Hey S&W... I need a Shield Plus in .40S&W!!

[Dave686]

I happily carried .40 in my LE career for 25 years. But times have changed.

The same people that used to ask every time a new 9mm was introduced, "When's it coming out in .40?", are the the very same people that dropped .40 like a hot potato once the FBI said they were changing back to 9mm. And 90% of LE dropped the .40 as well.

Truth is, the .40 was a "forced" popularity, based on the FBI adoption and it being the newest shiny object in the gun industry. Most shooters did not like the .40, as the 9mm (and the similar .38 Special in revolvers) was about their limit of recoil tolerance. But god forbid they admitted it, as they didn't want to look like wimps so went along with the program. And those shooters that were .45 fans never saw the point of .40 in any event.

LE agencies found the .40 guns required more preventative maintenance and were breaking sooner, they were spending more money on both ammunition, and getting recruits and officers to qualify. Follow the $$$$$.

Once 9mm became socially acceptable, shooters had some ego coverage to get rid of .40, and they did so in DROVES. My local LGS pre-owned case was chock full of sad and lonely .40 pistols of every description for a couple of years, sold at deep discount.

That same LGS, which does a brisk business, doesn't even stock new .40 pistols anymore. They're dust collectors.

Folks, .40 is dead as a new issue. You'll be able to get ammo for quite some time, S&W will keep their namesake cartridge alive in some catalogued guns, and Glock never seems to discontinue anything....but it's a niche item anymore.

Sometimes, Santa just doesn't deliver.

I don’t guess I should be, but I’m always surprised at folks that want to tell you how much experience they have, then try to explain why we don’t need a particular firearm or caliber.

There are plenty of threads with mindless arguments about calibers and people wanting to tell you why you need to use the caliber they recommend.

Like you, I am former LE. But unlike you, I couldn’t care less what LE carries as I’m fully aware of the ignorance that goes into a department, or especially the FBI, selecting a round.

Are you really suggesting that guys in suits that don’t work the street and rarely are involved in a shooting, are somehow experts on ammunition?

I have a .40 Shield. I’d like to try a .40 Shield Plus. I have no problem controlling a .40S&W. That will have zero impact on what you use. I assure you; they won’t drop your 9mm out of the lineup. It is the most popular handgun caliber there is.

When I see “.40 is dead”, I usually just go on by and pass it off as the silly non-sense it is. But you obviously took the time to write a lengthy response, so I thought it would be rude for me not to reply.

 

[biku324]

When the NMSP went to 9mm from 357 Sig it was about the ammunition cost.

The 40 S&W will live longer than most of us.

 

[Gman556]

I don’t guess I should be, but I’m always surprised at folks that want to tell you how much experience they have, then try to explain why we don’t need a particular firearm or caliber.

There are plenty of threads with mindless arguments about calibers and people wanting to tell you why you need to use the caliber they recommend.

Like you, I am former LE. But unlike you, I couldn’t care less what LE carries as I’m fully aware of the ignorance that goes into a department, or especially the FBI, selecting a round.

Are you really suggesting that guys in suits that don’t work the street and rarely are involved in a shooting, are somehow experts on ammunition?

I have a .40 Shield. I’d like to try a .40 Shield Plus. I have no problem controlling a .40S&W. That will have zero impact on what you use. I assure you; they won’t drop your 9mm out of the lineup. It is the most popular handgun caliber there is.

When I see “.40 is dead”, I usually just go on by and pass it off as the silly non-sense it is. But you obviously took the time to write a lengthy response, so I thought it would be rude for me not to reply.

He should also know that champion shooter Tori Nonaka went all over the world shooting a 40 cal, and she is probably 100lbs give or take.

Recoil problem lol.

 

[Well Armed]

I think the reason why they haven't already made an M&P40 Shield PLUS is because it could only be made to hold maybe an extra or two if that in the same size frame as the 9mm, which just isn't very compelling...

Honestly, say they did release an M&P40 Shield PLUS, but it only held 8 rounds in the flush magazine, 9 in the extended mag, for a grand total of 1 extra round over the existing M&P40 Shield. Would you be rushing out to buy one to replace your current Shield? Heck, even if you don't already own an M&P40 Shield, would you buy an M&P40 Shield PLUS, or just buy an older model for less money, and take the minor loss of a single round over the PLUS model, with the fringe benefit of having a thinner grip?

Keep in mind, the Shield PLUS is only marginally thicker than the standard Shield, yet the .40 S&W cartridge is 1mm thicker than 9mm, being a 10mm cartridge, ergo the added thickness of the Shield PLUS grip just doesn't go as far with .40 S&W, so at most, maybe the Shield PLUS frame could accommodate an extra round if chambered in .40 S&W, assuming it's even sufficient to fit even that much. It's entirely possible that the Shield PLUS grip just isn't thick enough or long enough to hold even a single addition round over the standard M&P40 Shield, ergo they'd have to thicken/lengthen the grip on a .40cal model, and at that point the size/thickness might be getting so close to that of the M&P40 2.0 Compact that it just isn't worth the effort to make it.

Remember the short-lived M&P40 2.0 Subcompact? Yeah, they offered that model for how long before they discontinued it? Know why? Because it only held two-three extra rounds in the magazine over the M&P40 Shield, yet was substantially thicker in width than the Shield, so folks either bought the Shield or the slightly taller M&P40 2.0 Compact with a 3.6" Barrel, which held 5 extra rounds over the M&P40 Shield.

The Shield went from a 7 and 8 rounder to 10 for a total of two extra rounds in the flush mag. I'd like a Shield Plus in 40s&w with an 8 or 9 round flush mag. That should take the Shield 40s&w from 6+1 to 8|9+1 standard. If they can get 6 rounds of 45acp in the Shield 45's flush mag, then they should be able to easily get 2 or 3 rounds of 40s&w in a mag as thick as the Shield Plus but as long as the Shield 45.

 

[fmflorida]

I personally always love the "XYZ Agency carried 9mm so it's the best".....clearly from people who have no idea how bidding contacts work.

The government agencies will always go with the cheapest option which is how the FBI picked 9mm.

Also remember, you carry a gun alone......the FBI or whatever agency carries the 9mm with 2,3,4 or more of their best friends when they expect trouble.

I'll 100% give you the argument 9mm is better when 3 people are shooting at 1 target.

There is little doubt .40S&W or 45ACP is a better round.....it's just a matter of how much better of a round you think it is and if it is worth it to you to spend the money on it.

I carried a 1911 for a while and currently carry a 9mm P229. I however make no mitake in thinking 9mm is the "best"....it's capable but that's about it.

 

[gnappi]

I L-O-V-E the herd / lemming mentality. I've acquired some of the nicest .40's I'd ever hope to have at really fair prices from followers of that foolish buying trend dumping guns at a serious $$ loss

I wish the FBI would adopt something new for Bambi secret agent every few years!

 

[Well Armed]

I L-O-V-E the herd / lemming mentality. I've acquired some of the nicest .40's I'd ever hope to have at really fair prices from followers of that foolish buying trend dumping guns at a serious $$ loss

I wish the FBI would adopt something new for Bambi secret agent every few years!

Yup... Sheeple is what I call them. When L.E., gun magazines, tacticool operators, etc were saying 40s&w was the game changer, they all loved 40s&w or at least didn't hate it. Then when they get told and groomed to think the opposite, they fall right in line. They don't think for themselves and are easily influenced, but don't even know it.

They also don't make logical sense. Many of them own and will shoot 357mag, 10mm, and tiny lightweight micro 9mm's, but then will turn around and base 40s&w for being too snappy? Make it make sense! It's all in their heads.

I still believe 40s&w is the superior JHP self defense round vs 9mm, 45acp, and 10mm out of 3" - 4" +/- barrels.

 

[Dave686]

Thank you for contacting Smith & Wesson.

At this time, we have no plans to make any further configurations or new product SKU’s at this time. To keep updated with any new products or plans we do announce, please visit our website at www.smith-wesson.com. I would also consider signing up to our newsletter, which will deliver all new updates to you first.

Thank you,

They told me "No".

 

[rosewood]

The Shield went from a 7 and 8 rounder to 10 for a total of two extra rounds in the flush mag. I'd like a Shield Plus in 40s&w with an 8 or 9 round flush mag. That should take the Shield 40s&w from 6+1 to 8|9+1 standard. If they can get 6 rounds of 45acp in the Shield 45's flush mag, then they should be able to easily get 2 or 3 rounds of 40s&w in a mag as thick as the Shield Plus but as long as the Shield 45.

To me, the grip of the shield is a tad too narrow. I had to add a Hogue slip on to make it more comfortable. A grip that is about 1/4" wider would be about perfect.

Rosewood

 

[Well Armed]

To me, the grip of the shield is a tad too narrow. I had to add a Hogue slip on to make it more comfortable. A grip that is about 1/4" wider would be about perfect.

Rosewood

I didn't like the long and narrow grip on the standard Shield either because it was so narrow. I reckon though that making the grip 1/4" wider would basically be giving it a double stack width grip.

 

[hardluk1]

The 2.0 3.6 or 4" compact is a wider but not 1/4" wider with the small grip insert it measures 1.23 wide and its vastly more shootable than a shield plus .

 

[gnappi]

Seems like S&W abandoned the .40 and I abandoned them

 

[BRL40]

4

Read all the posts here and not one mention of just carrying a spare .40 Shield magazine.

 

[Well Armed]

Read all the posts here and not one mention of just carrying a spare .40 Shield magazine.

I carry 2 spare mags for my 45 Shield which has the same capacity as the 40s&w; however, the odds of me having to do a mag change in a gun fight are slim. What's already in the gun is what one typical has to fight with in a gun fight. I see a spare mag more as ammo for my carry gun after the initial fight is over so that I'm not sitting their holding a paperweight.

 

[BRL40]

...I see a spare mag more as ammo for my carry gun after the initial fight is over so that I'm not sitting their holding a paperweight.

Yea that too.

I will say that before the Shield I carried a G23, and with 13+1 of 180 grain .40 S&W rounds in it that thing became a brick real quick.

I suppose I could have just started working out, but at 66 retired and lazy I didn't see that as a viable option.