Shot a Shield 2.0 in .45 ACP... pretty cool!

I love the feel of a .45acp! So much so that when I was shopping for a Sig P320 I got one in .45. My favorite cartridge to reload as well. The smallest pistol I’ve ever shot in .45 is my commander sized 1911.
How was the recoil?

video time 1:36
a lot of people want to know how snappy it is

Nice shooting. Thanks for posting that video.

Do the newer Shield 45 still have the "fish scales" underneath the slide ? I have heard from several sources that they are there to "slow down the cyclic rate of the slide" . I am confused on this because I thought a recoil spring could do that. Either way , there are reports of owners that reload saying that these "fish scales" are eating up the rims of their brass. There are lots of brass shards and pieces after firing this gun. I want one but this is what made me wait.

I thought that Shield 45 was somewhere in between Kahr CW45 and XD-S in recoil. It's definitely noticeable and the grip is very thin. But I took mine to Steel Challenge and realized by the end of match that I didn't feel recoil at all. I was too busy waiting for the sights to return into sight box and making another shot. My hands were slightly tired perhaps, but didn't hurt.

1KPerDay said:

Amazingly thin for a .45. As thin as the 9mm from what I can tell. 2.0 grip texture is a vast improvement. Shot great... seems like a lot of horsepower in a very efficient package.

if I belt carried it’d be a contender for sure.

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I think it's about 0.04" wider in the grip. It's enough the .45 with a flush mags is more comfortable than the 9mm +P or .40 with the extended Mag to shoot for me.

Any differences on the 2.0? I know my early .45 already has the upgrades to the grip texture and miniscule front slide serrations compared to the 1.0 9mm & .40 S&W.

tercel89 said:

Do the newer Shield 45 still have the "fish scales" underneath the slide ? I have heard from several sources that they are there to "slow down the cyclic rate of the slide" . I am confused on this because I thought a recoil spring could do that. Either way , there are reports of owners that reload saying that these "fish scales" are eating up the rims of their brass. There are lots of brass shards and pieces after firing this gun. I want one but this is what made me wait.

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My pre-2.0 had a lot of brass in it during break-in but after the first 200 or so rounds it reduced and the rims now don't look much worse than my .40 S&W Rims from an M&P 2.0 (I just compared 5 or 6 empty cases from each after your post). Some minor nicks along the rim. I would try a rental gun if you are concerned.

I have both the S&W in 9mm and 45acp. Love my shield 45 and definitely choose that one over the 9mm when I do carry. Recoil isn't bad at all. If you reload though you can make it feel even better. I shoot 230 gr hitek gold color bullets from Brazos or 230 gr red from ACME with ~5.6 gr of cfe pistol-excellent in recoil and accuracy. I also just tested out a 200 gr RNFP in red hitek from SNS casting with 4.1-4.2 grains of bullseye. They both feel great but 200 gr bullets are cheaper. I wouldn't recommend going less than 180 grains as prefer requirements go up more and increase recoil-to the point of being snappy and uncomfortable. Accuracy with 185gr bullets for me wasn't good. Accuracy with both the 230 is and 200 gr bullets is also excellent.

Enjoy your 45 in 2.0.

JM

I adore my .45 Shield. It's not an heirloom. It's not the coolest gun you'd see on TV or a video game or a movie.

However, it is the first gun I have ever carried in a "serious" caliber that I could wear IWB and forget it's there. I shoot it just as well as I do a 1911. It is totally unobtrusive with 6+1 and a 7 round magazine as a back up.

Solidly build, ridiculously affordable, comfortable to shoot. It's all I could ask for in a carry .45.

Fiv3r said:

I adore my .45 Shield. It's not an heirloom. It's not the coolest gun you'd see on TV or a video game or a movie.

However, it is the first gun I have ever carried in a "serious" caliber that I could wear IWB and forget it's there. I shoot it just as well as I do a 1911. It is totally unobtrusive with 6+1 and a 7 round magazine as a back up.

Solidly build, ridiculously affordable, comfortable to shoot. It's all I could ask for in a carry .45.

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I think I will just quote Fiv3r.
Saves a lot of typing.

I purchased 2 when they had the last rebate, I've since shot the first 9mm and prefer the 45. I have shot everything ammo wise that I have from bulk GI to +p, I wouldn't want to shoot a lot of +p golden sabers but hot 200gr reloads do fine. I polished the trigger with toothpaste and that helped the trigger. They use the same holsters as the 9mm and 40s&w but the barrel sticks out about 1/4in. It conceals well everyone is surprised to know I'm carrying a 45.

The 45 Shield, the example of one, that I had was problematic to the point of being returned to S&W twice for service. I've been shooting the 45ACP starting at MCRD Parris Island SC in 1964 up to the present. I've often said in jest that I've filled multiple 55Gal drums with empty cases of 45ACP. I basically gave it away to another individual with notification/understanding that the 45 Shield was problematic. On the other hand the Shield 9X19mm has been simply faultless. The griping surface texture for either Shield (9X19mm or 45ACP) was not an issue as I basically hold a pistol with a crush grip

Hangingrock said:

The 45 Shield, the example of one, that I had was problematic to the point of being returned to S&W twice for service.

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Mine is a pretty early model (before they started shipping no-safety pistols).

Let me.see.where I'm at.
I bought:

500 rounds of FAE Hardball
270 Rounds of Mixed Hollow Points (for accuracy, function and performance testing)
250 Rounds of Golden Saber 185 +P (chosen round)
500 rounds of S&B Hardball

I have 121 rounds left so 1449 rounds with zero malfunctions. I know everyone says that but it's 100% true in this case.

That reminds me it's time for more S&B (dead center of 1" 10-Ring at 7 yards and very clean) and the GS 185 +P.

1KPerDay said:

?? Haven’t heard that one...

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Find one , take the slide off and look underneath it. You'll see the fish scale looking serrations . No other handgun I have has anything like that.

Great carry guns, aren’t they?

zaitcev said:

I thought that Shield 45 was somewhere in between Kahr CW45 and XD-S in recoil. It's definitely noticeable and the grip is very thin. But I took mine to Steel Challenge and realized by the end of match that I didn't feel recoil at all. I was too busy waiting for the sights to return into sight box and making another shot. My hands were slightly tired perhaps, but didn't hurt.

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So, I guess you are saying you like the Kahr as far as recoil?

1KPerDay said:

not sure but the texture was definitely an improvement over the slick 9mm shield.

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The poor texturing is why I never got into the original Shield. I knew it'd be sliding around in my boney hands.

The 2.0 texturing actually reminds me of the HK P30 and HK45 stippling, which I find very functional. Even in warm sweaty hand weather my HK45 stays pretty put if I have a good grip.

I've been carrying an XDs-45 for about as long as they have been in the market place. There's just something about a little itty bitty 45. I've thought about trading it away a few times as I have other carry guns that suit me better, but I just can't bring myself to do it.

If you pick a Shield up, I clocked 230 gr HST +p ammo at 850 fps out of my XDs. I think you'd have no problem with expansion at that speed.

Jeb Stuart said:

So, I guess you are saying you like the Kahr as far as recoil?

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Yes, CW45 is the best in the format of compact-sized .45 guns, at least among those striker-fired. A Commander-sized 1911 may be the softest of them all, depending if it's aluminum frame and what recoil spring it uses. If only Kahrs were reliable and used slightly better magazines... Shield 45 is either noticeably shorter or offers +1, depending on magazine options. There's no free lunch!

I enjoy the Micro 9mm's, and am at a point that I have found the Perfect two for my persoan like and dislikes, the Kahr CM being one of them. And both of them have been totally reliable. In fact, I had sworn off buying another gun after the recent purchase of a second CM. But now, I can see, I want to get a 45.cal. And since I like both the 380 Kahr, the 9mm, like the triggers, the build quality etc. The 45 is looking like a personal winner for me at this point. I am sure all the guns mentioned are nice as well.
Interesting video

I like my 40 caliber Kahr.

Jeb Stuart said:

Interesting video

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Dan is a big fan of Kahr, been for many years.

As I mentioned, Shield is more compact for capacity, and the quality is much better. For example, from 3 factory magazines that I bought 1 didn't feed well. But then again, it's always a lottery with Kahr, and your streak was quite good with those .380 and 9. You may win again. If you get a good Kahr, it's a delight.

Hold on a sec, I'll find you a picture. You can see that Shield's 7-round magazine is actually shorter than Kahr's 6-round magazine! Kahr's grip is not as deep front-to-back, which I prefer. Kahr also packs a longer barrel into the same size (although I strongly suspect that this trick design is a reason why the gun is less reliable: rounds do not have as much space to feed and there's less time for the magazine to present the cartridge). Ignore the chip at the baseplate, it was actually one of _good_ magazines