A Shield 45?

[ladder13]

I've been seriously thinking about picking up a Shield 9mm, 40's don't do anything for me in any platform, but will wait a bit longer to see if Smith makes one in 45. Any rumors?

Oh, NS as well.

 

[Maximumbob54]

I doubt is as they can't keep up with any of their current production. Myabe in a couple of years.

 

[Smitty357]

Well for some reason they came out with the no safety version. So I don't think current production matters. If they couldn't keep up. They wouldn't have wasted their time with the no safety version. Plus they know they stand to make way more money on a Shield .45.

 

[OldLawman]

I'd love one (still my favorite caliber), but stick to my Novak-tuned 1911 platform guns in .45 for now. Maybe in another year or so. The compact M&P in .45 is fairly small. Then again, I am retired from LEO work, so no one can tell me what to carry. If I still was active, some of the M&Ps and Glocks look pretty promising as far as a .45acp duty gun.

 

[Ksimons]

Give S&W a call and see what they say....

 

[Old cop]

From what I've read here the Shield .40 seems to have problems while the 9mm hums right along. It could be the frame is not sturdy enough for the .40, let alone a .45. Others w/more expertise may disagree.

 

[ColbyBruce]

The Shield needs to be made in .22 LR as it is the perfect size frame for the cartridge.

I would also like to see a Shield in .357 Sig for long range shooting.

 

[sellersm]

I would also like to see a Shield in .357 Sig for long range shooting.

Now we're talking! Perfect caliber for this model!

I'd also like one in .45acp, but not sure it'd be reliable.

 

[OldLawman]

I think it would have to be scaled up in size to take the .45 cap; but hopefully in a single stack. Don't see why it would be difficult to make work - .45 cap is a low pressure cartridge, unlike the .40 and .357 sig.

 

[ColbyBruce]

A small run of Shields in .45 GAP would be nice too. A fairly soft shooting cartridge that throws a large diameter, heavy projectile.

 

[HeavyDuty Ken]

I was hoping the .45 GAP would have taken off, but it looks like it is dying. I suspect it would have fit into the current Shield frame, too.

I'm holding out for a .45 ACP Shield. If it happens, I figure it will be slightly smaller and quite a bit thinner than my 45c with five or six in the magazine and a 3.25" barrel. Basically a M&P version of the XDS.

I like my 45c, but it doesn't carry as nicely in warm weather as my Shield.

 

[shawn mccarver]

Who knows what S&W will do, but the Shield platform, in its existing architecture, will simply not allow for the use of the .45 ACP cartridge. The action length is not long enough. A new Shield would have to be built from the ground up, and I do not see it happening. The existence of the Springfield XDS may have an impact, but the lackluster sales of the Glock 36, would probably show S&W that a single stack Shield in .45 ACP would not be successful. My guess is that the XDS in 9mm will ultimately outsell the .45 version, but who knows.

 

[ColbyBruce]

"lackluster sales of the Glock 36"

I have never owned a Glock 36, but have seen a good many of them at Glock, Inc. for repairs. Granted, everyone of them also was full of aftermarket parts. The service techs stick the non-OEM parts in a baggie and replace all parts with factory parts. I know three people who own Glock 36's that work fine. Those guns are all stock except for the sights.

 

[Fastbolt]

Remember the CS40/45? The .40 version was produced on the .45 frame/slide, not on that of the CS9. Hard to see them stuffing the ACP into the 9mm-sized Shield 40. A Shield 45 would require a new frame/slide design, I'd think.

If S&W invests the effort for making a larger version of the Shield chambered in .45 ACP, it would have to sell well enough to justify taking the machine time away from the calibers that ARE selling faster than they can be produced.

The ACP would be enough of a gamble, but a GAP? It's shrinking for LE sales, and even Glock isn't advertising a wealth of either LE or commercial sales.

Okay to day dream, though.

Last time I asked someone about a Shield 45 being released anytime soon, I was told not to hold my breath. The guy said he'd not heard of hints of a Shield 45 project, although that didn't necessarily mean anything.

Besides, a couple years ago I was told about ongoing development of a SW1911 chambered in .40 S&W, and it was thought it might see release soon. Haven't seen it, yet, though. I could see a SW1911 in .40 selling better than a Shield 45, too. I rather suspect the market appeal for a 5+1 shot subcompact .45 might be a bit less robust that some .45 aficionados might wish.

As much as I like my little CS45, if I could only keep one, I'd keep the CS9. A 7+1 shot subcompact 9mm is handier, and easier for most people to shoot, than a slightly larger subcompact .45 that only holds 5+1 rounds ... and I'm a long time .45 enthusiast & owner.

We'll see, though. I suspect it'll come down to market surveys and consumer demand (including any LE demand for a diminutive subcompact .45).

 

[robkarrob]

I don't see an issue with making a 45 Shield, in the same size as the current Shield. Springfield's XDs is made in 45 ACP, and is almost exactly the same size as the Shield. Gun sales have been increasing every year, by several millions more guns sold, over each previous year. There does not seem to be much reason for S&W to design a 45 ACP Shield, with such high gun sales. I was very surprised when Smith came out with the Shield without the manual safety, but the safety removal was a simple change: remove the safety lever, longer head on sear pin to keep it from walking out (to keep the ejector in place), and eliminate cutout or add plug for lever opening in the frame. Who knows what Smith may be bringing out next?

Bob

 

[Fastbolt]

... I was very surprised when Smith came out with the Shield without the manual safety, but the safety removal was a simple change: remove the safety lever, machine the sear housing wider or use spacers, and no cutout for the frame opening. ...

I wasn't. It's not a big change. Molds are the expensive part, but once made, easy and no more expensive to use.

Besides, the company has probably tired of listening to the "Tastes better" v. "Less filling" consumer arguments, and have simply decided to make the M&P products increasingly available in either/or configuration. Let fans of both configurations vote with their wallets and the company can reap the profit of both preferences being "right".

Granted, I haven't yet had the time to get scheduled for a Shield or Bodyguard M&P armorer class, but if the Shield is anything like the regular M&P pistol line, making non-TS models is pretty simple.

For example, in the regular M&P pistol line they eventually transitioned to making the TS sear block the "standard" block (unless you want to buy a ILS-equipped model, which takes the original ILS capable sear block). The TS lever assembly simply slips around the back of the sear block, pinned by the block's coil pin. No extra space needed inside the frame for the assembly (just the cuts for the levers to move up & down).

In the Bodyguard .380, as approved by LAPD for personal purchase without a TS, the company simply shipped the guns without installing the TS assembly (so the frame cut is simply empty).

 

[shooter1911]

I've been dreaming about the possibility of a 45 Shield, but I'm getting closer and closer to trying an XDS.

 

[Nakanokalronin]

The XDS45 sells pretty well so I could see a slightly larger Shield in 45acp selling fairly well too. Springfield was wise to start the XDS out in 45 first and make the other calibers in the same frame and slide, although the .40 version hasn't been released yet. The Shield would need a slightly thicker slide and frame, but it would still be close enough to the same dimensions so it really wouldn't matter. Right now, no other poly gun in that size can compete with the XDS45 because they're all 9s,40s and 380s.

Like many other companies, if they get enough of a demand for one they might make it. I'd write or call S&W and tell them how much you want one. It might happen if they see enough interest.

 

[Pointblank2U]

Kahr makes some nice small .45s also.

 

[Hamster65]

Hmm..........sounds interesting but, how many rounds could you get in a single stack mag for the Shield platform? Maybe 5 or 6?
Nah..........I'd rather just have a 1911.