NRA attendees woke up bright and early this morning to the news that Smith & Wesson has expanded their popular Shield line adding two new models chambered in .45 ACP. You can get one in any color you want — as long as it’s black — and either with our without a frame safety . . .
The gun feels very slim in the hand.
The new Shield45 ships with both a flush fit 6-round magazine (top) or 7-rounded extended version.
The barrel is a mere .2″ longer than the 9mm version and the’ve added a small section of serrations to the nose.
Smith’s also made the grip texturing noticeably more aggressive than on the 9mm versions.
Most impressive: the trigger. From racking and riding it on the show floor, the trigger felt pleasingly smooth with a wonderfully short reset. Can’t wait to send some actually rounds through one. Here’s their press release:
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (May 20, 2016) — Smith & Wesson Corp. announced today that it is now offering its popular M&P Shield™ pistol in .45 AUTO. Smith & Wesson’s M&P45 Shield is a slim, concealable, lightweight, striker-fired polymer pistol. From its one-inch profile to its optimized 18-degree grip angle, the M&P45 Shield offers professional-grade features that provide consumers and professionals with reliable performance and simple operation in a concealed carry. 45 AUTO firearm. Whether deployed as a backup sidearm for law enforcement personnel, a deep concealment pistol for plain-clothes officers or a personal protection firearm for consumers, the M&P45 Shield can be carried comfortably and confidently, all day.
Jan Mladek, General Manager of the M&P Brand, said, “Our new M&P45 Shield takes personal protection to the next level by offering all the M&P features our customers have come to trust, combined with .45 caliber power. Well over 1Million consumers and professionals have chosen to “Shield themselves” with the slim, concealable and powerful M&P Shield pistol. The new M&P Shield in .45 AUTO provides that extra level of confidence.”
Available for the first time in .45 AUTO, the M&P45 Shield features a slim design combined with the proven and trusted features found in the M&P Pistol Series. At 6.45 inches long, the M&P45 Shield is standard with a 3.3 inch stainless-steel barrel. On the left side of the frame, the pistol is fitted with familiar operational controls including a simple takedown lever, flat profile slide stop, and magazine release. For optimal firearm control, the M&P45 Shield is standard with an 18-degree grip angle, aggressive grip texture and front cocking serrations. The pistol is available with or without a thumb safety, and an extended trigger guard allows for operation with or without gloves. The striker –fired M&P Shield is highly regarded for its crisp trigger and quick and audible reset.
M&P45 Shield Highlighted Features:
- Lightweight, unloaded weight of less than 20.5 ounces
- Slim, .99-inch frame width
- Compact and concealable with 6.45-inch overall length
- Aggressive grip texture
- Front cocking serrations
- Armornite® durable corrosion resistant finish
- Includes 2 magazines, 6 and 7 round capacity
The M&P45 Shield model has an MSRP of $479 and is sold with a limited warranty and a lifetime service policy.
To see the M&P45 Shield in action, please visit www.smith-wesson.com/mpshield