I have both sizes of the Shield .45 (3.5" & 4") and love both. You should have zero issues with the Shield .45. I have had zero reliability issues with either pistol.
Who Has Shot a M&P Shield 45 a Lot?
- Thread starter biku324
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OP
I found 500 rounds of my favorite factory load at $28 per 50 (the newer Winchester 230 grain FMJ-FP) - now for my FFL to call!
W a i t i n g ! 
My lovely wife bought me a Hogue slip on grip for the shield 45. After a LOT of cussing, a little bleeding and making two tools to get it on - a plastic wedge to shoe horn it on and a wooden wedge to remove the plastic wedge - it is in place and it is an improvement, for me.
Anchors the thin grip in my hand and improves the trigger reach, for me. The palm swells could be a little bigger, like on the Hogue Glock grip sleeves. Will shoot it next week with the new grip sleeve and see how it goes. Regards 18DAI
Anchors the thin grip in my hand and improves the trigger reach, for me. The palm swells could be a little bigger, like on the Hogue Glock grip sleeves. Will shoot it next week with the new grip sleeve and see how it goes. Regards 18DAI
OP
The ammo is in, not yet the Shield. Any day!
The Hogues are worth the effort to install in my opinion. Gives a no slip comfortable grip that fills my hand a little more plus soaks up some recoil, not that it's really needed.
My Shield 45 has become a favorite of mine.
My Shield 45 has become a favorite of mine.
OP
Picked up the 45 Shield today after a missed cue by my FFL - that's okay, he's a combat-disabled Iraq vet and will get my business anyway.
The pistol is lighter than I expected but still looks like a tuppergun. I field-stripped and cleaned it thoroughly and found it to be a real simple machine. I would NEVER have figured out stripping had I not read the instructions, as you have to push a sear engagement lever into the mag well with a screwdriver blade to allow the slide to be pulled off forward. Those who have removed 1911 and High Power barrel springs and guide rods will giggle with joy at how easily the single unit comes out of these! The preservative was easy to remove - there were no chips nor manufacturing crud left in any crevices.
Mine is MA compliant, and has a safety. It is NOT one I would carry in the 'safe' position, as it is tiny and stiff (don't even think it!). There is a 'loaded cartridge' visual port on the top of the slide that you need lots of light to use. The manual also says +P ammo is fine in 45 and 9mm models, but I'm not thinking I need it.
Once clean, off I went to the range with Winchester white box 230 grain FMJ RN and Winchester red box 230 grain FMJ-FP. Right away I discovered the mags are not to be loaded by folks with weak or sensitive fingers! The first two rounds loaded like the 6th and 7th in a 1911 mag; rounds 4, 5, 6, & '+1' (as marked on the mag exterior) were truly unpleasant to load.
Once mags were loaded, I inserted and removed them several times to get the feel, then chambered a round. With a round chambered, I removed the mag with the extension and fired at the target - it fired perfectly. I did the same drill with the shorter mag with the same results - there clearly is NOT a magazine safety on mine, which makes me happy. Loaded mags were easy to insert and remove, as were empty mags.
The pistol was completely reliable with both FMJ rounds - I burned through 50 of each. The sights (3 dot) were dead on for elevation at 15 yards but 4 inches left. The groups were good for my old eyes, even rapid fire (the trigger was just fine, really 'shootable'), and better than with my S&W M49 using 158 grain +P LSWC-HP. Recoil was there, but no big deal - I expected worse. And delight of delights, the empties drop predictably 4 or 5 feet to the right in an easy-to-locate group! I lost exactly one empty in the weeds and gravel.
I need to run a few hundred more rounds through it, but expect this will be my most carried (but not on horseback) pistol.
Too bad I was too stupid to buy one when you could get them for $369 with a $75 rebate. Coulda, shoulda, woulda.
The pistol is lighter than I expected but still looks like a tuppergun. I field-stripped and cleaned it thoroughly and found it to be a real simple machine. I would NEVER have figured out stripping had I not read the instructions, as you have to push a sear engagement lever into the mag well with a screwdriver blade to allow the slide to be pulled off forward. Those who have removed 1911 and High Power barrel springs and guide rods will giggle with joy at how easily the single unit comes out of these! The preservative was easy to remove - there were no chips nor manufacturing crud left in any crevices.
Mine is MA compliant, and has a safety. It is NOT one I would carry in the 'safe' position, as it is tiny and stiff (don't even think it!). There is a 'loaded cartridge' visual port on the top of the slide that you need lots of light to use. The manual also says +P ammo is fine in 45 and 9mm models, but I'm not thinking I need it.
Once clean, off I went to the range with Winchester white box 230 grain FMJ RN and Winchester red box 230 grain FMJ-FP. Right away I discovered the mags are not to be loaded by folks with weak or sensitive fingers! The first two rounds loaded like the 6th and 7th in a 1911 mag; rounds 4, 5, 6, & '+1' (as marked on the mag exterior) were truly unpleasant to load.
Once mags were loaded, I inserted and removed them several times to get the feel, then chambered a round. With a round chambered, I removed the mag with the extension and fired at the target - it fired perfectly. I did the same drill with the shorter mag with the same results - there clearly is NOT a magazine safety on mine, which makes me happy. Loaded mags were easy to insert and remove, as were empty mags.
The pistol was completely reliable with both FMJ rounds - I burned through 50 of each. The sights (3 dot) were dead on for elevation at 15 yards but 4 inches left. The groups were good for my old eyes, even rapid fire (the trigger was just fine, really 'shootable'), and better than with my S&W M49 using 158 grain +P LSWC-HP. Recoil was there, but no big deal - I expected worse. And delight of delights, the empties drop predictably 4 or 5 feet to the right in an easy-to-locate group! I lost exactly one empty in the weeds and gravel.
I need to run a few hundred more rounds through it, but expect this will be my most carried (but not on horseback) pistol.
Too bad I was too stupid to buy one when you could get them for $369 with a $75 rebate. Coulda, shoulda, woulda.
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I'm a bit surprised you were 4-inches left, but you can likely center that up by drifting the front sight a bit. I am near-sighted and, due to a childhood injury, have a weak eye on my non-dominant side. As I've now reached "retirement age," I notice that revolvers I've had for many years I've had to click over to the right a similar amount. Really disturbing. Something has changed, and it's not the weapon and/or ammunition. 
It didn't take me long to buy a mag loader, first for my daughter, and now I have one. I don't load 1911 mags with it, but it sure makes loading the Shield and P365 mags a lot easier. Uplula? I think it's called. Expensive for a plastic do-dad, but it works nicely.
If you monkey around with the thumb safety a bit while you're watch TV or something, you may find it wears in nicely. I did that with my gun and it is now just right. The size of the tab is OK for me, but I am from the old school that doesn't care for extended safeties on 1911s. I guess a little clicking back and forth could be considered "modern-day fitting."
Glad to know you like the gun… in spite of the price.
It didn't take me long to buy a mag loader, first for my daughter, and now I have one. I don't load 1911 mags with it, but it sure makes loading the Shield and P365 mags a lot easier. Uplula? I think it's called. Expensive for a plastic do-dad, but it works nicely.
If you monkey around with the thumb safety a bit while you're watch TV or something, you may find it wears in nicely. I did that with my gun and it is now just right. The size of the tab is OK for me, but I am from the old school that doesn't care for extended safeties on 1911s. I guess a little clicking back and forth could be considered "modern-day fitting."
Glad to know you like the gun… in spite of the price.
Congrats on the new pistol! Yea, those mags will make a Preacher cuss. I left them loaded for a week and that, with use, softens them up. IIRC, there is a Youtube video instructing how to load those mags too. I think I watched it as well.
I shot mine today with the Hogue grip installed. VAST improvement. You may want to consider it if you have big hands.
I wouldn't be concerned about being a bit off target, considering the Winchester ammo used. Winchester is shoveling it out the door and accuracy is not its strong point. See if you can get hold of some Federal 230 ball or Sig 230 Performance ammo. Mine shoots both those loads into sub 2.5 inches at 7 yards. S&B 230 - Not so much.
Regards 18DAI
I shot mine today with the Hogue grip installed. VAST improvement. You may want to consider it if you have big hands.
I wouldn't be concerned about being a bit off target, considering the Winchester ammo used. Winchester is shoveling it out the door and accuracy is not its strong point. See if you can get hold of some Federal 230 ball or Sig 230 Performance ammo. Mine shoots both those loads into sub 2.5 inches at 7 yards. S&B 230 - Not so much.
Regards 18DAILike barrels on new S&Ws, ammunition "ain't what it used to be," in a lot of cases. 
OP
I did notice the rifling was almost identical to shallow 1911 rifling.
I can't whine about the groups with ball, especially on initial firing. I like the FMJ-FP a lot.
I'll shoot it a bit more, and if the groups stay left when the wind is NOT blowing 20 mph and the sun isn't on my right I'll use my Wyoming Sight Drifter to bump that front sight a bit. I'll add that bifocals are only better than blindness.
I can't whine about the groups with ball, especially on initial firing. I like the FMJ-FP a lot.
I'll shoot it a bit more, and if the groups stay left when the wind is NOT blowing 20 mph and the sun isn't on my right I'll use my Wyoming Sight Drifter to bump that front sight a bit. I'll add that bifocals are only better than blindness.
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benf1
Member
Oh yeah right, I forgot about those pesky mags. I remember nearly slicing my thumb on the mag lips trying to get the last round in. I would suffer through loading and letting them sit a few days, then rinse and repeat over a couple weeks, much easier now. My thumb safety has an authoritative on/off click. Do you have the 3.4" or 4"? Congratulations and enjoy! I do mine, especially since adding the apex enhanced trigger.
OP
Thanks, that's helpful. Mine is the short barrel.
I may be mistaken on this but I've read that the magazine bodies are the same for 6 round and 7 round,and all wear the +1 mark. It holds 7 rounds with the extended floor plate and only 6 with the flush floor plate. If that is correct it would certainly make it difficult to get 7 rounds in the flush floorplate mags.
That's been my understanding of it and wondered why all mag bodies are marked with +1. I guess it's just a money saving thing with manufacturing.
That's been my understanding of it and wondered why all mag bodies are marked with +1. I guess it's just a money saving thing with manufacturing.
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OP
Even the extended mag is no fun!
I have one I bought right after they came out. Probably have 4-500 rounds through it. Not a single failure.
As far as shootablilty, it very accurate and my wife shoots it better than her 9mm shield. Recoil isn't bad at all for such a small 45.
As far as shootablilty, it very accurate and my wife shoots it better than her 9mm shield. Recoil isn't bad at all for such a small 45.
Spats McGee
Member
That is not outside the realm of possibility. That said, I'm still considering an Apex trigger, as it's primarily a range gun.
I've had mine for a few years, I think the trigger is nice, recoil is very manageable. When I first got it the springs were very stiff, locking the action open was tough. I opened the slide and left it that way for a week, helped. Loading the magazines was really tough, had to purchase the Uplula tool to load. I had some hang ups, miss feeds. If you clean the magazines with Rem Oil it helps lubricate the insides. Notice I said clean not lubricate the magazines, when you wipe out the oil it leaves a sheen of silicone. I like mine, at 7 yards I can shoot the bullseye out of the target.
