The method and system provide a perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) head having an air bearing surface (ABS). The PMR head includes first and second poles each having front and back gap regions, a first nonmagnetic insertion layer between the back gap regions, a magnetic pole layer with a front terminating at the ABS, a write gap, shield(s), a second nonmagnetic insertion layer between the second pole back gap region and the shield(s), and coil(s) between the shield(s) and the first pole. The magnetic pole layer terminates between the ABS and the second pole back gap region and has pole angle(s) of at least thirty and not more than fifty degrees. At least part of the magnetic pole layer resides on the second pole. Part of the shield(s) are adjacent to the write gap. Another part of the shield(s) is coupled with the second pole back gap region.