The .45 Shield is a great confidence builder. Very controllable and way more accurate than you'd think a 3.1" .45 would be.
I briefly had a full size M&P in .45 and it seemed it had way more recoil.
I find the Shield to be more pleasant to shoot than my 4 inch alloy frame Kimber.
I'm not sure why some would carry FMJ and not even try JHP.
My Shield will thrive on any good JHP. I stocked up on 230 HST and 200 Gold Dot. Heck, my Shield even feeds Speer shotshells like they were hardball. Handy for packing in central Arizona.
Pattern test:
Penetration on a steel soup can:
A 2 1/2 foot rattler that was hanging out in the parking lot at a local swimming hole, now minus his head.
Check the Lucky Gunner tests, some of the best JHP loads expand close to 1 inch and also have more than adequate penetration.
Many of those same JHP loads penetrate almost as deep as FMJ.
Some of the JHP loads Lucky Gunner tested don't expand at all, you'd be better off just carrying hardball than pay for premium defense ammo that doesn't expand.
Choose wisely.
I Cerakoted my Shield and got a Lasermax green laser/light, really goes with the gun well.