Best Defence Ammo for a M&P Shield 9mm

[Rastoff]

You've missed the point. Expansion doesn't mean anything if the gun doesn't fire.

Also, consider this; a 9mm JHP, if it expands, enlarges to about the size of a .45ACP. So, should we be telling the OP to ditch his 9mm and get a .45ACP?

 

[T2C]

I saw my share of gunshot victims over the years, gelatin tests and I tested a lot of 9mm cartridges for accuracy and reliability. Regardless of the pistol I carry, a Sig P938, Glock 19 or S&W Shield 9mm, my preferred defensive cartridge is Speer 124g GDHP.

 

[xcrdr]

I've been very happy with Hornaday Critical Duty. As for the Shield itself, I've ran a few thousand rounds through it with zero failures. At least a dozen different loads. The bad thing is that it's so good I have no desire to replace it which slows down my new pistol purchases.

Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

 

[mattwings]

You've missed the point. Expansion doesn't mean anything if the gun doesn't fire.

Also, consider this; a 9mm JHP, if it expands, enlarges to about the size of a .45ACP. So, should we be telling the OP to ditch his 9mm and get a .45ACP?

I understand your point and agree your edc needs to run in your particular gun. If you look at the variance in performace, several of the 9mm rounds expand much beyond a .45 jhp, much less an fmj. I do carry a 9mm Shield. I also have a new .45 Shield. I have done some preliminary shooting with this gun. Amazingly enough, I used a lot of resources to choose a couple of rounds to test in my gun to determine the "best" round. I did not choose rounds that test poorly when subjected to measured tests that help to predict performance in actual defensive situations. I also try to match my practice rounds to my edc in terms of bullet weight and point of impact. As I mentioned in another post, I remain hesitant to adopt a particular round, because my paratice ammo doesn't match point of aim/impact. Just because a round runs, does not make it a good round IMO. I wish i had more time and money to perfect the process. I try and balance all of the factors to make my choices in a systematic and informed way.

 

[220-niner]

Speer 124+p gold Dots seem to work fine in mine. They are at or near the top in most performance tests. They are also used by many police departments and have a lot of real world usage to back up those tests.

 

[mrmike7189]

Winchesters

I carry these ..same as Ranger line. bonded

 

[Jim1392]

I carry Speer Gold Dot LE 124 grain HP's in my Shield 9mm. They have functioned flawlessly.

 

[dben002]

Should note to all viewers.....+P is not recommended in the Shield
Not that it will not fire it....but wear and tear on the gun.....Plus as one commentor noted...The +P can't be fully effective in the short barrel.

Something to consider.........

 

[220-niner]

Should note to all viewers.....+P is not recommended in the Shield
Not that it will not fire it....but wear and tear on the gun.....Plus as one commentor noted...The +P can't be fully effective in the short barrel.

Something to consider.........

My Shield manual says +P+ is not recommended.
+P is fine and has lots of real world usage to determine it's effectiveness.
I shoot some of my +P to make sure everything works fine but, since the price is much higher, not enough to put a lot of extra wear on my gun. I don't see a problem.

 

[keithdog]

Ammo Quest 9mm: Federal HST 124+P ammo test P9HST3 in ballistic gel - YouTube

You will find this very interesting. It's the choice I am switching to.

 

[Bill Bates]

These days the 9mm Shield has Federal HST 150 Gr "Micro" in the magazines. My wife shots them well and she appreciates the slight decrease in recoil.

About the same time I picked up the micros I also added Talon rubberized grip tape to her Shield so just how much her improvement in shooting is from the slight ammo change or the grip tape is hard to say. Both were good changes for her.

 

[murphydog]

The OP hasn't been back yet...

Availability of SD 9 mm ammo apparently no longer being an issue, and echoing some of the comments above:

Choose any modern expanding 9 mm load (several good ones mentioned above, try a box of several types), test to ensure 100% function, and adequate practical accuracy in your 9 mm Shield. Re-verify the last two periodically. You are good to go.

 

[AMDnut]

I prefer Hornady Critical Defense and Federal HST.... but shot placement is most important! lol! ;-)

 

[Tomac]

All handguns are relatively poor 'stoppers' regardless of caliber or bullet used. Shot placement and sufficient penetration are paramount, all else is secondary.

Barring a hit to the CNS, the only way to stop a determined and aggressive BG is shutting down the brain from oxygen deprivation via bleedout. A solid hit to the heart can leave 10+ seconds worth of oxygen in the brain, plenty of time for the BG to plant daisies in your hair.

With that being said, unless the bullet used can alter the outcome of the encounter by incapacitating the BG via blood loss (unlikely, remember the 10+ seconds after a heart hit) before he can inflict serious/lethal damage, it really doesn't matter if bullet 'X' causes the BG to expire in the ambulance instead of the ER. I doubt a determined & aggressive BG could tell the difference if hit with any of the quality loads currently available.

Personally, I like both the 135gr Critical Duty and 124gr HST in my 9mm's w/the edge going to the CD for greater assured penetration at the cost of some expansion.

JMHO...

Tomac

 

[JimDawgFan1955]

Hornady critical defense is not a great round due to under penetration. Critical duty is a better round if your a critical ammo fan. Federal HST 124 grain standard pressure is an outstanding performer if not the best.

Federal HST 124 grain here.

 

[MP1SG]

Critical duty has some decent gel ballistic results, but they lack in actual STREET results. In other words there are not a lot of DOCUMENTED shootings with critical duty/defense ammo regardless of caliber.

I'd stick with Speer Gold dot 124 +P (NYPD Load) Federal HST 124+P (Las Vegas Metro I believe)
These rounds have actual street results, from actual street defensive shootings. Also, the Illinois State police have been (or did) use the federal 115 grain +P+ for years with very good street results. Not sure what they are using now, But back in the day when the 9mm first hit the Police market the ISP was one of the first major agencies to issue the 9mm seemed to be very happy with the 115 grain +P+
Just me to Dam cents
1SG
Out

 

[Warp]

Federal HST 124gr

 

[John Robert]

Hornady American Gunner

Does anyone have an opinion/experience with this 124gr XTP HP?

 

[Dave270]

Another vote for Federal HST 124gr...

 

[Hamster65]

I have become a fan of 9mm Fiocchi XTP 115gr. My Shield is very accurate with it.

No offense to Fiocchi because I love their ammo but, I'd be a bit worried about over penetration with this particular round. I recently watched a video of a ballistics gel test on this one. It went all the way through an 18" block and traveled an additional 49 feet before finally hitting the ground.

As to the OP, opinions will vary wildly on this subject. I can't tell you what would be best because I simply don't know. Personally though, I carry Liberty Civil Defense. If you are curious, there are numerous videos out there of all different kinds of tests done with it.