Just curious what grain ammo seems to work best in a Shield 9mm.


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Well, that depends.

In a sample or two, 115, 124 & 147 has worked equally well. Started with FMJ and moved to JHP. No real difference in function.

But try yours uniquely. Start with one grain, FMJ, keep written records and see which are most accurate in your Shield. Then try the same with JHP and see which performs the most reliably.

Good luck

For me, for practice and range, I like Remington and Federal 115gr FMJ. For carry, I like Hornady CD 115gr.

I use 124grn +P HST’s for defense, and cheap 115 or 124grn fmj’s for practice.


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In general, 124g FMJ or JHP

SD - Speer gold dot 147g JHP

I shoot Speer Gold Dot LE 124 grain HP's with no problems at all.

I use whatever for range work, 147gr HST for carry. I should do some accuracy testing with other weights I suppose.

147gr HST worked best in my Shield but that might not be best in yours. Test out different brands and weights.


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I use Magtech 115gr Guardian Gold +P in my 3953.

Here are some great short barrel ballistic tests data points for you to consider before buying ammo:

https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/sel...llistic-tests/

Accuracy testing is only as good as the person pulling the trigger/shooter. I think most ammo is WAY more accurate/consistent than most people pulling the trigger. Certainly for Joe lunch box who doesnt shoot weekly and multiple 1,000’s of rounds a year.

I think testing for consistent functionality and reliability is #1 factor. To be absolutely confident the ammo will run consistently with every magazine and firing rapid fire and gun at different positions. Stong hand, one handed weak hand etc.

Only After the functionality do you move to such things as accuracy, recoil sensitivity and for some people ammo lrice and availability may be important to an individual.

Personally i use 115 grain for range. Mostly Blazer brass but rem green box, and winchester white box. For SE I use 115 grain hornady CD and also recently picked up federal HST 142 grain. But the HST in my gun seems to shoot lower than the 115 grains. I have not compleoruled out that this result is the ammo or me!

I also intend to try the winchester train and defend ammo. This is supposed to be engineered and designed to have the training and SD combination have the same point of impact. But each gun and shooter is different.

Personally I see no compelling reason to go +p using 9mm at distances that typical SD shootings occur (most within 20 feet). 38 special has proven extremely effective for about 100 years and the standard pressure 9mm ammo velocity is significantly more. So I see no need for even more velocity and recoil and stress on the gun. YMMV

I use Freedom Munitions 115 gr ball for range and 124 Federal HST for SD.

A similar question was asked in the Ammunition section recently. Here is my answer:

"My Shield 9 is so ammo picky that I decided that I would not carry any self-defense round unless it would fire at least 200 consecutive times without a failure of any kind. I tested many SD rounds, (including Gold Dot 124g+P), but only two passed the test: Hornady Critical Duty 135g+P (313 rounds with no failures), and Federal HST 147g (200 rounds with no failures). Remington Golden Saber 147g also did well, but I had an early failure to eject with it, and then a second FTE about round 230. As I recall, I had about three FTEs with Gold Dots in 150 rounds. Admittedly, my Shield is unusually cranky, but even if your Shield functions perfectly, I'll echo what Execpro says above: You need to find out what works reliably in YOUR gun.

FYI, my Shield 9 carries the Hornady Critical Duty rounds.

As to range ammo, I like Speer Lawman 124g."

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What, me worry?

To keep my “ammo stock” simple and manageable i use the same rounds in my Shield (PC) and my full size MP. For most range and fun time anything from Rem umc to Herters to Blazer brass. And for any defense practice or needs i use Hornady CD. All in 115 gn and zero issues.
I will note the above works quite for me esp up to 10 yards (maybe 15). Anything further and any ammo is probably better than i would be lol.

FWIW, lighter bullets (115gr) shoot lower, heavier (147gr) shoot higher. It is a function of the arched flight path of the fired round, pure physics.

^^^

NOT in my case. Evidence of holes in target tell a different story. Theory versus reality.

Still not ruling out that it was not me. But I was indeed expecting a higher impact as I tend to shoot a tad low even with the 115 grain. Was shocked when the reality was different than expected.

That makes no sense to me from a "pure physics" perspective. The 147gr leaves the barrel at a lower speed than the 115, and the pull of gravity is more on the 147 gr projectile. So why does your understanding of physics suggest that 147gr. would hit higher?

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Loving retirement!

I use Magtech 115gr fmj for the range. It's priced right, performs well, and relatively clean. SD I use Federal 124gr HST another good performer, for me that is Other OP may differ. Waaaay to many choices!!!

My wifes shield eats anything it gets fed with out a hiccup. he carry ammo is Federal HST +P 124grn bullets.

Pure physics: gravity has the exact same “pull” on a pebble as it does for an elephant. They both fall vertically downward at the exact same rate.

What changes you refer to is due to TIME. That is it takes less time for the higher velocity bullet to reach the target than a slower velocity bullet. Therefore there is less time for the lighter higher velocity to fall downward than the lower velocity heavier bullet.

I believe however the theory as to why a slower velocity bulllet will impact higher is due to recoil in two ways. First as soon as the powder explodes and causes a rearward force on the back of the chamber slide, the breach unlocks and if you look closely the barrel will begin to rotate the barrel tip UPWARD. Secondly the force also causes the shooters hand to be impacted and the center of mass of the gun is above the wrist and therefore recoil force will result in muzzle rise. Porting of barrels is designed to help reduce this effect.

Thus since there are two things that force the tip of the muzzle/barrel to rise. There will be less barrel rise for the bullet that leaves the barrel in the shortest amount of time. In other words, the slower the bullet velocity, the further upwards the barrel is canted as it leaves the barrel. Thus a slower heavier bullet would have more opportunity for leaving the barrel at a higher trajectory. This results in higher point of impact compared to a faster, lighter bullet. This assumes of course that these two barrel rise forces more than counteracts the extra bullet fall (time of arrival) discussed above.

Other ballistic experts please feel free to correct me if I got this wrong.

Groo here
Flying fool
This is well known by the revolver shooters.
The lighter the bullet [at standard operating pressure aka full power]
the faster it leaves the barrel .
The heaver the bullet the slower.
The gun rotates upon firing and where the bullet leaves the barrel in the ark will change.
This is seen in the hight of the front sight and the fact that the barrel is pointing down below line of sight.
Autos dont move as much because the bullet leaves the barrel
as or before the slide moves and the gun does not rotate as much.

My Shield 9mm has not malfunctioned with any ammo. It has well over 8,000 rounds through it. At the range, I shoot a lot of UMC since I often get it at a great price. Other than that, I will buy whatever I can cheaply. For carry, at the moment I have Remington Ultimate Defense, since I had some here that I use in my Kimber Solo. All the defensive ammo I have tried has worked perfectly in the Shield.

I specifically put this to the test yesterday at the range. I shot 115 gr and 124 gr UMC out of my Shield and FS 2.0. Both were more accurate with the 124 gr.

I use Mag Tech 124 gr. JHP Bonded for carry and it's cheap enough to plink with. Never a failure. The reviews in the JHP Bonded are very good too. I also use 115 gr. Winchester White Box or Federal FMJ for shootin'. I've tried 147 gr. with a few failures so 124 gr. for carry.

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LIVE FROM THE DAWGHOUSE

Break in the pistol with at least 200 and preferably closer to 500 rounds of whatever decent quality ball ammo you can get in bulk at a reasonable price. Clean and lube appropriately. Go find Dr. Roberts' duty/carry ammo testing and recommendations. Find a round that appeals to you for whatever reasons, and buy a modest quantity (no more than 100 rounds) to see how it does with you and your pistol. (Recoil, practical accuracy, etc.) If it went through 100 rounds with no malfunctions, buy 1000 rounds and make sure it will go at least 500 with no malfunctions without additional cleaning or lube, load up, and drive on.

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NHI, 10-8.

Just curious, is there much difference in the felt recoil between the 115 compared to 124 and 147 grain? I have a Shield 9mm and am a smaller older woman. However, I don’t think my Shield has much recoil at all compared to my Kimber Micro 380. But I have been scared to push it from 115 gr to 124 and especially 147.

For range ammo I just use my reloads. 124gr lead round nose. For my carry in the 9mm shield I use Federal 124 HST +P. For the 40 s&w shield I use 180 gr lead round nose for range and 180 Federal HST +P for carry. Honestly, I haven't found anything yet that either Shield had a problem with. I don't always carry those but when I do I feel plenty safe.

It is really minimal with the Shield, to me anyway. For defensive ammo, you could try the 124gr and go from there. You don't have to shoot it all the time, just enough to be proficient with that round, and know that it cycles well. Shoot some of the heavier defensive ammo to see what you like, and what you shoot best, then practice more with 115gr if you want.

I have a Kimber Solo, it definitely is not fun to shoot a lot of rounds through at the range, for me anyway. If I shoot it too much, it cuts my thumb open. I generally shoot at least a mag or two when I visit the range, using my defensive ammo, to remain proficient with it, then will sometimes shoot some 115gr range ammo, though 115gr isn't recommended for it, and mine doesn't really like it.

Mine eats American Eagle 124 grain FMJ and Federal HST 124 grain JHP. And Muzzle Velocity and Muzzle Energy are the same for both, as is trajectory.

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Si vis pacem, para bellum

The issue is the speed of the bullet and the TIME it takes to leave the barrel allowing barrel angle to recoil upward higher longer.

Slower bullets can hit higher because they exit later and the gun suffers more effects of recoil on the barrel angle affecting the position.

This is what I believe I have read.

OK, now that the original question has been answered in abundance, and I am not generally a smart ash, (FYI, my Shield likes 124 grain SWC or FMJHP as long as they are 1.09" OAL), and as I am approaching actual curmudgeon status, can people stop axin' "What grain bullet does my model x like?" That is somewhat akin (Kentucky cousin?) to axin': "What pound bacon should my old lady fix for breakfast if we're havin' biscuits and gravy, two?" How about: "What weight bullets work well in your model X?"

Bonus: the answer to the bacon question is: "How many pounds do you want to put on?"

PS: No offense to my actual cousin in Kentucky is intended.

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Some collect art; I shoot it!

When I first got mine, I shot everything I could come up with, including some very questionable reloads. Everything ran fine!

If I estimate correctly, you have shot nearly 1000 rounds just to see what it likes. That's about the value of the gun. I would have stopped at the first brand with no malfunctions.....
Wow.

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CERAKOTE Svcs.
Class 01 FFL

Beg to differ. The bullet starts falling (down) the instant it leaves the barrel. Light or heavy, same physics.

Heavier loads tend to recoil harder, therefore causing the barrel to be aimed a little higher at discharge..hence a "higher" trajectory. The higher arched flight path is not a direct function of the power of the load, but rather a result of it rocking the gun back further before discharge.

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CERAKOTE Svcs.
Class 01 FFL

It took me a while to get there. My Shield 9 had persistent failures to eject and occasional failures to feed (31 total in 4800 rounds). That's way too many for a self-defense gun. A trip back to S&W didn't improve it. I noticed, however, that self-defense ammo seemed to be more reliable, so I started buying well-regarded brands on-line in bulk, set an arbitrary standard of 200 problem-free rounds, and proceeded to fire away. (It was actually kind of fun.) If none of the ammo had met the test, I would have dumped the Shield. It took me a about a year, but when I was done, I knew I had found a round I could count on (the Hornady Critical Duty 135g+P). The performance of the HST 147g was a bonus. I'd first tried HST 124g +Ps, and my Shield choked, refusing to feed 10% of them, so I wasn't expecting much from the 147s.

In the end, I finally got a gun I could count on. Every six months, I shoot some Critical Duty and some HST 147 rounds just for practice. My current no-failure total for Critical Duty is 362, and for HST 147, it's 225.

Was it expensive? You bet! But I figure it's cheap compared to what my life's worth. And the leftover rejected rounds will not go to waste. They'll do just fine in my SIG P320, which will fire anything.

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What, me worry?

Never had any issues using Hornady Critical Defense XTP 147 gr.
Also no issues with any FMJ ammo. Brass, steel or aluminum of any grain.

I guess I got a good Shield 1st gen.