Can someone who has fired the M&P 45 Shield describe it's recoil in comparison to other guns?

My frame of reference is:

S&W Model 60 2" firing 125grain federal 357 Magnum
S&W Model 60 2" firing 130 grain Winchester White Box 38 special
Smith 457 45ACP 230 grain
Kahr K9 9mm 115 grain or 124 Grain +P

What is the recoil in comparison.

Is it soft/push or is it a snap?

The Model 60 357 Mag is uncomfortable to me.

Where does the M&P Shield 45 compact's recoil fall in relation to these guns?

I don't want to buy one to find I don't like it as I can't shoot guns before buying where I live.

Well, as far as the technical numbers on recoil, just plug the specific gun's numbers into this handy calculator:
Recoil Calculator

However, the numbers calculated here do not relate to "felt recoil" directly. Felt recoil is different for each person, what is excessive for me might not be for you and vice versa. Due to the extreme possible variations in firearm design, grip design and people it will not give you a direct correlation from one firearm to another, for example a Smith and Wesson M29 with stock grips is going to have a far different felt recoil than a ported Ruger Super Redhawk using the same load. It will however give you a good idea how one load will feel compared to another in the same or similar firearm.

Even if you live in, say, New York City, you could drive to PA and rent a gun to shoot, which is 1000X more informative than my opinion of recoil ( I think any normal adult male that can't stand to shoot a compact .45 needs to learn how to hold the gun. People with diseases or injuries are a different story)

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Science plus Art

My .45 Shield feels similar in recoil to my 9C, more push than snap. Very easy to stay on target compared to my .45 XDS, which was all over the place.

Compared to my XDS-45, the Shield 45 has noticeably less felt recoil. It's actually fairly pleasant to shoot with the PMC 185s. Like with any short barreled compact firearm, choice of ammo has a lot to do with it.

I was wondering the same, that's good to hear I completely hate the XDS .45 recoil.

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M&P 9, Shield9.

Just go back from the range breaking in my .45 Shield. Overall I would say it was really pleasant to shoot. It isn't all that snappy and very controllable. It wasn't much different than my Glock 30SF and a little more pleasant than my friend full size Kimber 1911. I do think the polymer frames on these pistols soften up some of the felt recoil.

I ran 100 rounds of Winchester White Box along with 12 rounds of Hornady Critical Defense through the .45 Shield without a hitch.

The stippling texture is a great improvement over the sort of smooth feeling 9mm. I'm wondering what it will take to get a similar stippling on the 9mm.

I've liked my 9mm Shield but I'm really loving the .45 Shield. It will make great everyday carry gun.

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Bill Bates

Yes, a Model 60 357 snub is going to be harsh. Most 45s push rather than snap.

I have a 40 Shield and a 45 Shield. Both push and no snap. In comparison, my Sig P938 in 9mm is very snappy. Accurate and reliable... but it recoils more than all the Shields. But I've never been too recoil sensitive. YMMV...

Bill, what feels better in your hand... the 6 or 7rd mag for the 45 Shield?

Hmm this a bit of a tough one. For straight feel during shooting the full purchase with my pinky finger the extended 7 round magazine is better a tiny bit for control but I'm not sure I would say it feels better as in more comfortable. The frame on the .45 is just enough longer that even with the 6 round magazine my pinky is still in almost full contact. That was one of the things that make me like it better than my 9mm.

With the 9mm 7 round magazine my pinky gets no purchase for grip. It does with .45 Shield. It is the reason I think the .45 fits my paw better. The 9mm Shields grip surface with the extend magazine is about an 1/8 longer than the .45 Shield's grip surface with its 6 round magazine.

So if you feel you have a good grip with a 9mm Shield with the extended magazine and that setup conceals well; you will appreciate the .45 Shield with its 6 round magazine.

I hope that make some sort of sense.

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Bill Bates

I have shot 200 grain SWCs for practice through my 45 Shield. The other night right at dark I fired 5 rounds of +P 160 grain Barnes at a Copperhead. It was very pleasant to shoot. It felt better than some 9s I have shot with +P 124 grain. The 45 Shield with these 160 grain all copper bullets is a ***** cat. The all copper bullet is almost exactly the same length as a conventional jacket lead core 230 grain. If this Shield is too much for you, then I would recommend a Bodyguard .380

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To be forgiven, I must forgive

I concur, Bill. The 6rd also fits my full hand. Probably conceals better as well.

M&P Shield .45 ACP - YouTube

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M&P 357sig,G31 357sig,M&P 9

You might want to try a Shield 45 before you buy one. I sold my XDS 3.3 45 to a friend months ago and we shot it and the Shield 45 together this past weekend. We were shooting the same ammo from a bucket of mine and neither of us could discern any appreciable difference in the recoil between the two firearms. All our shooting was with 230 grain standard pressure loads.

I've got a lot of time with the XDS 45 and just at 700 rounds now through the Shield. I find the Shield more comfortable in my hand which helps deal with the recoil but I certainly don't think it recoils any less or significantly different from the XDS. My friend's opinion mirrors mine in this regard.

Couple differences between the XDS-45 and Shield 45. The bore axis on the XDS sits a tad lower than the Shield. The slide of the XDS also sits a tad more forward than the shield. The Shield's grip is more contoured where as the XDS is a bit "blockier".

Everyone is different when it comes to perceived recoil. Not including weight (XDS 21.5 oz, Shield 45 20.5 oz) which really isn't much of a factor here, any of the aforementioned attributes contribute to how a firearm recoils. Type of ammo also plays an important role; as well as, hand size, sensitivity to recoil, etc.

Given all the above, I took out my XDS and Shield to once again compare the two. Same ammo, same # of rounds loaded. Shield with the 6+1 mag, XDS with the 5 round w/ pinky extension. I have some recoil sensitivity when shooting autos and utilize a weight lifters glove, size XL, to offset some of the impact into the palm.

Shooting 185 JHPs rated at ~900fps, given how both sit in my hand, the XDS recoils differently than the Shield. I can feel the XDS hitting my palm harder, which is expected with the lower bore axis. The Shield muzzle tends to climb a bit more, which again was expected.

At least for my situation, the Shield is more controllable than the XDS.
The above may not be the case for everyone, so by all means shoot both before you decide. That's also not saying the Shield doesn't recoil and one shouldn't expect anything different from a 20.5 oz 45 acp. Ammo selection is a key factor. I'm still impressed by the Shield 45 and am pretty much retiring my XDS.

I have an XDS 3.3 and to me the XDS is slightly tamer because of the lower bore axis. The Shield is very similar in recoil but flips a little quicker in my hand and feels different to the XDS. The Shield is nice and I want one but I'm a little on the fence with the FTF and slide lock open that happened to me with a new low round rental.