Talk me out of this Shield

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DAGNABBIT! I just realized that this pistol comes with a ported barrel. I don't know if that's a deal breaker, but I hadn't noticed it before.

Bummer! Just when you thought you had this 4" barrel holster thing figured out, now you've got to cogitate on this 4" ported barrel thing!
 
So, this is not an answer to your questions but food for thought. Springfield Armory made a true single stack, but now discontinued, 4" barrel XDs .45 acp. I like both the xds and the shield just fine but it may be another option if that's the platform you're looking for.
And wouldn't you know it.... I stopped by Academy Sports today and these are on clearance at $329!
 
So I did a little hustling, a little shuffling and some good old-fashioned horse-trading. I consulted my financial advisor (Mrs. McGee), and she said I could buy a new pistol. I then (without dilly-dallying, fiddle-farting, or otherwise wasting time) dashed off to Gunbroker for my very first ever Gunbroker purchase. I am now the proud owner of a Smith & Wesson Performance Center 4" Shield 45. My thanks to the member who reminded me that if one watched GB carefully, one can often buy guns below market rates. I was able to score this one for just under $400. As MSRP is $543, I feel pretty good about that. Let me also say that I purchased from ReedsSports in Walker, MN, and they were really good to deal with. I Googled their store to call with a few pre-purchase questions (like, "this is really y'all on GB and not a scam, right?"), and they were both friendly and helpful.

No, I have not shot it yet, but a range report will be forthcoming just as soon as I can get to the range. With all of that said, let me tell you what I can about this pistol and what I've learned so far. Warning: lots of pics to come.

One of the things I said early on was this:
....I've said for a long time was that if someone would build a single-stack, polymer, .45 acp pistol, roughly the size of a G19, I'd be all over it. And then.... I discovered the Smith and Wesson Performance Center M&P 45 Shield 2.0, 4" barrel.....
I've also referred to this mythical "G19-sized" pistol as a "commander" sized, because they look awfully close in size to me. Unfortunately, I don't have a 1911 Commander to which I could compare this Shield. I do, however, have a Gov't model, a G19, and a Shield 9mm. So let's take a look at how my new Shield 45 compares in sized to those. Warning: lots of pics to come.

Here it is, all by its lonesome, first sporting the 6+1 mag, and then the 7+1.
AAA - Shield 45, 011, prepped.jpg AAA - Shield 45, 012, prepped.jpg
Sitting back to back with a 1911.
Shield 45, 002, prepped.jpg
And side by side, for width comparison.
Shield 45, 003, prepped 1911 vs Shield 45.jpg
Up next, comparison to a Gen 4 G19. I didn't think to lay them slide to slide, but I did get one with the Shield stacked on top of the G19.
Shield 45, 004, prepped, G19 on Shield 45.jpg
Shield 45, 004, prepped, G19 vs Shield 45.jpg
And this thread would not be complete without comparisons to the 9mm Shield 1.0.
Shield 45, 007, prepped, Shield 9 on Shield 45.jpg
Shield 45, 008, prepped, Shield 9 vs Shield 45.jpg
Shield 45, 013, prepped.jpg
Shield 45, 015, prepped.jpg
 
Fitting that I finally stumbled into this thread, as yesterday I just fondled the 2.0 Shields in .45 and realized that's the direction I'm headed for new carry guns (looks as though my state shall shortly be mandating a 10-round magazine capacity limit which will affect everyone for concealed carry, even off-duty law enforcement). Rather than neuter my 9mm P-365s, since I've been a fan of the Shields, and I have to go single-stack, it's gonna be in .45 -- and I do like the PC version with the RDS, too.

Please get back to us after you've shot and carried it more extensively with your observations ... oh, and if you could let us know how long it takes for the holster to get to you too!
 
Fitting that I finally stumbled into this thread, as yesterday I just fondled the 2.0 Shields in .45 and realized that's the direction I'm headed for new carry guns (looks as though my state shall shortly be mandating a 10-round magazine capacity limit which will affect everyone for concealed carry, even off-duty law enforcement). Rather than neuter my 9mm P-365s, since I've been a fan of the Shields, and I have to go single-stack, it's gonna be in .45 -- and I do like the PC version with the RDS, too.

Please get back to us after you've shot and carried it more extensively with your observations ... oh, and if you could let us know how long it takes for the holster to get to you too!

I'm a little confused. Since the two standard capacity mags that come with the P365 are 10-Round....
 
....Please get back to us after you've shot and carried it more extensively with your observations ... oh, and if you could let us know how long it takes for the holster to get to you too!
I most certainly will. I hope to get to the range this weekend, and I have a decent assortment of ammo to try out. Military surplus 230 grain ball, some Winchester JHPs, Remington JHPs, and some others I have stashed away.

I haven't ordered the holster yet, because I want to wring this out a little before investing another hundred + dollars in this. Wright Leather says it has a 6-8 week lead time, but I'll post here when I've ordered so that we can get a good look at how accurate that lead time is. And, of course, I'll report on the holster, too.
 
I most certainly will. I hope to get to the range this weekend, and I have a decent assortment of ammo to try out. Military surplus 230 grain ball, some Winchester JHPs, Remington JHPs, and some others I have stashed away.

I haven't ordered the holster yet, because I want to wring this out a little before investing another hundred + dollars in this. Wright Leather says it has a 6-8 week lead time, but I'll post here when I've ordered so that we can get a good look at how accurate that lead time is. And, of course, I'll report on the holster, too.

I find the S&B a little hotter than some other ball. We got 860-870 fps out of 5" Barrels. Makes a good practice ammo for some of the warmer carry ammo. It's much cleaner than the Win and Fed Ball as well. It's usually at the lower end of brass case prices.
 
It takes the same mags. I’m assuming the 45 does as well but you may want to confirm that with S&W.

I don't think any of the Shield Magazines are any different (Caliber Specific excepted). In the case of the .45, I don't think two generations even exist (other than the addition of the M2.0 engraving).
 
I'm a little confused. Since the two standard capacity mags that come with the P365 are 10-Round....
With the standard 365 and the 10-rounders, my pinky still doesn't fit on the grip - the 12-rounder is my go-to and fits the best. With the 365XL, which has become a favorite carry gun, I'll have to neuter it. Reason I like the Shields is their slimness.
 
The .45 Shield may be the best carry gun I own. It's basically killed off every other "black plastic" gun I have from carry rotation. For every heavy revolver i dress around and every little pocket gun i "get by" with. Most of the time, unless i am trying to go "naked", the .45 Shield is the perfect combination of power and concealment.
 
I shot a Shield 45 side by side with my Shield 9 a few weeks ago and was impressed. The difference in recoil was negligible, and I only give up one round to go to .45 acp.
 
With the standard 365 and the 10-rounders, my pinky still doesn't fit on the grip - the 12-rounder is my go-to and fits the best. With the 365XL, which has become a favorite carry gun, I'll have to neuter it. Reason I like the Shields is their slimness.

I have the same issue. With the flush it's a 1.5 Finger Gun and with the extended base plate it's a 2 Finger Gun. I've basically learned to just forget about the pinky. You are not really supposed to be applying pressure with it anyway if you listen to some of the Grandmasters (It did take a while for it to stop messing with my head).
 
the .45 Shield is the perfect combination of power and concealment.
Yep. Back in the day, we thought that was the LW Commander, but as much as I like the steel and wood big dogs, these slim little pistols have changed the game up for me.
I've basically learned to just forget about the pinky. You are not really supposed to be applying pressure with it anyway if you listen to some of the Grandmasters (It did take a while for it to stop messing with my head).
Yeah, I know, and I'm a big hypocrite (teaching this to others) but after 45 years of handgunning, I just like my pinky on the grip.
 
Yep. Back in the day, we thought that was the LW Commander, but as much as I like the steel and wood big dogs, these slim little pistols have changed the game up for me.
Yeah, I know, and I'm a big hypocrite (teaching this to others) but after 45 years of handgunning, I just like my pinky on the grip.

My first carry pistol was a S70 LW Commander in .38 Super.
I think I may have just let slip I'm on the downhill side of the hill.
 
image.jpeg I only have one pistol in 45acp .. Which is odd for me .. I useally have 3 or 4
But this 45acp sorta slowly,
Replaced .. a Glock 21 , XDS45 , Glock 30 , & a Glock 36
Its a Glock 30S .... Just a great pistol

But if the S&W Sheild in 45acp is anything like my Sheild 9 . ...
Im sure its a great pistol...
 
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