{RANT ALERT}

I'm about to pull my hair out on this one.

Cannot understand the excellent
across the board improvements of the M2.0 revision pistols in 9mm & .40, yet inconsistencies/flaws with the .45's.

First the new 4in Performance Center Shield .45;
As the very happy owner of 2 "M1.0" Shield .45's already, I was very excited about the M2.0 4in versions.

Looking closer I see what bugs me to no end which is when near the end of slide there is that beautiful inward scalloping & diagonal vertical line.
On the 9mm/.40 versions it lines up perfectly with end of the frame.
The .45 version is set back about 1/8in behind end of frame making the appearance of a slide not fully in battery by comparison.
This did not happen with the original 3.3in .45 Shield so I am puzzled why it is happening now.
Screenshot_2019-06-20-19-48-00.jpg
Screenshot_2019-06-17-20-23-16.jpg
Screenshot_2019-06-17-20-22-52.jpg


Furthermore, the trigger bump stop at the bottom of the trigger guard (that more than one person evidently has has had catch the trigger on) is still present on the M2.0 revision .45 Shields...except for the ones that have the Crimson Trace laser built in.

I asked customer service about this as every other pistol across the entire M&P line has transitioned to the bump stop behind trigger at the top, which would be much harder to get stuck on.
This is the reply regarding both these issues:
"The scallops though functional are mostly cosmetic and may vary between calibers.
The 45 Shield has a different frame than the 9/40 and requires the stop to be in a different location. The location of the stop has no impact on shootabilty or performance."
0yqmPyS.jpg

If that is the case, why have they transitioned to the behind trigger stop on every other M&P pistol on the M2.0 revisions? (Including the laser equipped M2.0 .45 Shield 3.3in versions)
Screenshot_2019-06-20-19-57-32.jpg

I think they are referring to the "press check" forward serrations when I am referring to the actual slide scalloping inward/narrowing at the diagonal/vertical line past the end of frame.


Because of my dissatisfaction with these relatively minor issues, (major to me since I cannot reconcile them compared to the 9mm/.40 counterparts) I started looking at their other offerings.
The M&P 9 M2.0 Compact caught my eye as I love the Glock 19 sized pistol which it is a near identical clone of.
I discovered that they had a .45 version of the same, & even had a 2.0 version which I consider essential due to the grip alone, along with he improved factory trigger I don't want to mess with.
Awesome!

Except...doesn't the grip look too long?
I am looking at the compact, why does it have the same 10rd capacity as the full size M&P .45?

Due to the incredibly inconsistent spec sheets that show some & not other/all info seemingly dependent on who was putting them together, I eventually find out the M2.0 compact has the exact same 5.6in height as the full size...making this the functional equivalent of the useless/backwards Glock 19X.

The original "M1.0" M&P .45C had 8rd capacity & fell into that magical 4.6in-5in height that matched the COMPACT nature of it's namesake.
Do they just want to save money on .45 frames/grip adapters/magazines?
Is the .45 on it's way out of S&W's relevancy/interest?
Do any of the engineers actually talk to each other/do market research before so blatantly misstepping in consistency with their other product offerings/descriptions?
HAS ANYONE ON THE .45 M2.0 DESIGN TEAM EVER CARRIED A HANDGUN AT ALL?

Is there a M&P M2.0 .45C I am missing somewhere, and this is all an unnecessarily whiny lolcow rant about a non-issue?


Grip shorter, slide longer is the mantra you should be chanting.
This is why for years people have been chopping grips to keep the velocity/sight radius/control/rail of a larger pistol with the concealability/versatility of a short grip length supplemented by minimal grip extensions on magazines if necessary.

The Glock "26L/27L/33L/39L" variety is the pinnacle of this type of thinking, shortening a Glock 19/23/32/38 frame to it's subcompact size & having a +1/2/3 mag baseplate (for a pinky rest/grip control) while still offering a 0.5in grip height reduction & ability to go with a flush magazine for a 0.75+in reduction, all while keeping weapon light mounting ability.

The M&P .45C seemed to be an excellent product that has been Frankensteined the wrong way into uselessness & I am left with nothing good to choose from.


Woe is me, cry more at having a choice, whaaambulance, first world problems, etc....I'm still pissed.

P.S.
Because the M&P/Shield .45 is so slightly different from the 9mm/.40 versions, does anyone have any experience using same holster for all?

Wow...that's quite a first post!

__________________
Loving retirement!

Your recourse is to sell the darn thing and try to forget all about it.

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Bob.
SWCA 1821

Hmm. I doubt I'd ever notice the 1/8" extension of the scallop. As long as the Shield functioned properly, that's all I'd care about, because it's not a collector gun. As to the trigger bump stop, I have 6,600 rounds through my Shield 45, and 5,800 rounds through my 1.0 Shield 9, and I've never had either trigger hang up on it. I've also found my 3.3" Shield 45 to be amazingly accurate for a short-barreled pistol, so I imagine the 4" PC version would be even better.

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What, me worry?

Guns I don't like get sold or traded.
If I like them, but have an issue, they burn a trail back to CS.

Dump it, buy another Glock if you prefer.

Life's too short.

Wow. Quite a post. I'm not familiar with the 45 version of the M&P's so can't grasp most of your issues but if you are that unhappy I would echo others and suggest you get something else. The things you don't like about the gun aren't likely to change.

On the other hand you could shoot it a bit more and if it performs well perhaps you can adopt it even with all of it's perceived shortcomings. I like my 2.0's a bit better than my originals but I still like the originals anyway. I also have other guns that aren't my favorites but they're OK...just not my favorites.

If it really eats at you then off it goes and move on to something else. As SAUDADE said...life is short and we are very fortunate to have so many choices. For now. Enjoy.

Wow, how worked up do you get on really important issues in your life? If they bother you that much, I'm sure there's something out there that will please you (or not).

I've got a FS M&P 45, 45 compact and 45 Shield; I shoot them and enjoy them and have never had any issues with them. Maybe I don't pay enough attention??? Hope you find something that works for you, no matter what brand/name it is :-)

Wow !

Welcome to the forum .
Mom told me I should be nice to everyone , hope your day gets better .
Gary

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Certified Cajun
NRA Member

Some folk demand symmetry and consistency in styling similar products. The OP is one of them and I know from other posts that other members feel the same way.

So, how about the infamous Glock pig nose...

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Release the Kraken

helicoper201 Guess you learn one valuable lesson . Pay closer attention to details before you lay down your money !!

Now that you own it and missed your minor concerns when you had a chance to walk away you ether get rid of it and try something else or you just shoot that dang thang and learn to live with it as it is just a tool . Want really nice . Buy a highend 1911

Although I don't put it in the same category as my 1911's the Shield 45 shoots extremely accurate for a short barrel and goes bang everytime I pull the trigger. Which is what I bought it for. I hope you find what you're looking for but in the Shield price range I don't think you will ever be satisfied. Don't mean to sound condescending, if I did I apologize.

So I'm guessing that these pistols are not hand fitted, hand tuned, hand finished plastic pistol equivalents of 1950's-60's Colt Pythons? I am just gobsmacked!

have read your post three times, guess I missed it...….what is your point? Just askin...no offense intended. Welcome to the forum---hope your day gets better. (don't go out and buy a new car)

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JAREDSHS
LEO(retired)