Yesterday I picked up another Shield, I thought I'd try one in .45 this time.
As other have said, the .45 seems to be the most accurate Shield caliber, and I've also heard that it is really mild for a small .45.
Well, mine is accurate, but I found the recoil, while not unpleasant at all, to be as much as other compact .45's I've shot.
And it is a bit more harsh than my ported PC .40.
If you want a .45 that is really mild for that caliber, try shooting a Ruger P345 !
I chronographed some loads this morning, and the ported .40 gave about 60 to 70 fps. less than my Full Size M&P with two different loads I had.
Ideally, I would have tested a ported Shield vs. an unported one, but the best I could do is compare velocities with my Full Size .40 having an inch longer barrel.
60 to 70 fps. out of an inch shorter barrel, and ported, isn't bad. I think the guys that complain about too much velocity loss with a ported barrel, haven't tested them side by side, or even own a ported Shield.
I haven't been able yet to get some different .40 ammo to see which one my M&P's like, and don't have a great variety of .45 ammo on hand either. But I shot some 5 shot groups at 25 yards off a rest to see what the ammo I do have does.
The first target shows the first rounds ever fired in this new Shield.45. I forgot to mark the ammo used on the target but they were W-W white box FMJ.
Group went 2 1/8" with 3 of the rounds touching. I'm pretty happy with that ! I noticed the group was to the right but I thought I'd shoot some of the SD ammo before adjusting.
SD ammo was 230 grain Hydra Shock. Yes, I know HST is a better bullet, but these are what was on hand.
The 4 inch group was closer to the center, so I'll wait until I get some new carry ammo to zero it better.
Out of the .40 PC I first tried some range ammo, R-P 180 grain Truncated FMJ. group was 4 3/4". And the SD ammo, Doubletap 155 grain Nosler JHP, went 5 1/2".
Not great, but these aren't competition bullseye guns.
I'm sure after I try some more weights and brands it will get better. I did move the sight over so it's hitting dead on now.
Some differences I observed:
The .45 is about 3/8" longer in the slide, and 3/8" longer in the grip. I can't see that the .45 is any wider than the .40, I'd have to get out the calipers to be sure.
The .45 has better stippling, the .40 PC is too smooth.
The .45 has a safety that sticks out from the frame more, has more travel, and more positive actuation with an audible click.
Being left handed, I can't use the safeties easily or fast anyway, so will just ignore them.
I wish I could reverse the mag release like on my FS M&P, but it doesn't look possible. The FS has a mag release opening in the frame that is the same size on both sides, while the Shield has one side larger than the other.
Both the .40 PC and .45 have about the same spring tension to rack, with the .45 maybe being a bit easier to rack.
And pretty similar triggers, although both seem to have a lot of take up (pre-travel).
I can load a new mag in the .40, and slightly pull back the slide to release it and chamber a round.
Trying to slingshot the slide on the .45 doesn't work, I have to reach down with my fingertip and push the slide release slightly at the same time I try to sling shot it.
But it is new, I will put a few hundred rounds through it and see if it wears in.
I'll try to get up to my range at dark sometime and see how the flash is with ported vs. non ported. But by using different calibers, different loads (with different powders), it won't be a completely fair test. But I really don't think the flash from the ported barrel will be an issue.
I like the new .45, but it's not leaps and bounds better than my .40. From what little shooting I did today, I prefer the PC .40.
I guess if my .40 was not ported, it would be pretty even with the .45, but as of now, I'm not giving up the .40 Shield.
Too bad they both can't use the same holsters, everything I buy will be times two.
New .45 Shield At The Range
Linear Mode
