Reloading the Shield

[Drill Sergeant]

I realize that the factory says NO, but ammo is too expensive not to reload. My question is, has anyone reloaded lead or lead coated bullets successfully with the Shield 9mm?

Thanks for your input!

 

[dave201]

The factories err on the side of caution. Some people reload like they drive on the highway talking on a cellphone . Can you blame them
That aside
I load 7.2 grains 3N37 with 90 grain Speer HP out of a 3.5 inch barrel
Gives me 1501 fps across the trap.
Stick with jacket till you get them right . Lead is a different animal
I use lead, but they have gas checks made out of soda cans

 

[Drill Sergeant]

It needs to handle lead well. . .

I use lead, but they have gas checks made out of soda cans

Soda cans? That's a new one on me. I love innovative people. Wow!

I already load for multiple calibers including 9mm. My current 9's eat both lead and jacketed very well, without gas checks. I am told that some do not. Recently, I have been loading coated bullets with success. Just want to be sure that the Shield works well with lead. If it doesn't, I won't consider a purchase.

Thanks fpor the feedback!

 

[epj]

My particular Shield won't feed my lead reloads. All my other 9mms feed them without issue. This includes a couple of 1911's with "match chambers". I suspect this particular gun has a tight chamber, but haven't investigated further. It feeds factory ball ammo ok. Don't know about ball reloads, I've never made any. BTW, when I say it won't feed, what is actually does is not go fully into battery. Misses by about 1/8". Kinda spooks me, since I'm convinced that a Shield will fire slightly out of battery. Not 1/8" out, but enough out to rupture the case.

 

[ontargetagain]

Well shortly I will know how my 45 Shield feeds plated SWC's or not. If not I will switch to plated FP or RN. I don't think I have ever bought a new box of ammo, may have gotten some in a trade with a gun
Karl

 

[Drill Sergeant]

Well shortly I will know how my 45 Shield feeds plated SWC's or not. If not I will switch to plated FP or RN. I don't think I have ever bought a new box of ammo, may have gotten some in a trade with a gun
Karl

Karl,

Does this mean that you already successfully load lead in your Shield; just not SWC?

 

[Garintheair]

I realize that the factory says NO, but ammo is too expensive not to reload. My question is, has anyone reloaded lead or lead coated bullets successfully with the Shield 9mm?

Thanks for your input!

That's ALL I've fired in my .40 Shield, so far, other than a box of factory for function check. Not only that, but I have the PC Shield and you would think that lead bullets would decimate heaven and earth via the ports! Still no issues other than a bit more to clean properly.

I carry factory jacketed ammo but I only shoot lead reloads these days in all of my guns!

 

[gwpercle]

I do it all the time. For a Shield , Walther P38 , Springfield and Beretta 92F and a Ruger SR9. Even bought a Lee mould for $20.00 the Lee 356-120-TC just for the 9's , size them .357 .
It's takes a little trial and error to get several guns to all shoot 1 load well but if loading for only 1 it's easy.
Seating depth is about the only thing that require some back and forth, new guns don't have a long throat so the .357 part of the bullet has to be seated so it doesn't jamb into the rifling. If it jambs the slide wont close completely and getting the stuck round out is a bear .
Gary

 

[DumpStick]

Yep, me too.
Lee 358-125RF, sized to 358, NRA lube (50/50 beeswax/alox)
NOE 358-120TC, same, same.

Also shoot the Lee, tumble-lubed in 45/45/10.

Or, Berry's 124g FP, over RedDot for about 965fps. Nice easy shooting.

As stated earlier, OAL is the trick.

 

[Inyo Boy]

I first started reloading with a Speer 124 gr. lead round nose using 3.6 grains of 700-X. The round functioned just fine in my 9mm shield and was accurate but that particular bullet leaded my barrel something awful. I switched to a 125 grain lead truncated cone bullet manufactured by Mastercast here in Western Pa with a BHN of 18 and had much better results. Same load of 700-X, just as acuurate, and still functions the Shield fine. Best of all, no leading. Anymore, I primarily shoot plated bullets, but still load the 125 lead t/c to have on hand when my pre teen son comes to shoot with me. He has a tendency to shoot rapid fire gangsta style and the lead rounds are cheaper to just blast away with.

 

[rwsmith]

Tons of lead and coated lead.....

I've shot lead and coated lead, fmjs, plated fmj, jacketed. No problems. My favorite is coated lead SWCs from Missouri. I won't buy any more coated lead 'small ball' stuff that is loaded to 1.06" OAL. They don't work well in any of my guns. Very frustrating. I finally got reliability up but it ain't near good enough to suit me.

 

[gsfxst]

I ran 50, 115 hard lead round nose with 4.8 gr of Power Pistol in my Shield pro. they were very accurate .all feed with no problem. the lead build up was very bad around the ports on the barrel. And the inside of the slide had a lot of lead build up.
I haven't had any problem with jacketed bullets. that I reload. In the Pro. the lead bullets works fine in my High Power.

 

[ontargetagain]

The factory warns against 'reloads' that are purchased that may have unknown variables that don't stay within SAAMI guidelines. If you are a competent reloader and stay within published guidelines there should be no issues. Lots of gun shows have vendors selling reloaded ammo, I am sure there are plenty of good ones and numerous poor ones.
Karl

 

[Nevada Ed]

Gun makers do not want......

"Unchecked ammo" used in their weapons that have not passed
the PSI or CUP pressures c/o SAAMI standards.

They also mean careless loaders............

You just have to read between the lines.

 

[Lordvice]

I have a shield 45 and I shoot only my reloads with out a hitch. I load 200 swc hard cast and powder coated bullets. No issues.

 

[Zoner]

My 9mm Shield has about 500 rounds thru it....one box of factory FMJ, the rest my 124 gr RN lead reloads. I do the same thing with my Shield that i do with my 1911's. When it's time to seat bullets and crimp i disassemble the gun and keep the barrel handy. I "plunk test" every 10 rounds or so to make sure they'll chamber( i use a single stage press and only have one 9mm). If i had more than one 9mm i'd use the barrel with tightest chamber. You may also benefit loading cast to seat bullets then crimp as opposed to seating and crimping in one operation.....Mike

 

[Nevada Ed]

With most pistol loads.........
a short or long case is not going to hurt that much........
since you are doing a taper crimp on the case........
and not a roll crimp on the bullet.

Now in a 38 or any revolver load putting a roll crimp on to a bullet
that has a cannelure or certain area to be crimped, a +/- case
could cause a slight problem.

I just think a lot of people "Big Deal" this +/- case thing.

 

[Thomas15]

Can someone please explain to me how a handgun can tell the difference between a round of ammo that was made in a factory and one that was handloaded by a competent handloader?

 

[rwsmith]

Oh gosh yes...

I've reloaded jacketed, plated, plain cast, and several types of coatings and shoot them through all of my guns.

factory 9mm range ammo is pretty affordable unless you don't have any money.... like me.

 

[rwsmith]

Especially compact pistols...

My particular Shield won't feed my lead reloads. All my other 9mms feed them without issue. This includes a couple of 1911's with "match chambers". I suspect this particular gun has a tight chamber, but haven't investigated further. It feeds factory ball ammo ok. Don't know about ball reloads, I've never made any. BTW, when I say it won't feed, what is actually does is not go fully into battery. Misses by about 1/8". Kinda spooks me, since I'm convinced that a Shield will fire slightly out of battery. Not 1/8" out, but enough out to rupture the case.

In order to make ammo that will shoot in all of my guns, some bullets have to be seated more deeply to keep them from getting stuck on the lands of the barrel. Compact pistols don't have any room to spare between the chamber and the rifling.