Maddmax
US Veteran
I have both and carry both. Both are good BUG and I like having the same ammo for what I decide to carry that day. 
Shield 9mm to 45acp, did you or would you?
- Thread starter awmp
- Start date
,y wife has a 9mm shield and I liked it, i was carrying a M&P9c and wanted something a little thinner. So I shot her 9mm and rented a .40, was planning on getting a PC shield 9mm when they introduced the .45.
Went to a S&W demo day and shot the .45 shield and fell in love. Recoil was less than the .40 shield and only a little more than the 9mm. Found one at cabelas for $399 and snapped it up.
Went to a S&W demo day and shot the .45 shield and fell in love. Recoil was less than the .40 shield and only a little more than the 9mm. Found one at cabelas for $399 and snapped it up.
kannonvaggon
Member
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My .45 definitely has a nicer trigger than my 9mm had. I'm not sure why, but it is smoother and has clean reset. Not bad at all for a factory trigger in this type of pistol.
I also like the thumb safety better on the .45 Shield. It is slightly larger with a nice positive action.
There is also a very large hole at the end pointed towards the target. I like this big hole a lot, and find the heavier metal being thrown down range is quite accurate and satisfying.
Again... I like the 9mm just fine.... but I myself like the .45 mo bedda !
The only thing that's a " con " is the price of ammo, but I don't use up all THAT much since it's a carry gun and not a competition race gun.
YMMV
I also like the thumb safety better on the .45 Shield. It is slightly larger with a nice positive action.
There is also a very large hole at the end pointed towards the target. I like this big hole a lot, and find the heavier metal being thrown down range is quite accurate and satisfying.
Again... I like the 9mm just fine.... but I myself like the .45 mo bedda !
The only thing that's a " con " is the price of ammo, but I don't use up all THAT much since it's a carry gun and not a competition race gun.
YMMV
I'm not generally real keen on the idea of a .45acp through a light pistol, or a short barrel. But from what I've been hearing about the Shield45, I'd be willing to give one a shot if I crossed paths with one, reasonably. (I say that as a wheeler-dealer/Armslist junkie.
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buckshotshorty
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He said it all. I am in 100% agreement.
modern 45 ammo opens just fine. Speer gold dot HST etcetera
expansion s just fine and consistent h modern ammo, gold Dot, HST, WINchester train147 etc are 3 that come. to mind
buckshotshorty
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For me I carry my Shield with the 6 round mag. Slightly more concealable and with one in the shoot I have 7 rounds.
Bonephish
Member
I carry with the 6-round mag +1 in the pipe.
JPucci
Member
When I carry it, I do so with the 7rd mag +1 and then two 7rd mags on the other side of the gun belt. I honestly can't tell a difference in comfort or concealability with the longer magazine in the pistol. I carry at 10:00 IWB (lefty!).
Don~Z~
Member
6 round plus one chambered, spare 6 round mag in pocket... I like the 6 better for edc...
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
okiegtrider
Member
40's are good
every one is saying how much they like the 9 shield and the45 ,Both are good carry right now I have the 40 shield and it has worked fine through close to 500 rds of all kinds bought it used previous owner did not like the recoil ? carry every day in iwb master tuk holster but still might try a .45 shield
every one is saying how much they like the 9 shield and the45 ,Both are good carry right now I have the 40 shield and it has worked fine through close to 500 rds of all kinds bought it used previous owner did not like the recoil ? carry every day in iwb master tuk holster but still might try a .45 shield
I have a buddy that bought a .40 Shield, I fired it, it was ok. No real issues but just did not do it for me. He likes it.
My 45 Shield should be here Tuesday of next week and off to the range I will go.
My 45 Shield should be here Tuesday of next week and off to the range I will go.
With the loads available in 9mm I don't think I'd bother. Not much of a gain.
Bonephish
Member
In the past, there was a more marked difference between 9mm, .40s&w, and .45auto. But not so much anymore. Not with the modern loads that are available these days. No handgun is going to knock anyone down. Regardless of caliber.
Between these three common calibers, I would not choose a gun based on "the power of the cartridge". Other criteria is much more important IMHO.
In years past, yes, caliber was of much more concern to me. Both because of my perception of the power of the cartridge, and because of my perception of the recoil. Not anymore. After decades and decades of shooting and developing proper technique, there really isn't much difference in perceived recoil between 9mm and .45auto. The characteristics of the recoil do differ (slow heavy push vs. slightly snappier but less push), but overall they are equivalent to me now.
I used to really like .40s&w, but that has fallen out of favor for me. It doesn't really gain you anything in terminal performance these days, but it does add more muzzle flip due to it's sharper recoil impulse. I still see some niches to differentiate 9mm vs. .45auto (very minor), but I feel that .40s&w is now the orphan child that doesn't really have a home anymore. .40 is the same as, but not better than, either 9mm or .45. But the downside is that it adds unnecessary muzzle flip.
For a full sized pistol, I'd go 9mm over .45. There is a significant difference between 11 or 12 rounds capacity vs. 15 or 16 rounds. But for a smaller concealed carry pistol, 9mm vs. .45 is a wash for me. There's not much difference between 6 and 7 rounds capacity. Buy which gun you like the best, but for other reasons besides caliber.
