M&P Shield .40 Ammo

[lumberjack2003]

I have found that my Shield .40 is a little picky about what it likes to eat. Has anyone else found this? Has anyone found a good, reliable ammo that it likes?

I've been putting some Winchester 165 grain FMJs through it with minimal FTE and FTL but minimal = 2% - 4% of rounds which is still quite a few. Granted, I've only got about 200 rounds through it so maybe it just needs to break in...

 

[robkarrob]

I've had problems with other guns using Remington and Winchester practice ammo. I started buying Federal Champion from Walmart. It is good, clean firing and I have not had any FTF or FTL's. Plus is is inexpensive. I use 9mm, 40s&w, and 45acp. Just a suggestion.

Bob

 

[lumberjack2003]

Thanks Bob! The Walmart near me only seems to have the Winchester rounds which is why I've used them. I'll ahve to see if any of the neighboring towns' Walmarts have any of the Federal rounds you mentioned.

Thanks for the suggestion!

 

[Mule88]

Ive used the Blazer brass 165 gn in mine as well as the 165 gn Gold Dots and my gun really shoots them well , no problems so far after 350 rounds.

 

[lumberjack2003]

Thanks mule88! I actually just picked up some Blazer rounds yesterday at Dick's so hopefully they will work well at the range tomorrow.

 

[Innovative]

I've had a very hard time getting impressive accuracy from ANY of my .40 caliber handguns (Glock or S&W). Factory loads were the pitts, and my handloads weren't much better. None of my .40 cal. handguns ever came close to shooting like my 1911s - not even close.

This problem was solved after switching to 155 gr Speer Gold Dot bullets with TiteGroup powder. (Velocity needs to be at 1,050 fps if you want maximum accuracy.) This is by far the most accurate .40 cal. load I've ever tried. It isn't a full power load, but it delivers reliable feeding, good penetration and excellent expansion.

 

[VMaxSplat]

My Shield 40 eats WW180 JHP (white box) like candy. Same with my 180 handloads. After many years shooting autopistols, the gun gives me a feeling that it would probably gobble up most commercial ammo available.

 

[lumberjack2003]

I just put about 50 rounds of CCI Blazer 165 grain FMJ through it this weekend and I had one FTF but nothing else. I put that round back through and it fired the next try so I'm not sure if that's an indication that it's the gun or not...

 

[sticknstring]

Mine has fired everything I have tried in it. Neither mag has ever dropped. It has been totaly reliable and I trust it completly. I have used 165 Fed fmj, a lot of ww 180 jhp white box, and a number of lead handloads. I'm sure that I'm way over 1,000 rounds and no malfunctions yet, I love this gun!

 

[lumberjack2003]

Mine has fired everything I have tried in it. Neither mag has ever dropped. It has been totaly reliable and I trust it completly. I have used 165 Fed fmj, a lot of ww 180 jhp white box, and a number of lead handloads. I'm sure that I'm way over 1,000 rounds and no malfunctions yet, I love this gun!

I'm starting to think I have a lemon. It went back to Smith because of the magazine drop problem, which they fixed. When I sent it back I also cited the problem of the slide not properly returning to battery but they didn't even address it. They just shipped it back to me with the same problem. It seems that the problem of the slide not functioning properly could also be tied to the issue of it having a significant number of FTEs and FTLs, mostly FTLs...

I think I have about 250 rounds through it now and I've had at about 15-20 malfunctions. This gun was my dream gun of sorts, but the luster has really worn off...

 

[MSG Glenn]

I'm starting to think I have a lemon. It went back to Smith because of the magazine drop problem, which they fixed. When I sent it back I also cited the problem of the slide not properly returning to battery but they didn't even address it. They just shipped it back to me with the same problem. It seems that the problem of the slide not functioning properly could also be tied to the issue of it having a significant number of FTEs and FTLs, mostly FTLs...

I think I have about 250 rounds through it now and I've had at about 15-20 malfunctions. This gun was my dream gun of sorts, but the luster has really worn off...

If your only problem is FTF then try polishing the feed ramp. Don't use anything highly abrasive. I used only a piece of coarse paper & pressed hard on the ramp of my Sigma 40VE. I didn't have a problem with feeding but since I did that as soon as I came home from the gun store with it & several times daily until I had a chance to shoot it I don't know if I would have had a problem. It was suggested to me by another Sigma owner who solved his occasional FTF problem by polishing. Try feeling your ramp. If it feels rough at all them it needs to be treated. Maybe start with very fine steel wool & then go to paper. Make sure you're not limp-wristing. If nothing works then it's back to Smith until they get it right.

Try isolating the problem to one magazine. If it's the same mag each time then there's your problem.