.45 or .40 shield. help me choose!

[Mark IV]

Don't drink the Kool Aid, the 40 Shield with ported barrel is an awesome firearm....

So, people stating both facts and informed opinions, in a thread specifically asking for them, is dispensing "kool aid"? Yeah, ok.
I doubt that anyone here is going to dispute that the shield 40 is a lethal, high quality firearm, we've merely articulated valid reasons why the 45 and 9mm is better, and more practical.

 

[msnyder755]

Kool aid refers to those having the opinion 40 is invalid hard to shoot and on the way out as a standard round. Certaintly EVERYONE is entitled to an opinion.

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[Dad_Roman]

Shield .45 Have two, love em.

 

[CharlieSW]

I have both, ported .40 and in-ported .45, and it really comes down to which one fits your hand better. Accuracy and recoil are comparable, and both carry well -- I am glad I don't have to choose, because I like both of them.

 

[kthom]

No contest with me. Get the .45. That said, I'd much prefer the non-ported model.

 

[PPS1980]

I guess to each their own. People keep saying 40 is snappy. Well, it wasn't snappy enough for me so I converted by M&P 40 to 357 and like it a LOT better. Anyway, in a small gun like the Shield I'd probably go with the 9 as my first choice, 45 as my second, and 40 as my last choice.

 

[Radco]

You can find 40 anywhere you can find 9 or 45. They're the 3 most common calibers. In fact when that big panic lasted for over a year 40 was the most commonly found caliber. All others sold faster and not always in stock.

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Now I am going to have to look harder lol.. Never noticed them everywhere but again I am used to the 9mm, .45 and ,357 . My curiosity is up lol
Thanks for the heads up

 

[FloridaS&W]

Nothing against the 40, some folks like them and I say "more power to them" — get what you like.

Personally I went with the 45ACP; you get the punch without the higher pressure. I did find the new stippling on the handle a bit rough for my taste, and this was resolved in about 5 minutes; just a light touch with some fine sandpaper. If they had made the mag release swappable ambi and the safety ambi, the gun would be perfect. Other than that, the gun is amazing for its low cost and high quality. Trigger has been improved over earlier Shields and it's great out of the box. 230 grain self-defense powerhouse. And the dang thing is crazy accurate, too, so I can say for a fact the .45 has a lot going for it. But you'll probably be happy with either one.

 

[mattwings]

I prefer the .45. For me, it fits my hand well, has adequate capacity and I shoot it more accurately than my 9mm Shield. It is my edc. I only had one .40 and did not like it. Just look at the used gun case in most shops, way more .40 than any other caliber.

 

[Mister X]

My wife has the Shield 9mm ported and loves it. I want a bit more snort than a 9mm. The .40 as a round will be here and popular as long as I am alive. The .45 is over 100yrs old and still going strong! I love the fiber optic sights on her Shield as well!

9 is fine with modern ammo by pretty much any standard. I just don't see the .45/.40 having any practical benefit over it, especially in a single stack subcompact pistol plus spouses carrying identical guns has numerous advantages.

 

[bnolsen]

For a CC gun, probably the 40 just due to size, although NOT ported as orgs like IDPA don't allow ported pistols.
As for a general pistol for shooting? Man I really did like how the shield 45 felt in my hand. I might get hung for this but I would rather have a shield 45 than a 1911 style 45.

 

[greeenteeee]

All 3 calibers in the Shield I wouldn't mind having. I started with 2x 9mm (cheaper to practice with, one is a ported model, cheaper than trigger work and Hi-Viz sights added after the fact).

The 45 is larger which may be an issue for carry, it was for me since it was my first CCW. The 45 in general shoots like a 9 to me.

My first pistol was a 40 and has the "snort" the OP is looking for. Many say the 40 is outdated, disliked, etc. But I just added a Shield 40 slide to use with my 9mm frames. My holster will still work with it which I wanted.

May get the 45 later on, but cost of practicing 9mm would lead to more proficiency. Have larger 40s so usually have the ammo anyway.

Have already removed the nail polish in the logo.

 

[Wee Hooker]

I've owned the Shield in 9mm and (still) in 45. The smaller, thinner and slicker grip of the 9/40 frame swam around in my hand making follow up shot accuracy inconsistent. That was with the 9, can't imagine how that would feel in the snappier 40. I sold my 9mm shield off in 2 weeks as I knew it was not the gun for me. My new (PC) 45 Shield on the other hand, is much more friendly in rapid fire drills. I have no trouble keeping nice groups with it at any pace. In fact, I'd argue it shoots easier/better than even the 9mm.
Personally, IF I were to want a small 40, I'd step up to the M&P Compact. Same footprint as the Shield but a little fatter. Just enough extra girth to hang onto IMHO.

 

[huskybiker]

I bought my first Shield (9mm w/safety) two months after they were available. My second Shield (9mm NTS) has been my EDC for a couple years, now. I'm not a fan of 40, so I patiently waited for the 45 to be released. It now has replaced my 2nd 9, as my EDC. for me, it is the perfect carry gun.

 

[BigDog48]

OK--I too carried the 9 every day and loved it. Then they made the 45, I bought it, loved it more and now carry it every day. My 2 cents...go 45!

 

[framos242]

Another vote for the Shield 45. It is quite surprising that the recoil is just a bit more than the Shield 9. Go for it and enjoy!

 

[FloridaS&W]

85% for the 45, does this help answer your question?

 

[Bozz10mm]

The Shield .45 is a beautiful thing. And it shoots great.

 

[FloridaS&W]

Thread needs a picture...

 

[schnee72]

I haven't owned the .45 Shield for that long, but I have no reason to consider one of the other Shield models. The .45 is awesome to shoot and easy to carry. I have a feeling S&W is going to sell a lot of these things. Now I need to buy some more .45 ACP ammo.

 

[MCorps0311]

I love my M&P 40 Shield,and don't have a .45 shield

 

[greeenteeee]

I recently picked up a 40SW slide for my Shield. Prior, I've only shot a mag through the Shield in a 40 and it felt like my bigger Sig as far as recoil (which I never shoot anymore). I received plenty of warnings about the 40SW in a small subcompact, let alone a single stack Shield.

Took it to the range today and I realize how much I like the caliber. Here is the recoil on the 40 vs a ported 9-- both on a Performance Center frame.

The angle isn't exactly the same but you get the gist: