Best ammo for my Sheild 9mm, Hollow Points?

[DepOne]

This^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^! Hornaday Critical Duty would be my follow up choice.

as a retired law enforcement officer and a police academy instructor I agree entirely but, make very sure whatever Ammunition you use is 100 % reliable in your gun. I agree with the suggestion to use whatever your local police department is using. that is also a good idea. That can prevent liability problems if you are unfortunate enough to have to use your gun.

 

[Mithrandir]

I would suggest that one should have the ability to put metal on target, make sure the gun goes bang when you shoot, and for me as a EDC civilian... stay away from anyhthing +p or +p+ or ++p++
As a civilian, I don't need a round to penetrate a car door at 30 yards...
my threat is more than likely to be a human with a weapon within 21 feet.... Also... if I am forced to use my pistol in the house... I DON'T want to penetrate walls....
My social load for my 45 ACP is 200 gr at 850 fps wide mouth hollowpoint...

 

[DepOne]

Well said. I like my .45 also, but my house gun is a Serbu 12 ga shotgun with a pistol grip and a 6 inch bbl.

 

[rwsmith]

This is just my thinking.....

124-150 grain in 9mm roughly matches the mass of a .38special with a little more velocity for good measure. I don't feel underarmed with a .38. So 9 is fine to me as long as it has the heavier bullets.

I don't doubt that the lighter bullets would put a hurtin' on someone, but heavier seems to make more sense for effectiveness to me. You aren't looking to put a hole through somebody or a car door and collateral damage is your responsibility.

Ideal to me a good compromise of mass and velocity in a bullet for good penetration and good expansion. If a cartridge has those characteristics and is controllable it's good to me.

I prefer Gold Dots the most but finding them hasn't been the easiest. I reload my own cartridges and finding good components has been rough.

 

[rwsmith]

OMG......

Well said. I like my .45 also, but my house gun is a Serbu 12 ga shotgun with a pistol grip and a 6 inch bbl.

"

Is the barrel length really 6" or is it 16". That sounds like a Howdah pistol. It couldn't be a shotgun because of the barrel length requirements.

 

[shawn mccarver]

FBI just adopted, as its new 9mm duty ammo, a non-+P, 147 grain bonded hollow point. The contract ammo is Q4392. This ammo is closest to Winchester RA9B.

Basically, I think that the Federal HST in 147 grain (yes, they make it even though perhaps not on their web site, as the FBI also adopted it, along with the Winchester named above), the Winchester RA9B (or RA9T if you don't need to worry about auto glass), or the Gold Dot or other premium self defense loads in 124 grain will do the job.

Nothing much wrong, for that matter, with Federal 9BPLE (115 grain +P+) or the Winchester RA9TA (127 grain +P+) either.

 

[kilroy2721]

I would say you should make you selection based on the following:
In order of importance:

1) Feeds, fires and ejects 100% of the time
2) Is the ammo you are most accurate with & can CONSISTENTLY hit center-mass with.
3) Reliably penetrates 12" - 18"
3) A hollow point to minimize over-penetration and maximize energy transfer.

I will agree with this...I have ALWAYS made it my rule to have at least 500rds through the gun before I will carry it, and at least 100 of those rounds are what I will be using as carry ammo.

 

[DEFENDER88]

WHAT YOUR LEO'S USE

4 Overall Factors to consider:



1 - Accuracy - A large study of all shootings in the US showed that caliber and type of bullet made no difference in kill rates. Point of impact (center mass hits) DID make a difference.

So accuracy is primary, bullet caliber and type secondary.



2 - Legal - LEO USE - Using what your local LEO's use will give you a good argument/justification in court.



3 - Dependable - Practice often enough with it to be sure it works well in your gun.

And you can shoot it accurately.

If not, try one of the other major brands.



4 - LImit Overpenetration - One justification for using HP's is to avoid Shoot-Thru's to non-threats.

 

[71velle]

With the 9mm shield are their any ammo that does not feed well?

I sure would like to start with a round that is known to feed and eject well in a Shield.

Please post up with high round count experiences.

 

[Model 15-4ever]

FBI just adopted, as its new 9mm duty ammo, a non-+P, 147 grain bonded hollow point. The contract ammo is Q4392. This ammo is closest to Winchester RA9B.

Basically, I think that the Federal HST in 147 grain (yes, they make it even though perhaps not on their web site, as the FBI also adopted it, along with the Winchester named above)...

Neither of those rounds are current FBI 9mm service ammunition. The Winchester Q4392 was from the previous 5-year old contract.

The current issue 9mm service round is a Speer 147 grain Gold Dot 2 Government hollow point, which is non-catalogued and not available on the open market. It is standard pressure, and the bullet design is very different than other commercial Gold Cot offerings.

 

[SoCalDep]

I use Winchester Ranger-T RA9T 147gr because; A) my department requires it, B) I've shot a bunch of it through several Shields, including mine, and it's very reliable, and C) I've talked to multiple agencies and Winchester and it was specifically designed to expand through both longer (5") and shorter (3") barrels...and it apparently does.

The RA9T isn't bonded, and it will shed its jacket through a windshield when fired out of a standard M&P9... We tested enough of it to see that clearly. For an off-duty/CCW gun I'm not thoroughly concerned.

We have several agencies that use Federal HST and Remington Golden Sabre with good results, and I've heard good things about Speer Gold Dots (we use 135gr +P Gold Dots in our .38s and they work well). I think there are several good rounds out there...

 

[jaaeatax]

I have Federal HST 135 gr and 124 gr standard pressure. Gold Dot are impossible to find where I live. I use those in my snubs. Would buy then if I could for my Shield 9mm.

 

[SPU]

I admit I didn't read every post, but I did read a good number of them. One thing I question is your cleaning the gun every month whether you use it or not. I would argue for a carry gun you should be shooting it at least monthly as a new shooter. However, if you don't shoot it, there is no need to clean it every month if it was cleaned and stored correctly.

As to ammo, every time I get a gun I will use HP ammo in, I buy every representative box of SD ammo I can afford and find, and try them out. I own a Springfield XDs 3.3 inch that was frustrating me terribly with misfeeds. It took me several months to figure out there was one magazine that was no good, and that the only ammo that fed reliably 100% from the other magazines was Remington HP ammo. Not Hornaday, Gold Dot or other brands. Now after testing I would trust it completely. It stayed in the safe until it was thoroughly vetted.

One last point, If multiple SD ammo brands run through your gun reliably, I suggest you get the one you can afford and has adequate availability, so you can practice with it. They all kill, but won't if you can't get it easily. I live in a rural area where only a few brands are available, and shipping is pricey. I may not be the norm, but I can't buy 500 rounds at a time.

I am going through the same process with a Glock 17 right now.

YMMV

 

[SgtBill]

I use Speer Gold Dot ammo in all of the weapons that I carry when I carry. From my Colt Combat Commander in 45 ACP to my S&W Mod. 469 9 M.M. to my .40 Cal Glock Mod. #22 to my Walther PK380 .380 cal. auto. All of them work flawlessly. I handload all of my practice ammo to the same specks as the factory ammo with the same projectile's from the factory when I can get them. The Speer Gold Dot's work for me.
Sgt. Bill

 

[Super Trucker]

Our dept has authorized the Shield and out duty ammo is Ranger 147 RA9t. I have never had a problem with this ammo in any 9mm I have tested it in including my M&P, 92f, P35 and P2000. Not telling you what to use, just telling you this stuff is pretty consistent.

I have used Ranger T ammo for years. Unfortunately now if you do not have a badge according to Winchester your life is meaningless because dealers are no longer selling this ammo unless you have a badge.
The few I asked why all said Winchester does audits and if they don't have a copy of police ID they will lose their ability to sell that ammo.

Since my life has no value to them I can no longer recommend Winchester branded ammo or any Olin product to anybody

 

[OilTrader]

I have used Ranger T ammo for years. Unfortunately now if you do not have a badge according to Winchester your life is meaningless because dealers are no longer selling this ammo unless you have a badge.

This new policy must have taken effect in the past week. I ordered 7 boxes (all they had) of RA9T from a reputable on-line dealer last Monday. They never said a word about LE credentials.

 

[SoCalDep]

Unless your state has laws prohibiting hollow-point ammo, Ranger-T is perfectly legal to own and use, but Winchester will only sell it to LE dealers and I think there is some sort of "you promise not to sell this to non-LE" thing going on. I will first off say that's ****. I understand it's a backlash from the Black Talon subway shooting back in the 90's and I understand the hesitancy to repeat the blowback on that, but I would think by this time Winchester would have figured out a way to make this ammunition available to everyone. It's not a frigin' magic bullet.

I have used Ranger T ammo for years. Unfortunately now if you do not have a badge according to Winchester your life is meaningless because dealers are no longer selling this ammo unless you have a badge.
The few I asked why all said Winchester does audits and if they don't have a copy of police ID they will lose their ability to sell that ammo.

Since my life has no value to them I can no longer recommend Winchester branded ammo or any Olin product to anybody

 

[db_zero]

Speaking of bullets. Is there truly a best round for apartment/home use? Back it the day the Glaser Safety round was touted as the ideal round for home defense. Now that really doesn't seem to the the case. I don't think an ideal apartment/home round that will stop a person reliably and not over penetrates exists, but I'm not the expert. Perhaps a 44 Special like the Bulldog or something that can shoot it? I'm not sold on guns like the Judge that can shoot a 410, but perhaps I need a second look?

My go to gun is my Ruger SP101 357 with 38 Special Critical Defense. I have back up speed loaders with it and Golden Sabers in 357 with I know are no ideal for apartment/home use.

I also keep the LC9 loaded with Guard Dogs and Kahr handy.

The 870 is also a good option I keep ready.

 

[TucsonMTB]

Unless your state has laws prohibiting hollow-point ammo, Ranger-T is perfectly legal to own and use, but Winchester will only sell it to LE dealers and I think there is some sort of "you promise not to sell this to non-LE" thing going on. I will first off say that's ****. I understand it's a backlash from the Black Talon subway shooting back in the 90's and I understand the hesitancy to repeat the blowback on that, but I would think by this time Winchester would have figured out a way to make this ammunition available to everyone. It's not a frigin' magic bullet.

Yep! My favorite .40 S&W round, bar none. SGAmmo dot com usually has some of the best prices for 50 round boxes and cases.

They also appear to have 9mm in stock.

 

[awmp]

Ditto, use this load in all my 9mm's, have looked, shot and tested several the Gold Dot 124 gr +p always comes up the winner no matter how hard I try to find something else

I carry the same in the Shield 9mm as all of my other 9mm pistols; Gold Dot 124 gr. +p. It has an excellent history with my department.