New Shield 45

Uncle Pete

Member
Joined
Sep 9, 2021
Messages
7
Reaction score
18
Location
LEOMINSTER, MA
Just picked up my new Shield 45. Ordered a Mantis X 3 and Laser Academy. Going to be a long dry-fire winter. Also ordered an Alien Gear Low Pro Belly Band Holster to practice with. Last week I went to Mass Firearms in Holliston,MA. Tried a P365XL, Shield Plus and Shield 45. I found the two 9mm much snappier than the 45. Going in I kind a thought the SIG would win me over, not so much. In the back of my mind I had the 45 waiting in the wings. Can't wait to start practicing. Thanks for listening.
Uncle Pete
 
Register to hide this ad
I have nearly 8,000 rounds through my Shield 45, and I love it. I carry it regularly. What I like about it the most is its accuracy. It's amazingly accurate with just a 3.3" barrel. It is significantly more accurate than my SIG P320 compact 9mm with its 3.9" barrel.

My prediction: You're going to love yours.
 
Were there any state restrictions on your new gun, due to being sold in Mass?

I'd heard that Smith finally decided to leave MA when that State started telling them how many lbs of trigger pull is legal.

It doesn't reach the 10 round limit. I'm sure there is a limit on trigger pull, I don't know it off hand.
I believe the safety is also on the must have list. About six more years in this state, then onto a gun
friendly one. :)
 
My .45 Shield is my daily carry as well. Exploring desert canyons, camping, having to go into the big city, the Shield goes everywhere.
Well, almost everywhere. If I go up into the pine forest band that extends across Northern Arizona I take my 5 shot S&W .44 Mag, as Black bear abound.

I owned a .45 Shield when they first came out but was heavily into the .40 cal then and sold it.
A couple years later I bought another and shot it enough to realize how good they really are. Way more accurate and mild shooting than you'd expect from a compact. And great triggers on all the ones I've shot.

I Cerakoted mine in S&W FDE, added Tru-Glo TFO sights and a Lasermax green laser and Mint green light.
It is comforting when out camping to be able to grab the Shield and have instant light without having to hold a separate flashlight.

The .45 is pretty tame with loads that are running at hardball pressure and velocity, but when I put Speer +P 200 grain GD JHPs in it, it has some snap !
The Shield also shoots the CCI .45 ACP shot capsules like hardball.
During the warm months I keep a shotshell or two in for rattlesnakes.
Z1DSurIh.jpg

C05qfE2h.jpg
 
Hit flea markets and estate sales. Yesterday on the way to Walmart my wife and I spotted an Estate Sale sign, we made our way to the sale, and while she was looking for furniture or old british baking tins, I was looking for old oil cans, signage. In the back the lady had a glass case locked, I looked inside and spied the sales "treasure" horde. Loaded down with Mec-Gar 18rd 92fs mags a total of 32, Colt 7rd stainless 1911 mags 45 total, 2 8rd 9mm shield mags, and 25 Shield 45 6rd mags. I asked her what she wanted, I then told her make me a good price I'll buy them all right then, her comeback was I'll take $5 bucks a mag, cash. I came home with a huge box full of near mint mags, 4 oil cans and a Penzoil sign.
 
Hit flea markets and estate sales. Yesterday on the way to Walmart my wife and I spotted an Estate Sale sign, we made our way to the sale, and while she was looking for furniture or old british baking tins, I was looking for old oil cans, signage. In the back the lady had a glass case locked, I looked inside and spied the sales "treasure" horde. Loaded down with Mec-Gar 18rd 92fs mags a total of 32, Colt 7rd stainless 1911 mags 45 total, 2 8rd 9mm shield mags, and 25 Shield 45 6rd mags. I asked her what she wanted, I then told her make me a good price I'll buy them all right then, her comeback was I'll take $5 bucks a mag, cash. I came home with a huge box full of near mint mags, 4 oil cans and a Penzoil sign.
That was a good score for sure. I don't have that kind of luck, I could do nothing but go to estate sales for the next 20 years and never find Shield mags !
 
I picked up mine, including a laser grip, one year ago on sale new for $300! Prior to that I had exclusively collected and carried classic (pre-80's) S&W revolvers. This quickly became one of my very favorite shooters and my every day carry.
 
Some days you just get lucky, we had a gunshop local to me who lasted about 3 months before closing their doors, I went in prob a week before they shuttered their doors and they had boxes upon boxes of gun cases, cases that shipped with the gun from the factory. Guy was asking 3 bucks for each so I bought them all, had a mixture of Beretta, Glock, FN, Smith & Wesson, Browning, Colt. When I got home I was pleasantly surprised to find not only the manuals inside each case, but 1 to 3 spare mags. Seems the dealer failed to inspect his "stuff" prior to selling. This is the place I also picked up 15 10" stainless AR barrels for 20 bucks each.
 
I ran into one earlier today at a phenomenal price. Friend of a friend, needs money fast. BNIB.
The price would get me arrested for theft. I passed, but thinking on it.
 
Took it to Mike LaRocca in Worcester, MA last Saturday. He is going to do a trigger enhancement and his reliability package on it. Dang he's going to be the first one to shoot it. Oh well, it's going to be the way it should have come from the factory, smooth. Long two weeks coming up.
 
Last edited:
Back
Top