Shield 40 or xds 45
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lowslowmiata
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- Jul 24, 2012
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I highly suggest shooting the xds45. My dad has one and it is a rough gun to shoot quick and accurately. He ended up also buying the 9.
I have a shield in 9mm and it sits my large hands better
I have a shield in 9mm and it sits my large hands better
bannockburn
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- Apr 24, 2007
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I have handled both guns side by side and I preferred the Shield to the XDs. Just had a better overall feel to it. As to the caliber choices I'm more of a .45 ACP fan in that regard but wouldn't feel I was undergunned with one in .40 S&W.
RainDodger
Member
I have shot both guns. I ended up buying the XDs in .45. I think the Shield feels better and would be more comfortable to shoot if you wanted more of a range gun, but a .45 is a .45. It makes a bigger hole.
The XDs is not nice for shooting a box of cartridges at a target, but it's relatively easy to handle (I found it so), and I can easily hit center mass at reasonable distances. Reliability is 100% with my chosen load (hand load with Gold Dot 230 grain bullets). Another selling point for the XDs is the sights - they're far nicer in my opinion than the Shield sights.
I made my XDs a bit nicer by installing the Powder River Precision spring kit, which halved the trigger pull to a reasonable 5 lbs 2 oz. It's a purpose-built gun and it does its job quite well I think. I would still choose the XDs over the Shield.
Get the one YOU like best. If I were a bad guy, I wouldn't want to stand in front of either one of them.
The XDs is not nice for shooting a box of cartridges at a target, but it's relatively easy to handle (I found it so), and I can easily hit center mass at reasonable distances. Reliability is 100% with my chosen load (hand load with Gold Dot 230 grain bullets). Another selling point for the XDs is the sights - they're far nicer in my opinion than the Shield sights.
I made my XDs a bit nicer by installing the Powder River Precision spring kit, which halved the trigger pull to a reasonable 5 lbs 2 oz. It's a purpose-built gun and it does its job quite well I think. I would still choose the XDs over the Shield.
Get the one YOU like best. If I were a bad guy, I wouldn't want to stand in front of either one of them.
I own a shield 40 and love it. Never shot a xd but I'm sure they are great. Try putting both in your pocket, belt,etc. and see which feels better. The comfort of carry is a big part of conceal carry. I believe with range time you'll be able to hit the mark with either.
wally
Member
I'd pick the .40S&W. With a 3.3" barrel I worry about having enough velocity for adequate penetration with the .45 especially if you get any expansion.
The 180gr .40 and 230gr .45 have the same sectional density so I'd go with the .40 for the ~100 fps higher velocity to help insure adequate penetration. Bullet placement, placement, and penetration are the three most important factors in handgun effectiveness.
Until I realized this, I saw little need for the .40S&W round.
The 180gr .40 and 230gr .45 have the same sectional density so I'd go with the .40 for the ~100 fps higher velocity to help insure adequate penetration. Bullet placement, placement, and penetration are the three most important factors in handgun effectiveness.
Until I realized this, I saw little need for the .40S&W round.
You don't have to use it. The XDs comes with a grip safety, which probably fewer people like. I like having the option of a thumb safety, especially when holstering.
Zaydok Allen
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- Feb 12, 2011
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Merits to both guns. I carry an XDs. None of S&W M&P line fits my hand quite right. I also prefer .45.
Well I got the xds 45. It want chamber a round. Load the mag pull slide back but it's a pain to get it to chamber once it chambers the first round it shoots the last 4 rounds ok. The barrel at the bottom of the end of the gun sticks out don't look right.
I've shot the XDs 45 and it shot well, and while recoil wasn't terrible, it did bark pretty good. I've only shot a 9mm Shield, so I can't comment on the .40 version, but the last .40 cal Smith (sd40) I owned had horrible case support, maybe the Shield does too if they're having KB issues.
I carry (pocket) a Kahr CM40. Great case support, recoil isn't bad at all, very similar to the XDs45, and very accurate.
I carry (pocket) a Kahr CM40. Great case support, recoil isn't bad at all, very similar to the XDs45, and very accurate.
I wouldn't have a gun that small in .40. I have an xds .45. It's not hard to shoot at all. 9mm would be fine too. But .40 recoils more than .45 and has little to no advantage over a 9mm....so 9 or 45 for me. But then again, I despise the .40 in general for it's very snappy recoil compared to the other two, regardless of the gun.
KansasSasquatch
Member
Lock the slide open before you put the magazine in. Then rack the slide by hand (don't use the slide release). You shouldn't have any trouble chambering a round that way. My wife picked out an XDs45 for her carry gun but I've been carrying it since she is still trying to find a CCH class that fits her schedule. Anyways, I've noticed that with a full magazine and the slide closed, its hard but not impossible to chamber the first round. I think that there just isn't enough room in the magazine for the first round to get out of the way to pull the slide back with ease. I don't know if that's how SA designed it or if there's something wrong with my wife's gun, but it runs just fine other than that minor detail. If I fire 4 shots, drop the empty mag w/ one still in the chamber, put in a full mag, and keep shooting, there's no ill effects, every round chambers just fine.
Oh, and the feed ramp on this one appears to be polished. Couldn't tell you if that's a factory feature or not, we bought it used in like new condition. But every SA pistol I've ever had appeared to have a pretty well polished feed ramp.
breakingcontact
Member
I prefer the Shield over the XDS but since youre looking at 40 vs 45...I have to say XDS. My full advice would be Shield OR XDS in 9mm.
RainDodger
Member
In answer to one of the questions above - yes, the feed ramp and chamber mouth are polished nice and bright from the factory. Every one I've seen is like that.
My first round never goes in completely smoothly, but it does go in. The pistol has never failed to function.
My first round never goes in completely smoothly, but it does go in. The pistol has never failed to function.
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