best ammo for S&W 9mm shield

[bubbles1138fla]

So I hate to sound like a dumb female, but i dont have much experience with a gun and need help with the best ammo for my 9mm shield. I cant get ammo anywhere anyways with the panic buying going on. I read and was able to order to boxes of "Speer Gold Dot LE Duty 9mm Luger Ammo 124 Grain +P Jacketed Hollow Points". so hopefully those are actually good for when i carry, but i still need good/cheap practice ammo. My ex got me this gun and i have only been to the range maybe 6-7 times but now i dont have anyone to teach me anything about firearms. I passed my concealed carry class, but this is Florida and we know the stories and i dont think there is anything to worry about and people are overreacting. it is just a shame i cant even get bullets and go practice, but want to be ready when this passes.
also, when do i know when to clean my gun? is it after so many shots or just time frame of having it? any advise would be appreciated.
thanks in advance.

 

[swsig]

Welcome to the Forum!
You'll likely get as many answers as there are Forum members, because everyone has their favorite ammo. However, you're off to a good start with your choice of Gold Dots as self-defense ammo. They have a very good reputation within the shooting and law enforcement communities, so you're good to go there. My only recommendation is that you shoot at least 100 of them to make sure they are totally reliable in your Shield. If all 100 load, fire, and eject without a problem, you're all set. If you have problems, you may need to look at other brands of self-defense ammo, but I believe that's unlikely.

My Shield 9 has nearly 6,000 rounds through it, and my favorite range ammo is Winchester NATO 124 grain. I've found it to be the most accurate of any of the brands of ammo I've shot from my Shield, and (in normal times) it's affordable, typically selling for $9-$10 for a box of 50. Unfortunately, these days it's double that price, which is awful. Blazer Brass is usually affordable (I haven't checked lately), and it's OK ammo, so it may have to do for now.

If your local range is well run, they should have ammo to buy for those who come to shoot there. It may be expensive, but at least you'll get to practice, and practice you must. A lot. If you have a friend who knows how to shoot, bring him or her along and have them give you some guidance. If not, take lessons at the range. Every range I know offers them.

As to cleaning, I clean my guns after every use.

I'm sure some of my Forum colleagues will be along soon to give you the benefit of their experiences. Their firmly held opinions may differ from mine, but of course, mine are right.

Good Luck!

 

[Peak53]

The Speer Gold Dot should be perfect for carry. It is what I use. As you can see, perhaps a bit expensive for extensive practice. I'd buy whatever you can find - 115, 124, 147, whatever, in this week's market. All will shoot, but maybe to a little different point of impact. I clean after a couple hundred rounds or especially if you notice any hesitation in loading or extraction. Welcome to the club!

 

[Valmet]

Any of the major, proven brands (Remington Golden Saber, Speer Gold Dot, Federal HST, etc)...but seriously, anything that’s available right now.

 

[ContinentalOp]

I agree, the Gold Dots are a good choice. They should be fine for defensive purposes. You definitely want to run some through your gun to make sure it's reliable and to see how they shoot for you.

For range ammo, just get whatever you can find inexpensively. Ideally, you want the same bullet weight, but it's not that important. If you want to be on the safe side, stick with ammo from the major manufacturers: Federal, Speer/CCI, Winchester, or Remington. Some other brands that have a good reputation are Fiocchi and Sellier & Bellot. I think the Winchester NATO round swsig recommended would pair well with the Gold Dots you ordered as a training round.

For cleaning guns, ask 10 people and you'll get 12 different opinions. My own general rule for carry guns is to clean after every range trip or every month, whichever comes first. With semi-autos I carry, I'll usually do a quick, superficial cleaning every couple of weeks, basically just making sure there isn't any lint, dust, or dirt build-up, and also to check for lubrication. If things are looking dry, I'll add a little lube.

Just my opinion.

 

[serger]

No ammo recommendations here. But I do have one on
cleaning. The shield I shoot mostly, had just over 800 rounds
thru it when I first cleaned it. It ran fine and would probably
have gone another thousand easily but it just bugged me. So I
cleaned it.. Since I have more than one of them, that pistol I am
running until it starts acting up. I'm at 1500 rounds now, still
going strong so I guess 800 was premature.

If you think it needs it, clean it. If not , don't. Most folks like
a clean gun for peace of mind.

These pistols are very forgiving.

 

[dan323]

I go to the range once a month. I clean my gun usually a day or two later.
As for ammunition you have heard all the good answers. Everyone has their own preference. Me, you ask ? I prefer Hornady critical duty 115 gr. or Sig Saure V-crown 115 gr. I practice with whatever I find on sale and usually get 500 rounds at a time 115 gr. I have Winchester, magtech, Blazer and Fiocci. Most name brands are fine. I avoid reloads since I dont do it myself.

 

[Nevada Ed]

You might run 100-200 rounds of cheap fmj ammo through your weapon to break it in first and make sure that is functions correctly and that the magazines work and the rough factory metal edges get smoothed out and worn down a little, for a pistol to work a little easier.

Good shooting and stay safe.

 

[deyomatic]

I also have a 9mm Shield and I love it. A very nice choice. I picked up a Hyve 10-round extended magazine for it, that worked pretty well the few mags I ran through it, as well as the factory mags.

Feel free to watch YouTube videos of various brands of carry ammo for 9mm, if I recall your Speers are highly rated, and Federal HST 124 grain were pretty good. Good luck and no matter what you do, learn the safety rules and live by them ALL THE TIME...and don't let any little kids get into them- well anyone for that matter since it's a responsibility.

Welcome

 

[URIT]

Here is a handy ballistics test result chart for many of the major ammo brands of defensive 9mm that I have bookmarked for quick reference... https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/self-defense-ammo-ballistic-tests/#9mm

It is a good website for other firearms related subjects too.

 

[lkabug]

Welcome from the Commonwealth of Virginia.
I clean my guns each time I use them. Is it necessary? Probably not, but that's what I do. Gold Dot is a good choice for 9mm carry ammo. I too use it as carry ammo.
For range ammo I use Speer Lawman, made by the same company. It approximates the same loading as the Gold Dot. But you also will want to shoot a couple of magazines of Your carry ammo just to get the feel.

 

[cowboy325]

I tend to prefer non +P ammo in short barreled handguns. Gold Dot 124gr is a solid choice. Federal HST 124gr is another good choice if available.

As for cleaning, I always field strip and do a general wipe down and cleaning of my carry guns after every range session. Lots of good videos on YouTube on how to field strip and clean a Shield. This is one area where everyone will have a different view or advise/recommendation.

 

[pantannojack]

Say when

In answer to the question: When to clean a gun? I refer to the film "Pollock" with Ed Harris as painter Jackson Pollock. When asked by a reporter "When do you know you are through with a painting", he answers "When do you know you are through making love?". When you know the answer to that question you are a qualified gun lover and careful shooter. Remember safety before all other considerations both in front of and beyond the target.

 

[badge]

Any inexpensive ammo you can procure will be fine. Trying to stick to the same projectile weight is a good idea but at self defense distances it is not critical. Firing couple hundred as a " break in ", isn't a terrible idea as it will probable wring out any potential issues with your firearm as well as get you used to it and it's dynamics.
124 Plus P Gold Dots are excellent rounds. heck, NYPD as well as the US Secret Service use them and I reckon they have stood the test of time so to speak. Try and run several magazines of your protective rounds through the weapon to make sure you or the weapon have no issues either.
When I worked we shot 4 times per calendar year and then ultimately twice. It was mandatory to clean your weapon prior to leaving the " Target Room ", to return home or back to work. Sadly that is the twice a year cleaning for some. I and many other fellas and gals did the aforementioned every month or some 4 or 5 times per year. It is up to you. Weapons carried tend to be dust accumulators and the odd items that could potentially " gum up ", the action of your weapon. The age old question is always " what is your life worth? ", and this is appropriate to me. Do I clean my weapon frequently? Yes. Do I fire 200 rounds of carry ammo? No. When I worked and a new state contract ammo was procured by the agency we were issued said ammo and fired it. If it worked it worked. If not,..... well, that is what you were issued and you were mandated to carry it. If a weapon issue reared it's ugly head it was addressed by the agencies armorers or sent back to the factory. You drew a replacement from the Property Dept until yours was returned ardor repaired. Fire some and make sure it functions. Clean it frequently as yours or someone else life depends on it. Good luck.

 

[erikstell]

I don't have any recommendations to the OP, but I do have something of a follow-up question for some of those who have already replied. I have consistently heard that Speer is a well thought of brand, and I too noticed the availability of Speer's Gold Dot ammo at LuckyGunner.com. For weeks now they have almost consistently maintained an inventory of over a hundred boxes while seemingly everything else disappears as soon as it's available.



Is there something about this ammo that I am not understanding? I understand that it's +P and what that ultimately means, but in a reality of "buy what you can get" reality, I am wondering why this ammo gets passed up. Or do people think it is just something as simple as LuckyGunner having an "in" when it comes to getting Speer ammo?

 

[deyomatic]

Is it extremely expensive? Maybe do a search for 9mm Gold Dot expansion, maybe the 9mm isn't as great as the .38 Special.

 

[kbm6893]

I carry Gold Dots, but only shoot a magazine or two of it a year. Everything else I shoot through my guns are my own reloads.

I clean my guns every time they are fired. 2 rounds of 200. I like a clean gun and it gives me peace of mind and pride of ownership. I give them a quick wipe down and lube once a month or so if I don’t carry them, which is most of them. I just broke down my 2 M1 Garands this weekend. Quick field strip and re-lube. Just like maintaining them.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

The only dumb question is the one not asked and being female has nothing to do with it.

I highly suggest you find a good range who has self-defense classes. Learn from a professional is best IMO. Stay away from those combat yahoos and find a SD class. They even have all female classes now.

Good luck and enjoy yourself.

 

[pittpa]

So I hate to sound like a dumb female, but i dont have much experience with a gun and need help with the best ammo for my 9mm shield. I cant get ammo anywhere anyways with the panic buying going on. I read and was able to order to boxes of "Speer Gold Dot LE Duty 9mm Luger Ammo 124 Grain +P Jacketed Hollow Points". so hopefully those are actually good for when i carry, but i still need good/cheap practice ammo. My ex got me this gun and i have only been to the range maybe 6-7 times but now i dont have anyone to teach me anything about firearms. I passed my concealed carry class, but this is Florida and we know the stories and i dont think there is anything to worry about and people are overreacting. it is just a shame i cant even get bullets and go practice, but want to be ready when this passes.
also, when do i know when to clean my gun? is it after so many shots or just time frame of having it? any advise would be appreciated.
thanks in advance.

Great post great questions. I own several short barrel 9 mm pistols. Everything I’ve learned leads me to believe that the Speer gold dot +P is an excellent round in these pistols. A very good performer for self-defense and reliable. There are many other good performers but you are missing nothing. Practice with whatever you can get.


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[Univibe]

When I carried the Shield, I carried Winchester Q4318 124 grain NATO for self-protection. Feeds every time, goes bang, snappy recoil to ensure that the action works.