Consistent Ammo for MP Shield 9mm (3.1 in)

Reggie TisFree · Nov 8, 2024

Hey Studs,

I don't shoot my Shield near enough for my taste, yet I've noted it does great with Federal 124,124+P, 147, 147+P, Speer same types, and even Golden Sabers 124 gr.
Yet, as much as I try it does not cycle Buffalo Bore & Underwood offerings quite as smoothly, yet no FTF as of yet!

What ammo has proven to be the smoothest for your MP Shield 3.1 barrels and what has proven problematic?

BTW...any reliable extension aftermarket mags you'd recommend?
PS...would love ANY Federal Premium HST 9mm 147 Grain +P JHP's...IF they can be found & bought!!!

Thanks in advance,

Reg

geeollie · Nov 8, 2024

My Shield eats 124 HST. I have also shot various Gold Dots. Zero problems and both were as accurate as any commercial loads I have shot. I have not shopped for a while now. But, Ammo to Go was where I last bought my 9mm HST in 50 round boxes. Probably has nothing to do with today's market. Good luck!

PS: Just looked and they have HST.

swsig · Nov 8, 2024

I have a 1.0 Shield 9 3.1" with 5,000 rounds through it. It has always been somewhat ammo-picky, so I've had to experiment to find rounds that it will fire reliably, especially self-defense rounds. I bought major brands of SD rounds, and started shooting them until I experienced a failure. I found two rounds that have never failed, Hornady Critical Duty 135g +P, and Federal HST 147g. The Hornadys have gone 375 rounds without a failure, and the Federal HSTs have gone 225 failure-free rounds, so those are the ones I'll carry.

To show the individual differences between guns, while your Shield does great with Federal 124g rounds, mine chokes on them (failures to feed). I suggest finding a round that will fire at least 200 times without a failure. If a round doesn't work in your gun, don't use it. There are too many excellent SD rounds out there to choose from that will work well, so don't sweat potentially problematic ammo like Buffalo Bore and Underwood.

Good Luck!

Lock n' Load · Nov 9, 2024

My Shield 9 1.0, as well as my Hellcat, like Fiocchi 124 grain best for range, and 125 grain Black Hills Honey Badger Subsonic for EDC, to prevent over penetration as well as failure to expand with the 115 grain JHP ammo I was using. Never tried Buffalo Bore, Underwood, or any +P ammo in those pistols to prevent excess wear. Found the 124 grain ammo during Covid as I couldn't find the 115 grain I was using for range and found my pistols, and me, liked it better Just my opinion

RobzGuns · Nov 9, 2024

My 2012 vintage 1.0 Shield, with well over 35K through it, has had a steady diet of 124gr FMJ and HP LAX, Freedom, Federal and Speer GD.

I only shoot 115gr hen I can't find 124gr on sale (which isn't often). It likes Federal Maroon Box, SOME Winchester, LAX and Freedom Reman and 2Awarehouse bulk.

MSD2343 · Nov 9, 2024

Have had no problems with Federal HST 124gr +P and same for Hornady American Gunner 124gr +P for my Shield Plus. I find that 124gr hits more to point of aim than 115gr which seems to hit a little lower. Have about 7,500 rounds in total downrange now.

gunny4053 · Nov 9, 2024

Just an observation, but Buffalo Bore and Underwood in a Shield is overkill. If I was going for bear and using another caliber, fine. In a Shield for self-defense, not so much.

That said, 124gr Gold Dots or HST's have been my go-to rounds for years. They've been accurate and reliable, what more do you need?

As for mag extensions, what are you trying to accomplish with these? For my Shield 9mm, there are two options that have worked well. First is the MagGuts kit. These add two rounds to my 7 round mags giving me 9 + 1 in a mag only 1/4" longer than stock. MagGuts also makes a +1 spring kit that if added to your 8 round mag gives you the same 9 + 1 capacity. If you're looking for something to add grip length, I like the extensions from Strike Industries. They add 2 rounds to the 7 round mags, are slightly longer than the stock 8 round mags, and use the stock springs. Both have been reliable.

Dave Lively · Nov 10, 2024

I had a Glock 43 that was 100% reliable until I tried some Underwood 147 grain +P. Everyone tends to blame the gun when it fails with Buffalo Bore or Underwood ammo but I think the problem is the ammo. They just plain load it to hot to work reliably in many guns. Hottest isn't always best.

If you have a 9mm Shield 1.0 and want more power they make them in 40.

lunger · Nov 10, 2024

"Hottest isn't always best"
That is one of the wisest statements I've seen on this forum .

murphydog · Nov 10, 2024

I have read good reviews of the Magguts +2 extensions for the Shield, but the parts cost as much as the magazines; many just went to the Shield Plus for more capacity.

RobzGuns · Nov 10, 2024

For more capacity, I also suggest the MagGuts kits.
I had the Gen1 'Double-Spring' kit when they first came out. They offered 1 extra round, but more importantly for me, made the mags much easier to lock in.

I now have the Gen2 'Z-Spring' kits in all my mags. It turns my 7-round mags (w/o extension), into 9+1 and again... much easier to seat.

As for Buffalo Bore... Way too hot for the Shield.
It's been Years (maybe a Decade now?), but BB's +P and +P+ loads were the documented cause of a couple Kabooms across several platforms.
I do not use +P in any of my pistols and would never buy +P+.

Consistent Ammo for MP Shield 9mm (3.1 in)

Reggie TisFree

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geeollie

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swsig

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Lock n' Load

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RobzGuns

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MSD2343

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gunny4053

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Dave Lively

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lunger

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murphydog

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RobzGuns

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