Hey S&W... I need a Shield Plus in .40S&W!!

There’s no reality there. But if you think so, then thats the way for you. I’m 68 years old and been shooting handguns for over 50 years. Maybe someday I’ll post a thread asking for comparisons on calibers, but this isn’t that thread.

I own guns in all calibers. I own M&P’s in various sizes and calibers. I saw the new Shield plus and thought I might update my Shield with the new one. But I’ll wait on .40S&W, if they don’t make it, so be it.

I recently saw the M&P FPC, and I’d like to give that a try in 40S&W. If they decide to only make it in 9mm, I might try it, as it would just be a range toy, just like my Full Size 9mm CORE.

S&W may have decided I no longer need a 40S&W, and I need to get in line with those who use 9mm. But accepting something like that just isn’t me. Maybe the younger folks are okay with being told what they need or what makes sense, but my real-life experience has shown me firsthand that isn’t the 9mm for me.

But I am in no way suggesting that I know better than someone else what’s the best round for them. And 9mm is absolutely the most popular in sales right now.

It would be interesting to hear your real life experience.
 
Four months and my friends at Smith & Wesson still have not hooked me up with a Shield Plus in 40S&W. :rolleyes:

Please revisit post #9 for the reason why.

Also, I recommend that you take a look into the M&P40c or M&P40 Subcompact. Both have gone out of production because the M&P40 Shield and M&P40 2.0 Compact sold better, but they can still be found on the used market, and are just about the closest things to an M&P40 Shield PLUS there is. Similar in size, but with a slightly shorter yet thicker grip, holds 10 rounds in the magazine and can take magazines from the Compact and Full-Size M&P40 for increased capacity. I think it will scratch the itch for you.
 
Interesting thread and replies.

Honestly, I'm not a fan of the 9x19, but I will shoot it and carry it. For a bottom feeder, I would prefer a 45 or a 40 (in that order).

However, the 9x19 appears to be the most prevalent handgun cartridge on the market today, and I remember a major topic of discussion in my military science classes when behind enemy lines, "pick up the enemies' and your fallens' ammo and weapons."

With that sage advice in mind, I should always be able to feed my 9mm handguns.

WADR:

You are aware that EVERY .40S&W can accept a 9mm barrel and RSA and shoot that as well - right?
The whole reason for buying a .40 - especially Glocks, is to immediately order a 9mm barrel for it. I doubt carrying the massive weight of a 9mm conversion barrel in a pocket is going to cause a subluxation of the spine!

But what amazes me is the myriad of reasons proffered to justify carrying a cartridge just 1/3d more powerful than the .380 all center around about it being less bad than its former self!
The ammo is cheaper. So, you've squandered a small fortune on owning multiple guns but can't afford a box or two of ammo?
It kicks less. Of course, it's weak!
The FBI says it's better than IT was. So it's less ineffective than it was according to blocks of gelatin and pontification not supported by shooting things with claws and teeth.
My split times are better! WT fudge does THAT mean? Like that matters in a SD situation where first hit is the most important criteria?
I can shoot it better than I can shoot the harder kicking .40, and YOU CAN TOO, so says an internet of experts! Speak for yourself, because I shoot a .460 Rowland mighty fast and mighty accurate!
I can find ammo on any battlefield! You ever SEEN a battlefield? Not a lot of ammo laying around and if you're caught looting the dead - well a sniper from both sides will probably solve your boggle!
You give up two shots to carry the .40! Sure, and you give up bullet mass, wound channel volume, higher energy, and the near certainty that the bullet will punch through the heart on an oblique or side-shot - the very "test" the 9mm failed and has since failed again in reconstructed testing by independent reviewers not spouting from the FBI cue card.
The point is, all justifications for carrying a 9mm are based on bottom-feeder status which is absolutely in keeping with government bureaucracies, and the only size that can fit "all" is small!
 
Please revisit post #9 for the reason why.

Also, I recommend that you take a look into the M&P40c or M&P40 Subcompact. Both have gone out of production because the M&P40 Shield and M&P40 2.0 Compact sold better, but they can still be found on the used market, and are just about the closest things to an M&P40 Shield PLUS there is. Similar in size, but with a slightly shorter yet thicker grip, holds 10 rounds in the magazine and can take magazines from the Compact and Full-Size M&P40 for increased capacity. I think it will scratch the itch for you.

Thanks for that, but since my carry guns are, a 40 Shield, a M&P40 M2.0 4 INCH COMPACT, and a Fullsize M&P40, I have no need for a 9mm carry gun. I also owned a M&P40C. It’s not a Shield size. When I got the M&P40 M2.0 4 INCH COMPACT, I no longer needed it. They should be able to increase the number of rounds in the 40 shield and still be a micro compact. If they can’t I’ll stay with my 40 Shield when I need something more concealable.
 
It would be interesting to hear your real life experience.

Nothing that hasn’t been posted a million times on gun forums for years. I’m not in any way trying to switch anyone from their favorite caliber. My favorite semi-auto carry caliber is 40S&W, I’ll stick with that caliber. All my carry semi-autos are S&W, I will also stick with them until they tell me I can’t have a 40 anymore.
 
WADR:

You are aware that EVERY .40S&W can accept a 9mm barrel and RSA and shoot that as well - right?
The whole reason for buying a .40 - especially Glocks, is to immediately order a 9mm barrel for it. I doubt carrying the massive weight of a 9mm conversion barrel in a pocket is going to cause a subluxation of the spine!

But what amazes me is the myriad of reasons proffered to justify carrying a cartridge just 1/3d more powerful than the .380 all center around about it being less bad than its former self!
The ammo is cheaper. So, you've squandered a small fortune on owning multiple guns but can't afford a box or two of ammo?
It kicks less. Of course, it's weak!
The FBI says it's better than IT was. So it's less ineffective than it was according to blocks of gelatin and pontification not supported by shooting things with claws and teeth.
My split times are better! WT fudge does THAT mean? Like that matters in a SD situation where first hit is the most important criteria?
I can shoot it better than I can shoot the harder kicking .40, and YOU CAN TOO, so says an internet of experts! Speak for yourself, because I shoot a .460 Rowland mighty fast and mighty accurate!
I can find ammo on any battlefield! You ever SEEN a battlefield? Not a lot of ammo laying around and if you're caught looting the dead - well a sniper from both sides will probably solve your boggle!
You give up two shots to carry the .40! Sure, and you give up bullet mass, wound channel volume, higher energy, and the near certainty that the bullet will punch through the heart on an oblique or side-shot - the very "test" the 9mm failed and has since failed again in reconstructed testing by independent reviewers not spouting from the FBI cue card.
The point is, all justifications for carrying a 9mm are based on bottom-feeder status which is absolutely in keeping with government bureaucracies, and the only size that can fit "all" is small!
9x19 is not better than its former self. We just are finally loading it to minimum European velocity standards.
 
Nothing that hasn’t been posted a million times on gun forums for years. I’m not in any way trying to switch anyone from their favorite caliber. My favorite semi-auto carry caliber is 40S&W, I’ll stick with that caliber. All my carry semi-autos are S&W, I will also stick with them until they tell me I can’t have a 40 anymore.


I thought maybe you had some kind of a FTS situation with 9mm or something, and was hoping to hear your story, but I guess not.

I'm a 40 and 45 guy myself.
 
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I had to send my lil 40 back to S&W to fix the sights but now I’m really liking it. Great CC weapon.
I have a Shield .40 I’ve been using for 11 years. I want the Shield Plus, but it looks like S&W may have decided .40S&W users don’t need their new guns. :D
 
Nowadays, i think the issue is more about combined logistics across all the allies. In any depot of any country in NATIO and beyond, the all stock the same pistol ammo (and mostly rifle and MG too.) So any unit of any allied army can get supplied from any depot of any other allied army.

For civilians, it means that 9mm is the cheapest and most available centerfire defensive/duty round. It's effectiveness is almost besides the point.

Interesting thread and replies.

Honestly, I'm not a fan of the 9x19, but I will shoot it and carry it. For a bottom feeder, I would prefer a 45 or a 40 (in that order).

However, the 9x19 appears to be the most prevalent handgun cartridge on the market today, and I remember a major topic of discussion in my military science classes when behind enemy lines, "pick up the enemies' and your fallens' ammo and weapons."

With that sage advice in mind, I should always be able to feed my 9mm handguns.
 
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A Shield is not a military gun. I understand fully the advantages and disadvantages of all self-defense rounds. I own 9mm, 40S&W, .38SPL, .357MAG, .45ACP.

40S&W is my choice for my semi-auto carry guns, Shield, M&P 40 2.0 Compact, and M&P40 Full Size.

I understand that S&W can decide those of us that have .40S&W Shields don’t get the new “Plus” unless we want the 9mm version. If that’s what they have decided, fine, I wish they would say so. If not I need them to step it up and get me, the customer, what I want. ;)
 
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I just got an email from Smith & Wesson that on 10-18 at 7 PM they are going to have a new product unveiled. It’s probably a Shield Plus in .40S&W for me.
:D:D
 
I have a Shield .40 I’ve been using for 11 years. I want the Shield Plus, but it looks like S&W may have decided .40S&W users don’t need their new guns. :D

Its all about money.

The millions buying their 9mm guns out weigh the 6 people that still think the .40 is needed.
 
I happily carried .40 in my LE career for 25 years. But times have changed.

The same people that used to ask every time a new 9mm was introduced, "When's it coming out in .40?", are the the very same people that dropped .40 like a hot potato once the FBI said they were changing back to 9mm. And 90% of LE dropped the .40 as well.

Truth is, the .40 was a "forced" popularity, based on the FBI adoption and it being the newest shiny object in the gun industry. Most shooters did not like the .40, as the 9mm (and the similar .38 Special in revolvers) was about their limit of recoil tolerance. But god forbid they admitted it, as they didn't want to look like wimps so went along with the program. And those shooters that were .45 fans never saw the point of .40 in any event.

LE agencies found the .40 guns required more preventative maintenance and were breaking sooner, they were spending more money on both ammunition, and getting recruits and officers to qualify. Follow the $$$$$.

Once 9mm became socially acceptable, shooters had some ego coverage to get rid of .40, and they did so in DROVES. My local LGS pre-owned case was chock full of sad and lonely .40 pistols of every description for a couple of years, sold at deep discount.

That same LGS, which does a brisk business, doesn't even stock new .40 pistols anymore. They're dust collectors.

Folks, .40 is dead as a new issue. You'll be able to get ammo for quite some time, S&W will keep their namesake cartridge alive in some catalogued guns, and Glock never seems to discontinue anything....but it's a niche item anymore.

Sometimes, Santa just doesn't deliver.
 
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