M&P Shield .45 ammo?

ACORN

ACORN

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I engaged in some "retail therapy" an picked up a M&P Shield in .45 acp. To those that have, what ammo do you shoot, carry? What ammo didn't work out?
 
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My experience is that it shoots everything that fits. Brass, aluminum case all functioned no problem. I have other 45's so range ammo is all 230 to make ammo buying easier. For defense ammo I like the Hornaday Custom 200 grain +P. Partly because I can find it locally, though from what I've seen, the 230 HST or Gold Dot should work no problem. Not as easy to find on the selves were I'm at and online shipping is cost prohibitive when you order small quantities.
 
I haven't found anything they won't shoot. As to what I shoot, 200gr +P or 230 gr Gold Dots. I hear 230gr HST's are pretty good as well.
 
I've also had no issues with several brands of range ammo or any of the premium ammo that I have chosen for serious social encounters. Some time ago, I settled on Speer Gold Dot premium ammo and laid in some stock of it (bought in 50 round boxes for a great price). This is a well known and respected brand for it's purpose, and it feeds without any kind of issues for me. There may be some arguably better ammo these days for this purpose, but not enough better for me to change. The Speer will get it done.

I only shoot 230 grain .45ACP ammo, whether in FMJ for the range or premium HP stuff for EDC. It works for me, and it works very well in my Shield45, plus it is more than accurate enough for my needs. That's all I need or want!
 
Mine eats everything Ive fed it.
Steel case
Alum case
Brass case
Factory and reloads.

LRN
FMJ
JHP

Haven't found anything that it was finicky about.
Have had and carried it since they released it.




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Agree with all the above comments. I have over 6,000 rounds through my Shield 45, and it's fired everything. My favorite FMJ target round is American Eagle 230. For self-defense ammo, I've found Federal Tactical Bonded 230 +P to be slightly more accurate than other brands, but any quality HP ammo should do fine in the Shield. Just be sure to test a few brands yourself to determine what works best in your Shield.
 
Been shooting 230gr FMJ at the range. Have gone through several boxes of both Hornady 200gr XTP and 230gr P+ XTP. Currently reloading the 230gr XTP, but considering going strictly to the 200gr XTP as a carry round once I deplete the 230gr. I think I prefer the 200gr.
 
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I've got two Shield 45's. So far nothing I've shot has had a malfunction. Both,stock guns and I've only used brass cased decent ammo. Mostly S&B 230gr FMJ, but decent amounts of CorBon JHP, Gold Dot JHP and HST JHP, no drama, no trauma. All from factory magazines and well lubed handguns. YMMV
 
I'm sure the Shield 45 will fire/feed most anything you can stuff into it. However, choice of ammo will make a world of difference considering it is a short barreled, polymer, 45acp. The ammo that stokes my Shield 45s is NOT the same ammo feeding my M&P 45s No doubt many a pawn shop has seen a Shield 45 someone bought, stuffed it with 230 gr +P+ slobber knocking barnstormers, fired one magazine, and that was it.

I have a pair of Shield 45s affectionately called the "twins". They typically are my travel firearms. Both have an Apex trigger, Ameriglo I dots, and stainless steel guiderod. One with, one without, a light laser combo. Both love 185 JHPs pushing ~ 900 fps and have the same POI as my reloads. Very accurate. Recoil and recovery totally manageable and not uncomfortable at all. Whatever ammo you chose, being able to practice with what you carry is a plus. Never been a fan of the exotic, high priced, 20 round/box "defense" ammo.
 
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My shield will eat anything! But most of what I shoot are reloads, mstly winchester or federal brass, CCI primer, 6.5 grains of Unique and either Speer CPRN or Hornady lead and I have yet to have a problem and I have shot almost 1500 rounds of this!
Toolfreak
 
Mine shoots everything I give it. I carry HST standard velocity and practice at the range with Fiocchi and American Eagle 230 gr FMJ.

Magtech 230 gr FMJ and Remington Golden Sabers have worked fine it too.
I even shot a couple boxes of the Underwood 120 gr Extreme Defenders with no problems. Those are the funny looking Phillips screwdriver shaped ones.
 
My 45 Shield will eat everything also, even my powder-puff reloads. I was surprised that it cycled 100% with 230gn @ 650fps, and was extremely accurate.
 
I had trouble with Sellier & Bellot ammo, a lot of miss feeding. I like Blazer brass for range shooting, I think Remington UMC is pretty dirty with a bigger flash.
 
Old school

I'm old school. I started my military career with a 1911 strapped to my side. I have always liked the 45 ACP. In my 45 shield I use handloads. 230 gr. FMJ with 5 gr. of bullseye. My shield loves that mix and its point of impact is right on. I admit, I have never tried any other mix, so can't vouch for how any other bullet type feeds.
 
My Shield 45 does well with brass (Federal, or Remington Golden Sabers) but it hates Federal Aluminum Case; had way too many jams with that stuff and I won't ever buy it again.
 
Mine has fired reliably any and all brands and or case types.
Iv fed it brass both fmj and jhp and alum as well as steel cased fmj range fodder. Has reliably eaten and spit out all of it.

BTW I only run the 7 rd mags with ext base plates so 8 rd or 9 if plus one and works everytime.


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mac6150 said:
I'm old school. I started my military career with a 1911 strapped to my side. I have always liked the 45 ACP. In my 45 shield I use handloads. 230 gr. FMJ with 5 gr. of bullseye. My shield loves that mix and its point of impact is right on. I admit, I have never tried any other mix, so can't vouch for how any other bullet type feeds.
Click to expand...



So you have never fired a jhp round from your pistol and you carry it for self defense with fmj hand loads. ?



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I own two, and carry and shoot them both regularly. I like the Golden Saber 185+P Remington for carry rounds. They both eat whatever ammo I run through them flawlessly.
 
Texas40 said:
So you have never fired a jhp round from your pistol and you carry it for self defense with fmj hand loads. ?



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Click to expand...

I'm curious to know why you think there is something wrong with carrying FMJ ammo as a SD round.
 
They tend to pass through the intended target as FMJ tend not to expand on impact with a soft target. Therefore increasing the risk and decreasing SD effectiveness as they do not create a very good wound cavity.

My 02 YMMV.


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Texas40 said:
They tend to pass through the intended target as FMJ tend not to expand on impact with a soft target. Therefore increasing the risk and decreasing SD effectiveness as they do not create a very good wound cavity.

My 02 YMMV.


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Click to expand...
That's true , but in todays craziness you just might want a bullet that will penetrate say, a car door or the like and still do it's job. I load alternating FMJ and hollow points in my carry gun.
 
RSBH44 said:
That's true , but in todays craziness you just might want a bullet that will penetrate say, a car door or the like and still do it's job. I load alternating FMJ and hollow points in my carry gun.
Click to expand...



Good points.



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Short Barrel

I have tried and tested several EDC rounds and find the standard 230gr Federal HST to group well and never had a misfeed. All the testing I have seen has shown +p in short barrel guns to be of little or no benefit from a fps or energy perspective, but they are louder. Just my research and experience, yours may vary.
 
I'm on my second Shield .45 as of today. The first one shot everything I fed it. My carry ammo was usually 230 gr. +P Winchesters and Federal 230 gr. HST. As I recall, both were great performers. I have a decent supply of the Sig 185. 200 and 230 gr. JHP on hand, as I have used the different bullet weight rounds in the different barrel lengths of 1911s. I'm thinking I might settle on the Sig in 200 gr. as an alternate to the Winchesters and Federals.

On the way home form the FFL, I stopped in the desert and ran a couple of magazines through the Shield. The rounds I had on hand were Magtech 230 FMJ. Everything shot to point of aim and without malfunction. Damn, I missed this little gun.
 
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I just picked up my first shield in .45 today. Been wanting one since the first time that I saw one. I had the Apex thin blue line trigger kit installed, as well as Trijicons HD sights.I have no idea why I waited so long. LoL
I plan on taking it to the range in the morning and putting it through it's paces with both FMJ and hollow point ammo.
 
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