Looking for ammo recommendation for a recent 9mm M&P Shiled Purchase
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skojiro
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For personal defense I have heard nothing but good things about Corbon, so that is what I use.
If you have a finicky gun their power ball has a nice polymer tip to aid in feeding.
If you want the best then get their DPX all copper round; it is considered by many to be the best all around round, but is fairly pricey.
Whatever you go with make sure to grab at least 2 boxes, preferably more, and run a couple mags to assure it runs flawlessly. It may seem like a waste, but shooting $40 of defensive ammo well seem like a bargain if when you need it and you hear a click instead of a bang.
If you have a finicky gun their power ball has a nice polymer tip to aid in feeding.
If you want the best then get their DPX all copper round; it is considered by many to be the best all around round, but is fairly pricey.
Whatever you go with make sure to grab at least 2 boxes, preferably more, and run a couple mags to assure it runs flawlessly. It may seem like a waste, but shooting $40 of defensive ammo well seem like a bargain if when you need it and you hear a click instead of a bang.
Majorlk
Member
You do realize this is a 15-22 specific forum?
You might want to post on the S&W handgun forum.
You might want to post on the S&W handgun forum.
If you are new to guns and shooting, forget the high priced hollow point ammo for the time being. Buy as much metal jacket ball ammo as you can find and learn to operate the gun and hit what you shoot at. A class might not be a bad idea. For what it's worth, any of the inexpensive hollow point ammo sold by such as Remington or Winchester will likely do the job if you do your part. Doing your part is the hard part, especially for a beginner.
Hi Rob, and welcome to our party!
Epj is right, any defensive ammo will probably be a good choice.
I carry a Shield often, I also carry a 45c and a 9c, and have a 40FS in the nightstand. They are all loaded with the same ammunition, Speer Gold Dot.
I chose Gold Dot for a number of reasons. It cycles perfectly in all my handguns, it's reasonably priced, I can buy Speer ball ammo for practice, and most importantly, it's what my local sheriff department uses in their guns.
Some of the experts I respect say that using what the local law uses is a good idea. If you were ever in court defending yourself after a shooting the prosecutor may ask why you use the type of ammo you have. I'd rather tell the jury I use the same ammo my local law enforcement uses to protect themselves than try to explain why I'm using Zombie Max or Thug Blasters.
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Epj is right, any defensive ammo will probably be a good choice.
I carry a Shield often, I also carry a 45c and a 9c, and have a 40FS in the nightstand. They are all loaded with the same ammunition, Speer Gold Dot.
I chose Gold Dot for a number of reasons. It cycles perfectly in all my handguns, it's reasonably priced, I can buy Speer ball ammo for practice, and most importantly, it's what my local sheriff department uses in their guns.
Some of the experts I respect say that using what the local law uses is a good idea. If you were ever in court defending yourself after a shooting the prosecutor may ask why you use the type of ammo you have. I'd rather tell the jury I use the same ammo my local law enforcement uses to protect themselves than try to explain why I'm using Zombie Max or Thug Blasters.
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Arik
Member
I buy everything available and if something doesn't work I stop using it.
My carry ammo is 124gr +p gold dot in a Glock 19
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My carry ammo is 124gr +p gold dot in a Glock 19
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shakyshoot
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Pretty good price right now on Gold Dots at PSA. They also have the +P. And if you hustle, you might be able to combine it w some Blazer Brass 124 gr for practice ammo. Speer Gold Dot 9mm Luger 124gr JHP 20rds 23618 - 9mm Luger - Handgun Ammunition - Ammunition
CatSnipah
Member
First, break it in with range ammo. 115 or 124 grain fmj. 300-500 rounds to break it in, learn how it feels, etc.
Then, take the advice here about defensive loads. I use Hornady Critical.Duty in my 9 mm shield, but there are other excellent recommendations in this thread.
Then, take the advice here about defensive loads. I use Hornady Critical.Duty in my 9 mm shield, but there are other excellent recommendations in this thread.
cb619
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The op has a 9mm not a 40.
For practice I would use what ever is cheap, usually off brand full metal jackets (FMJ)
For carry I personally carry Federal Hydra-Shok 124gr Jacketed Hollow Points (JHP) in my Shield. I have never had a malfunction with any ammo I've put through it.
Other Brands to consider are,
Cor-Bon
Speer Gold Dot
Hornady Critical Defense
Any of these are good rounds, I would simply go with one of them that you can find in stores.
9mm mainly come in bullet weights of 115gr, 124gr, and 147gr, but many people (myself included) agree that the 124gr is about the best round for the shield. I don't use +P rounds due to the increased recoil and muzzle flash although some people really like them.
I was trying to decide between the 115 gr. and the 124 gr. ammo.
jeffhughes
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For self defense consider 124 grain or 147 grain Speer Gold Dots or Federal HST(not Hydroshock). Both are in use by many LE agencies. Both have great real world track records.
Boutique ammo like Corbon may be great, but their is little in the way of actual shooting data.
What I have purchased so far is by Speer. Gold Dot personal protection 9mm Luger 124gr ammo.
For range ammo I purchased PMC Bronze 115 grs. ammo.
I have only been to the range once with it so far and have less than 100 rounds so far. For that I tried Blazer ammunition 124 grain.
For range ammo I purchased PMC Bronze 115 grs. ammo.
I have only been to the range once with it so far and have less than 100 rounds so far. For that I tried Blazer ammunition 124 grain.
jeffhughes
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The Speer Gold Dot 124 runs great in my Shield. If you can Speer Lawman 124 FMJ it almost duplicates the Gold Dot and it's inexpensive enough to practice with.
You really should run at least 50(and preferably 200) rounds of whatever you are going to carry through the gun. Try SGAmmo.com | Family Owned and Operated, Stillwater Oklahoma for carry ammo in 50 round boxes for about 30/box.
You really should run at least 50(and preferably 200) rounds of whatever you are going to carry through the gun. Try SGAmmo.com | Family Owned and Operated, Stillwater Oklahoma for carry ammo in 50 round boxes for about 30/box.
cb619
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I have heard that many 147gr JHP have issues with gaining enough velocity out of a short 3" barrels (3.1" in the Shields case) to make full use of the hollow point rendering somewhat less effective than the 115 and 124's.
I think that's why many people opt to use the 124's in the shield, it offers a balance of good velocity as well as bullet weight.
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One of the best of a very small group of 9mm cartridges that will really get the job done is not even a +P or a +P+.
That round is Winchester RA9B, or if you aren't worried about shooting through auto glass, Winchester RA9T.
Of course, some others that have good street performance are, in no particular order: Federal 9BPLE, Winchester RA9TA, Winchester RA9115HP.
Others swear by the Speer 124 grain +P NYPD load, but they seem to have this Phase 3 malfunction problem and I have never been fully sure that it is not an ammo problem versus a gun problem. I have not used that ammo and I have never had a Phase 3 malfunction.
There are probably others, but I like RA9B or RA9T the best these days.
That round is Winchester RA9B, or if you aren't worried about shooting through auto glass, Winchester RA9T.
Of course, some others that have good street performance are, in no particular order: Federal 9BPLE, Winchester RA9TA, Winchester RA9115HP.
Others swear by the Speer 124 grain +P NYPD load, but they seem to have this Phase 3 malfunction problem and I have never been fully sure that it is not an ammo problem versus a gun problem. I have not used that ammo and I have never had a Phase 3 malfunction.
There are probably others, but I like RA9B or RA9T the best these days.
