Talk me out of buying a Shield .45

[Bonephish]

Yep, my 45 Shield is the same way. Looks like poor machining, but who knows, maybe made that way by design?

I polished the machine marks some and it's smoother when chambering the first round.

 

[Shield45]

Same Here

Snappy is a relative thing depending on the individual, but technique can make a lot of difference. Change your standard two hand grip and wrap your weak hand trigger finger around the front of the trigger guard, thumbs forward. Very stable, less snap, IMO.

As for holsters, I'm using a Remora for now.



Bonephish, I've got a question for you. When you remove your slide to clean it, are there scallop like machine marks down the center?



Just curious, doesn't seem to affect anything, just looks odd.

I have the same scallops on mine. It had me worried at first, but it now functions well so I am just ignoring it.

 

[Bill Bates]

I'm not going to try to talk anyone out of buying a .45acp Shield. I bought mine last week. I put two magazines through it last weekend but gave up trying to load the darn magazines.

I found it a struggle to load more than 3 rounds into the magazines. I picked up an UpLula magazine loader this week. Now I wonder why I didn't buy one years ago. Oh yeah they work slick.

Anyway, tomorrow I'll send a bunch more slugs down range. I liked the 9mm Shield but darn the .45 fits my paw so much better. If it goes without hiccups it going to be a constant companion.

 

[Bonephish]

Anyway, tomorrow I'll send a bunch more slugs down range. I liked the 9mm Shield but darn the .45 fits my paw so much better. If it goes without hiccups it going to be a constant companion.

I went to the outdoor range today from 1:00 to 2:30 and shot targets at 10 yards and metal plates at 25 yards. The .45 Shield ran perfectly and I discovered that the sights are a little off, shooting left of center about a foot at 25 yards. I also shot my 9C and found the same sight issue. I think it's because I shoot right handed but left eye dominant. Anyhow, I'm going to adjust the windage slightly on both guns and shoot again next week.

I really like the .45 and am carrying it most days now.

 

[JLM]

My LGS has a .45 Shield now. I tried it in my 9 IWB holster and it fits great. Fortunately it was the thumb safety model so I escaped without buying... Yet...

 

[MacDonald]

No experience here with the Shield 45 but I would suggest you compare it's pros/cons closely to the M&P 45c before committing. ( Comparison advice I often give for any potential shield buyer in any caliber) .

Myself, I have found the slight weight and width increase of the M&P C's to be an acceptable tradeoff when weighing in ergonomics, mag capacity and "shootability". In fact, the M&P 45c has become my go to carry for those days when a J frame isn't enough.

...oh, great. THANK YOU!

I, too, wanted the Shield .45, just because. Now I want the Shield .45 AND the M&P 45c...this is the exact reason I bought a Shield 9MM last year and a Shield .40 a few weeks ago.

I can resist everything except temptation!

 

[Bonephish]

I also have a M&P 9C which I enjoy shooting but the .45 Shield is smaller and lighter to carry - and shoots as well as the 9C.

 

[Just another 22 shooter]

I had my hands on a 45 Shield today at the Scheels in Omaha.Very good trigger pull. Love the sticky grip and overall feel of the 45.
Now the S&W fever is worse than ever. Probably lucky that the one they have has the thumb safety,; if it had no safety, it would have followed me home, somehow.

 

[Bonephish]

I had my hands on a 45 Shield today at the Scheels in Omaha.Very good trigger pull. Love the sticky grip and overall feel of the 45.
Now the S&W fever is worse than ever. Probably lucky that the one they have has the thumb safety,; if it had no safety, it would have followed me home, somehow.

Mine has the thumb safety and I like it. I also carry a Sig P938 cocked n locked, so having the safety is natural for me.

 

[SKSBrowndog]

Went to my LGS to browse and spotted the 45 shield, I didn't even know it existed. I couldn't resist a new model M&P, now to go and shoot it.

 

[MacA]

Unless you want to pay Smith & Wesson for the honor of being a beta tester for them, wait a year.

I usually follow this advice on brand new platforms, but S&W has had a lot of success with the Shield in 9mm, as well as the .40, so I think the risk is minor! It better be, I just picked mine up on Saturday. I am a long-time .45ACP "worshiper". So when my LGS got a couple in, I decided to take a chance. Took it apart and gave it a good clean and lube. Will get to range this week and try it out.

 

[Pointblank2U]

I usually follow this advice on brand new platforms, but S&W has had a lot of success with the Shield in 9mm, as well as the .40, so I think the risk is minor! It better be, I just picked mine up on Saturday. I am a long-time .45ACP "worshiper". So when my LGS got a couple in, I decided to take a chance. Took it apart and gave it a good clean and lube. Will get to range this week and try it out.

Sales success and quality control are not really related issues. Most people don't read these forums. They go to a gun store and buy a gun based on looks or feel in the hand. There were some serious issues with the 9mm Shield, to the point that they were unable to furnish replacement RSAs for awhile.

 

[MacA]

Sales success and quality control are not really related issues. Most people don't read these forums. They go to a gun store and buy a gun based on looks or feel in the hand. There were some serious issues with the 9mm Shield, to the point that they were unable to furnish replacement RSAs for awhile.

Long-term sales success is usually a direct result of consumer confidence. Consumer confidence is most definitely swayed by quality control. Bad reviews and ongoing issues would indeed kill sales over time whether you "read these forums" or not. And the Shield is one of the most successful subcompact models on the market today. I would tend to agree with your concerns if they were introducing the .45ACP right after the 9mm. But since the 9mm issues have been resolved, and they have had success with the launch of the .40 model, I think it is very unlikely that they will have MAJOR issues with the .45ACP. Very low risk to purchase now, in my humble opinion.

 

[Bonephish]

But since the 9mm issues have been resolved, and they have had success with the launch of the .40 model, I think it is very unlikely that they will have MAJOR issues with the .45ACP. Very low risk to purchase now, in my humble opinion.

I purchased two pistols from a first production run - the .45 Shield last week and a Walther PPS M2 in January. Both are extensions of successfully selling guns, the Shield 9/40 and the PPS M1. I have never experienced a malfunction of any kind with either of these quality-made pistols. My Sigs have also been flawless from day 1.

Buy the .45 Shield with confidence. And enjoy shooting this great little pistol.

 

[oldfart64]

I am about to pull the trigger Djust sayin'.)

OK, do you have arthritis? do you have really small hands? are you used to shooting? are you used to a pistol that has a pretty big recoil?

If you answered any of the first three questions yes and the last question no, maybe you should try a 9mm shield first. Otherwise, pull the trigger and go for it.

 

[Pointer1]

Snappy is a relative thing depending on the individual, but technique can make a lot of difference. Change your standard two hand grip and wrap your weak hand trigger finger around the front of the trigger guard, thumbs forward. Very stable, less snap, IMO.

As for holsters, I'm using a Remora for now.



Bonephish, I've got a question for you. When you remove your slide to clean it, are there scallop like machine marks down the center?



Just curious, doesn't seem to affect anything, just looks odd.

I just picked up one today and the same marks are down the middle

 

[Groo01]

Groo here
WHY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!