Shield Ammo Restrictions?

[RussC]

I am going to the range tomorrow to shoot my Shield and I need to know if there are any ammo restrictions.

I have two boxes of NATO and I was told on another forum S&W guns cannot handle NaTO and +P

Please will someone enlighten me?

I have Googled with no luck ammo restrictions for the Shield.

If there are restrictions let me know which brands of ammo are best for the Shield for target practice.

Thanks

Russ

 

[SMMAssociates]

Russ:

Just IMHO, I'd not put too much of that +P through the Shield, or any gun I liked.... Extra wear for no good purpose.

"NATO"? I'm not sure what that is.... There are some 9mm loads out there for submachine guns (I thought these were German WWII loads, but who knows) that should NOT be fired in anything you like - quite likely to blow the gun up. But I'm not sure if that's what you're talking about.

+P+ loads should be avoided - there are no specs, and Brand X's +P+ may be twice as nasty (or half as nasty) as Brand Y's....

Just IMHO, +P and even magnum loads are strictly bragging rights on the range, and for SD use. Other than clothing issues (go with SD ammo with a plastic plug in the hollow point), if you get a good hit, the BG is going to be just about as badly messed up regardless. Hollow points are more efficient at stopping the BG, and won't penetrate walls or the guy behind him as easily. Anything hotter really just makes follow-up shots harder, and wears the gun.

Just IMHO, of course....

Your manual should warn about +P loads. If it doesn't, a few wouldn't hurt, but I'd stick to WallyWorld cheapies for the range. If you can't find out what that NATO stuff is, leave it on the shelf.

Regards,

 

[RussC]

Russ:

Just IMHO, I'd not put too much of that +P through the Shield, or any gun I liked.... Extra wear for no good purpose.

"NATO"? I'm not sure what that is.... There are some 9mm loads out there for submachine guns (I thought these were German WWII loads, but who knows) that should NOT be fired in anything you like - quite likely to blow the gun up. But I'm not sure if that's what you're talking about.

+P+ loads should be avoided - there are no specs, and Brand X's +P+ may be twice as nasty (or half as nasty) as Brand Y's....

Just IMHO, +P and even magnum loads are strictly bragging rights on the range, and for SD use. Other than clothing issues (go with SD ammo with a plastic plug in the hollow point), if you get a good hit, the BG is going to be just about as badly messed up regardless. Hollow points are more efficient at stopping the BG, and won't penetrate walls or the guy behind him as easily. Anything hotter really just makes follow-up shots harder, and wears the gun.

Just IMHO, of course....

Your manual should warn about +P loads. If it doesn't, a few wouldn't hurt, but I'd stick to WallyWorld cheapies for the range. If you can't find out what that NATO stuff is, leave it on the shelf.

Regards,

Thanks

I purchased Winchester NATO 124 grain fmj from Cabela's. NATO is a military round.(I read on the internet it is 10% hotter than a regular load but I have not confirmed it)

I shot it through my Beretta Nano and it kicks like +p

Thanks for the advise. I don't want to damage my Shield. I only purchsed the stuff because my Nano would FTE on Federal Champion and WWB. I figured a heavier bullet may help with the FTE.

Russ

 

[mag318]

The M&Ps are strong pistols so as long as you shoot quality ammo through it I wouldn't worry. Nato 9mm such as Winchester or Federal are slightly hotter than non+P ammo and perfectly safe in any M&P including your Shield. Smith & Wesson and any other manufacturer will tell you that the use of +P ammunition can hasten wear to your pistol and S&W recommends against using +P+ ammo in any of their pistols. For practise I shoot mainly Federal 147 grn FMJ because this is the weight of my preferred carry rounds. Many prefer +P ammunition for carry and non+P for practise. Whatever you put through yours it's unlikely you'll ever wear a properly maintained pistol out. These M&Ps are tough.

 

[thomasinaz]

I think "nato" in this case refers to nato type ammo. As in full metal jacket and within nato specs. When I was in the AF, in the 80s, the military switched to the Beretta 9mm so we could be within nato spec. This was supposedly because we would be able to all fire the same handgun caliber if several nato countries were deployed together. If the commercial 9mm you got was hotter than Sami spec there would be dire warnings about shooting this stuff on the box. If it was +p it would say so on the headstamp and the box. As others have said, there shouldn't be any problem shooting major brand 9mm ammo in any M&P.

 

[WK1025]

The M&Ps are strong pistols so as long as you shoot quality ammo through it I wouldn't worry. Nato 9mm such as Winchester or Federal are slightly hotter than non+P ammo and perfectly safe in any M&P including your Shield. Smith & Wesson and any other manufacturer will tell you that the use of +P ammunition can hasten wear to your pistol and S&W recommends against using +P+ ammo in any of their pistols. For practise I shoot mainly Federal 147 grn FMJ because this is the weight of my preferred carry rounds. Many prefer +P ammunition for carry and non+P for practise. Whatever you put through yours it's unlikely you'll ever wear a properly maintained pistol out. These M&Ps are tough.

+1. I personally wouldn't shoot a lot of Nato or +P at the range - I usually use American Eagle of Speer Lawman at the range - Shooting a limited amount shouldn't cause any problems. I shot about 50 rounds of +P out of my M&P9 just to see what it was like compared to the +P 45 ammo I used in my CCW 1911.

 

[blkpitbull]

I shot 100 rounds of the winchester NATO through my 9C last weekend with no ill effects...id shoot what you got. itll be fine..

 

[SWAT Lt.]

Don't give it a second thought. 2 boxes of Winchester NATO ball isn't going to hurt a thing. In fact, it would be the best ammo I can think of to break the gun in with.

 

[Nakanokalronin]

As far as carry guns go in 9mm, +P seems to be what most people use although there are heavier 147gr. options that seem to still perform in short barrels. It's almost impossible to avoid shooting your defense ammo through your guns since you'll want to shoot enough at the range to make sure it functions in your particular pistols, and then a few times or at least once a year when you cycle out the old rounds for a new set.

Either way, very few modern day handguns are not able to take a few boxes a year of +P ammo. The M&P Shield shouldn't be a problem and if you couldn't shoot it through a particular firearm, a good manufacture would state so in the manual. I personally use HST 124gr.+P ammo in my carry guns and wouldn't carry a gun that couldn't handle at least a box or two worth a year.

 

[SMMAssociates]

Thomas:

Thanks for the info on the NATO rounds.... I never ran into that before....

I'd prefer sticking with non-Plus P ammunition, as I stated earlier, but if the manufacturer hasn't warned you, it shouldn't be a real problem on an "occasional" basis.

(And the usual "rotate your carry ammo" shouldn't bother a thing.)

(Just to be sure, "made after 2000" might be a good test, too .)

Regards,

 

[clarkstoncz]

Nice to know that it will handle +P ammo.

I shoot mostly Double Tap +P or Hornday with
some S&B and Blazer Brass thrown in.

The SHIELD will get the tame FMJ stuff for practice and
some of this for carry.

Whether hot 115 or hot 147 grainers is undecided.

 

[kris7047th]

I would call S&W and ask them what to stay away from. They would know.

 

[Stu Honea]

It's been stated that the Shield is rated for ALL SAAMI spec ammo.That would include +P,but not +P+ as there is no SAAMI spec for +P+.
I don 't see much point in +P+ anyway.If you want to up the velocity for the short barrel +P will be just fine.
I personally think that my usual 3 1/2 inch bbl load of 147 gr. HST or Ranger will work fine,but I'll be chronographing mine with both 147 and 124+p HST's and go with what I think will do. The HST's generally give a little more velocity than the Rangers in the 147gr.

 

[kris7047th]

I fired some Ranger 147 through mine, and no problems.

 

[Martimus]

Last week I ran a box of Speer Lawman through my Shield with no apparent ill effects...

 

[OpsMgr]

Take a look at pages 9-11 of your manual - Should answer your questions on ammo selection...

 

[EXERCISINGTHE2ND]

Take a look at pages 9-11 of your manual - Should answer your questions on ammo selection...

My Mom always said when I got stuck building a model, "Did you read the directions?" Tail between my legs, I went back and, BAM, there was the answer. Good old Mom!

 

[RichardDBeck]

If you really have to have super hot 9mm ammo why not just buy a .40 cal shield... That's essentially what a .40 cal hand gun is.

What is the primary reason people don't buy a .40 cal handgun???
1. Concussive blast forcing the involuntary closing of the shooters eyes requiring more time to get back on target. (less shots on target)
2. Sharp recoil requiring more time to get back on target. (less shots on target)
3. The high pressure round destroys the gun.

+P+ 9mm ammo is taking all the worst parts of the .40 call and adding them to the 9mm platform. Which leads to the question why do you own a 9mm if what you really want is a high pressure round?

 

[epj]

If you are ever forced to fire your gun in anger, which few of us outside law enforcement ever will, any sort of 9mm hollow point that will reliably function in your pistol will likely do the job. The recipient will not know what brand ammo you are using. If you can put a couple of rounds through the boiler room, he won't care. Higher velocity=greater internet bragging rights.

 

[timn8er]

If you really have to have super hot 9mm ammo why not just buy a .40 cal shield... That's essentially what a .40 cal hand gun is.

What is the primary reason people don't buy a .40 cal handgun???
1. Concussive blast forcing the involuntary closing of the shooters eyes requiring more time to get back on target. (less shots on target)
2. Sharp recoil requiring more time to get back on target. (less shots on target)
3. The high pressure round destroys the gun.

+P+ 9mm ammo is taking all the worst parts of the .40 call and adding them to the 9mm platform. Which leads to the question why do you own a 9mm if what you really want is a high pressure round?

I'm not sure I follow your logic.

1. None of my 40's cause me to involuntarily close my eyes, at least not any more than any other of the calibers I shoot.

2. While there may be some muzzle flip in the shorter length pistols, its nothing that training can't overcome. I shoot my 40's just as well(or as bad!)as either my 9mm's or my 45's.

3. 40's are designed & built to handle the extra pressure, & I've never had one fail.YMMV!