Shield and handloads

[Drill Sergeant]

How will the Shield handle handloads?

Thanks!

 

[CaptRon956]

Both my Shield 9 & 40 handle Freedom munitions remans no problems but if you handload yourself or use someones elses handloads & it goes boom in a way that it shouldn't, S&W probably wont honor the warranty...

 

[Drill Sergeant]

In realize that manufacturers won't warrant handloads. However, unlike some, I shoot too much to be able to afford only factory stuff. If a firearm cannot function reliably with lead handloads - it is not for me.

Just want to learn from some who also handload and own the Shield.

Thanks!

 

[Magload]

My Shield 40 eats my reloads like candy. I have a load that matches the Critical Defense loads I EDC. I couldn't afford to shoot them for practice as I have ran 600 practice rounds through the gun in the last two months. Don

 

[STCM(SW)]

My wife's Shield had no problem with any of my reloads from 115 gr to 147 gr using known info from any of my many reloading manuals...

Now, my Taurus SS PT 1911 doesn't like some of the lower bullet weight loads, some FTE.

 

[Just another 22 shooter]

I have a good friend that has a Shield 9. We were shooting together a couple weeks ago and he asked if I wanted to shoot the shield. I asked if I could use my handloads and he had no objections. I put three magazines thru it with no hiccup what so ever. 99% of the rounds that go thru my M&P9 and 9c are my own reloads. accurate and alot cheaper than factory loads.

 

[Rastoff]

How will the Shield handle handloads?

Thanks!

We'll need a little more info. Just asking if it will handle hand loads is kind of like asking if we like home cooking; it depends on who's cooking.

The M&P series can handle any load that is the proper caliber and meets the SAAMI standard for ammunition.

 

[bedbugbilly]

Well . . let's talk lead bullet designs and weights then . . .

I use the Lee 326-120 TC and ideal/Lyman 358-242 RN - those fall about 121 to 123 grains from my mold (range lead). Bothe work well in my SR9 - I'm assuming they will in my Shield as well - we'll find out!

I also have two older Ideal Molds - both are .360 (for 38 S & W cartridge). One is a RN and the other a rather blunt nose SWC - both fall at 115 gr. from the mold and I size them down. I haven't tried them in 9mm yet but am planning on it.

So let's hear from those that reload - any feeding issues, etc. with any particular nose/bullet design?

Thanks.

 

[Hillbilly77]

My Shield cycles my 9MM reloads perfectly. I use Hornady 115gr XTP bullets over 4.2gr of Titegroup.
The only notable hiccup has been sometimes (rarely) the primers don't ignite on the first try. I'm using CCI primers, and I understand CCI's are among the hardest primers on the market.
I have since picked up some Winchester primers to try. If they prove more reliable than the CCI's, I'll use them full time.

As far as cycling, feeding, extracting, etc., my Shield works great with my reloads.

 

[shsrcat]

My Shield has been fed nothing but my own handloaded ammo since it was purchased several months ago. I've fed it Berry's plated bullets, Bumblebee hardcast lead and now Hy-Tek coated bullets from a local vendor. All loaded over Tite Group. The Berry's are 115 grain round nose, the Bumblebee were 125 grain round nose, and the Hy-Tek were 125 truncated cone. No problems with any of them.

 

[rpking]

Mine shoots my reloads just fine.
I use used brass, bulk FMJ 115G bullets, Winchester primers and 4.9 grains of Winchester WSF powder.
No problems what so ever.

 

[kcode]

The wife and I both carry Shield9 and hit the range together quite frequently. Been reloading for over thirty years. Our Shields like 115 and 124 grain X-treme PHP over 4.3 to 4.7 grains of HP38 or W231. Loaded some 147 gr and the accuracy was not as good as the lighter rounds. I have 11 different 9mm pistols so the last operation when loading is a factory crimp die and the rounds fit all chambers.

 

[tjpopkin]

One of my stellar loads is the same as that by "KCODE" above. I shoot a 124gr Montana Gold Hollow point (or Hornady XTP) over 4.3gr. W231. In fact, my S&W guns like a 122gr Lead conical with 4.2g.W231 better…very accurate. The best hand-load I have assembled is 5gr. of Vitavhouri under the 124gr. hp….however, finding VV powders is really tough!

In my experience, S&W pistols do not group well with 147gr. bullets and group better with 124gr than with 115gr.

All handloads shoot superbly in my Shield, PC Ported 9L, and various Perf. Center Tactical and carry guns. The newest gun to shoot hand loads is my 929, and it shot the 122gr Lead round into a half-Dollar sized 8-shot group at 15yds.
As long as you use a taper crimp…life is good.