Shot a Shield 2.0 in .45 ACP... pretty cool!

zaitcev said:

Dan is a big fan of Kahr, been for many years.

As I mentioned, Shield is more compact for capacity, and the quality is much better. For example, from 3 factory magazines that I bought 1 didn't feed well. But then again, it's always a lottery with Kahr, and your streak was quite good with those .380 and 9. You may win again. If you get a good Kahr, it's a delight.

Hold on a sec, I'll find you a picture. You can see that Shield's 7-round magazine is actually shorter than Kahr's 6-round magazine! Kahr's grip is not as deep front-to-back, which I prefer. Kahr also packs a longer barrel into the same size (although I strongly suspect that this trick design is a reason why the gun is less reliable: rounds do not have as much space to feed and there's less time for the magazine to present the cartridge). Ignore the chip at the baseplate, it was actually one of _good_ magazines

View attachment 878423

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I had a Sheild years ago in 9mm. Sold it off. Nice gun but just not for me. I would disagree with you on the quality. Kahr makes a top shelf firearm.Shooting the three I own and from friends I do know that have them, I have no hesitation to continue to buy Kahr products.Very familiar with Dan, and also have been on the Kahr forums for a few years. But each to his own. I appreciate your post and info.
The 45. is a interesting caliber, would not be ready to put the money out for one just yet. Too bad Beretta does not make one in the size of the Carry. Now that is a solid built gun.
If I do decide to get a 45, I would try and shoot as many as I can, to include the Walther and the Shield. I also like the new RIA compact, but that is pricey.
Who knows, might even get a full size.

Jeb Stuart said:

I had a Sheild years ago in 9mm. Sold it off. Nice gun but just not for me. I would disagree with you on the quality. Kahr makes a top shelf firearm.Shooting the three I own and from friends I do know that have them, I have no hesitation to continue to buy Kahr products.Very familiar with Dan, and also have been on the Kahr forums for a few years. But each to his own. I appreciate your post and info.
The 45. is a interesting caliber, would not be ready to put the money out for one just yet. Too bad Beretta does not make one in the size of the Carry. Now that is a solid built gun.
If I do decide to get a 45, I would try and shoot as many as I can, to include the Walther and the Shield. I also like the new RIA compact, but that is pricey.
Who knows, might even get a full size.

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I wouldn't base the .45 Shield on having shot the 9mm/.40. In my case the 0.05" difference in width and the longer front to back grip.dimensions make a big difference in accuracy, comfort and control.

1KPerDay said:

Amazingly thin for a .45. As thin as the 9mm from what I can tell. 2.0 grip texture is a vast improvement. Shot great... seems like a lot of horsepower in a very efficient package.

if I belt carried it’d be a contender for sure.

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If you are goin' that route - try the Glock G36 as well.

Like'em a lot.





GR

The Glock36 way my first .45 and first Glock. It was OK other than I always resented it for being thicker than a 1911 and holding less rounds. I couldn't find magazines as easily for it either.

If I were looking for a polymer single stack .45, I would look at the Shield, XD, or Kahr. I'd move up to a Glock 30S over the 36, but that's just me. In my personal and very uneducated opinion, the 36 didnt answer much of a question for me 10 years ago. It answers even less of one now.

I would be in the market for a 30 of some flavor though. I had a 21, little too big for my needs. A 30 with a 21 magazine for back up sounds pretty good. Right now, I'm happy with a 1911 for range, a Charter Arms Pitbull to carry along in the truck, and the Shield for edc when it comes to packing a .45.

Fiv3r said:

The Glock36 way my first .45 and first Glock. It was OK other than I always resented it for being thicker than a 1911 and holding less rounds. I couldn't find magazines as easily for it either.

If I were looking for a polymer single stack .45, I would look at the Shield, XD, or Kahr. I'd move up to a Glock 30S over the 36, but that's just me. In my personal and very uneducated opinion, the 36 didnt answer much of a question for me 10 years ago. It answers even less of one now.

I would be in the market for a 30 of some flavor though. I had a 21, little too big for my needs. A 30 with a 21 magazine for back up sounds pretty good. Right now, I'm happy with a 1911 for range, a Charter Arms Pitbull to carry along in the truck, and the Shield for edc when it comes to packing a .45.

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While the G36 is not a favorite of mine I can certainly see it as being the choice of people who have a hard time with pistols with narrower grips.

94045 said:

While the G36 is not a favorite of mine I can certainly see it as being the choice of people who have a hard time with pistols with narrower grips.

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Very true.

94045 said:

While the G36 is not a favorite of mine I can certainly see it as being the choice of people who have a hard time with pistols with narrower grips.

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And yet, even though the grip is ~ 1/8" larger in circumference than the GLOCK Compact G19/23, due to the longer .45 ACP cartridge, it is still quite a bit thinner, and slab-sided, so it carries comfortably in a thin suede IWB holster.


...and a heck of a lot smaller, in both circumference and thickness, than the double stack .45 ACP G30/30s.

Not too big... not too small.

Just right - for a .45 ACP.




GR

Garandimal said:

And yet, even though the grip is ~ 1/8" larger in circumference than the GLOCK Compact G19/23, due to the longer .45 ACP cartridge, it is still quite a bit thinner, and slab-sided, so it carries comfortably in a thin suede IWB holster.

View attachment 878737
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...and a heck of a lot smaller, in both circumference and thickness, than the double stack .45 ACP G30/30s.

View attachment 878738
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Not too big... not too small.

Just right - for a .45 ACP.




GR

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I don't disagree with you. The .45 Shield is just enough thicker and deeper front to back than the 9mm Shield that I shoot it better. I was theorizing that the G36 could certainly have the same advantage for some people over the .45 Shield.

Hmmm...you guys are draining my wallet.

Ok. You have my attention on for a new .45 Shield. How would you compare the quality and reliability to a Glock 30?

TheProf said:

Hmmm...you guys are draining my wallet.

Ok. You have my attention on for a new .45 Shield. How would you compare the quality and reliability to a Glock 30?

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Have not had a G30. But the SIhield is certainly a lot thinner but a lot lower capacity. I'm approaching 1600 rounds with mine without a stoppage now.

Sights on mine are absolutely dead on at 7 yards. Trigger was over 5.5 lb new but has settled to just a few ounces over 5 lb. The trigger is pretty good with a good wall and a decent reset. How a Glock Guy will like them I don't know but Apex can fix you up if you want lighter, shorter and crisper.

Practice Ammo - S&B 230 FMJ @ 821 fps avg (Hottest Practice Ammo I've Found)
Carry Ammo (New) - Federal Tactical Bonded 230 gr + P @ 842 fps avg.
(Velocities are an average of five out of my Shield).

I've had really good results out of the Federal Tactical Bonded line in all the Major Service Calibers and I can get it very reasonable. It's also not very hot. It's listed as +P but that seems to be a result of fast powders that work well in shorter barrels and velocities are only slightly more than the better standard pressure rounds. Recoil feels the same as S&B Ball.

If I had a complaint it's that my M&P 2.0 Compact .40 S&W came in a Hardcase and the Shield came in a cardboard box but I can buy similar plastic cases for $6 so it's not a huge issue.

I find the G30S (SF grip) to be short, fat, and stubby. Is the .45 Shield more comfortable to hold?

Is the shield 45 frame bigger than the Shield9?

huntsman said:

Is the shield 45 frame bigger than the Shield9?

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Yes, it's slightly larger in all dimensions. Not dramatically so, but some. I believe the 9mm and 40 Shields are identical in size.

I think the 45 Shield is really tough to beat in a single stack 45 ACP, and there aren't any new sexy players in that field like there are with the 9mm (ie, 365/Hellcat).

Ok thanks, that would mean new holster. Maybe a G23 holster would work?

Yeah the only downside to the .45 Shield over the smaller bore models is that the holsters may or may not work depending on how adjustable the rig is. I accidentally stumbled upon a Foxx Holster receipt that my wife had laying around. Looking at my Amazon wish list, my guess is that she got me the dedicated IWB holster I had my eye on. I think it was just under $30. Right now, I carry the Shield 45 a soft IWB holster made for an XDS .45. It works OK, but I am looking forward to the two-points of contact the Foxx holster has over the single clip my current holster has.

huntsman said:

Is the shield 45 frame bigger than the Shield9?

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Grip
0.04" Wider
0.10" (Estimated) Deeper Front to Back due to longer cartridge.
Length with Flush Mag is approximately the same as 9mm/.40 with +1 Extended Mag.

Overall Length
It is a little longer due to 0.2" longer barrel + increased action length.

Slide Width
I haven't measured but it's slightly wider.

In reality I notice no difference in concealability between the 9mm with +1 Mag and the .45 with Flush Mag. I do find the .45 more comfortable to shoot. 2 oz, 0.04" Wider and 0.10" deeper grip make more difference than going from 124 gr +P to 230 gr Std Pressure for me. If you have smaller hands this may not be true.

The .45 Shield fits in a lot of leather 9mm Shield Holsters but Kydex usually not. At least for me.

I think that's a great point about the Shield 45 being a relatively soft shooter for its size. I really do struggle to find a carry piece that checks off more boxes beyond capacity.

Bought one yesterday on sale for $329 with crimson trace LG489G green laser. I’m having a hell of a time finding a holster that fits this thing. Much help needed in anyone has any insight on that. I’m more of a IWB kydex holster type of guy for what it’s worth

94045 said:

Grip
0.04" Wider
0.10" (Estimated) Deeper Front to Back due to longer cartridge.
Length with Flush Mag is approximately the same as 9mm/.40 with +1 Extended Mag.

Overall Length
It is a little longer due to 0.2" longer barrel + increased action length.

Slide Width
I haven't measured but it's slightly wider.

In reality I notice no difference in concealability between the 9mm with +1 Mag and the .45 with Flush Mag. I do find the .45 more comfortable to shoot. 2 oz, 0.04" Wider and 0.10" deeper grip make more difference than going from 124 gr +P to 230 gr Std Pressure for me. If you have smaller hands this may not be true.

The .45 Shield fits in a lot of leather 9mm Shield Holsters but Kydex usually not. At least for me.

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Grip length is a concern for me because I have XXL hands, Shield9 with the extended mag just makes it so from what you’re describing the .45 would give me more with an extended grip mag.

My Shield9 actually seems to match up to my safariland G23 kydex but it’s a bit too thin to fit snug so a bit wider would maybe work? I’ll have to check safariland web page holster finder.

huntsman said:

Grip length is a concern for me because I have XXL hands, Shield9 with the extended mag just makes it so from what you’re describing the .45 would give me more with an extended grip mag.

My Shield9 actually seems to match up to my safariland G23 kydex but it’s a bit too thin to fit snug so a bit wider would maybe work? I’ll have to check safariland web page holster finder.

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It sounds like that holster might work. If the Shield 9 basically works but makes you nervous the .45 would likely be better. If the 9mm is still to thin to work at all I'm not sure.

If it helps I believe the widest point on the .45 Shield is at the slide lock where it's 1.05".

zaitcev said:

If only Kahrs were reliable and used slightly better magazines...

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My experience too.

I might consider the 45 shield, haven't fired one but they do feel good in the hand. It is available without the safety, right?

The g30 is a chunk. With that said it's in my opinion it's absolutely one of the best glock has ever produced . I've had mine since 2012 and I carry it half the time. For what it's worth, I wouldn't be without one and I haven't found anything that compares for a compact 45 for accuracy , durability and shootability.