I fanally drank the M&P Shield 9mm Kool Aid!

[imarangemaster]

Here is a copy and paste of some ballistic gel tests recently. Skip to the bottom if you want to rethink your 9mm carry ammo choice

Using a Shield .45
Here is results from 4 layers of denim test using a 6x6x20" clear ballisticgel block. Temp 28degrees, humidity 47% and pressure 30.3inHg. Previous test done with bare gel is further below

With both HST and Ranger 230+p and 230 standard pressure was very inconsistent. Around half the rounds would clog with denim and pass through 20" with no expansion. When they did expand penetration was only 11 1/2" This was the exact same results as Federal HST 230+P and standard pressure. 3 out of 4 rounds would fail to expand and passed through
Hornady XTP 200 gr +P also failed to expand 3 out of 4 times and then one time it went to 19" and .51 expansion.
Magtech 230gr JHP failed to fire! The striker would not even dent the primer!
Underwood 120gr Xtreme defense did very well and penetrated to 17" 4 out of 4 times. Of course no expansion with the solid copper bullet
Corbon 165+P DPX expanded beautifully and penetrated 9-10" each time.
The clear winner today was Corbon 185+P DPX.
4 out of 4 expanded beautifully and penetrated to 14 1/2-15" each time. It also performed exactly the same in bare gel.
The bare tests are below

I did a impromptu clearballistics FBI BARE gel test about a week ago.
I used Shield 45
6"x6"x16" clearballistics FBIgel with wood backstop
It was 17 degrees F, 61% humidity, Pressure 30.3%
I used my .45 Shield
Federal HST 230gr= penetrated 11 1/2" expanded .82
Federal HST 230 gr +P= penetrated 11 3/4" expanded .80
Critical duty 220 +P = passed through block. recovered in wood .51"
Underwood Extreme defense 120gr=passed through block recovered in wood
Winchester Ranger 230gr (RA45T)=penetrated 11 1/2" expanded .75-.85"
Widest petal was .85
Winchester Ranger 230gr+P (RA45TP)=penetrated 14 3/4" expanded .75-.85
I then shot 4 more rounds of Ranger 230gr+P and they went from 14 1/2" to 14 7/8"
So with my little test I will be carrying the Ranger 230+P.
Just thought you might be interested in the results.
The Federal HST expand beautifully but don't even penetrate to 12" with the shorter Shield barrel.
Here is update.
I did Speer Gold dot 230gr Standard pressure=13"penetration with .625 expansion
Corbon DPX 185gr+P=14 1/2" penetration with .75 expansion
I still like the Ranger 230+P so far with 14 1/2-14 3/4" penetration and .85 expansion at widest point.
One Corbon turned completely around 180degrees
Both expanded nicely
ON SIDE NOTE:
I also tested 9mm out of a Glock 43 with 4 layers of Denim
HST 124gr standard pressure was the clear and decisive winner by a land slide
5 out of 5 penetrated to 18 1/2" and all expanded beautifully
Hst 147 and 147+P also clogged with denim and some expanded and some passed through 20" block
Speer gold dots 124+P did not perform well. Only 1 expanded and penetrated to 14". the 4 others did not expand and passed through 20"
I did two .357 sig out of a G33
Corbon 125gr DPX pentrated 14 1/2" and expanded nicely
Underwood 125gr gold dot ROCKED the block. It hit so hard the block lifted up.
Penetrated 16" and expanded beautifully to .60"

I am curious as to why the difference between your findings, and Ammo quest's video which used the 10% gel and 4 layer denim per FBI protocol. He used a little 3" 9mm, and had 100% performance from bare and denim covered gel. Their results were just under .60" average. A couple others have videos of short barrels with Gold Dot and they also performed as Ammo Quest's test.

It would be interesting to know what the variable is. I know that the Gold Dot 124 STANDARD velocity perform from a 3" as your tests did, because they were below the FPS threshold for expansion.

BTW, Ammo Quest's test mirrored the FBI and NYPD tests (though they used 4" barrels). NYPD has 35,000 sworn, most of which carry the Gold dot. My department went to 9mm +P Gold Dots based on FBI and NYPD tests when it first came out.

 

[imarangemaster]

Got a phone call from Magguts customer service. They are sending me a return label for the two followers I am using in the 7 rounders (it has not happened in the 8 rounders). They will check them out and send me new ones. It has happened four times now, every time in 7 round mags.

I will keep folks posted.

 

[imarangemaster]

I suggest that anyone who has it pop out should call customer service. I was looking at it, and if it was 1/64" longer in the front, it wouldn't pop out.

 

[imarangemaster]

60 day assessment of myM&P 9mm Shield:

I FREAKING LOVE IT!!!!!!!!

I have carried it every day for almost two months in a simple leather IWB holster I got on Amazon.

I use the factory 7 round magazine with a Magguts kit in it, so I have 9+1 on board. I have a S&W factoru 8 rounder with Magguts kit (10 round) in each glove compartment, and another Magguts equipped 7 rounder (9 rounds) in my briefcase.

I literally forget it is there. I seldom bother with my Glock 19 anymore, and I even sold my CZ83 .380 and have my Bersa .380 for sale also. They do not fill any need that the Shield does not do better. After 400 rounds of assorted ammo, with zero malfunctions, I trust the Shield implicitly.

Stuffed full of 10 Speer Gold Dot 124 +Ps, I get 350 ft lbs+ ME, and expansion to .68 inch, I am confident it can tame any goblin or two legged troll I may encounter.

Sure, If I wasn't retired, I carry my trusty Glock 19 as a duty weapon, but this Shield is awesome.

 

[imarangemaster]

Well, how about a 9 month update. I have carried the 9mm Shield as my primary EDC pice for 9 months (though when I go to urban areas, I carry my Glock 19). It is comfortable and light, and I literally still forget I am wearing it at times. Still no malfunctions, and still fun to shoot. I carry it with the 8 round extended magazine. I have since sold both of my .380s.

The only update I really have is that I will probably carry my newly acquired S&W 469 9mm, instead of the Glock 19 when I go to urban areas.

Its funny, the M&P 9C is very popular with deputies around here that want more gun than a Shield for off duty or plain clothes. The funny thing is that the M&P 9C has 12+1 and a 3.5" barrel are identical in concept to the Model 469 that was introduced 34 years ago for those same reasons...

 

[kmanick]

Well, how about a 9 month update. I have carried the 9mm Shield as my primary EDC pice for 9 months (though when I go to urban areas, I carry my Glock 19). It is comfortable and light, and I literally still forget I am wearing it at times. Still no malfunctions, and still fun to shoot. I carry it with the 7 round extended magazine. I have since sold both of my .380s.

The only update I really have is that I will probably carry my newly acquired S&W 469 9mm, instead of the Glock 19 when I go to urban areas.

Its funny, the M&P 9C is very popular with deputies around here that want more gun than a Shield for off duty or plain clothes. The funny thing is that the M&P 9C has 12+1 and a 3.5" barrel are identical in concept to the Model 469 that was introduced 34 years ago for those same reasons...

9C can take the full size 9mm mags
I have the 9C and the shield and love both of them.
the 9C shoots a bit softer than the shield.