Shield 9mm Best Ammo for EDC??

[Muss Muggins]

I like using what the local PD uses. At the moment, it's Critical Duty/Defense . . .

 

[smithra_66]

Hey Guys,

I am newbie to the S&W family, yet I did tons of empirical research and had friends who help sell me on the product.
I purchased a S&W Shield 9mm recently and already had ammo from my CANIK TP9SF.
Been shooting it regularly out in the country @ my Pops house.
Using Winchester 124 NATO & LUGER the gun performs flawless!

I have pumped a few mags of Gold Dots & Federal Tactical HST also, all cycled well and recoil was no problem. Decent groups at 8 yds & 15.
I actually shoots a tad smoother than my CANIK!

Here is a sample of what I have for EDC defense, what do you think would be best for my EDC situations in my Shield??

Appreciate the feedback in advance,

Reggie

1. Hornady Critical Duty +P 135 gr FlexLock
2. Hornady Critical Duty +P 124 gr FlexLock
3. Federal Hydra-Shok 135 gr
4. Speer Gold Dots +P 124 gr JHP
5. Federal Tactical HST 124 gr JHP
6. Federal Premium HST 147gr. JHP
7. Remington GOLDEN SABER 124 gr BJHP
8. Personal Defense Hydra•Shok 124 gr Luger
9. Speer Gold Dots 147 JHP

They all will work great and the differences would be imperceptible to the intended target as long as you do your part and put them in the right place.

(and as long as they are reliable in your gun).

 

[ContinentalOp]

Based on your list, I think any of them will get the job done, presuming they're reliable and you can shoot them well.

My personal preference is 147gr HST. It's what I have in my Beretta PX4 Compact, which has a 3.27" barrel. Solid track record in actual shootings.

Just my opinion.

 

[mike from st pete]

Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel Ammo 9mm Luger +P 124 Grain Jacketed

My choice is the short barrel 124 +p

 

[Reggie TisFree]

Hey Guys,

What's your favorite range/practice ammo?
My friend just texted me a price of $38 for 50 rds of WINCHESTER 9MM 147GR FMJ??

Thanks,
Reg

 

[Oldsalt66]

When I carry my M&P 9c with its short barrel it’s loaded with 147grain HST.

 

[Nevada Ed]

Back in December 2014 I finished up my test with a 3" Kahr loads
and it liked a +P 115 and a SB 124 Gold Dot loads the best for
poa and accuracy.

A 3.5" liked the 115 GD at 1208fps and the 124 GD at 1140fps

A 5" pushed the 124 GD at 1207fps, just as a note per loads.

There is a new M&P 9 Shield in the family but have yet to test out any JHP SD loads in it. Just a lot of FMJ to get it loose, while they break it in and smooth things out and learn to shoot it better.
The young lady is pretty busy with work and does not get out to often to the range.

I like all the loads on that list for SD work but lean towards the Gold Dots and the Federal HST, with the tests that I have done.

Maybe the 115 GD for Summer and the 124 GD for winter clothing but you should try a box of 147 HST in that 3" barrel
just to see where it prints and feels, if you can find it.

Practice;
FMJ ball............ on the cheap, if available.
Have yet to have a feeding problem.

 

[scout II]

I run Federal Premium Personal Defense Punch ammo with a 124 grain JHP bullet in my Shield 2.0. It is supposed to be very similar to the HST round but, has a softer lead core than the HST because they are not really meant to go through barricades like the HST. And the best part is it costs less than the HST.
I still have a bunch of Federal 147 grain Hydra-Shok ammo that I carry in my CZ and Glock.

 

[seldon14]

Hey Guys,

What's your favorite range/practice ammo?
My friend just texted me a price of $38 for 50 rds of WINCHESTER 9MM 147GR FMJ??

Thanks,
Reg

Generally speaking the cheapest 124gr I can find. My guns will usually run anything well, and the cheaper it is, the more I can shoot. I liked PPU and S&B for being super cheap and better quality than most of the other cheap brands. Speer Lawman is probably the best quality non boutique fmj, but usually has a bit of a premium attached.

Pre panick $8-$12 was a pretty good price for individual 50rnd box's. For current pricing $38 seems to be somewhere in the middle of pricing.

 

[skwchock]

With the ammo shortage (with no date for "cure"), i think people will be more judicious about shooting for recreation. I also have a difficult time finding components to reload (esp. primers). As I do not have the 10 year supply of ammo readily available, I will be more careful at range time.

 

[mmb617]

The big gain for +p imo is better barrier penetration. That is something I could see wanting as a Leo, not so much for personal protection.

I can't see any reason to use +p ammo in a personal defense gun. As far as better barrier penetration goes that's the main argument against using FMJ rounds in a carry gun, too much danger of over-penetration. Everything is a compromise.

I agree. I even will use FMJs if I need to.

I don't worry too much about what other people think is right for me. I've always had FMJ's in my carry gun, and they are reloads as well. I am presently trying out some JHP's though and may change over once I'm satisfied they run without any problems.

Hey Guys,

What's your favorite range/practice ammo?
My friend just texted me a price of $38 for 50 rds of WINCHESTER 9MM 147GR FMJ??

Thanks,
Reg

I reload all my ammo and have always used 115 gr FMJ as range fodder. Now that I'm thinking about changing over to some 124 gr JHP's for defense ammo I did some testing to insure that the point of aim/point of impact remains the same for both rounds.

I think that's the main thing if you are carrying one ammo and practicing with another. You want to make sure they both hit the same spot with the same aim. If you ever need to defend yourself you won't have time to be thinking about where you aim, it has to be automatic.

Pre panick $8-$12 was a pretty good price for individual 50rnd box's. For current pricing $38 seems to be somewhere in the middle of pricing.

Last year before I started reloading I was buying 50 rounds of 115 or 124 grain Blazer Brass FMJ's for $8, but it seems that now even $38 isn't really a bad price. Anything under a buck a round is a decent price now.

 

[Reggie TisFree]

I carried 124gr HST or Speer Gold Dot 124gr +P in my Shield and that’s what I carry in my S&W 9mm EZ now.
Just my 2 cents.

Be SAFE and Shoot Often. (Maybe not so often with the price of ammo).
Like you, I shoot Winchester 124gr NATO ammo for practice. Before all
the crazy price increases I paid $9/box.

Appreciate your feedback. The HST & 124 gr GD +P do shoot mighty fine from the Shield.
I met a guy online who seems to have an endless supply of Remington Golden Saber 124 gr non+P, and I can get them kinda decent...less than $30 for 25 rds... LOL

 

[cmj8591]

It doesn't matter. If it runs the gun and you can hit center mass with it with consistently, that's the load you should pick. Forget about everything else. It's 99% noise.

 

[Buford57]

My Shield likes the SIG V-Crown 124 gr. JHP, but come to think of it, I can't recall any factory 9mm that my Shield didn't like. The main benefit is that it produces better groups with this non +P but still quick ammo than some others I've tried.

 

[Reggie TisFree]

It doesn't matter. If it runs the gun and you can hit center mass with it with consistently, that's the load you should pick. Forget about everything else. It's 99% noise.

Yes, I am cognizant of that. Those are the basics. As I stated everything has cycled excellent and my groups are tight.

I'm still interested on various members experience with various ammo. Some I have shot---others I have not...

 

[Reggie TisFree]

My Shield likes the SIG V-Crown 124 gr. JHP, but come to think of it, I can't recall any factory 9mm that my Shield didn't like. The main benefit is that it produces better groups with this non +P but still quick ammo than some others I've tried.

Buford57,

My Military bud loves SIG V-Crown 124 gr. He blast them from a Glock 17, yet I after few trips to the range, he is ready to jump on the "Shield Train!"
BTW...ever shoot this, Cor-Bon 9mm Luger +P 115GR JHP?
Hearing mixed reviews.

 

[radar1972]

I carry Critical Defense or Critical Duty but all those you listed will get the job done.

 

[rwsmith]

Those are my....

I prefer the Federal 124 gr HST, but 124 gr Gold Dots and Golden Sabres are also excellent.

....exact favorites.

 

[Reggie TisFree]

Have any of you noticed any substantial difference between the Hornady Critical Duty Luger +P 124 gr FlexLock vs the +P 135gr version?
I cannot find penetration or expansion ballistics on the +P 124gr.
Yet, info on the +P 135 gr are everywhere!
Anybody have any intel???

 

[ChillyDog]

Federal 124gr HST or Hydra shock is what I carry in my Shield. They function flawless and group well. Plus they are usually always available. Even last week at my local shop.