A Shield 45?

[ladder13]

I've been seriously thinking about picking up a Shield 9mm, 40's don't do anything for me in any platform, but will wait a bit longer to see if Smith makes one in 45. Any rumors?

Oh, NS as well.

 

[Maximumbob54]

I doubt is as they can't keep up with any of their current production. Myabe in a couple of years.

 

[Smitty357]

Well for some reason they came out with the no safety version. So I don't think current production matters. If they couldn't keep up. They wouldn't have wasted their time with the no safety version. Plus they know they stand to make way more money on a Shield .45.

 

[OldLawman]

I'd love one (still my favorite caliber), but stick to my Novak-tuned 1911 platform guns in .45 for now. Maybe in another year or so. The compact M&P in .45 is fairly small. Then again, I am retired from LEO work, so no one can tell me what to carry. If I still was active, some of the M&Ps and Glocks look pretty promising as far as a .45acp duty gun.

 

[Ksimons]

Give S&W a call and see what they say....

 

[Old cop]

From what I've read here the Shield .40 seems to have problems while the 9mm hums right along. It could be the frame is not sturdy enough for the .40, let alone a .45. Others w/more expertise may disagree.

 

[ColbyBruce]

The Shield needs to be made in .22 LR as it is the perfect size frame for the cartridge.

I would also like to see a Shield in .357 Sig for long range shooting.

 

[sellersm]

I would also like to see a Shield in .357 Sig for long range shooting.

Now we're talking! Perfect caliber for this model!

I'd also like one in .45acp, but not sure it'd be reliable.

 

[OldLawman]

I think it would have to be scaled up in size to take the .45 cap; but hopefully in a single stack. Don't see why it would be difficult to make work - .45 cap is a low pressure cartridge, unlike the .40 and .357 sig.

 

[ColbyBruce]

A small run of Shields in .45 GAP would be nice too. A fairly soft shooting cartridge that throws a large diameter, heavy projectile.

 

[HeavyDuty Ken]

I was hoping the .45 GAP would have taken off, but it looks like it is dying. I suspect it would have fit into the current Shield frame, too.

I'm holding out for a .45 ACP Shield. If it happens, I figure it will be slightly smaller and quite a bit thinner than my 45c with five or six in the magazine and a 3.25" barrel. Basically a M&P version of the XDS.

I like my 45c, but it doesn't carry as nicely in warm weather as my Shield.

 

[shawn mccarver]

Who knows what S&W will do, but the Shield platform, in its existing architecture, will simply not allow for the use of the .45 ACP cartridge. The action length is not long enough. A new Shield would have to be built from the ground up, and I do not see it happening. The existence of the Springfield XDS may have an impact, but the lackluster sales of the Glock 36, would probably show S&W that a single stack Shield in .45 ACP would not be successful. My guess is that the XDS in 9mm will ultimately outsell the .45 version, but who knows.

 

[ColbyBruce]

"lackluster sales of the Glock 36"

I have never owned a Glock 36, but have seen a good many of them at Glock, Inc. for repairs. Granted, everyone of them also was full of aftermarket parts. The service techs stick the non-OEM parts in a baggie and replace all parts with factory parts. I know three people who own Glock 36's that work fine. Those guns are all stock except for the sights.

 

[Fastbolt]

Remember the CS40/45? The .40 version was produced on the .45 frame/slide, not on that of the CS9. Hard to see them stuffing the ACP into the 9mm-sized Shield 40. A Shield 45 would require a new frame/slide design, I'd think.

If S&W invests the effort for making a larger version of the Shield chambered in .45 ACP, it would have to sell well enough to justify taking the machine time away from the calibers that ARE selling faster than they can be produced.

The ACP would be enough of a gamble, but a GAP? It's shrinking for LE sales, and even Glock isn't advertising a wealth of either LE or commercial sales.

Okay to day dream, though.

Last time I asked someone about a Shield 45 being released anytime soon, I was told not to hold my breath. The guy said he'd not heard of hints of a Shield 45 project, although that didn't necessarily mean anything.

Besides, a couple years ago I was told about ongoing development of a SW1911 chambered in .40 S&W, and it was thought it might see release soon. Haven't seen it, yet, though. I could see a SW1911 in .40 selling better than a Shield 45, too. I rather suspect the market appeal for a 5+1 shot subcompact .45 might be a bit less robust that some .45 aficionados might wish.

As much as I like my little CS45, if I could only keep one, I'd keep the CS9. A 7+1 shot subcompact 9mm is handier, and easier for most people to shoot, than a slightly larger subcompact .45 that only holds 5+1 rounds ... and I'm a long time .45 enthusiast & owner.

We'll see, though. I suspect it'll come down to market surveys and consumer demand (including any LE demand for a diminutive subcompact .45).

 

[robkarrob]

I don't see an issue with making a 45 Shield, in the same size as the current Shield. Springfield's XDs is made in 45 ACP, and is almost exactly the same size as the Shield. Gun sales have been increasing every year, by several millions more guns sold, over each previous year. There does not seem to be much reason for S&W to design a 45 ACP Shield, with such high gun sales. I was very surprised when Smith came out with the Shield without the manual safety, but the safety removal was a simple change: remove the safety lever, longer head on sear pin to keep it from walking out (to keep the ejector in place), and eliminate cutout or add plug for lever opening in the frame. Who knows what Smith may be bringing out next?

Bob

 

[Fastbolt]

... I was very surprised when Smith came out with the Shield without the manual safety, but the safety removal was a simple change: remove the safety lever, machine the sear housing wider or use spacers, and no cutout for the frame opening. ...

I wasn't. It's not a big change. Molds are the expensive part, but once made, easy and no more expensive to use.

Besides, the company has probably tired of listening to the "Tastes better" v. "Less filling" consumer arguments, and have simply decided to make the M&P products increasingly available in either/or configuration. Let fans of both configurations vote with their wallets and the company can reap the profit of both preferences being "right".

Granted, I haven't yet had the time to get scheduled for a Shield or Bodyguard M&P armorer class, but if the Shield is anything like the regular M&P pistol line, making non-TS models is pretty simple.

For example, in the regular M&P pistol line they eventually transitioned to making the TS sear block the "standard" block (unless you want to buy a ILS-equipped model, which takes the original ILS capable sear block). The TS lever assembly simply slips around the back of the sear block, pinned by the block's coil pin. No extra space needed inside the frame for the assembly (just the cuts for the levers to move up & down).

In the Bodyguard .380, as approved by LAPD for personal purchase without a TS, the company simply shipped the guns without installing the TS assembly (so the frame cut is simply empty).

 

[shooter1911]

I've been dreaming about the possibility of a 45 Shield, but I'm getting closer and closer to trying an XDS.

 

[Nakanokalronin]

The XDS45 sells pretty well so I could see a slightly larger Shield in 45acp selling fairly well too. Springfield was wise to start the XDS out in 45 first and make the other calibers in the same frame and slide, although the .40 version hasn't been released yet. The Shield would need a slightly thicker slide and frame, but it would still be close enough to the same dimensions so it really wouldn't matter. Right now, no other poly gun in that size can compete with the XDS45 because they're all 9s,40s and 380s.

Like many other companies, if they get enough of a demand for one they might make it. I'd write or call S&W and tell them how much you want one. It might happen if they see enough interest.

 

[Pointblank2U]

Kahr makes some nice small .45s also.

 

[Hamster65]

Hmm..........sounds interesting but, how many rounds could you get in a single stack mag for the Shield platform? Maybe 5 or 6?
Nah..........I'd rather just have a 1911.

 

[Nakanokalronin]

Hmm..........sounds interesting but, how many rounds could you get in a single stack mag for the Shield platform? Maybe 5 or 6?
Nah..........I'd rather just have a 1911.

I'd guess 5 in a flush fit mag like the XDS.Using the extended magazine would offer more rounds if someone wanted to carry it that way.

I had Officer and Ultra sized 1911s and the fatter,longer grip still caused printing. That's one advantage poly guns have, no need for bolted on grips. I even tried some slim line grips and it was still tugging on the shirt. I think S&W would do well with a 45 Shield as long as they could keep it as close to the size of the current Shield as possible. I don't doubt that some XDS45 owners would switch over as well.

 

[shooter1911]

Hmm..........sounds interesting but, how many rounds could you get in a single stack mag for the Shield platform? Maybe 5 or 6?
Nah..........I'd rather just have a 1911.

I'd rather have a 1911 also, as indicated by my name, but it's tough carrying ol slab side while wearing my Speedo

 

[Amedeus]

The first line of 40 Shields had some issues, because it was designed around the 9mm round. Trying to stick a 45 in that same platform simply wouldn't work. If they made the frame bigger and heavier to handle the larger round of a 45 it would just be a Compact 45 with a flush thumb safety.

Which would work for me. I hate the big wingy looking safety on the compact and full MP's which is why I sold my 40 compact for a 40 shield. I wish they would offer the flush thumb safety on all M&P's.

But you would be far better off asking S&W to add the Shield features to a M&P Compact in .45 then asking them to design a larger version of the shield, there is not a whole lot of difference between them anyway.

I wanted a larger version with the same features. I ended up getting a FNS 40 which, except for the trigger reset which has an added safety feature of reseting from the slide and not a spring feels and fires just like my Shield, only it carries more then twice as many rounds.

 

[B3500]

Was happy with my XDS45 when I got it. Was not so happy with it when it came back from the recall with a completely different feeling trigger, it was much heavier than before. Almost sold it off because of it. Soon after PRP came up with a post-recall spring kit and I put that in. That seems to have wrangled the trigger back to the pre-recall feel so am good with it again.

The 7 round magazine is nice at the range and for carry on the belt as a spare, it makes the grip too long for me to carry IWB. It would be great if SA would bridge the gap between the standard 5 round magazine (4.4" overall height) and the 7 round magazine and come up with a 6 round magazine, that would be enough to get the pinky on the grip and not make it overly tall for concealed carry.

Kahr recently came out with the CM45 - finally - after they initially announced it nearly two years ago at the shot show of January 2013. One does wonder why it took so long after they announced it before they actually started building and releasing it to the public. It might be something else to consider now if wanting a small 45 for carry.

 

[Nakanokalronin]

The first line of 40 Shields had some issues, because it was designed around the 9mm round. Trying to stick a 45 in that same platform simply wouldn't work. If they made the frame bigger and heavier to handle the larger round of a 45 it would just be a Compact 45 with a flush thumb safety.

Which would work for me. I hate the big wingy looking safety on the compact and full MP's which is why I sold my 40 compact for a 40 shield. I wish they would offer the flush thumb safety on all M&P's.

But you would be far better off asking S&W to add the Shield features to a M&P Compact in .45 then asking them to design a larger version of the shield, there is not a whole lot of difference between them anyway.

I wanted a larger version with the same features. I ended up getting a FNS 40 which, except for the trigger reset which has an added safety feature of reseting from the slide and not a spring feels and fires just like my Shield, only it carries more then twice as many rounds.

The XDS45 is very close to the size of the Shield, yet smaller than a 45 Compact. If SA can do it, S&W should be able to as well.

I sometimes see people saying the Compacts are barely larger than the Shield and never understood it. I had a 9c and Shield 9 and it was a night and difference when carrying. Everything is thicker on the 9c which is important when carrying IWB. The grip would print more and pulled the pants out farther which meant bigger pants and/or shirts. I can wear normal pants and shirts with the Shield or XDS.

 

[GerSan69]

I'll cut to the chase: if they come out with one, I'd buy it in a heartbeat!
Another possibility: adapt the 45c design to a single-stack with a shorter barrel. No reason I can see that keeps the compact's system from being fed by a single-stack mag. The rest is plastic and therefore open to redesigning a narrower grip/mag well. I understand that's essentially all that Springfield did to shrink down to the XDS.

 

[Nakanokalronin]

I'll cut to the chase: if they come out with one, I'd buy it in a heartbeat!
Another possibility: adapt the 45c design to a single-stack with a shorter barrel. No reason I can see that keeps the compact's system from being fed by a single-stack mag. The rest is plastic and therefore open to redesigning a narrower grip/mag well. I understand that's essentially all that Springfield did to shrink down to the XDS.

Actually the XDS is a completely different system and shares none of the internal or external design of the XD/M series. I say we all write S&W tomorrow for a Shield sized 45. Imagine if they got a flood of similar requests at the same time.

 

[beamon]

I've been dreaming about the possibility of a 45 Shield, but I'm getting closer and closer to trying an XDS.

I'm a bit of a nut on 'fit and finish', and that XDs is one finely constructed pistol! Congrats to the Croatians on a good job. I don't own one, but I could see one in my future. From all the YouTubes they seem to run fine.