Smith & Wesson 45 cal Shield

[Mickey D]

My wrist is sore from thinking about other things..
But shooting a 45 is not one of those things.

^^ This
There really must be some recoil shy wimpy people here. The .45acp isn't that aggressive compared to a 9mm. Have any of you actually fires a .45acp?

I carry and practice with a 3" Colt Defender. (though I am used to .44mag and 454 Casull )

[Mike35]

The perks of being LEO ��������

[blueman]

There's a YouTube video showing someone performing ballistics tests with the XDS 45 and the Federal HST 230 grain load and the results were inconsistent expansion mainly due to the very short 3.3 inch barrel. 45 acp was primarily designed around longer duty sized barrels to provide the best expansion performance with hollow points. However, there are manufacturers producing 45 acp loads designed to function to full potential with the shorter barrels. The smallest I would personally go in 45 acp would be a Glock 36 sized gun.

[Noonanda]

Im tossing around the idea of getting one once I get my Virginia DL. I might also get a Glock 43 and will then give it to the wife for Christmas (she is still in California for a few more months) when I fly back out.

But before I buy the Shield .45 I would want to test fire one to see how it feels.

[Rainbow Warrior]

The kick would be enough for you to wish you had a 9.

I guess, if you're a woman.

[MrOrange]

^^ This
There really must be some recoil shy wimpy people here. The .45acp isn't that aggressive compared to a 9mm. Have any of you actually fires a .45acp?

I carry and practice with a 3" Colt Defender. (though I am used to .44mag and 454 Casull )

Some people have arthritis, or injuries, or only one hand, etc, etc. And yes some people who deserve to survive a violent attack are 90 lb women.

Not me, of course, I carry a couple 329s with Garrett loads and a .50 Desert Eagle on my ankle for backup.

There's a YouTube video showing someone performing ballistics tests with the XDS 45 and the Federal HST 230 grain load and the results were inconsistent expansion mainly due to the very short 3.3 inch barrel. 45 acp was primarily designed around longer duty sized barrels to provide the best expansion performance with hollow points. However, there are manufacturers producing 45 acp loads designed to function to full potential with the shorter barrels. The smallest I would personally go in 45 acp would be a Glock 36 sized gun.

I'm not worried about my .45s expanding. I just wish there was a semi-auto that reliably fed full wadcutters, something like this

https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=289

but in ye olde rimless version.

[Doheny]

^^ This
There really must be some recoil shy wimpy people here. The .45acp isn't that aggressive compared to a 9mm. Have any of you actually fires a .45acp?

I carry and practice with a 3" Colt Defender. (though I am used to .44mag and 454 Casull )

This.

[Tovarish]

^^ This
There really must be some recoil shy wimpy people here. The .45acp isn't that aggressive compared to a 9mm. Have any of you actually fires a .45acp?

I carry and practice with a 3" Colt Defender. (though I am used to .44mag and 454 Casull )

And what advantages does that .45 out of a 3" barrel get you?

Tell me the rounds that get up to speed enough to expand reliably out of a 3" barrel.

Show me your rapid fire is as accurate in .45 as in 9mm with a 3" pistol.

.45 is a simply wrong choice for a gun less than 4 inches. And if you consider that "wimpy," I consider you wimpy for not getting something with the required heft.

[CGT80]

The XDs 45 3.3" isn't that bad. Sure, 9mm would be easier to shoot, but the recoil from 45 acp isn't as bad as I expected.

I shot IDPA with mine, today, but I do use slightly lighter loads so I can shoot more. With full power factory ammo, you know you just lit something off with some force behind it. This isn't the gun to use when you want to put a few hundred rounds downrange each day, for a few days in a row, but I have done it. It was actually a 1500 round class split over three full days and I used this pistol and my XD 40 4".

If you want a 45 acp for occasional practice and self defense, in a small package, these guns are great. There are pros and cons to both the 9mm and 45 cal in the small guns. Steel targets really react, even with the short barrel of my 45 acp.

Today, I used an OWB holster for the XDs and had to keep checking to see if it was still there, under my shirt. There is a huge difference between carrying that and full size XD in both weight and size. I would love to try an XDs in 9mm but they are not cheap in Cali and not nearly as common on the used market as the 45 version. I don't know if that is because more people bought the 45 new vs. the 9mm, or if many people don't like the 45 version.

[MrOrange]

The XDs 45 3.3" isn't that bad. Sure, 9mm would be easier to shoot, but the recoil from 45 acp isn't as bad as I expected.

I shot IDPA with mine, today, but I do use slightly lighter loads so I can shoot more. With full power factory ammo, you know you just lit something off with some force behind it. This isn't the gun to use when you want to put a few hundred rounds downrange each day, for a few days in a row, but I have done it. It was actually a 1500 round class split over three full days and I used this pistol and my XD 40 4".

If you want a 45 acp for occasional practice and self defense, in a small package, these guns are great. There are pros and cons to both the 9mm and 45 cal in the small guns. Steel targets really react, even with the short barrel of my 45 acp.

Today, I used an OWB holster for the XDs and had to keep checking to see if it was still there, under my shirt. There is a huge difference between carrying that and full size XD in both weight and size. I would love to try an XDs in 9mm but they are not cheap in Cali and not nearly as common on the used market as the 45 version. I don't know if that is because more people bought the 45 new vs. the 9mm, or if many people don't like the 45 version.

I don't know about 1500 rds over three days, but back in the day my practical competition gun was a Star PD (LSWC reloads, major PF on the old scale). By all accounts the XDs is considerably easier on the shooter than traditional compact .45s.

The pic from neomedic shows how seemingly similar dimensions within a half-inch here and there can make a big difference in concealability. Even staying with the XDs, to me the 4" barrel would be the tipping point between pocket carry or not, unless you had some of the concealed carry purpose-built specialty pants.

Found this review, which kinda sux, but it has a good size comparison:

.45 Shield Review

[socalblue]

And what advantages does that .45 out of a 3" barrel get you?

Tell me the rounds that get up to speed enough to expand reliably out of a 3" barrel.

Show me your rapid fire is as accurate in .45 as in 9mm with a 3" pistol.

.45 is a simply wrong choice for a gun less than 4 inches. And if you consider that "wimpy," I consider you wimpy for not getting something with the required heft.

with a .40 or .45, expansion isn't necessarily the primary concern, it's the ability to penetrate at least 12" & stop under 20".

Best test I have found using compact pistols:

http://www.luckygunner.com/labs/self-defense-ammo-ballistic-tests/

[GlockN'Roll]

anyone care to share their ongoing experience with...

Now that the 45 Shield isn't quite as rare a hen's teeth, anyone care to share their ongoing experience with it and possibly compare it to a 45 XDs?

I know some people say it is just a "carry a lot, shoot a little" pistol, but I won't carry a pistol that I won't shoot enough to carry it with confidence.

I have heard that it compares favorably to a .40 Shield in many respects.

My G30 and G26 get carried less locally (thanks to the G43) and they mostly see OWB duty outside of the state.

With winter coming they will get a little more action, but a .45 Shield seems to be a great compromise in size for caliber, which would actually see regular IWB duty...

[Webologist]

Now that the 45 Shield isn't quite as rare a hen's teeth, anyone care to share their ongoing experience with it and possibly compare it to a 45 XDs?

I know some people say it is just a "carry a lot, shoot a little" pistol, but I won't carry a pistol that I won't shoot enough to carry it with confidence.

I have heard that it compares favorably to a .40 Shield in many respects.

My G30 and G26 get carried less locally (thanks to the G43) and they mostly see OWB duty outside of the state.

With winter coming they will get a little more action, but a .45 Shield seems to be a great compromise in size for caliber, which would actually see regular IWB duty...

I bought one a few weeks ago. Mine has no thumb safety, no magazine disconnect and no chamber loaded flag. It is very slightly larger than my 9mm CA compliant shield. It doesn't fit in my 3 9mm Shield holsters. The grip is way more aggressively textured than the 9mm.

It is really pleasant to shoot, although I would likely be slightly slower in an IDPA match than with the 9mm. The first box of 50 rounds went into a 2" hole at 7 yards. (It was 1" low and 1" left) Good enough for self defense. I will be getting night sights. It is my new carry gun.

First 28 rounds @ 7 yards. (looked the same at 50 rounds)

https://1drv.ms/i/s!AmU8hWOYrhmEjtptl-2YM1A89FLSaQ

[71MUSTY]

^ this.

a .45 in that small frame isnt going to be so much fun to shoot ...

True. I have a Kahr P45. About the same size and kick is WOW.

[Cokebottle]

not sure what kind of velocities you would get from a .45ACP out such a short barrel. I'll keep the 9mm.

This was my first thought, and watching Hickock45's video, he has a hard time hitting low on the long plates.
When the shot zooms in, you can REALLY see the bullet drop... almost the entire height of the black plate he has at the top of the range.