I am in the market for a small pistol in 45acp. I have pretty much come down to the Shield or XDs. Whichever I get will be used from Gunbroker and if an XDs it will be the Mod 2 version. I am leaning towards the S&W. Anyone have experience with both?
Shield 45 or XDs 45
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zaitcev
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There is very little to chose between them. I had a positive experience with XDm 45, and I like the grip safety, so I favoured the XD-S. However, because the XD-S grip accommodates the aforementioned safety, it is somewhat longer front to back, making for a different feel. It feels flatter and many accentuate the recoil. In the end, I chose the Shield. It was reliable, although I had to modify the magazine followers and add channels for the latch. I doubt you can find magazines anymore that are old enough for that to be a concern.
Tallball
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FWIW, I have the Springfield and like it a lot.
I haven't owned a small Shield, but I have the full-sized one in 45acp and it's a good shooter. My friend has a couple of the smaller ones in 9mm, and they're good shooters, too.
Have you shot a Kahr before? Not everyone is fond of the Kahr trigger. I like it, and of my three smaller 45's, the Kahr is the one I carry sometimes. It's the smallest and lightest by a little bit, and I'm a fan of the DA revolver style trigger.
The Springfield and the Kahr both have easy recoil for such small pistols in 45acp.
I haven't owned a small Shield, but I have the full-sized one in 45acp and it's a good shooter. My friend has a couple of the smaller ones in 9mm, and they're good shooters, too.
Have you shot a Kahr before? Not everyone is fond of the Kahr trigger. I like it, and of my three smaller 45's, the Kahr is the one I carry sometimes. It's the smallest and lightest by a little bit, and I'm a fan of the DA revolver style trigger.
The Springfield and the Kahr both have easy recoil for such small pistols in 45acp.
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Cornhusker77
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I don't own the XDs but I have fired a few and they are good shooters.
I own the Shield .45 and I find it fits my hand better and is very accurate.
I own the Shield .45 and I find it fits my hand better and is very accurate.
doubleh
Member
I have no experience with small 45's and do not want any. Of the larger versions of these guns I prefer the S&W. Grandson has an XD and I have never developed any love for it. It is just "off" in the way it feels to me for some reason.
I also have the XDs (mod 1) and the Kahr CM45. The grip texture on the XDs mod 1 is very harsh. I think this was the big fix for the XDs mod 2. A grip sleeve helps some. I prefer the CM45 but I am a fan of the grip safety on the XDs. I have never held or shot the S&W Shield in 45.
The XD mod 2 (no "s") subcompact 3.3" in .45 acp (double stack) is one of my favorite guns. The wider grip REALLY tames the 45 acp nicely and it really has an excellent trigger! BUT I do understand that some circumstances demand a narrower pistol.
I practice with the XDs and CM45 and both are good shooters. The XD mod 2, especially with the extended magazine, is a real nice shooter and makes a nice range gun as well as a nice carry gun. The single stacks are more "just" carry guns for me and don't have the same fun factor.
The XD mod 2 (no "s") subcompact 3.3" in .45 acp (double stack) is one of my favorite guns. The wider grip REALLY tames the 45 acp nicely and it really has an excellent trigger! BUT I do understand that some circumstances demand a narrower pistol.
I practice with the XDs and CM45 and both are good shooters. The XD mod 2, especially with the extended magazine, is a real nice shooter and makes a nice range gun as well as a nice carry gun. The single stacks are more "just" carry guns for me and don't have the same fun factor.
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Caveat: I've owned a few Shields )including a 4" PC version Shield 45). But never an XDS. My Shied 45 was a nice gun, accurate and a soft shooter, but I could never get it to run reliably enough for carry. It took one trip back to S&W, and I put a couple of hundred rounds through it. Maybe a gun problem, maybe a shooter problem. (My gunsmith said it ran like a top for him.) I have never owned an XDs, but I fired one a few times. It ran flawlessly and was a surprisingly soft shooter. It would be very hard to make a bad choice as between these two, but of the two, I would go with the Shield. YMMV, and good luck with whatever you choose.
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InTheSwamp
Member
Capacity and recoil hinder the 45 ACP in small pistols. If I were in the market for micros, I would choose a 9 mm.
If 45 ACP were my thing in such frame, then nothing smaller -- and less reliable -- than the Glock 30S.
If 45 ACP were my thing in such frame, then nothing smaller -- and less reliable -- than the Glock 30S.
Well I won a used Shield 45 on Gunbroker earlier today. Got a pretty good deal I think. Paid $261 plus sales tax & $35 shipping. It has both magazines, the box & a crossbreed holster, which I will likely sell. I don’t do well wit inside the waistband carry.
Will see how it compares to my Shield 9mm
Will see how it compares to my Shield 9mm
swoter
Contributing Member
Pocket carry my XDs every day.
My buddy has an XD subcompact mod 2 in 45. Its a nice gun. I actually bid on one but it ended up more than I wanted to spendI also have the XDs (mod 1) and the Kahr CM45. The grip texture on the XDs mod 1 is very harsh. I think this was the big fix for the XDs mod 2. A grip sleeve helps some. I prefer the CM45 but I am a fan of the grip safety on the XDs. I have never held or shot the S&W Shield in 45.
The XD mod 2 (no "s") subcompact 3.3" in .45 acp (double stack) is one of my favorite guns. The wider grip REALLY tames the 45 acp nicely and it really has an excellent trigger! BUT I do understand that some circumstances demand a narrower pistol.
I practice with the XDs and CM45 and both are good shooters. The XD mod 2, especially with the extended magazine, is a real nice shooter and makes a nice range gun as well as a nice carry gun. The single stacks are more "just" carry guns for me and don't have the same fun factor.
Oldschool shooter
Member
I own an XDs in 45 and it has been rock solid. I also own a Shields in .40, it has also been rock solid. Between the two, I give a slight edge in favor of the XDs, it feels slightly better in my hand and I have a bias towards .45acp. If you can, try to shoot both before you buy, choose what suits you better. Either way, I don't think you can go wrong.
StrykerByte.45
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God those are ugly. I would use the Glock 36. It can also fit a G30 frame and increase the capacity. I have a G30S, its very compact with the 9rd flush mag. I carry hot loaded 45super, using a comp and 13lbs spring it is very pleasant to shoot. I wish I had a g36 frame, but I did a grip reduction and its as thick as a G19 now. I will definitely get a G38 45GAP. I can essentially use the same setup and hot load 45GAP to 45super levels.
StrykerByte.45
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I want one of those. I plan to handload something special at 45super pressures for it.
Congratulations! Shoot it in good health.
I managed to get out today to shoot the Shield 45. Wow! I can’t believe how little recoil there was. My buddy had his XD Mod2 subcompact 45 along and even though it’s 5 or 6 ounces heavier, it has a sharper recoil than the Shield.
