.45 Shield...Again!

[Redcoat3340]

I had three Shields: 380EZ, 9mm, and .45. One by one they went away: the 380 'cause I never carried it; the nine as it got replaced by CS9 and the 45 as a 4513 took it's place.

Fella had a 45 and I had a no-name 1911 from the Far East that was gathering dust in the safe. So I traded last week and took my new 45 to the range today.

What a neat little gun! Wonderful. I'd forgotten.

While the height is about the same as the 4513 and the mag capacities are equal, the Shield is sooo much thinner and a bit "shorter."

And while I still prefer hammer guns for carry, the Shield will most certainly have a place in my carry rotation (especially when I want light and thin).

Oh yeah, I shot the snot outta a couple of targets at 7 and 10 yards. That little gun sure can shoot.

(And of course now that I've had it one day, I'm making some mods...2 more mags and new tritium sights. And that's it.

 

[sandog]

I also recently rediscovered the .45. I had one briefly back in '16, but liked my PC .40 slightly better, so I traded the .45 for a 9mm Shield to give to my daughter.
This latest .45 now has tritium/fiber optic sights on it, and I replaced the plastic rear slide cover with a metal one. When it warms up more around here I'll probably end up Cerakoting it in FDE to match my other 2 M&P's, other than that no other changes needed.

It sure has a nice trigger, and groups as well as my Fullsize 9mm and my 5 1/2" Ruger Flattop revolver with the extra .45 ACP cylinder in it.

 

[Jessie]

It's become one of my favorites to carry and shoot. I can't seem to miss where I'm aiming with it and the recoil sure doesn't feel 45.
One of those confidence instilling guns you run across now and then.

 

[StephenWhoDat]

I shoot my PC Shield 45 better than any pistol I've ever carried. This little 45 has become my #1 and I just love it! No mods at all to mine.

 

[jtpur]

I spent a lot of money a couple of years ago and bought a Kimber Ultra II. First time I shot it, I noticed the front sights had rotated 90 degrees to the left. Gun shop fixed that. The on taking it apart to clean it! Nightmare. It does not have a bushing and you need a paper clip to get the spring out. Dont take it apart or its another night mare. Putting it back the slide does not go on, find out it's a common problem. Loved how it shot once the sights got fixed but carrying a single action with a safety on it or taking a risk without the safety was more than I wanted so I bought a .45 Shield. easy to take apart. Good shooter. Ran a couple of hundred rounds and even though its a plastic gun it handled recoil well and was easy to double tap and triple tap. Only issue and I wonder if others have it. I can not get the 7th round in my 7 round mag. I barely got six in and that was after 40-50 rounds.. I dont think I am the weekest guy on earth but I just could not manage the 7th. I like having the ability to carry 8. The Kimber mags sucked so I got Wilson combat mags and they were much better and loaded easily. Any one have any thoughts on the S&W mags. By the way this gun for the several hundred less than a Kimber is ten fold better.

 

[sdarc]

No problem putting 7 rounds in. Of course I use a Uplula loader.

 

[sandog]

One of these $4-$5 Range Tray loaders does the job fine.

 

[swsig]

I have been extolling the virtues of the Shield 45 on the Forum for the past couple of years. It may be the most accurate short-barreled semi-auto on the market. (BTW, it's way more accurate than the Shield 9.) I was shooting mine today, and the range officer came up and complimented me on my shooting. He expressed amazement that such a small gun could be so accurate. Anyone considering a Shield 45 should try one out. If your first experience shooting it is anything like mine was, you'll end up buying one.

 

[swsig]

I can not get the 7th round in my 7 round mag. I barely got six in and that was after 40-50 rounds.. I dont think I am the weekest guy on earth but I just could not manage the 7th. I like having the ability to carry 8.

I've used a single Uplula loader for the past 5+ years. I've loaded over 50,000 rounds with it for eight different semi-autos. It's still good as new, and I have never failed to fully load any magazine, including my Shield 45's. It makes loading quick and easy, even with new magazines, and gives you more time to shoot. Unfortunately, there are some cheap imitations out there, so buy only from a reputable retailer.

 

[Jessie]

The issue of mags may be because it's not actually a 7 round mag. They use the same body for the 6 round and 7 round models. Only the base plate is different, slightly longer.
All the mags are marked 6 and a +1.
Cost saving for them but can be frustrating if you don't know.

 

[Texas40]

I spent a lot of money a couple of years ago and bought a Kimber Ultra II. First time I shot it, I noticed the front sights had rotated 90 degrees to the left. Gun shop fixed that. The on taking it apart to clean it! Nightmare. It does not have a bushing and you need a paper clip to get the spring out. Dont take it apart or its another night mare. Putting it back the slide does not go on, find out it's a common problem. Loved how it shot once the sights got fixed but carrying a single action with a safety on it or taking a risk without the safety was more than I wanted so I bought a .45 Shield. easy to take apart. Good shooter. Ran a couple of hundred rounds and even though its a plastic gun it handled recoil well and was easy to double tap and triple tap. Only issue and I wonder if others have it. I can not get the 7th round in my 7 round mag. I barely got six in and that was after 40-50 rounds.. I dont think I am the weekest guy on earth but I just could not manage the 7th. I like having the ability to carry 8. The Kimber mags sucked so I got Wilson combat mags and they were much better and loaded easily. Any one have any thoughts on the S&W mags. By the way this gun for the several hundred less than a Kimber is ten fold better.

How bout 9
I can load all my mags (3with and 2 without extensions) to capacity by hand. I do use an uplula for ease alot of times.

Never had an issue even when new before or after adding the hyve's.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[papajohn428]

If you think the 45 Shield mags are hard to load, get a 40 Shield! I had the 40 first, when I switched it was like night and day, the 45 mags were a joy to load, comparatively. Leaving them loaded helps soften them up a little.

Like several other folks here, I'm amazed at how well I can shoot with such a little gun. But it feels like it was molded to my hand, and even my 1.0 version feels plenty grippy. It carries like a dream with my VersaCarry holster/clip, (as discussed elsewhere in this section) and even adding a laser out front didn't mess anything up. It has digested close to a thousand rounds without a hiccup, shoots to the sights, and makes shots that frankly surprise me! I used to be a dedicated 1911 guy, now they've been relegated to the Range Toy category, and the Shield goes into my waistband more than anything else I own.

I just retired recently, and find myself roaming around in civvies a lot more these days. The Shield goes with me as easily as my wallet and keys, and a spare mag slides into a cargo pocket and disappears. I have five other M&P's, in all calibers, but this is the one I'd feel lost without, especially in summer!

 

[jtpur]

Hey everyone thanks. I have been thinking of getting a mag assist but I suppose my ego has prevented it. One would think I should be able to put 7 rounds in 7 round mag. I think Ill get the loader and try. Maybe as one said, after a while they soften up a bit. I understand about the 40 mentioned. I have an SD9 and I cant get the 16th round it that either. I did have one mag I managed to put the 16th in but I think I attached it to the Sigma I sold. Sigma and SD9 mags are the same.

 

[Dyerbill]

I have the Shield in 45, 380 EZ and 9mm EZ....I'm almost seventy and I want it easier. The 380 is great haven't done the 9mm yet...that forty-five ain't going no where...well I change a lot

 

[cmj8591]

Why carry a 45? Because they don't make a 46!

I am a Maglula convert. They are about 30 bucks but once you use one, you won't go back.