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Smith & Wesson 45 cal Shield
Smith & Wesson Targets High-Growth Self-Defense Market With Newest Handgun
Because personal protection is largely the reason why people are buying handguns, models that are designed with concealment in mind have become hugely popular. Smith & Wesson Holding's (NASDAQ:SWHC) M&P Shield line, which was designed just for such purposes, has become the best-selling personal-protection and self-defense pistol on the market.
Introduced in 2012, the gunmaker has already produced and sold more than 1 million guns under that nameplate. In fact, it passed that milestone last year. Until now, the Shield model has only been available in 9mm and .40 S&W, two popular sizes, for sure; but gun enthusiasts tend to like the firepower behind a .45 caliber, and Smith & Wesson has finally given them what they want.
The new .45 Auto maintains the features of the M&P Shield that have made it a go-to choice for many shooters: the compact, slimline design, an aggressively textured, 18-degree grip angle, and deep, front-cocking serrations.
There are plenty of .45s on the market that gun buyers can choose from for concealed-carry purposes. Manufacturers from Glock and Kahr to Springfield and Sturm, Ruger (NYSE:RGR) all offer models targeted to this market, and a 1911 from just about any manufacturer points to the burgeoning demand for the size. By finally coming out with its own M&P Shield model offering, Smith and Wesson may be a little late to the game, but probably believes it should be able to make up for that.
Of course, there's an age-old debate in the gun community about whether a 9mm, .45 ACP, or .45 S&W is the best round, and while all sides have their adherents, the truth is that hand control and shot placement remain paramount. But where the 9mm excels is in capacity: You can simply carry more ammunition, and do so more cheaply, and that's no exception with Smith & Wesson's new .45 Auto. It comes with two magazines -- one six rounds, the other seven -- whereas the M&P Shield 9mm has seven- and eight-round magazines..................
full story
Because personal protection is largely the reason why people are buying handguns, models that are designed with concealment in mind have become hugely popular. Smith & Wesson Holding's (NASDAQ:SWHC) M&P Shield line, which was designed just for such purposes, has become the best-selling personal-protection and self-defense pistol on the market.
Introduced in 2012, the gunmaker has already produced and sold more than 1 million guns under that nameplate. In fact, it passed that milestone last year. Until now, the Shield model has only been available in 9mm and .40 S&W, two popular sizes, for sure; but gun enthusiasts tend to like the firepower behind a .45 caliber, and Smith & Wesson has finally given them what they want.
The new .45 Auto maintains the features of the M&P Shield that have made it a go-to choice for many shooters: the compact, slimline design, an aggressively textured, 18-degree grip angle, and deep, front-cocking serrations.
There are plenty of .45s on the market that gun buyers can choose from for concealed-carry purposes. Manufacturers from Glock and Kahr to Springfield and Sturm, Ruger (NYSE:RGR) all offer models targeted to this market, and a 1911 from just about any manufacturer points to the burgeoning demand for the size. By finally coming out with its own M&P Shield model offering, Smith and Wesson may be a little late to the game, but probably believes it should be able to make up for that.
Of course, there's an age-old debate in the gun community about whether a 9mm, .45 ACP, or .45 S&W is the best round, and while all sides have their adherents, the truth is that hand control and shot placement remain paramount. But where the 9mm excels is in capacity: You can simply carry more ammunition, and do so more cheaply, and that's no exception with Smith & Wesson's new .45 Auto. It comes with two magazines -- one six rounds, the other seven -- whereas the M&P Shield 9mm has seven- and eight-round magazines..................
full story
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