Do I want the .45 in Full Size or Compact for CCW?

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SWBigBang

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Plan to pick up a S&W M&P 2.0 in .45 for CCW but not sure if I should get full size or compact.

Called just about every gun store within a 60 minute drive and most don't have any in stock and probably only 4 have the full size. No one has the Compact in stock so unable to actually compare the two.

As a result, I am hoping to get some good feedback here with regards to the pros/cons of each for CCW.

The grips should be identical so its really comes down to the slide.
 
As others are saying, the Shield is easily the most compact, carry-friendly variant of the M&P45, and while it does have lower capacity than the M&P45 Compact, it's only 2 rounds less in exchange for being substantially thinner/lighter.

Otherwise, the Compact is obviously a better carry option than the full-size.
 
My vote is the 4". My favorite in 45 and in 10mm. In 2.0 the grip is the same. But the 1.0 can be had in both shorter(8 round mag) and 10 round full grip. Great guns.
 
Based on body type and method of carry - I carried a LW Commander for several years but would not consider a government model for CCW. The suggestion of the Shield 45 would be a good compromise. I have Shields in 9 and 45 for belt carry.
 
Thanks for the feedback.
My concern is that I have not been able to find a Shield in stock to actually see how it feels.
The M&P Full size grip fits like a glove and the aim is spot on.

No idea how the Shield will fit and actually looking to carry even just a couple more rounds. For what the Shield carries, I would probably just still with my small 1911 with the same number of rounds.
 
I have a .45 Compact, like the gun, but haven’t carried it since I bought the Equalizer. I am hoping they will come out with a .45 Equalizer.

My Compact has the interchangeable back straps, something the Shield does not.
 
I have all 3 of the .45ACP frame sizes.
The M1.0 Full Sized 4.5in/10rd is a full sized weapon, I can't imagine carrying it concealed regularly/comfortably. It would get tiresome to carry in a hurry.
The M1.0 Compact 4.0in/8rd is slightly smaller but still bulkier than a 1911. (I have carried 1911's for the past 35 years.)
The .45 Shield is BY FAR the easiest to COMFORTABLY conceal carry and with the 7rd mag + 1 in the chamber, you are only giving up 1 round compared to the Compact and you are getting a pistol that you can/will actually carry every day. Honestly, the smaller Shield is still a very shootable firearm and followup from recoil is very controllable.
 
I have the full size, never had the Compact in .45 although I did have one in 9mm. The full-size, while a great gun that fits the hand well, is a beast to carry as an EDC. The Compact was good but had me fussing to adjust my grip to get it just right.

I said all that to say this, as others have said, the Shield is the firearm of choice. The standard with the 3.3 inch barrel is soft shooting, very accurate, and easy to carry all day, every day. If you want something slightly larger, the 4" Shield PC .45 can be had and operated with or without an optic. Like its little brother, it is also soft shooting, very accurate, and just as easy to carry.

I'm going to edit this a little as I just went to the S&W website. The 4" Shield .45 no longer appears on their site, so if you want one and find one, I'd grab it. The standard Shield .45 can still be had with or without a safety as can the ported PC version.
 

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The M&P45 2.0 Compact is discontinued, though a fair number of gun stores online still have them.

As you said, the grip length is the same between the full and compact, so concealment difference is going to depend upon carry method.

If you carry IWB, the full's 0.6" longer slide isn't likely to be any more difficult to carry than the compact. If you carry OWB 4 O'Clock, then the longer slide may not conceal quite as easily.
 
SWBigBang said:
Plan to pick up a S&W M&P 2.0 in .45 for CCW but not sure if I should get full size or compact.

Called just about every gun store within a 60 minute drive and most don't have any in stock and probably only 4 have the full size. No one has the Compact in stock so unable to actually compare the two.

As a result, I am hoping to get some good feedback here with regards to the pros/cons of each for CCW.

The grips should be identical so its really comes down to the slide.
Click to expand...

First off your body size and height may tell you what size and weight handgun you can carry well along with your holster choice and where on your body you hope to CC it .

S&W no longer makes the compact 45 BUT there are plenty still out there for sale with and with out thumb safety's, Just search . Even wholesaler for your favorite gun shop like Sports South have them in stock .

The one down side to the m&p 4" compact 45 is weight . That can be a down side for some . I CC alloy frame commander as my primary carry so with a good holster its not an issue . . I love a 45 but m&p but no m&p in 45 , Its ben alloy frame 1911's for decades .

I have another option or two - kahr arms CW45 or CT45 . The CW45 is lighter than a sheild 45 and used 1911 officers mags as a lower cost mag option and is +P rated . Or the larger CT45 that still will use full size 1911 mags with a notch to the bottom front of the grip frame . I've had one of the CT45 models that have a 4" barrel for around 9.5 years as my foul weather carry and used on a trip to alaska fishing filled with 45 super loads and it is rated safe for these after checking with kahr's head engineer . My CT45 weigh's in at 29oz loaded with 8 rounds on 230gr hp & 21.4oz empty no mag and has a sort of Short da trigger pull . I carry mine with a metal bottom colt mag so its flush with the grip .Mine averages of 4lb 6.2oz . There both a heck of a handgun for the average 350 dollar street price at larger volume lgs's .

Handgun Hero I've compared the CW45 to a standard shield 45 , Not how much higher you can grip the kahr and its shorter in height and length with a longer barrel Weights not listed correctly but nothing new there . You can move handguns around on the Table Top Comparison section . Good sight for handgun comparisons in general .
Kahr CW45 vs Smith & Wesson M&P 45 Shield M2.0 size comparison | Handgun Hero
 
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A few years back I owned one of the S&W M&P original full size .45 but sold it because the trigger seem to pinch the bottom of the trigger finger.

Got to shoot the Shield 2.0 today and very disappointed as the trigger was doing the same thing. Didn't even finish a full box of ammo.

Wouldn't be interested in an Apex trigger.

Is it possible to get the Shield with a factory flat trigger?
 
The Shield 2.0, Shield 45, and Shield Plus all use the same trigger shoe/blade (Apex sure seems to think so). However, S&W doesn't appear to have yet made the Shield Plus's trigger available as spare parts, or spread it to older Shield models.

The eBay/Gunbroker seller Freestone Armory has had the Shield Plus triggers among their assorted S&W parts in the past, but they're on vacation until the 21st.
 
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