Shield 9mm to 45acp, did you or would you?
- Thread starter awmp
- Start date
Two years ago (as I reported in this thread), I put the 9mm in the safe, as I much preferred my (then) new 45 Shield. I pulled it out of the safe last month, for a comparison to my new Sig 365 9mm, which holds more rounds (10 or 12), and is actually smaller than the 9mm Shield. I still like shooting the 45, and it goes with me often. The 9mm Shield is back in the safe. So...…..by all means, get the 45! My 45 Shield is amazingly accurate at 7 to 25 yrds, has much less recoil than expected, and has fired every factory & reload I've put through it.
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jerrydm60
Member
I have both the 9mm and 45, I was surprised by the soft recoil of the 45! I have been carring a 45 since I got out of Vietnam in 68 saw what they can do, battle proven! not tooo sure of the nine but I like them both, and they fit the same holster. Waiting for my wife to try the 9mm as she is getting older and her Kimber 45 ultra is getting a little too much for her. I even suggested my 380, time will tell.
Cellar Hound
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One man's opinion
Like many others, I own a 1911 in .45 ACP. However, I'm not typically a .45 guy. That being said, when the time came to buy the Shield, I purchased one in 9mm. Then, as luck would have it, I stumbled across a great deal on the .45 version of the Shield. After one trip to the range, I realized that it was awesome and very controllable in recoil. Now, more often than not, I reach for the .45... So, I'm not sure yet but I may be starting to become a .45 guy.
Like many others, I own a 1911 in .45 ACP. However, I'm not typically a .45 guy. That being said, when the time came to buy the Shield, I purchased one in 9mm. Then, as luck would have it, I stumbled across a great deal on the .45 version of the Shield. After one trip to the range, I realized that it was awesome and very controllable in recoil. Now, more often than not, I reach for the .45... So, I'm not sure yet but I may be starting to become a .45 guy.
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FloridaS&W
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Don't fight it, just let it happen. Bigger holes are better.
I used to be a 40S&W guy, but the PC Shield 45 I have on order will probably make the change to 45ACP official.
I got a Kimber TLE RL II back around 2012 or so. It was purchased because everyone needs at least one 1911. I shot it occasionally, then it fell further down the line when I got into revolvers. My Shield 40 always remained my most frequent shooter until I got a SIG P220 SAS Carry last year. I just cannot leave the P220 alone. As much as I love my Shield 40 (1.0), I suspect my PC Shield 45 will probably become my favorite shooter beating out the SIG. Tall order. Time will tell.
(just don't tell my semi-auto's I still like my revolvers better
) Sent from my VS995 using Tapatalk
Amp
Member
Didn't read all the replies you got but if you can afford both go for it.
I have both and prefer the 45. That may be because my 9 is first gen without the rougher grips.
I have both and prefer the 45. That may be because my 9 is first gen without the rougher grips.
jrvariel48
Member
I don't have a Shield 9mm but I shot my friends a bunch of times. I decided to buy a Shield 45 about a year ago and I absolutely love it!!
For me, the fit in my hand makes it more enjoyable to shoot than my Springfield Trophy Match! Just my 2 cents
For me, the fit in my hand makes it more enjoyable to shoot than my Springfield Trophy Match! Just my 2 cents
I shot my new PC Shield 45 today. I was pleasantly surprised. I know it has been many years since I shot one of the early Springfield XDS 45s, but I recall handing the XDS back to my friend after one or two mags thinking "enough of that." Maybe the grip texture (felt like Legos) was the big reason the XDS' kick felt so hard and turned me off. The Shield 45 kick was just a little stronger than my SIG P220 and Kimber.
I believe I can shoot my Shield 45 and not fatigue any sooner than with my Shield 40. The "snap up" 40 versus "push back" 45 difference was obvious.
Guns are so much fun.
Sent from my VS995 using Tapatalk
I believe I can shoot my Shield 45 and not fatigue any sooner than with my Shield 40. The "snap up" 40 versus "push back" 45 difference was obvious.
Guns are so much fun.
Sent from my VS995 using Tapatalk
jakebrake
Member
did I? no. would I? if the shield fit my hands, in a heartbeat.
Leather for me...I'm locked into 4" N-frames and ordered up an El Paso Saddlery #2 holster and belt that makes every one feel right.
To add to this thread. I have all three. And carry all three at different times.....Sadly my 642 goes neglected.
I guess I can say that I have all three calibers of the Shield.
Purchased a Shield 40 and had to make a couple of changes to keep it from getting the sledge hammer treatment. Put in Apex Duty/Carry trigger kit and then a stainless recoil assembly. Before the changes, the gun was the worst I have ever owned, but I was determined. With the trigger kit and the RSA the thing became my daily carry. Purchased a 9mm barrel for it and magazines. I have carried it with 9mm at times. Great gun now.
Then came the Shield 45 with the green CT laser. The first shot from it was dead center of the target. The trigger was much, much better than the improved 40. After several hundred rounds of different ammo, the 45 has become my daily carry.
Both guns get used quite frequently as I have a handgun range in my back yard and am going broke buying ammo.....and I use a lot of 9mm in various guns that are 40 S&W but have 9mm barrels and 357 Sig barrels.
For some reason when I carry the 40 with 9mm, I just do not have the confidence in that caliber the same as I do with the 40 and 45. Don't ask me why....just something in my soul. Probably that I at times carried a 45 in Vietnam...… back then I had never heard of 9mm.... or 40!
Purchased a Shield 40 and had to make a couple of changes to keep it from getting the sledge hammer treatment. Put in Apex Duty/Carry trigger kit and then a stainless recoil assembly. Before the changes, the gun was the worst I have ever owned, but I was determined. With the trigger kit and the RSA the thing became my daily carry. Purchased a 9mm barrel for it and magazines. I have carried it with 9mm at times. Great gun now.
Then came the Shield 45 with the green CT laser. The first shot from it was dead center of the target. The trigger was much, much better than the improved 40. After several hundred rounds of different ammo, the 45 has become my daily carry.
Both guns get used quite frequently as I have a handgun range in my back yard and am going broke buying ammo.....and I use a lot of 9mm in various guns that are 40 S&W but have 9mm barrels and 357 Sig barrels.
For some reason when I carry the 40 with 9mm, I just do not have the confidence in that caliber the same as I do with the 40 and 45. Don't ask me why....just something in my soul. Probably that I at times carried a 45 in Vietnam...… back then I had never heard of 9mm.... or 40!
gunny4053
US Veteran
I've had and shot the 9mm. I have the Shield .40 PC and the Shield .45. In order, I'd take the .45, .40 PC, and then the 9mm. My .45 recoils softly, in a straight line, reliably, and accurately, every time I pull the trigger. Speaking of the trigger, the .45 has a better trigger right out of the box, even, IMO, compared to the 2.0's. The PC models are the exception, being just a bit better all the way around. As to concealability, I have never known an extra 1/2" to be the difference between a well hidden gun and one which is not. I carry my .45 in a DeSantis Cozy Partner almost daily except when the .40 PC wins the draw for the day. Although I like the 9mm, the .45 would be my first choice every time even with the smaller round count. Short answer, the .45 is a softer shooting, more accurate choice, with a better trigger. What's not to like?
DMSC
Member
I've owned a Shield 9 since October 2012. It became my EDC pistol soon after.
Great shooter and has been 100% reliable so far.
I have since added a Shield 45 and a Shield 2.0 9 with the factory CT laser.
As has been stated, the 2.0 trigger is way better than the original OTB.
But, the Shield 45 was better still, OTB. It's the most fun to shoot of the three.
Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk
Great shooter and has been 100% reliable so far.
I have since added a Shield 45 and a Shield 2.0 9 with the factory CT laser.
As has been stated, the 2.0 trigger is way better than the original OTB.
But, the Shield 45 was better still, OTB. It's the most fun to shoot of the three.
Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk
SoCalDep
Member
I have a 9mm and really like it. I don't feel the need for a .45 and quite frankly from a ballistics standpoint I'm more confident in the 9mm... though I hope to do some official testing of the .45 soon out of short (Shield/3" 1911) barrels.
Of course need and want are two different things and I want a .45 to compare to my boringly unreliable Kimber Ultra Carry .45.
Of course need and want are two different things and I want a .45 to compare to my boringly unreliable Kimber Ultra Carry .45.
