how accurate is the m&p shield, more specifically the m&p 45?

The accuracy is actually surprising. My first few shots at 21 feet were Bullseyes. I remember thinking, "damn". Keep in mind that it is a defensive pistol, not a target pistol.

Both are pretty good.


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M&P 9, Shield9.

As noted above, keep your shooting at 20 to 30 feet when trying out a new gun. Any more than that and you are apt to be very disappointed. After you get the feel of the gun, you can start moving back further.

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Dr. B

The gun 's basic mechanical accuracy is very good, capable of taking out your coffee cup at 15 yds every shot.
The sights are a bit coarse as you would expect for a defense pistol, but plenty good for their purpose. I put a Dawson Precision .100 FO front on my Shield 9 for use in IDPA BUG, and I can put the shots in the " "zero down" at 20 yds.


So when the new Shield shooter shoots offhand and hits a foot low, it is 90% certain it isn't a gun problem.

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Science plus Art

up to 6-8 yards, my Shield (PC) in 9mm and I can do quite well for accuracy. Start heading out to 10 yds and beyond and it will fall off (esp compared to my full size MP).
But that's the same when shooting my Compact .22 vs my Buckmark. Start adding in distance and the shorter barrels could show their variations when compared to longer barreled guns.

But as noted, the Shield is a defensive model and at those distances it can do very well. May take some shooters a little more practice time to get used to it though.

I just Cerakoted this PC 9mm for a customer. I always try to run a few rounds thru after reassembly just to check proper operation. Said earlier "coffee cup at 15yds.." Well, with Am. Eagle 115 gr I'm not impressed. Maybe a basketball at 10 yds...maybe. Definitely less muzzle jump... But it turned out good.

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CERAKOTE Svcs.
Class 01 FFL

I haven't tried to take out any bad coffee mugs or basketballs yet lol, but considering my skill set (which is maybe decent-pretty good at best) I'd say the Shield at said defensive distances can do very well.

Pic was in the 7 yds area, and I only shoot 115 fmj for practice/fun.

To be fair I've only tried it up to 10 yds, which is my range's limit; but out of curiosity I will have to try sometime at a longer range.. just for kicks..

Attached Images

PC Shield 042017 7yd.jpg (61.7 KB, 174 views)

You are asking more specifically about the Shield 45, there are several threads running and recently one showing grouping at 75ft that is all touching. The consensus is that the 45 Shield is very accurate for most shooters and for many that have never had this kind of accuracy from a gun this size!
Mine impresses me!
Karl

As I've mentioned in other posts, there can be noticeable differences in accuracy between individual Shields. For instance, the Shield .45 rental I tested at my range was substantially more accurate than the Shield .45 I bought. However, the one I bought was still pretty good, and was substantially more accurate (beyond 10 yards) than my Shield 9. If accuracy is your primary concern, get the .45.

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What, me worry?

Guess it's about time to take my old Shield 9 out and re-assess it's(and my) accuracy. I'm somewhat reluctant, though as it may get me thinking about a 45.......but again, these are SD guns, not Target. It's like putting every fancy accessory you can find on a VW, but it's still not a drag racer..haha

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CERAKOTE Svcs.
Class 01 FFL

I've only test fired a Shield 45, just to see how tolerable it was to shoot. (Answer: VERY. If I wasn't already getting excellent results with my Shield 9 - or had a spare progressive press set up to load 45ACP, which I don't - I'd be sorely tempted to get a 45 as another EDC weapon.) But the 10 rounds I shot out of a very dirty range rental gun all fell well inside a 3" circle at 7 yards. Not bad for the first 45ACP rounds I've fired in over a decade, out of any gun.

That said, I've found with my Shield 9 that it does better with some ammo than others. It's pretty good with all of it, but the Speer Lawman 147g FMJ is exceptional. That round is NOT the best out of my Walther PPS, though - it prefers a Federal load.

So if minute-of-basketball isn't good enough for you and you insist on minute-of-coffee-cup, try some different ammo and see what works best.

Sometimes trying different ammo will work wonders.
I don't have a .45 Shield, mine is a PC .40.
Only ammo I had on hand the last time I went to the range was R-P 165 grain, the really truncated cone stuff.
I wouldn't have thought it to be that great but I guess my Shield likes it.
I shot 7 rounds of it off sandbags at my 25 yard backstop, and the group measured 3 inches.
Just for grins I shot the same amount (7 rds) out of my fullsize .40 M&P, and the group was 2 inches. Granted, the trigger on my Fullsize isn't near as good as the PC Shield, but off a rest the disadvantage of the heavier trigger was minimal.
Pretty darn good for such a small pistol, I know I wouldn't do near as good with a .38 snubbie. (I'd be doing good to shoot a 2 inch group at 5 to 7 yards with the snubbie).

my Shield 9mm is reasonably accurate up to the 35 foot range . Outside of that it's a bit tougher.
We have a gong outdoors at 100 feet at my range, I'm usually good for about a 45-50% hit
ratio at that distance. With my 9C
I am good for 75-80%.
Inside of 35 feet my shield is dead on (as is my 9C).
I regularly train with it at a 32 foot target outdoors, and it's quite good at that range.
In Mass if I shot someone in self defence outside of 20 feet I would be severely prosecuted so
I don't really worry about going long range with it. it's not a target pistol.

5 & 7 yards rapid fire with PC Shield 45. Anything beyond 7 yards for self defence might be hard to explain in court.

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Had no problem making 10" groupings from 49ft just for funsies. Out of the box the 45 shoots like a dream, with significantly less kick than my XDS40.. making it easier to rapid fire.

Pistol is fine. It's the Indian, not the arrow.

In the first hour of shooting with my Shield 9mm (with factory night sights) on 115gr winchester white box, i shot at 25 feet and was all over the place the first few mags (this was the first outting with my new gun). After that, the groupings were to the left (i think on my part) but fairly tight for 25 yards. The funny thing is, after i put it out to 50 feet my groupings got a bit better (maybe because i was taking my time a bit more). Needless to say, it's a good gun for self defense. Just don't expect target gun quality. I also got an H&K VP9 and while i got a bit better grouping with that, it also shot the left for me. I'm happy with mine and coming from a background in pellet rifle shooting and this being one of my first two guns i've aquired in the last two months, i'd say it did well for me.

Native American.

Congrats! You have a very fine piece in the M&P Shield 9. The groups will only get better!
Also, Welcome to the Forum!....From SW. Illinois. I am sure you will find friendly and informed members willing to help any time you may need it.

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It's The Carbonaro Effect!

Hi everyone,I'm a newbie
I shot this yesterday from 25 yards. I have 750 rnds through the 45 and 500 through the 9mm shield. To me the 45 is more accurate than the 9.

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God,Guns and Glory

i just bought the M&P 45 shield and took it to the range the next day. At 9yards (27ft) i got these results [ see the lower results for 45 ] upper results are for 442 revolver

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45 ACP target.JPG (27.3 KB, 127 views)

I have my good days at the range and my not so good days lol.
I never have hi expectations, just work to maintain some sort of consistency and keep my expectations in line with the gun i have in hand at the time. I think Shields can be quite accurate, as long as used within what they were designed for. And i keep all my guns stock, no need to make any changes.

I get the comment about VW's. I used to say the same about civics I'd see around; till I saw the 9 second slips from our daughter's friend's civic... I no longer poke fun at any car these days

IMO, the Shield is an accurate pistol.

I have had one Shield 40, two Shield 9’s without safety and one Shield 9 with safety.

The one with safety is new and had its first range trip this past week.

I have installed Talon grips and a HiViz front fiber optic sight on each pistol.

Each Shield has been accurate at defensive distances to seven yards. Beyond that distance, the problem is not with the pistol but with my aging eyes and hands. My accuracy is sporadic with scattered patterns beginning at fifteen yards.

This is the seven yard target I used for the first magazine expended using the Shield 9 with safety.

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7 yd target Shield 9 with safety.jpg (65.2 KB, 71 views)