Bought this HXB prefix Shield in 2017. Ran a couple mags thru it for function, cleaned it and continued to carry the Shield .40 ,as the .45 is a little wider and needs a different Holster.

Thursday, I took the .45 to the Range.. Outdoor Range with 6 action Bays, where you can move, draw and fire. 3 of the Bays have Plate racks, 6 round steel plates raised vertically by a bar that you pull with a Rope attached...distance about 25 feet... 6 for 6 using WW white box 230 gr. Carry ammo is Winchester Ranger Bonded 230.

Put a B24 in the Target frame and @ 7 yds, put 14 rounds inside the 10 ring.The rounds go where the white dot is...

First Time shooting the .45 since major Neurosurgery 1-19...been dealing with nerve damage/ hand weakness..Trying to get back to where I was before the surgery. Dr..said “ I played too hard @ work”.

I’ve been going to the Range a couple times a month, but mostly shooting .22s, and the last couple times , the .40 Shield..I went 6 for 6 twice, than dropped a couple and 3 for 6 on the plate rack. That’s the .40, .22s won’t knock the Plates down.

The .45 Shield was the best $251 OTD I’ve ever spent on a gun. Great product from S&W.

It's good to do some recreational shooting and practice with different pieces. And doing so at an outdoor range is best. Sounds like you are able to do this fairly often. Thanks for sharing. Enjoy and be safe.

Sounds like a very productive range trip. Thanks for bring us along. Just something special about a 45.

Amen! I recommend getting out and shooting it a whole bunch more. I've been extolling the virtues of the Shield 45 on the Forum for some time now. It is an amazingly accurate pistol for its size, and, IMHO, is the best small, concealable handgun on the market. I own eight semi-autos, and the only one that consistently outshoots it at 15 to 20 yards, is my FNX-45 Tactical with its 5.25" barrel. While I've never shot a Shield 40, I do own a Shield 9, and I can tell you that in terms of accuracy, the 45 is light years ahead of the 9.

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What, me worry?

For 4 years I carred a 9mm Shield.

I reckon the .45 version kicks pretty briskly?

I have all 3 calibers of the Shield. While the 45 comes back more briskly than the 9mm, it's not a bad as the .40.
230 grain hardball or the equivalent isn't bad at all, I could shoot several boxes per range session.
Speer 200 grain +P Gold Dot is a bit more "brisk".

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U. S. Army Veteran

No not really. I think you'd be surprised. It may have a little more muzzle rise than the 9mm, but I don't find it snappy at all. In fact my dad is 70 and he hadn't shot a .45 before. He shot a magazine and nodded his head with his lip out...in approval.

.45 feels more like a steady push against your palm/arm, not a wack if that makes sense. Not as light recoil as say a 4" 1911, but its not bad even in this package. Very well executed design.

Its accurate as well which is good as well.

Look around online and I'm sure you can find a great price. Even with your transfer fee I think you'd be surprised. Try one. You'll like it.

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But +P is more "Brisk" in a Commander 1911 too.
I generally carry standard pressure. Usually.

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I've been thinking about what gun I want to buy next and you guys are really pushing me towards a Shield in .45. I have one in 9 mm and it's nice but not my favorite gun, but it seems everybody thinks the .45 version is much better than the 9 mm one.

If you’re confident and competent with the 9mm, no need to change unless you want to....And, there’s no such thing as too many Guns.

The ammunition has improved with Bonded technology to the point the big G has gone back to 9mm as their Duty round.... Hornady Critical Duty.....

My Youngest has a Shield 9 for her CCW... Speer Gold Dot 124 gr.# 23618. Ammo rotated/ replaced every 6 months.

Whatever you carry, use a Bonded bullet that meets DOJ specs for penetration and expansion.. Plus P is not necessary with the 3 inch Barrels in the Shield... more recoil..The .45 Shield is little wider and has a slightly longer barrel than the 9/40....I havent run any Plus P in ithe Shields, Just the Winchester Ranger JHP in the .40/.45. 180/230gr....

Ammo has come a long way since the Dept. issued Winchester Silvertips back in the 80s.I had in my 4506 variation.

I really need to stop reading this forum...

My Shield 9 2.0 has been my EDC for a good bit and the pistol I shoot most these days. Truth is I love the way it feels and shoots... and conceals.

Over the past few months, I've become intrigued by the idea of a 45 and well, threads like these are convincing me I just have to get one but... what if like it more than my beloved 9??? LOL

Skip it.

9 has more bullets and less kick than a .45, particularly in a pocket gun.

When the Jackboys loom, more bullets is what you need.

My .45s are for the range. My 9mms are for serious work.

Except none of the Shields are pocket guns. Recoil springs are great on these pistols. If you have shot the .45 you'd see that.

Most of my current guns are 9mm, and in my lifetime I've probably owned more 9mm than anything else, although I've owned and carried quite a few different guns and calibers, several in .45. The Shield 45 is great. So is the 9mm. Kinda depends on what you want really.

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I carried a 9mm shield for 4 years. Sold it and got a P365.

And your problem is...?

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What, me worry?

Nothing wrong with that, but its personal preference as well. Not to contrary but I don't know what that has to do with the .45 Shield.

How you shoot a firearm...or how well rather, ergos that fit you, and carrying a firearm and caliber that is reliable and you trust are probably the most important things to consider when chosing a firearm to carry/use for SD. Luckily there are lots of choices these days.

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