Rifleman Review: Smith & Wesson M&P45 Shield

by
posted on July 1, 2020
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
American Rifleman examines the Smith & Wesson M&P45 Shield pistol in the Rifleman Review video segment above.

Smith & Wesson M&P45 Shield title screen.

Interest in mid-size .45-cal. pistols that use single-stack magazines led to the release of Smith & Wesson’s M&P45. The striker-fired, recoil-operated pistol sports a polymer frame and provides capacity for seven rounds. The 22.7-oz. package is a solid choice for daily carry.

Man wearing a ballcap shooting a pistol on a shooting range.

The polymer frame pistol measures 4.8”-tall by 6.45”-long and is fitted with a stainless steel slide topped with three-dot pattern sights. An Armornite finish covers the pistol. Smith & Wesson provides barrel length options up to 4” and our .45 ACP-chambered test sample measured a scant 3.3”.

On the front and rear of the slide, both left and right sides contain sections of fish-scale cuts to help in manipulation. Contours on the slide’s exterior were also sculpted to smooth the process of holstering the pistol.

Smith & Wesson black polymer pistol disassembled on white background.

Safety features include an articulated trigger safety and an internal mechanism to prevent misfire when the pistol is accidentally dropped. Purchasers may opt for a additional manual thumb safety, which is found on the gun’s left side where the frame and slide meet.

Pistol on cinder blocks.

The black polymer frame of the M&P45 Shield pistol contains an internal stainless steel chassis and sections of wrap-around texturing at its grip. The magazine release provides texturing as well. Six- and seven-round magazines come standard with the M&P45 Shield and each provides marked witness holes.

Specification table for Smith & Wesson M&P45 Shield pistol.

To learn more about Smith & Wesson’s M&P45 Shield pistol, please visit the company's website HERE, and be sure to watch our American Rifleman TV segment above.

Latest

Wilson Combat Bulwark 01
Wilson Combat Bulwark 01

Beyond the 1911: Wilson Combat's New Bulwark

The Bulwark is designed as a “hard-use service pistol” that combines the best features of a 1911 with those of a daily-carry duty gun, and Wilson Combat delivers it all at a price point below Wilson’s traditional handgun offerings.

Rifleman Review: Walther Arms PDP Pro-X PMM

Recently, Walther Arms has combined several PDP feature sets with a Parker Mountain Machine compensator to produce the Pro-X PMM.

The DOJ Civil Rights Division Strikes Again

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) just opened an investigation to “determine whether Philadelphia Police use a vague ‘good cause’ standard to cancel permits to carry legal firearms.”

Review: Smith & Wesson M&P FPC 5.7

Having more guns chambered in 5.7 mm is a great thing, and the Smith & Wesson M&P FPC 5.7 is a welcome addition to the growing world of 5.7 mm firearms.

Ruger Moves HQ to North Carolina

Ruger quietly relocated its corporate headquarters from Southport, Conn., to Mayodan, N.C., marking the end of the company's management presence in the town where it was founded in 1949.

Honest EDC: A Realistic Assessment of Your Concealed Carry Kit

The problem is not that most concealed-carry loadouts are bad. The problem is that most concealed-carry kits are never re-examined against reality.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.