Shield 40 vs 45acp

[mdad85]

Anyone had a chance to compare these two? I've always liked the 40, but love the 45. Just not sure on this platform which might be better. Also for the 45, because of the short barrel what ammo is best for cc ?

 

[wormraper]

I'd go with a .45 over a .40 any day of the week. even a 9mm over the .40... too much muzzle flip with a .40. a .45 has push backwards, but not that nasty flip that .40 is known for.


honestly, most good feeding ammo will do just fine. the velocity differences between short barrel and long barrel aren't that big. especially since I find +P unnecessary in any gun

 

[BD302]

My .40 PC Shield has a fair amount of kick to it, much more noticeable than my heavier longer 4013 TSW. You might not like it at first but I got use to it after a while. I just bought a regular 9mm Shield yesterday to carry and I plan on breaking it in tomorrow and comparing the 2, probably night and day lol.

 

[Bill In Texas]

The platform is the same. I was just looking at a .45 caliber Shield today. It's just a tad bigger than my .40 caliber Shields, but not much. I say go with the one you shoot the best, or the one you like the best!

I use either Federal HST's or PDX1's in my .40 cailber guns. Google Dr. Gary K. Roberts,(DocGKR). Any of his recommended ammo will do you just fine!

 

[Amp]

Just bought a 45 shield because it feels better than my 9mm shield. Havent shot it yet but it gets my vote.

 

[gunny4053]

The .45 Shield and Gold Dots, how does it get any better?

 

[PSC617]

I've fired all three--I preferred the .40 over the 9mm...and bought the .45 and these were the first six from 5 yds. S&W really nailed a nice small platform.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Smitty357]

.40 for two reasons.

U can have a 9mm barrel for it. And get both in 1 gun.

Plus most grown men can't handle the recoil of the .40. So they get a 9mm. Which means there no use for a .45acp with more recoil.

 

[LAA]

.40 for two reasons.

U can have a 9mm barrel for it. And get both in 1 gun.

Plus most grown men can't handle the recoil of the .40. So they get a 9mm. Which means there no use for a .45acp with more recoil.

My 5'4" wife with small hands, owns a Glock 43 9mm. She shot two mags worth, out of my Shield 45 ACP last weekend. The re-coil wasn't tough at all. Almost a non event.

 

[DHart]

If I had to step down to a single-stack Shield, I would go 9mm or .40S&W (preferably 9mm).

.45auto is better served with a larger weapon which has more capacity and greater ability to control the caliber. And, to a somewhat lesser degree, the same is true of .40S&W caliber.

My preferred carry choice is M&P40 Full size, M&P45C, or P320 40. When I need step down to "small", my choice is an M&P40C. It is very easy for most people to conceal an M&P40C or M&P9C.



The Shield is, for me, best reserved for when even an M&P Compact is simply too difficult to carry (rare). And if I'm going to go with a Shield, I think the best choice of caliber is 9mm, as the capacity is better in the small size pistol and the caliber is easier to control in rapid fire with the small size pistol. 9mm suits Shield-sized pistols and 3" barrels very well!

There are those who think going with a Shield in .45auto is a smart choice. I will say this... it's certainly a smarter choice than pulling a knife. BUT, by choosing .45auto in a Shield, you're losing both capacity AND control (important criteria!) by choosing .45auto in a pistol that small!

If you choose to go with .45auto in a pistol with the barrel length of a Shield (3.3"), be prepared to spend big bucks for super-premium ammo, if you want it to perform as desired from such a short barrel. I'm talking Barnes all-copper 160 gr. starting at around $1.29 per round. Or, the Wilson Combat Pinnacle load of the same 160 gr. Barnes bullet, which runs around $2.60 per round.

If you choose the regular premium-grade 230 gr. Federal HST, Gold Dot, or Ranger ammo, your velocity will suffer with the 3.3" barrel (this stuff is designed for 5" barrels, 4.25" at least) and terminal ballistics will not be what you might hope for.

 

[LAA]

If I had to step down to a single-stack Shield, I would go 9mm or .40S&W (preferably 9mm).

.45auto is better served with a larger weapon which has more capacity and greater ability to control the caliber. And, to a somewhat lesser degree, the same is true of .40S&W caliber.

My preferred carry choice is M&P40, M&P45C, or P320 40. But when I need step down to "small", my choice is an M&P40C. It is very easy for most people to conceal an M&P40C or M&P9C.

The Shield is, for me, best reserved for when even an M&P Compact is simply too difficult to carry (rare). And if I'm going to go with a Shield, I think the best choice of caliber is 9mm, as the capacity is better in the small size pistol and the caliber is easier to control in rapid fire with the small size pistol. 9mm suits Shield-sized pistols very well!

There are those who think going with a Shield in .45auto is a smart choice. I will say this... it's certainly a smarter choice than pulling a knife. BUT, by choosing .45auto in a Shield, you're losing both capacity AND control (important criteria!) by choosing .45auto in a pistol that small!

I really disagree here. When I first heard of a 45 ACP Shield, I wasn't to impressed. I do have a 9mm Shield, as well as a M&P 40 CORE. One of the most accurate semi autos I own, is the Springfield XDM 45. It's been a favorite, and very easy to hit targets, objects, every time.

I decided to go for the 45 Shield, just because I prefer the 45 over 9mm & 40. I was hoping it would be at least half the accuracy of the XDM. With the first shot, I was more than surprised! A near perfect bullseye at 7 yards, and does much better than I expected farther out. Needless to say, I'm more than impressed with this 45 ACP, that fits in the same holster as my 9 mm.

P.S. --- as far as ammo costs go, I re-load 45 ACP. This gun hasn't failed yet. That includes four different brands of factory loads, as well as 100+ of mine.

 

[DHart]

I really disagree here. When I first heard of a 45 ACP Shield, I wasn't to impressed. I do have a 9mm Shield, as well as a M&P 40 CORE. One of the most accurate semi autos I own, is the Springfield XDM 45. It's been a favorite, and very easy to hit targets, objects, every time.

I decided to go for the 45 Shield, just because I prefer the 45 over 9mm & 40. I was hoping it would be at least half the accuracy of the XDM. With the first shot, I was more than surprised! A near perfect bullseye at 7 yards, and does much better than I expected farther out. Needless to say, I'm more than impressed with this 45 ACP, that fits in the same holster as my 9 mm.

I didn't say anything about the .45 Shield being "inaccurate". What it is, is more difficult to control rapid follow-up shots than with the 9mm Shield. And your capacity suffers, as well. Much harder to hit well rapidly under stress, movement, and adrenalin rush and the pistol runs out of ammo REALLY quickly! It's certainly better than no pistol! I will definitely give you that.

Keep in mind that shooting rapidly in a defense situation is NOTHING like standing at the range on a sunny Saturday afternoon, trying to make a bullseye hit with slow, careful aim! In a defense situation you will be scrambling to not be shot and trying to make hits in a HOT hurry with adrenalin pumping furiously. And you will likely empty that low-capacity magazine in a few seconds, possibly without achieving your objective of STOPPING the threat! In such situations, a high degree of control in rapid fire and a high capacity of ammunition before a reload are likely to be KEY factors.

Can you carry an M&P Compact instead? I'd sure prefer an M&P Compact in my hand, in any caliber, over a Shield if I had to face a deadly threat situation.

 

[LAA]

Surprisingly, it isn't much harder to control follow up shots, over the 9. That also took me by surprise, I thought the re-coil would be a lot stronger than the XDM. It's not! Otherwise, I wouldn't have asked my wife to try it out. I've run 185, 200, & 230 g. ammo through it.

edit: We don't stand at a range taking careful shots. We're into the colored water bottles lined up for quick shooting down the line. Trips to the desert nearly every weekend.

However, I did go to the trouble of a bench rest & chrono, for exact test results, comparing to the XDM 5.25" barrel. It does loose velocity, which I expected.

 

[DHart]

I love .45auto, .40S&W and 9mm. Each, heavily depending on the platform that is chosen.

Can you carry an M&P Compact instead? Shields are cool guns and you Shield fans aren't going to like hearing this, but I'd MUCH prefer an M&P Compact in my hand, in any caliber, over a Shield if I had to face a deadly threat situation. Can you carry an M&P Compact?

Choose your defense weapon very wisely and prepare to the best of your ability. That's about all I can offer.

 

[LAA]

No desire for a M&P compact, period....

 

[DHart]

No desire for a M&P compact, period....

We carry guns so that in the extremely unlikely event that we will need to defend ourselves against a deadly threat, we will be well prepared to do so. If that very unlikely event should actually take place (it does every day for some people), be as well prepared as you are capable of being. Or not, if it isn't that convenient for you.

Make your choices and take your chances. Odds are you won't need a gun anyway. ANY gun. Live life on the edge... don't even carry a gun!

This isn't a "fun game" that we play on the internet, it is a deadly serious topic.

 

[LAA]

We carry guns so that in the extremely unlikely event that we will need to defend ourselves against a deadly threat, we will be well prepared to do so. If that very unlikely event should actually take place (it does every day for some people), be as well prepared as you are capable of being. Or not, if it isn't that convenient for you.

Make your choices and take your chances. Odds are you won't need a gun anyway. ANY gun. Live life on the edge... don't even carry a gun!

This isn't a "fun game" that we play on the internet, it is a deadly serious topic.

For over 40 years, I flew aircraft. It was all up to me (whether I lived or died), with no internet pause button. It was deadly serious. I still prefer the single stack Shield for a carry. Was the 9, now the 45. I'm not particularly fond of 40's, although I own & reload them. I see from your other post, that you do like them. Fine.

 

[Bonephish]

I am more comfortable carrying my .45 Shield than my M&P 9C. On those days when I want more firepower, I'll carry the M&P and maybe a Seecamp .32 in my pocket.

 

[kannonvaggon]

I am probably goofy, BUT... I happen to prefer the lower velocity and heavy bullet weight with the 45 ACP in this short barrel. Ya get way good energy into the target mass in the real world without so much over penetration. Those zippy 9mm defense loads still don't have the ENERGY staying within the target when compared to a 45 IMHO. I like the 9mm just fine, but I like the 45 even better. One round less in the pistol is not a deal breaker to me.
The 9MM is for sure slightly lighter and a hair more concealable, but just barely.
My own EDC has changed over to the 45 Shield. It's a sweet shooter that carries nicely and throws very large metal at a good WORKING velocity without OVER penetration.

 

[cowboy4evr]

If you have ever been through tactical training you will learn that " real world scenario " is wayyyy different than just standing there banging away even if you are practicing rapid fire . " You're still just standing there " .
That's my point . Try getting off a full magazine or cylinder full at multiple staggered targets while "moving " in 7 seconds with shots on marked critical areas (kill zone) on the targets ! All from , let's say 15 yds . Remember , you are having to move while shooting (real world scenario ) , and the targets are staggered . Sound Easy ?