I bought multiple 9/40/45 Shields during the first rebate period and I'm beginning to realize that ALL of them are more than adequate for ANY self-defense situation... Any caliber, any Shield.

Do some comparisons at the Federal LE site and you'll see just how similar all Shields are in getting the job done.
Law Enforcement - Federal Premium LE, Speer LE, BLACKHAWK!, Eagle - Handgun

Drill down to Handgun Ammo-> Tactical HST-> Compare and select P9HST2 + P40HST1 + P45HST2 and you'll see the very slight differences in performance between these three popular calibers/loads when you review the accompanying FBI Protocol charts. All three calibers/loads meet or exceed performance minimums for almost any self-defense ammo requirement.

I've carried and shot HST since its introduction but I acknowledge that there are other good LE ammo choices in addition to HST. I had awful feeding problems with Hornady polymer-tip rounds so I avoid them but, Golden Saber and Winchester Ranger seem to work well in my Shields with their rather steep feed ramps.

I think the obvious conclusion is that whichever Shield you own, when loaded with the proper ammo, you will be well-protected.

Now, I have to shop for a triple bellyband holster so I can carry my 9, my 40 and my 45 all at once!

Two spare mags for each caliber will pretty well fill up your belt, won't it?

For folks just starting, if all of the three calibers are pretty much equally effective, wouldn't the gun with the largest capacity in the same overall size make the most sense? (Says he who has -and carries - a Shield 9, never liked 40 caliber guns, and long ago gave away all his 45 reloading gear to his kid along with the USGI 1911 his father got from the DCM a half century earlier. And who otherwise would get a Shield 45 in a heartbeat - it's the softest shooting 45 I've ever handled - if for no other reason than to be able to say I sometimes carry a manly caliber.)

I don't know, when I got my Shield 9mm I thought "this is it; this is the last gun I'll buy for CCW". Then I just had to have the Shield 45. And I said "ok, this is it; this is the last gun I'll buy for CCW." I just prefer how it shoots, and I guess mentally feel better with a bigger round at the ready.


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I feel the same. My 9 was my EDC until I got the 45 and now it's just a lowly nightstand queen.

9mm. Capacity.

Everybody seems to rave about the Shield 45, and I'm sure they're great, but I personally don't want anything in .45 that has a sub 4" barrel. The slower 45 round just loses to much,balistically, from a really short barrel.
The .40S&W is a very snappy round, in any poly pistol. Also, it's really fallen out of favor these days, which really hurts a pistol's resale/trade potential, which is something I always like to factor in (not just guns, but toys of every variety, and it's proven to be a very beneficial consideration).
I've long been a 9mm fan, and given the highly effective ammo available today, and it's lower weight and bulk, I think it's the most practical round for a SD pistol, especially in a compact, polymer-framed EDC pistol.
That's how I see it,anyway.

Being hit by three Toyotas or one bus, same thing.

I carry my Shield 9 with the extended mags with the MagGuts +1 kits (which have never had a hiccup), so I'm rockin' 9+1. Speer Gold Dot 147gr in the gun and Speer Lawman 147gr in the spare mag.

I have 2 shield 9mm's (1 safety 1 without) I have the Shield 40 and 45. The 45 its my favorite, All my shield's are laser like accurate and utterly reliable but the Shield 45 out performs the 9 and 40 as far as accuracy. Ive long been a 45 fan (still carry a 9) but that 45 regardless of barrel length I think out performs both the 9 and the 40 ballistically.
I fell the mere size of the 45 unexpanded is a better choice for ME, Ive read some pretty extensive ballistic tests (lucky gunner and guns and gear) and the 45 seems to do very well even in the short Shield 45 barrel. The accuracy of the Shield 45 mitigates it's low capacity again for me, The federal HST and the Winchester SXT all in +P seem to perform very very well. I'am totally comfortable with my Shield 45 as a EDC gun as a Nightstand gun as my all around defensive pistol.
Just my 2 cents
1Sg
Out

I don't care for a .40, especially in a small pistol. I've owned the 9mm Shield, and currently own the .45 Shield. I prefer it for the slightly bigger size, the better trigger, the better grip, and of course the caliber. I know that shot placement is more important than caliber, but given the choice, I just prefer .45 ACP over 9mm.

As for ammo, I prefer Hornady CD 185 GR STX for carry and defense. I prefer Federal and Remington for range ammo.

I've tried hundreds of rounds of SD ammo in my Shield 9 and .45. With my 9, the only SD ammo that's never had a jam of any kind is Hornady Critical Duty 135g +P. It's been perfect for 174 rounds. I had an early FTE with Speer Gold Dot 124g +P, but it has been perfect the last 147 rounds. Remington Golden Saber 147g went 227 rounds before an FTE, and is by far the most accurate ammo I've shot with my 9.

With my Shield .45, the accuracy champ has been Federal Tactical Bonded. It's hard to find, though, and HSTs have done just fine. Overall, I've found the Shield .45 to be much more accurate and reliable than the 9, so that's the one I carry.

__________________
What, me worry?

Shield in 40

I shoot HSTs 180g

I chose 40cal due to better energy levels and penetration through glass and steel than 45 or 9. I also started with 40, so a bit stubborn.

But.... as said before, all 3 of these calibers are great choices

I might not like the .40 so much if mine was not ported. I tried a .45 shield, but didn't like it as well as the .40 PC.
I ended up trading the .45 for a 9mm Shield, which I'm giving to my daughter. The 9mm shoots nice, but my .40 PC is almost as pleasant to shoot.
I would think the 9mm would be the most reliable, a slightly tapered case, and a longer rounded bullet profile.
Accuracy between the three calibers was a toss up at shorter distances, with the .45 doing better out at 25 yards and beyond.
I don't like how most of the .40 practice ammo I've seen has that big flat point on the bullet, haven't seen that bullet shape in other calibers.
At least the JHP loads have a "normal" shaped bullet.

MYTH: "The slower 45 round just loses to much,balistically, from a really short barrel."

FACT: Caldwell Chrono @10 feet; 87 degrees; 85% humidity; S&W Shield 45; Federal HST +P 230 grain P45HST1 Ammo. Federal Factory Specs: Muzzle Velocity = 950fps; ACTUAL Average of 10 shots = 893fps.

CONCLUSION: The approximate 10% velocity loss using +P ammo for carry has negligible effect on short-barrel 45 performance.

MYTH: "The .40S&W is a very snappy round, in any poly pistol." "(9mm) the most practical round for a SD pistol, especially in a compact, polymer-framed EDC pistol."

FACT: The 40S&W (as well as all other handgun ammo) is, in fact, LESS "snappy" in a polymer-frame pistol than it might be in a metal-frame pistol. It has been proven for decades that the slight flexing of the polymer frame material provides for a noticeable reduction in "felt" recoil vs. a metal frame with no flexing.

CONCLUSION: It's all about what YOU like best. If whatever gun/caliber works for you and you enjoy shooting it, you'll practice more and become a better shot.

It's still my opinion that ANY of the 9/40/45 Shields will get the job done for you. Pick your favorite!

I have the Shield 40. Loved it UNTIL I got the PC Shield 45. The ammo I shoot most is from freedommunitions.com
180 gr in 40 & 230 gr in 45. I have & shoot the 230 gr 45 XTP. Great round. That's what I carry.

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