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

Savage Stance XR
Savage Stance XR

Review: Savage Stance XR

Savage Arms reworked its Stance pistol in 2025 to incorporate desirable features not available in the first iteration, resulting in the new Stance XR.

Preview: Die Free Kung Fu Grip

A replacement pistol grip for AR-10/15-pattern rifles, the Kung Fu Grip from Die Free Co. utilizes a reduced (12 degree) grip angle that makes shooting a gun with a short length of pull much more comfortable on the wrist—making it an ideal choice for practitioners of modern, squared-up shooting stances.

The Elusive Finnish Mausers

In the 1920s, the Finnish Shooting Sport Federation sought to replace the military’s venerable Mosin-Nagant. Its attempts to introduce Mauser target rifles as service rifles were eventually thwarted in the 1930s by design limitations and budgets.

The Armed Citizen® Dec. 22, 2025

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Rifleman Q&A: Point Of Hold

Q: I have always been a rifle and handgun shooter, with little shotgun experience, and I am a little confused about the “point of hold” shown in the pattern illustrations of our magazine.

Preview: MTM Case-Gard Suppressor Protector Case

Secure, rugged and inexpensive, the Suppressor Protector Case by MTM Case-Gard is a convenient way to transport or store as many as three (cooled) silencers up to 10" in length.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.