Shield 9mm ammo

[tex-archer]

Just curious what grain ammo seems to work best in a Shield 9mm.


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[B0308]

Well, that depends.

In a sample or two, 115, 124 & 147 has worked equally well. Started with FMJ and moved to JHP. No real difference in function.

But try yours uniquely. Start with one grain, FMJ, keep written records and see which are most accurate in your Shield. Then try the same with JHP and see which performs the most reliably.

Good luck

 

[GKC]

For me, for practice and range, I like Remington and Federal 115gr FMJ. For carry, I like Hornady CD 115gr.

 

[mley1]

I use 124grn +P HST’s for defense, and cheap 115 or 124grn fmj’s for practice.


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[hoc9sw]

In general, 124g FMJ or JHP

SD - Speer gold dot 147g JHP

 

[Jim1392]

I shoot Speer Gold Dot LE 124 grain HP's with no problems at all.

 

[ukcats]

I use whatever for range work, 147gr HST for carry. I should do some accuracy testing with other weights I suppose.

 

[markmiela]

147gr HST worked best in my Shield but that might not be best in yours. Test out different brands and weights.


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[URIT]

I use Magtech 115gr Guardian Gold +P in my 3953.

Here are some great short barrel ballistic tests data points for you to consider before buying ammo:

https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/self-defense-ammo-ballistic-tests/

 

[Flyingfool]

Accuracy testing is only as good as the person pulling the trigger/shooter. I think most ammo is WAY more accurate/consistent than most people pulling the trigger. Certainly for Joe lunch box who doesnt shoot weekly and multiple 1,000’s of rounds a year.

I think testing for consistent functionality and reliability is #1 factor. To be absolutely confident the ammo will run consistently with every magazine and firing rapid fire and gun at different positions. Stong hand, one handed weak hand etc.

Only After the functionality do you move to such things as accuracy, recoil sensitivity and for some people ammo lrice and availability may be important to an individual.

Personally i use 115 grain for range. Mostly Blazer brass but rem green box, and winchester white box. For SE I use 115 grain hornady CD and also recently picked up federal HST 142 grain. But the HST in my gun seems to shoot lower than the 115 grains. I have not compleoruled out that this result is the ammo or me!

I also intend to try the winchester train and defend ammo. This is supposed to be engineered and designed to have the training and SD combination have the same point of impact. But each gun and shooter is different.

Personally I see no compelling reason to go +p using 9mm at distances that typical SD shootings occur (most within 20 feet). 38 special has proven extremely effective for about 100 years and the standard pressure 9mm ammo velocity is significantly more. So I see no need for even more velocity and recoil and stress on the gun. YMMV

 

[Craditch]

I use Freedom Munitions 115 gr ball for range and 124 Federal HST for SD.

 

[swsig]

A similar question was asked in the Ammunition section recently. Here is my answer:

"My Shield 9 is so ammo picky that I decided that I would not carry any self-defense round unless it would fire at least 200 consecutive times without a failure of any kind. I tested many SD rounds, (including Gold Dot 124g+P), but only two passed the test: Hornady Critical Duty 135g+P (313 rounds with no failures), and Federal HST 147g (200 rounds with no failures). Remington Golden Saber 147g also did well, but I had an early failure to eject with it, and then a second FTE about round 230. As I recall, I had about three FTEs with Gold Dots in 150 rounds. Admittedly, my Shield is unusually cranky, but even if your Shield functions perfectly, I'll echo what Execpro says above: You need to find out what works reliably in YOUR gun.

FYI, my Shield 9 carries the Hornady Critical Duty rounds.

As to range ammo, I like Speer Lawman 124g."

 

[Ranger17]

To keep my “ammo stock” simple and manageable i use the same rounds in my Shield (PC) and my full size MP. For most range and fun time anything from Rem umc to Herters to Blazer brass. And for any defense practice or needs i use Hornady CD. All in 115 gn and zero issues.
I will note the above works quite for me esp up to 10 yards (maybe 15). Anything further and any ammo is probably better than i would be lol.

 

[gwmac]

FWIW, lighter bullets (115gr) shoot lower, heavier (147gr) shoot higher. It is a function of the arched flight path of the fired round, pure physics.

 

[Flyingfool]

^^^

NOT in my case. Evidence of holes in target tell a different story. Theory versus reality.

Still not ruling out that it was not me. But I was indeed expecting a higher impact as I tend to shoot a tad low even with the 115 grain. Was shocked when the reality was different than expected.

 

[BigDog48]

FWIW, lighter bullets (115gr) shoot lower, heavier (147gr) shoot higher. It is a function of the arched flight path of the fired round, pure physics.

That makes no sense to me from a "pure physics" perspective. The 147gr leaves the barrel at a lower speed than the 115, and the pull of gravity is more on the 147 gr projectile. So why does your understanding of physics suggest that 147gr. would hit higher?

 

[Peter41692]

I use Magtech 115gr fmj for the range. It's priced right, performs well, and relatively clean. SD I use Federal 124gr HST another good performer, for me that is Other OP may differ. Waaaay to many choices!!!

 

[kgpcr]

My wifes shield eats anything it gets fed with out a hiccup. he carry ammo is Federal HST +P 124grn bullets.

 

[Flyingfool]

That makes no sense to me from a "pure physics" perspective. The 147gr leaves the barrel at a lower speed than the 115, and the pull of gravity is more on the 147 gr projectile. So why does your understanding of physics suggest that 147gr. would hit higher?

Pure physics: gravity has the exact same “pull” on a pebble as it does for an elephant. They both fall vertically downward at the exact same rate.

What changes you refer to is due to TIME. That is it takes less time for the higher velocity bullet to reach the target than a slower velocity bullet. Therefore there is less time for the lighter higher velocity to fall downward than the lower velocity heavier bullet.

I believe however the theory as to why a slower velocity bulllet will impact higher is due to recoil in two ways. First as soon as the powder explodes and causes a rearward force on the back of the chamber slide, the breach unlocks and if you look closely the barrel will begin to rotate the barrel tip UPWARD. Secondly the force also causes the shooters hand to be impacted and the center of mass of the gun is above the wrist and therefore recoil force will result in muzzle rise. Porting of barrels is designed to help reduce this effect.

Thus since there are two things that force the tip of the muzzle/barrel to rise. There will be less barrel rise for the bullet that leaves the barrel in the shortest amount of time. In other words, the slower the bullet velocity, the further upwards the barrel is canted as it leaves the barrel. Thus a slower heavier bullet would have more opportunity for leaving the barrel at a higher trajectory. This results in higher point of impact compared to a faster, lighter bullet. This assumes of course that these two barrel rise forces more than counteracts the extra bullet fall (time of arrival) discussed above.

Other ballistic experts please feel free to correct me if I got this wrong.

 

[Groo01]

Groo here
Flying fool
This is well known by the revolver shooters.
The lighter the bullet [at standard operating pressure aka full power]
the faster it leaves the barrel .
The heaver the bullet the slower.
The gun rotates upon firing and where the bullet leaves the barrel in the ark will change.
This is seen in the hight of the front sight and the fact that the barrel is pointing down below line of sight.
Autos dont move as much because the bullet leaves the barrel
as or before the slide moves and the gun does not rotate as much.