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new M&PShield 45 .. WOW
- Thread starter turbo38gn
- Start date
today did a range comparison with the following:
Shield 45
Shield 9 w apex kit (wife's gun)
Kahr CM9 (wife's gun)
Glock 43
as usual, the glock 43 and kahr CM9 are a natural fit for me. very easy to shoot and pleasant. could shoot them all day long. then I go to the M&P shield 9 and i'm reminded why I sold my shield 9. it just doesn't feel natural in my hand. grip is too short for all 3 fingers but too long for just 2 finger grip, so I find myself constantly adjusting my grip in between shots. I've tried pearce pinky extension, extended magazine, talon grips and still it's not a natural fit. The shield 9 is obviously a fantastic pistol and dead nuts reliable, but just doesn't fit my hand correctly.
so when I heard the Shield 45 was coming out I thought nothing of it. ~2 months ago a range buddy of mine just picked one up and we were shooting each other's pistols, so I figured what the hell lets try the shield 45. much to my surprise, I felt totally natural in my hand. very pleasant shooting experience and my natural point of aim was spot on.
despite being impressed with the Shield 45, I had no intention to purchase one until the rebate was announced. then I just couldn't say no. compared to the HK45, it has more recoil but still nothing to complain about. going up to HST 230gr +P rounds, it's a bit snappy but could still shoot it all day long.
Here's 15 rounds rapid fire at 7 yards. I'm not so sure this shield 45 will replace my beloved G32 or G26 for carry options, but it's definitely a keeper. trigger is stock so called "MA model"...and it needs zero work, it's perfect.
Shield 45
Shield 9 w apex kit (wife's gun)
Kahr CM9 (wife's gun)
Glock 43
as usual, the glock 43 and kahr CM9 are a natural fit for me. very easy to shoot and pleasant. could shoot them all day long. then I go to the M&P shield 9 and i'm reminded why I sold my shield 9. it just doesn't feel natural in my hand. grip is too short for all 3 fingers but too long for just 2 finger grip, so I find myself constantly adjusting my grip in between shots. I've tried pearce pinky extension, extended magazine, talon grips and still it's not a natural fit. The shield 9 is obviously a fantastic pistol and dead nuts reliable, but just doesn't fit my hand correctly.
so when I heard the Shield 45 was coming out I thought nothing of it. ~2 months ago a range buddy of mine just picked one up and we were shooting each other's pistols, so I figured what the hell lets try the shield 45. much to my surprise, I felt totally natural in my hand. very pleasant shooting experience and my natural point of aim was spot on.
despite being impressed with the Shield 45, I had no intention to purchase one until the rebate was announced. then I just couldn't say no. compared to the HK45, it has more recoil but still nothing to complain about. going up to HST 230gr +P rounds, it's a bit snappy but could still shoot it all day long.
Here's 15 rounds rapid fire at 7 yards. I'm not so sure this shield 45 will replace my beloved G32 or G26 for carry options, but it's definitely a keeper. trigger is stock so called "MA model"...and it needs zero work, it's perfect.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Aug 9, 2011
- Messages
- 272
- Likes
- 36
Just buy the standard M&P trigger return spring.. it $2 bucks most places... swap that spring and you turn your shield into a free state shield. Trigger new should be around 7-8 lbs in my experience. Probably breaks into to around 6.5 lbs.. very nice...
just keep shooting it. the springs soften up. after a few hundred rounds my mags now load by hand easily.
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while my uplula is always with me at the range, these single stack mags rarely need an uplula. just shoot your 45shield and the springs will lighten up quite a bit.
Glockster30
NES Member
I had no intention of buying one either based on my experience shooting other people's 9mm and .40 Shields. However, with the rebate I couldn't resist, and figured it was worth it even if it needed an Apex kit. After buying and dry firing with it, I thought the grip texture was way too aggressive. I also did'nt expect much accuracy to speak of with only a 3.3" barrel.
After firing it, I was wrong on all accounts. The grip texture did not bother me at all, so I can continue to use my wife's hand cream. With the 10# trigger that didn't feel like 10# (if that makes sense), the Shield is almost as accurate as my Glock 30S with a longer barrel. The Shield is the same size as my G27, but a lot thinner (although it has a longer grip than the G27). In warm weather, if it proves to be reliable, it will replace my G27 at times.
On range day, I shot 112 rounds, 50 blazer brass, 50 Blazer aluminum, and 12 Federal hydo-shok rounds. I had 2 failures to feed, one with aluminum case and the other with brass (none with the SD rounds). However, I carry Golden Saber bonded ammo that I haven't tried yet in the Shield.
With the first target, I was just trying to get the feel of the gun, and since the FBI states that 95% of gun encounters are 21' or less, I also shot at 7 yards. The first target, I was just trying to get a feel for where the gun was firing. Holding on 6 on the black bull's eye, the gun was shooting high. The recoil was very manageable and a non-factor. On the second target, I held aim at the bottom line of the 8 ring. Only 6 rounds of the 50 were not part of the overall group of 50, so I was pretty happy with that. On this target, I also shot the Federal .45 SD rounds rapid fire holding aim at the bottom of the 6 ring.
As far as I'm concerned, this gun is a keeper even without doing an Apex job on it, and I expect that i will do better with it (if it's reliable).
View attachment 196311
2nd trip to the range with the Shield 45acp. This time @ 21 yards. These eyes of mine are 71 years old, I am sure you younger guys could do a lot better. Zero problems with the gun, reloads and 3 different types of factory stuff.
2nd trip to the range with the Shield 45acp. This time @ 21 yards. These eyes of mine are 71 years old, I am sure you younger guys could do a lot better. Zero problems with the gun, reloads and 3 different types of factory stuff.
turbo38gn
NES Member
Looks pretty dead to me!! good shooting
No, my brass looks the same. Read a thread on the S&W forum, apparently the 9MM also leaves a similar dent and were told it was nothing.Ran a few boxes through after installing the apex and xs sights. Oh so much better! But I have a question on the primer impacts. The are consistently smeared. Is this anything to worry about?
45collector
NES Member
I can't buy another gun
I can't buy another gun
I can't buy another gun
I can't buy another gun
I can't buy another gun
Glockster30
NES Member
Ran a few boxes through after installing the apex and xs sights. Oh so much better! But I have a question on the primer impacts. The are consistently smeared. Is this anything to worry about?
They primer strikes look the same as from my .45 Shield.
Fixed it 4 u... ;-)
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Thanks guys. Makes me feel better.
That's exactly it.
45collector
NES Member
Nooo. Fixing it for me would be sending me the money to buy one.
I have only ever owned .45's that are 1911's. For 16 years. This is the first time I'm real tempted to buy one that isn't.
turbo38gn
NES Member
Nooo. Fixing it for me would be sending me the money to buy one.
I have only ever owned .45's that are 1911's. For 16 years. This is the first time I'm real tempted to buy one that isn't.
THE STARS ARE ALIGNED!!! You won't regret it... love my 1911's, a little heavy and bulky to carry. Cheap money for the Shield and it performs amazingly! If you don't mind putting a few bucks into it, you have a trigger similar to a 1911 if you so choose. If not, the factory trigger on this little gem is a pretty darn good trigger for a Ma trigger..
Nooo. Fixing it for me would be sending me the money to buy one.
I have only ever owned .45's that are 1911's. For 16 years. This is the first time I'm real tempted to buy one that isn't.
My pro series 1911 commander is very nearly the same physical size, but it just doesn't carry as well. The reduced weight of the shield made it my daily carry over the 1911. That and I wont feel too bad if it gets worn and banged up whereas the 1911 is just too pretty.
