M&P 45 SHIELD?

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Flawlessfoose
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M&P 45 SHIELD?

Post by Flawlessfoose » Mon May 23, 2016 9:04 pm

Last edited by Flawlessfoose on Tue May 24, 2016 5:31 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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ron
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Re: m&p 45 shield?

Post by ron » Mon May 23, 2016 9:30 pm

It compares favorably to the Glock 36 single stack. The shield is more compact than the G36 and is closer to the size of the Springfield XDs.

S&W Shield 45 ACP

* Capacity: 7+1 and 6+1 Rounds
* Barrel Length: 3.3”
Overall Length: 6.45”
* Frame Width: .99”
* Frame with Slide Stop: 1.05”
* Overall Height: 4.88” with Flush Magazine
*Weight: 20.5 oz. unloaded no mag
Weight Empty Mag: 2.2 oz. (62.4 g) - 6 Round Magazine

Glock 36 45 ACP single stack

Barrel Length: 3.77 in
*Overall Length: 6.96 in.
* Width: 1.10 in.
* Height: 4.76 in.
Weights
* Unloaded: 22.42 oz.
* Loaded: 27.00 oz.
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ron
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Re: M&P 45 SHIELD?

Post by ron » Wed May 25, 2016 8:51 pm

I'd like to make one other comparison.

Let's compare the 45 ACP shield to the 9mm Shield and the 40 shield.

Model: M&P9 SHIELD™
.Caliber: 9mm
.Capacity: 7 Round & 8 Round
.Action: Striker Fire
.Barrel Length: 3.1" / 7.874 cm
.Front Sight: White Dot
.Rear Sight: White 2-Dot
.Overall Length: 6.1" / 15.5 cm
.Frame Width: .95" / 2.413 cm
.Overall Height: 4.6" / 11.684 cm
.Weight: 19.0 oz / 538.7 g


.Model: M&P40 SHIELD™
.Caliber: .40 S&W
.Capacity: 6 Round & 7 Round
.Action: Striker Fire
.Barrel Length: 3.1" / 7.874 cm
.Front Sight: White Dot
.Rear Sight: White 2-Dot
.Overall Length: 6.1" / 15.5 cm
.Frame Width: .95” / 2.413 cm
.Overall Height: 4.6” / 11.684 cm
.Weight: 19.0 oz / 538.7 g


.Model : M&P45 Shield™
.Frame Size: Compact Slim
.Caliber: .45 AUTO
.Action: Striker Fire
.Capacity: 7+1 and 6+1 Rounds
.Barrel Length: 3.3” (8.4 cm)
.Front Sight: Steel - White Dot
.Rear Sight: Steel - White Two Dot
.Overall Length: 6.45” (16.4 cm)
.Frame Width: .99” (2.5 cm)
.Frame with Slide Stop: 1.05” (2.6 cm)
.Overall Height: 4.88” with Flush Magazine (11.9 cm)
Weight: 20.5 oz. (581.2 g)
.Weight Empty Mag: 2.2 oz. (62.4 g) - 6

To go from 9mm to 40 to 45 means carrying a BIGGER GUN. The 9mm and the 40 are the same size but the 45 is almost a half inch longer (6.1" vs 6.45” and is slightly greater in height meaning longer in grip length (4.88”vs 4.6”) and weighs 1 1/2 ounces more unloaded, and would weigh slightly more loaded depending on bullet weight.

If I were to carry a 45 this small I would load it with 185 grain bullets to help controllability. And that's another issue. I have a kel-tec PF9 that is the smallest lightest 9mm available other than the Diamondback, and recoil is quite sharp. I suspect that's why neither Glock or Smith and Wesson did not make the Glock 43 or the Shield any smaller than what they did, especially S&W since they planned on making it in 40 also. I have fired both the shield and the Glock 43 and both are very comfortable to shoot.

But I've never fired a shield in 40 caliber with bullet weights of over 165 grains and as far as I'm concerned if you're going to go to a 135 grain in the 40, you're better off ballistically with a 9mm. But on the other hand if recoil from 165 or 180 grain bullets make the gun too difficult to control, that's a problem, too, which is why the Performance center gun that is ported would seem to be a good thing except for when it's dark outside and the muzzle flash might temporarily blind you. I also think that the whole "bigger is better" school of thinking behind a 45 is compromised by going to lighter bullets and then shooting them out of a shorter barrel which reduces their velocity and then it's almost not worth carrying a BIGGER GUN.

(Buffalo bore +p 45 ACP 185 grain develops 1180 fps from a 5 inch barrel, subtracting 50 fps per inch of barrel brings it down to +- 1080 fps. out of a 3 inch barrel) Also-The 40 S&W 175 grain critical duty ammo develops 1010 fps, so out of the shorter barrel 3" vs 4") it would be more like 960 so the 45 still has a definite ballistic advantage but at the cost of greater bulk.

But since I've never fired either an un-ported 40 shield with heavy ammo or a ported one at night, I can't say how much either of those factors effect either of those guns.

Maybe someone here has experience with either of these guns? What's the recoil like in the 40 shield with 165 to 180 grain ammo, (like critical duty 175 grain) AND, what's the muzzle flash at night like with one of the ported guns?
Government is not reason, it is not eloquence — it is force. Like fire it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master; never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action.

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Re: M&P 45 SHIELD?

Post by Flawlessfoose » Thu May 26, 2016 8:10 pm

The new Shield is really small for a 45. I think 185 GR would definitely be the way to go in this gun.
I've owned both the 9 and 40 and really liked them, and have even shot the Hornady critical duty 175 GR in it. I really thought the Shield recoiled very well with these loads, but I think the 45 will be a whole different animal
I've always thought bigger is better caliber wise and in general I think is true, but in a smallish carry gun like this I really think the 9 is the best overall choice for my own reasons.
Overall, it's another very nice option to add to the market.

I hope someone here picks one up soon so we can hear what they think
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