.45 Shield vs CS45

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Have a .45 Shield and am picking up a CS45 in a week or three. Price on the CS45 was pretty good (and it came with 4 mags) and I was weak and put some money down on it.

So now I'm wondering how folks think they stack up against each other.

The Shield has been my go-to pocket carry gun but I could just as easily carry a CS9 instead. (I kinda like the bigger bullets, though.)

I'll probably think about the CS45 as pocket carry as I like DA/SA better (and except for a .40 M&P that's at my bedside, the Shield is my only striker-fired gun.)

I know the Shield is lighter and a tad thinner but I don't think the specs on the CS45 will be any handicap for carry. I also know I shoot the Shield pretty good all things considered. But then I ain't unhappy with my CS9 shooting either.

So, wadda ya say....which would you prefer in a jeans pocket (or out of it), if either one. (My IWB carry are a 4513TSW and .40 Beretta PX4compact.)
 
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Another vote for the CS45. But mine is a belt gun. NOT a pocket carry. Its too big for that. Regards 18DAI
 
I have a 4566 and a 457, both are shooters and utterly reliable. They have long since been retired simply because the polymers are lighter and easier to carry. Also didn't want to switch between striker fire and DA/SA. All my M&Ps, to include any other carry firearms, have thumb safeties and set up the same for continuity. Nothing wrong with the 3rd gen smiths, but it does take practice to understand and get used to the DA/SA.
 
Another vote for the CS45. But mine is a belt gun. NOT a pocket carry. Its too big for that. Regards 18DAI

I don't have a CS45 (or any CS model for that matter), but I do have a Gen 1 .40 S&W Shield and even that's too big for pocket carry. Heck, even my GLOCK 42 is too big for pocket carry. Pocket guns for me are guns likes my Seecamp LSW32, Ruger LCP, Kel-Tec P32, and Beretta 950.
 
The age old debate. Steel v poly, striker v hammer, external safeties, yay or nay. Won't slam on the CS, know nothing about them, save what they look like. I do know about the Shield 45. It's been my EDC since I got it. As the old saying goes, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."
 
Had a CS 45DAO when they first went on the shelves. Foolishly traded it for sumtin different. Sure wish I had it now. Fine weapon and I shot it well. Must have had rocks in my head for trading it off!!!
 
They are different platforms and probably hard to directly compare. The Shield benefits from more modern knowledge abut ergonomics, at least for most people. Mine is a 4" 9mm, which is not a pocket gun - but I pocket carry a G33 almost all the time and it works fine in that role. I am pretty sure a standard Shield would too.
 
I had a bead on a CS 45D a few weeks ago locally - I have a number of 2nd and 3rd generation S&W pistols but I held off on this one - parts availability, particularly recoil spring concerned me regarding serviceability.



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I bought a 45 Shield M2.0 in June for my EDC. OWB

Less than two month later I was back to carrying my 642-1.

Its a weight thing for me.

I have a shoulder holster for it but if I'm going to do that I carry my full size M&P 45.

I only have two bottom feeders.
 
While the size of a pocket for in pocket carry is important it is also important the way the pocket is cut. I really can't explain how the pocket should be cut but I have pocket carried mid size pistols for a long time in pocket and the pocket cut is just as important at\s the size of pocket. The pocket cut decides how the pistol will carry in your pocket...by that I mean the position the way the pistol sits.. I have carried with a pocket holster, without a holster but a trigger stop, and pocket carry is my favorite concealed carry method. However I have several holsters for all of my pistols and revolvers. Lots of toys. lol
 
I had a bead on a CS 45D a few weeks ago locally - I have a number of 2nd and 3rd generation S&W pistols but I held off on this one - parts availability, particularly recoil spring concerned me regarding serviceability.

Was the CS45D stainless or black?
 
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