M&P PC Shield .45 2.0

[gunny4053]

Any good, bad, or ugly information? I found one at the LGS and one of the guys I know there offered it up for $350. Kinda hard to pass that up. They also have a 5" M&P .45 for about the same price, so maybe it's time to procure a pair.

 

[gunny4053]

Does anyone know which optic came with these from the factory?

 

[gunny4053]

Well, those questions are moot. I took a leap of faith and picked her up. Originally the shop had it listed at $399 including the gun, and two mags. We got the box out, low and behold, not two mags but three, all the paperwork, a lock, a Performance Center cleaning kit, and how about that, the factory red dot, all for $350.

We'll go shooting tomorrow after ordering up a holster from Upper Hand holsters. The red dot is a no name provided from S&W. As for the rest of it, it's a ported Performance Center Shield .45 with a 4" barrel, how can there be a down side.

The real bonus for today's trip was I was also looking for a red dot for the AR. They had Leupold 34mm 1x scopes with the 1 MOA dot on sale at 50% off, so for $212 I walked out the door satisfied I met the goals for the day.

 

[Casual Smith Nut]

You did good for that package at $350.
How's the trigger pull? Any different than the standard Shield 45?
I have The standard shield 45 and it's quite shootable for a gun with 3.3" barrel. I've considered getting a 4 inch performance center but have never handled one.

 

[Michaelp57]

So jealous. I have the standard shield 45, and I dont see how it could be significantly improved, but I'd love to see how different it is.

 

[gunny4053]

As far as the trigger goes, it's not that much different from the standard, although it does feel like the break is a little crisper. The grip is the same as your standard models and having the 2.0 texturing does make it feel very grippy.

I will say this, the balance feels a little better. The standard models always felt a bit light on the front, but that extra inch or so on the nose of this one just makes it point better for me. I have tried the Sig 365xl with red dot in the past and struggled to find the dot. With this gun, I can draw and point, finding the dot easily almost every time. It will take some practice but anything worth doing does. We'll see how durable this factory red dot is over time, but if it fails, the Vortex Defender actually comes with everything needed to mount on the Shield, so no extra plates to buy.

I'll take it to the range in the next couple hours and will report back when I return. One thing I'm interested in seeing is how well the ported barrel does. I had a PC Shield in .40 and it was awesome, so I imagine this will be the same.

 

[gunny4053]

Took the Shield to the range and was very pleased with it. It is a lot more comfortable to shoot with the 7 round mags, imagine shooting a lightweight commander with a slim polymer frame. It felt more natural with a full grip. Unlike shooting my Glock 27 with my pinky tucked, this Shield doesn't feel right with the flush fit mag in place. Don't get me wrong, I shot it just fine with that mag, just didn't care for it. Recoil and muzzle flip are minimal for a gun this size, and muzzle flash wasn't an issue. I'm sure most of that had to do with the ammo, which was 230gr Blazer brass. Overall, it's a great firearm. In fact, I liked so well I went and put its big brother on layaway. The full size doesn't have the slide cut for an RDS, but that's not a deal breaker for a gun priced at $400 OTD.

The one downside to today's trip was me having a "Forest Gump" moment. Yep, stupid is as stupid does, and I was. After getting the new red dot zeroed on my AR, I was ready to do the same with the Shield. It was all good until I realized I left the allen wrench needed to make adjustments at home. Since I was there anyway, I decided to do some Kentucy windage and Tennessee elevation shooting just to get better with the dot. Not my finest shooting, but good enough to make bad guys nervous. I'll go again in the next day or so and do it right.

 

[Echo40]

Very nice!

Back in 2021 I got a similar deal on a PC M&P40 Shield, but it was a 1.0 model with only one magazine and obviously no red dot.

 

[Casual Smith Nut]

I appreciate you sharing with us, Gunny. I don't hear from many who have the 4 inch PC version of the 45 Shield.

 

[gunny4053]

Glad I could help, just wish I could show you some better shooting. This is only the second handgun I've shot with a RDS, so I'll be working with it to improve. The other was the Sig 365xl, and I had a terrible time just finding the dot with that one. I spent forever searching for the dot, it just didn't point naturally enough that the dot was always right there. This Shield is a whole different cat, when it's drawn and brought to bear, the dot is in the window, no searching. The only issue I've had other than forgetting the wrench so I could make adjustments, is the dot intensity. This is a very basic reflex sight with no power adjustment, so at its current level, I get some scatter. Nothing terrible, but it's there. At some point I'll probably go ahead and replace it with the Vortex.

 

[Groo01]

Groo here
Just got one myself.
Shoots well and is very slim, trigger is good and will go into the rotation soon..

 

[gunny4053]

Finally got back to the range to zero the Shield.

 

[RMFnLA]

I have a 9mm and found the mag extensions make a big difference for me.

 

[sotexas]

I appreciate you sharing with us, Gunny. I don't hear from many who have the 4 inch PC version of the 45 Shield.

I have the 4" PC's in both 9mm and .45acp. When it comes to carrying between the 2 the .45 usually wins out. Full disclosure the Shield Plus 3" with Tru Glo TFO night sights carried in a black Arch IWB holster with Ulti Clips being the winner the majority of the time. Very confident with this set up for reliability and accuracy. I enjoy shooting and occasionally carrying my 4" .45. Both of my 4"s have performed without issue and hit what I want. knock wood I have never had an issue with any S&W or Springfield I have purchased.

 

[Redcoat3340]

I too just got a PC .45 Shield. Feels great and it completes the .380, 9 .45 series (can't seem to justify a .40 with 9 & 45).
I haven't been to range yet so I'm not quite ready to carry it; but I'm dead on at 7 yards with a laser "bullet."
Trigger is great, can't comment on the porting, and I got it for $349 on gunbroken.
Range report coming soon.

 

[sotexas]

Shot a XDS for about 3 weeks then bought the Shield PC .45acp and carried it for about 3 years then became a capacity *****. Actually carrying it today. Cerakote came at around the 3 year mark.

 

[Redcoat3340]

Question: If the .45 PC Shield is (and in my opinion it IS) a great size for IWB carry; has a great trigger; fits the hand better than nicely; the porting isn't a problem; and the bullet is a definate stopper, argueably better than 9 or 40...

Why should I be keeping at least a half-dozen traditional DA/SA S&W carry guns: CS9, CS45, 3953, 3914LS, 6906, 6946, Shield EZ, 4513; and .40 SW99 compact...notwithstanding that I have "collected" those guns over a number of years and I seem to have some sort of attachment to them that makes me very reluctant to sell them, even if logic and good $en$e says I should.

I've invested both time and money in most of them, making improvement, buying holsters, etc. and although I'm fairly sure I'd get my money out of them, I still am loath to say, "adios" to 'em.

Go figure.

 

[gunny4053]

Question: Why should I be keeping at least a half-dozen traditional DA/SA S&W carry guns: CS9, CS45, 3953, 3914LS, 6906, 6946, Shield EZ, 4513; and .40 SW99 compact...notwithstanding that I have "collected" those guns over a number of years and I seem to have some sort of attachment to them that makes me very reluctant to sell them, even if logic and good $en$e says I should.

Go figure.

Because they're the guns that got you here. When it comes to firearms and our attachment to them, logic goes right out the window. Example: Why do people buy Hi Points even if logic and good sense says not to? Go figure.

I can't speak to the EZ, but the rest are ones I'd love to put in the safe. Here's a question for you, wet side or the dry side?

 

[STORMINORMAN]

Well, for $350 the OP dang near STOLE IT!

CHEERS!

P.S. Didn't have a S&W M&P in 45acp and was considering that very one... Then a Springfield XTM Elite OSP Compact in 45acp came up in that very price range and I slipped into the Dark Side...

 

[Well Armed]

Because they're the guns that got you here. When it comes to firearms and our attachment to them, logic goes right out the window. Example: Why do people buy Hi Points even if logic and good sense says not to? Go figure.

I can't speak to the EZ, but the rest are ones I'd love to put in the safe. Here's a question for you, wet side or the dry side?

It's because HI Points are reliable, affordable, abd have great customer and warranty service. Logically it makes sense for people who don't mind the looks and bulk to buy them. Logically it doesn't make sense to exclude any tools that are reliable based off of vanity reasons and price point.