Is USANATO 9mm ammo safe to use in an M&P Shield 2.0?

When I googled it, one description says it is "10-15% more power"......and that this "puts it into +P territory".

The ammo itself (Winchester) doesnt say "+P" on the box at all.....

The owners manual for this pistol says "+P is not to be used".

Thoughts?

The manual does NOT say " no +P". You can use any SAAMI rated ammo, including +P. Don't use "+P+" which means it is NOT SAAMI rated, but is higher than any SAAMI rating, and you have to ask the manufacturer to find out how much higher. Some is like a proof load and won't blow up from one shot, others are higher.

The NATO ammo is loaded to European standard, which is about like our +P. Safe to shoot all you can stand. Might wear the gun a little faster than light loads.

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Science plus Art

Winchester USA NATO 124gr falls in between standard and +p.

It’s fine to use in your Shield.

Read page 11 of the manual again, +p is fine...+p+ is not. +p may cause parts to wear faster though.

Thanks for clearing that up for me!

I missed that fine point......

One benefit I've seen from using Winchester NATO in my 1.0 Shield 9, is a huge increase in accuracy compared to standard 9mm ammo. With standard ammo, I put about 45% of my shots into a 4"x4" square at 15 yards. Using NATO ammo, that percentage goes up to nearly 60%. Needless to say, my go-to target ammo is now Win NATO. My Shield hasn't suffered any from shooting a bunch of it.

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What, me worry?

A common misconception.
NATO falls between standard and +P MAXIMUM.
If it is one psi over standard maximum, then it is +P.
Norma ran into that in the 1970s with the .38 Special Magnum that was standard maximum in their lab but slightly over in a SAAMI test barrel.

I have also found the Winchester 124 grain NATO to be more accurate than run of the mill ball ammo.
It shoots so well out of my 9mms that I bought a couple 750 round cases of it.
I haven't clocked it out of a Shield, but out of my 5 inch M&P it gets exactly 1200 fps. Within 10-15 fps. So pretty consistent velocity which never hurts accuracy.

They do seem to have harder primers, once in a while I get one that the striker doesn't ignite.
But I use them only for range use, for carry I use HST 124 grain.

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U. S. Army Veteran

I’m 100% with sandog ! I carry HST 124gr in my 9EZ and use Winchester NATO 124gr ($9/box) for practice.
But to your query. The Winchester NATO (White box black letters) is 1200ft/sec. Speer Gold Dot 124gr +p is the same velocity.
It’s fine to use in your 2.0 Shield, but if your going to shoot hundreds of rounds it can wear your gun faster than regular velocity ammo.
If I shoot a lot, I use 115gr (non +p) ammo.
Welcome to the forum!

Be SAFE and Shoot Often!

Thanks, all, for the replies and the welcome.

New to all this, so I am still low on the learning curve. LOL

A nationwide shortage may suck in general, but it has gotten me to look at all the options out there.....grains, FMJ,TMJ, etc , brass versus steel, brand name...you name it.

So far the pistol is great....very happy with it....I was able to fire my first 25 rounds with remarkable (for me) grouping and accuracy.....after not firing "anything" aside from a BB gun for over 30 years.....

Looking forward to learning more here!

And WELCOME! I see this thread is your first 3 posts.

Yep.....thanks!

A newbie to this forum....a newbie to the M&P Shield......a relative newbie to pistols (30 years since I fired anything of substance)....

Looking forward to learning "stuff".

Have a feeling this could be as addictive as my car and bike hobbies...LOL

Yep, NATO 9x19 is somewhere around 5 to 7% higher pressure than standard 9mm ammo, but +P is loaded to 10% over standard pressure. A pistol that is safe with +P ammo will have no problem with NATO spec ammo.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

You will wear out your credit card and maybe your hand long before the pistol if you are shooting NATO-spec or +p. With appropriate maintenance, like replacing the recoil spring when the manual says I'd bet that pistol would be good for 50K rounds or more.

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NHI, 10-8.

Interesting that some find the peppier +P stuff more accurate in the Shields.

Looking through a pile of handloading data, even +P (38KPSI), loads do not hit 1200fps in a 4" barrel.

Has anyone checked the velocity on the +P stuff in the shorter Shield barrels to know if the Speer 1200fps is a dream?

I'm interested in a reference/reality check for my loads with a couple new powders in my Shield short barrels.

1200ft/sec is what is listed by Factory for both the Winchester and Speer
Gold Dot. You would have to research length of bbl used by them.
The Lucky Gunner site gives the Speer Gold Dot 124gr+P a velocity of 1141 to 1160ft/sec (depending on reg or short bbl load) out of a 3.5” bbl.
The Shield has a 3.1” bbl.
Hope this helps. To answer your question, 1200ft/sec from a 3.1” bbl is probably a dream. JMO.

Be SAFE and Shoot Often!

You might get or at least get close to 1200 fps from NATO 124 grain 9x19, but it will take a pistol with a barrel around 5 inches in length.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

Might even take an 8" barrel. At one time the spec was for a Beretta M12 SMG.

A 5 inch barrel will do it, this chrono reading was from W-W NATO out of my 5" MP9:

This stuff here got 1300 average (1285 low to 1313 high) with a 124 grain bonded bullet.
Feels like you are shooting .40 caliber. 464 ft lbs out of a 9mm isn't too shabby, but I'd think they would cause faster wear for sure.

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U. S. Army Veteran

Ah, that's what I was thinking. I have a couple current references that list +P loads from a 4" barrel, and none of them hit the 1200fps number. Tells me my 3.1" tubes won't magically change that.

I'd go grab a box of both, and haul my Chronograph to the range, but there ain't no such at the local shops. (Or even on line).

9mm ammo can be confusing for those new to it.

9x19
9mm Parabellum
9mm NATO

Are all fine in your gun.

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Freedom isn't free.

I think that is where the original 1300+ fps 9mm NATO spec originated.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA