber end. Not loose, but not as tight a fit as on my other Shield. Works fine.

The stippling is for sure on the aggressive side. I still haven't found a need to sand the body-side of the grip cuz it hasn't caused any real chafing, but now and then I feel the roughness is there. I probably will sand the tops off the nubs. I do like the feel in my hand very much, but not so much against my side.

Magazines are getting better as far as being able to get rounds loaded with my fingers. Still pretty tight, and ya do have to be careful to tap the mag like it was an M-16 mag to settle the rounds at the rear wall of the mag.
The mags are also tight in the well and the release doesn't easily drop the mag all the out of the well if it's got a round chambered. When empty and the slide locked back it drops clean. This also should loosen up over time.

I can tell the 45 is just that little bit heavier than the 9MM when fully loaded, but it is still a very comfortable carry . The Hidden Hybrid I happen to use works great on both pistols without any mods needed.


A couple boxes through it is all so far. I LIKE this pistol.
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