Smith & Wesson Forum

Go Back   Smith & Wesson Forum > Smith & Wesson Semi-Automatic Pistols > Smith & Wesson M&P Pistols
o

Notices

Smith & Wesson M&P Pistols All Variants of the Smith & Wesson M&P Auto Pistols


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 03-27-2017, 09:09 PM
Ogregolf's Avatar
Ogregolf Ogregolf is offline
Member
Personal Protection ammo for Shield 9mm, 115 or 147 or 147 Personal Protection ammo for Shield 9mm, 115 or 147 or 147 Personal Protection ammo for Shield 9mm, 115 or 147 or 147 Personal Protection ammo for Shield 9mm, 115 or 147 or 147 Personal Protection ammo for Shield 9mm, 115 or 147 or 147  
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Eastern Oregon
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default Personal Protection ammo for Shield 9mm, 115 or 147 or 147

This has probably been debated ad nauseum in other areas of the threads but I am new so here goes.

I used to carry a S&W 686 .357 or a SIG 227 .45 but in order to cut down on the "omigod he's got a gun" looks and sneers from those who disapprove of me carrying my hand cannons. I bought an M&P Shield 9mm. I am currently going through a myriad of CC holsters but that is another thread.

My main question is this. This 9 has a 3 inch barrel and all my other weapons are at least 4" and I usually go with heavier rounds in those weapons . The question being for self defense should I go with the lighter 155gr rounds, (lighter bullet will accelerate faster and penetrate) or the 147gr (heavier round flies slower but carries more inertia into the target.)

I have read all sorts of theories including the 147 takes more pressure to start it down the barrel therefore it will fly faster and the 115 round gets kicked out of the barrel so fast it has no time to accelerate.

Has anyone seen/heard/done any definitive research on which round will perform better in a defense situation? I would hate to find out at the wrong time that I have chosen an ineffective round.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 03-27-2017, 09:12 PM
gqllc007 gqllc007 is offline
Member
Personal Protection ammo for Shield 9mm, 115 or 147 or 147 Personal Protection ammo for Shield 9mm, 115 or 147 or 147 Personal Protection ammo for Shield 9mm, 115 or 147 or 147 Personal Protection ammo for Shield 9mm, 115 or 147 or 147 Personal Protection ammo for Shield 9mm, 115 or 147 or 147  
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 192
Likes: 18
Liked 88 Times in 48 Posts
Default

Federal HST 124gr standard pressure is what you seek. I have done ballistic gel testing ad nauseum and that is the one round that performs so far 100% of the time out of my short barrel 9's. It was tested using my Glock 43 and my PC shield. I now carry that round in all my 9mm's
Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Like Post:
  #3  
Old 03-27-2017, 09:19 PM
bigwheelzip's Avatar
bigwheelzip bigwheelzip is offline
Absent Comrade
Personal Protection ammo for Shield 9mm, 115 or 147 or 147 Personal Protection ammo for Shield 9mm, 115 or 147 or 147 Personal Protection ammo for Shield 9mm, 115 or 147 or 147 Personal Protection ammo for Shield 9mm, 115 or 147 or 147 Personal Protection ammo for Shield 9mm, 115 or 147 or 147  
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Upstate SC
Posts: 12,990
Likes: 17,229
Liked 41,503 Times in 9,146 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ogregolf View Post
Has anyone seen/heard/done any definitive research on which round will perform better in a defense situation?
ShootingTheBull410 has quite a bit of testing called 9mm ammo quest to view if your interested.

9mm Ammo Quest - YouTube
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 03-27-2017, 11:04 PM
Survivor87's Avatar
Survivor87 Survivor87 is offline
Member
Personal Protection ammo for Shield 9mm, 115 or 147 or 147 Personal Protection ammo for Shield 9mm, 115 or 147 or 147 Personal Protection ammo for Shield 9mm, 115 or 147 or 147 Personal Protection ammo for Shield 9mm, 115 or 147 or 147 Personal Protection ammo for Shield 9mm, 115 or 147 or 147  
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 38
Likes: 14
Liked 9 Times in 9 Posts
Default

This is what I use while carrying - Hornady Manufacturing Company :: Ammunition :: Handgun :: Choose by Caliber :: 9mm Luger :: 9mm Luger 115 gr FTX® Critical Defense®

I just shoots so amazing in my shield, never an issue at all. Target rounds though I definitely go with 124 gr when possible. I've read here that the Shield definitely can prefer the higher grain rounds.
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #5  
Old 03-27-2017, 11:27 PM
3S16 3S16 is offline
Member
Personal Protection ammo for Shield 9mm, 115 or 147 or 147 Personal Protection ammo for Shield 9mm, 115 or 147 or 147 Personal Protection ammo for Shield 9mm, 115 or 147 or 147 Personal Protection ammo for Shield 9mm, 115 or 147 or 147 Personal Protection ammo for Shield 9mm, 115 or 147 or 147  
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 577
Likes: 1,477
Liked 1,346 Times in 277 Posts
Default

I've carried a 9mm Shield for years. Mine seems to shoot low for me with the 115 and 124gr. rounds. I switched to 147 grain Federal HST loads and all is well.
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #6  
Old 03-27-2017, 11:50 PM
TAROMAN's Avatar
TAROMAN TAROMAN is offline
US Veteran
Personal Protection ammo for Shield 9mm, 115 or 147 or 147 Personal Protection ammo for Shield 9mm, 115 or 147 or 147 Personal Protection ammo for Shield 9mm, 115 or 147 or 147 Personal Protection ammo for Shield 9mm, 115 or 147 or 147 Personal Protection ammo for Shield 9mm, 115 or 147 or 147  
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: The wet side of Oregon
Posts: 6,290
Likes: 8,789
Liked 7,778 Times in 2,375 Posts
Default

147 for me. Its what the local PD uses. Shoots to POA too
__________________
-jwk-
US Army '72-'95
Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Like Post:
  #7  
Old 03-28-2017, 12:05 AM
Autonomous's Avatar
Autonomous Autonomous is offline
Member
Personal Protection ammo for Shield 9mm, 115 or 147 or 147 Personal Protection ammo for Shield 9mm, 115 or 147 or 147 Personal Protection ammo for Shield 9mm, 115 or 147 or 147 Personal Protection ammo for Shield 9mm, 115 or 147 or 147 Personal Protection ammo for Shield 9mm, 115 or 147 or 147  
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 705
Likes: 533
Liked 1,016 Times in 389 Posts
Default

Ask your gun.
What does it cycle reliably? What weight shoots to the point of aim?

Last edited by Autonomous; 03-28-2017 at 12:22 AM.
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #8  
Old 03-28-2017, 12:18 AM
bloodlord77 bloodlord77 is offline
Member
Personal Protection ammo for Shield 9mm, 115 or 147 or 147 Personal Protection ammo for Shield 9mm, 115 or 147 or 147 Personal Protection ammo for Shield 9mm, 115 or 147 or 147 Personal Protection ammo for Shield 9mm, 115 or 147 or 147 Personal Protection ammo for Shield 9mm, 115 or 147 or 147  
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Virginia
Posts: 158
Likes: 2
Liked 80 Times in 47 Posts
Default

For defensive carry, I use the 124gr Federal hst hollowpoints. I just uploaded a video testing the difference in penetration between my M&P 9 fs, and my Shield 9. I've often wondered how much performance I was giving up using the shorter barrel. I found that the performance is nearly identical between the two. I plan to make this a series using different barriers.


__________________
The Penetration Channel
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 03-28-2017, 10:08 AM
gqllc007 gqllc007 is offline
Member
Personal Protection ammo for Shield 9mm, 115 or 147 or 147 Personal Protection ammo for Shield 9mm, 115 or 147 or 147 Personal Protection ammo for Shield 9mm, 115 or 147 or 147 Personal Protection ammo for Shield 9mm, 115 or 147 or 147 Personal Protection ammo for Shield 9mm, 115 or 147 or 147  
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 192
Likes: 18
Liked 88 Times in 48 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by bloodlord77 View Post
For defensive carry, I use the 124gr Federal hst hollowpoints. I just uploaded a video testing the difference in penetration between my M&P 9 fs, and my Shield 9. I've often wondered how much performance I was giving up using the shorter barrel. I found that the performance is nearly identical between the two. I plan to make this a series using different barriers.


9MM (Fullsize vs. Sub Compact) - YouTube
I did the same thing with different barrel lengths with the HST 124gr in clear ballistics gel. Now that's all I carry in all my 9's. Corbon DPX 115gr+P performed similar but didn't penetrate as much

Last edited by gqllc007; 03-28-2017 at 10:10 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 03-29-2017, 05:14 PM
Ogregolf's Avatar
Ogregolf Ogregolf is offline
Member
Personal Protection ammo for Shield 9mm, 115 or 147 or 147 Personal Protection ammo for Shield 9mm, 115 or 147 or 147 Personal Protection ammo for Shield 9mm, 115 or 147 or 147 Personal Protection ammo for Shield 9mm, 115 or 147 or 147 Personal Protection ammo for Shield 9mm, 115 or 147 or 147  
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Eastern Oregon
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

Thanks for the input all. Looks like I have some testing of my own to do but this narrows the search.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 03-29-2017, 09:26 PM
Talldog's Avatar
Talldog Talldog is offline
Member
Personal Protection ammo for Shield 9mm, 115 or 147 or 147 Personal Protection ammo for Shield 9mm, 115 or 147 or 147 Personal Protection ammo for Shield 9mm, 115 or 147 or 147 Personal Protection ammo for Shield 9mm, 115 or 147 or 147 Personal Protection ammo for Shield 9mm, 115 or 147 or 147  
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 180
Likes: 163
Liked 238 Times in 105 Posts
Default

For what it's worth, I shoot Speer Lawman 147 and Speer Gold Dot LE 147 in my Shield, and I'm very accurate with both.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 03-29-2017, 09:49 PM
dben002's Avatar
dben002 dben002 is offline
US Veteran
Personal Protection ammo for Shield 9mm, 115 or 147 or 147 Personal Protection ammo for Shield 9mm, 115 or 147 or 147 Personal Protection ammo for Shield 9mm, 115 or 147 or 147 Personal Protection ammo for Shield 9mm, 115 or 147 or 147 Personal Protection ammo for Shield 9mm, 115 or 147 or 147  
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Triad Area North Carolina
Posts: 1,613
Likes: 1,184
Liked 2,027 Times in 826 Posts
Default

Another voice for nuttin but Federal HST 124.
__________________
Hipcocked45
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 03-31-2017, 02:35 PM
mrmike7189's Avatar
mrmike7189 mrmike7189 is offline
Member
Personal Protection ammo for Shield 9mm, 115 or 147 or 147 Personal Protection ammo for Shield 9mm, 115 or 147 or 147 Personal Protection ammo for Shield 9mm, 115 or 147 or 147 Personal Protection ammo for Shield 9mm, 115 or 147 or 147 Personal Protection ammo for Shield 9mm, 115 or 147 or 147  
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: massachusetts
Posts: 736
Likes: 2,823
Liked 518 Times in 278 Posts
Default i split the differnence 115/147 and chose 124 grain

I split the difference 115/147 and chose for my carry gun the 124 grain.
i like how it shoots. sometimes i can find 124 grain FMJ for practice
Attached Images
File Type: jpg pdx1 9mm.jpg (148.9 KB, 13 views)
__________________
S&W BG380, S&W 915 9mm
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Best personal defense Ammo for shield 9mm? JCsix13 Smith & Wesson M&P Pistols 89 05-24-2017 11:17 PM
Best Personal Defense ammo for shield? Robby3006 Smith & Wesson M&P Pistols 53 05-01-2017 04:51 PM
M&P - Reliable 9mm Personal Protection Ammo Pondoro Smith & Wesson M&P Pistols 53 01-08-2014 12:00 AM
Which gun for personal protection CC? stratman7 Smith & Wesson M&P Pistols 69 01-03-2014 03:27 PM
Personal protection ammo? KLACHARITE Smith & Wesson Semi-Auto Pistols 16 01-18-2010 01:28 PM

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
smith-wessonforum.com tested by Norton Internet Security smith-wessonforum.com tested by McAfee Internet Security

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 08:01 AM.


Smith-WessonForum.com is not affiliated with Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select: SWHC)