45acp M&Ps which makes mot sense for concealed carry

[DartonJager]

I have located the fallowing M&P models and I need some advice choosing which makes the most sense as a concealed carry 45acp handgun
I have found the fallowing three I can buy.
4" M&P Compact 2.0 45acp NIB
4" M&P Subcompact 1.0 45acp Used
3.3" M&P Shield 2.0 45acp NIB
I am looking for be best balance between shootability, weight, concealability, and capacity.
Not terribly concerned about the trigger or sights as I have no problems upgrading both,

 

[mckenney99]

What you are willing to EDC is the real issue. The 4in 10rd frame is really a OWB or duty sized firearm. The 4in 8rd frame is still pretty large to conceal but I'm sure some do. The 4in 8rd gun is wider and just bigger overall than a comparable 1911. The Shield is a heck of a sub-compact EDC firearm. I don't remember ever having a failure with mine, it is very shootable for such a small large caliber gun and mine is very accurate.

 

[Beju]

'There are no solutions. There are only trade-offs.'

You've listed them in increasing ease of concealment and decreasing ease of shootability and terminal effectiveness.

The 2.0 Compact still has a full length grip, which some may find difficult to conceal.

The 1.0 Subcompact has a shorter grip, which may be easier to conceal, but not quite as easy to shoot as a full length grip.

The Shield has the lowest capacity and a short barrel where you may need to do more research to choose JHP defensive ammunition that reliably expands.

Few people will wish that they had fewer rounds in a gunfight, but that's a decision that you have to make in light of your probable threats. If you're mostly worried about a stalker or lone wolf robber, then you may decide that the 6 or 7 rounds of the Shield are fine. If multiple offender robberies are more common by you, then you probably want as many rounds as you can carry.

If you want to do visual comparisons, pop on over to the website Handgun Hero.

Concealment is affected by your build, carry method, manner of dress, and personal comfort. As mckenney99 points out, the 1.0 Subcompact is still a double stack 45 duty pistol in width. A Shield 45 may not be as easy to shoot, but a 6 shot 45 carried on your hip everywhere is better than a 10 shot 45 that you left in your safe.

 

[thebolt]

The smaller shield is not as easy to master as the other pistols on your list. Bigger guns are always easier to shoot and smaller guns are easier to conceal Holster brand and styles make a significant different in making a gun concealable so look at your preference in holsters while you make your decisions. Holsters carried on the waist OWB are more comfortable but less concealable than inside the waist holster IWB styles but you need so to see what is the right holster for you.

It's nice to see someone looking at the 45acp and I know you'll enjoy the pistol you choose.

 

[ukcats]

I have the 4.6" barrel full size 2.0 M&P .45 that is mostly used as my nightstand gun, but I do carry it occasionally. Not difficult to conceal if you dress around it.

 

[hardluk1]

I carried a alloy frame commander since '90 and 4 years earlier with a officers acp but never had any interest in another brand or model of 45 for as a concealed carry handgun . I'm very close to 70 now and I retired my lw commander a few months back .

I've have also kept a 40sw since ether late '90 or early '91 as a carry option, work gun or just a smaller as cc option . Back then the quality of factory 40sw ammo was lacking compared to current 40sw ammo choices but hand loaders managed to cover those short comings till some ammo producers started to catch up with better options than what the fbi wanted and then years later underwood and BB managed to produce 40sw ammo with energy levels even the 45+P can excede.

I never had any interest on other 45 pistols except for one that was bought as a foul weather or fishing trip carry as my last commander was a polished blued model .

That other 45 handgun is a Kahr CT45 that is also 45 super capable . Its a thin pistol and has a lighter weight with a very smooth under 5lb trigger pull that is more like a constant pull weight Stricker fired trigger , MIne has settled in at 4lb 10 oz average pull weight.

I knew the mid size kahr 45 like a cw45 will run with 1911 officers mags , just click it in place and shoot ! So since I have a pile of wilson colt 1911 full size mags I bought the Kahr CT45 kahr and cut a small notch out of the bottom front of the grip so the 7 , 8 and 10 round 1911 mags lock in a run reliably while the 7 round metal bottom mags fit flush for a shorter carry height if that matters . Physical size wise the kahr CT45 is far smaller than a m&p 4" compact even though both use a 4" barrel . Advertised weight in most places is off for the ct45 kahr - Mine weighs in at 24oz with a empty wilson 8 round mag .

I have harvested a couple deer with my M&P 40 that showed up under my tree stand . underwood 155gr gd hp fired basically straight down dropped one deer where it stood and the next time I used my 40sw the deer ran about 60 feet stopped looked back and fell to the ground . Both bullets passed were pass thru shots of about 16 to 17" of tissue but caused major heart and lung damage with onlythe sternum as for any bone hit . That underwood load manages 1328fps in my 4.25 M&P with a 155gr gold dot bullet and just short of 600ftlbs of energy . Today the bullet used is a xtp .

Just an option for a 45 carrier if size and weight is a concern . I now carry ether my early full size m&p 4.25 40sw or a 2.0 5" pc ported 40sw . Do I miss my lw commander ,, sure but not enough to CC it any more when I have quicker split times and better defensive accuracy with my 40sw than with my 45 .

Link below to Handgun Hero shows the size difference -

Kahr CT45 vs Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0 45 4" Compact size comparison | Handgun Hero

Compare the dimensions and specs of Kahr CT45 and Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0 45 4" Compact

www.handgunhero.com