Shield Groups: Best Ammo you know of

[magtf388]

Well it was just a matter of time before someone would ask so I thought I would start a new topic to collect info from all you Shield owners on the site.

What 9mm bullets are working best in your Shields?

If you could please list manufacture, bullet weight in the manufacture and group/distance size.

So if you could report something like this:

"Fed 147grn HS at 15 yards held a 5 shoot group that was 3 inches."

Pictures are always good as well.

Thanks all.

 

[RobsTV]

For the 40 Shield:
Hard to beat lead sized correctly to barrel.
Lee 401-175-TC, 180gr, sized to .4015, 4.7gr W231, 10 yards held a 6 shoot group that has bullet holes nearly touching, around 1" group.

 

[magtf388]

For the 40 Shield:
Hard to beat lead sized correctly to barrel.
Lee 401-175-TC, 180gr, sized to .4015, 4.7gr W231, 10 yards held a 6 shoot group that has bullet holes nearly touching, around 1" group.

That is great! Any issues with you 40? As I read I seem to see just a few more issue with the 40 than the 9mm. You have any?

 

[robkarrob]

I find the ones that go "bang" work best. It is a SD weapon, not a range gun. There aren't many of us that a couple of inches (speaking about gun accuracy) is going to make much of a difference. LOL

No issues with my 40, now that I have dimpled mags.

Bob

 

[RobsTV]

That is great! Any issues with you 40? As I read I seem to see just a few more issue with the 40 than the 9mm. You have any?

Had the mag drop issue, which S&W fixed in 4 days and now fine. While there, also had them clean up the trigger and replace front sight with taller blade to use with the 180gr lead zeroed at 25 yards, which they also did correctly.

When considering whether to get a 40 or a 9, this history is a good read:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.40_S&W#History

This is a great accurate gun, that works just as well at the range as it does a deep carry SD weapon.

I disagree on the group size being unimportant, or that a carry gun is a belly gun, made for shooting at only a few feet. This line of thought is a great selling point with guns that are inaccurate, and too often people come to only expect that poor accuracy as normal with a small carry gun. It is not. I guess a lot depends on where you live or travel, with nightly major city walking needs being different than rural small town lifestyle. The thought of getting mugged is not why I carry. I need a carry gun that is good for 50 yards, if the need arises (which it has for me). So far the 40 shield's "range accuracy" exceeds my needs.

I would not classify a gun as either a Self Defense or a Range gun, but instead call them a good accurate shooter, or a poor inaccurate shooter. Range or SD use should make no difference. Perhaps some confuse "Range gun" with a competitive Bullseye Target gun?

 

[J.Wal]

I shoot spear gold dot, in all my guns. No complaints!


Sent from my iPad Mini

 

[mfc]

My brother and I just recently purchased the .40 Shield and I love the feel especially for my small hands. The only issue I have is the trigger pull. I am fighting the jerking issue which means my shots are going left. I just think the trigger pull is too heavy but I can get that fixed by installing the Apex trigger kit.

 

[magtf388]

Great feedback. What are yor best size groups? I'm finding this gun to be a great shooter at. 15yards a up.

Post info on your best size group and the ammo used.

 

[mag318]

In my Shield Federal 147 grn HST produced the tightest groups. Here's one at 10 yards perfectly to the POA.

 

[magtf388]

In my Shield Federal 147 grn HST produced the tightest groups. Here's one at 10 yards perfectly to the POA.

Great photo and feedback. THANKS! So have said that this pistol should shoot better. I think that the gun will out shoot most shooter.

 

[magtf388]

Any other groups?

 

[Jayhawkhuntclub]

I find the ones that go "bang" work best. It is a SD weapon, not a range gun. There aren't many of us that a couple of inches (speaking about gun accuracy) is going to make much of a difference. LOL
Bob

Speak for yourself. I take accuracy data on every gun I own. I don't think mediocre accuracy is acceptable from any gun regardless of purpose or barrel length. If it shoots poorly at the range, it'll shoot several times worse when you're under a combat situation. Not every situation is at arms reach.

 

[kbm6893]

Speak for yourself. I take accuracy data on every gun I own. I don't think mediocre accuracy is acceptable from any gun regardless of purpose or barrel length. If it shoots poorly at the range, it'll shoot several times worse when you're under a combat situation. Not every situation is at arms reach.

I disagree. Let's say you have a 4 inch spread at 15 yards. Think the guy you shot at 20 yards is going to know your round went an inch to the left of where you intended? You're not gonna have a benchrest in a dark parking lot.

 

[RussC]

Walmart Federal Champion 115 grain fmj.

At 7 yards with XS Big Dot I group 7 rounds at 2 inches.

Honestly, human error is the only reason the rounds don't all enter the same hole.

Russ

 

[magtf388]

Have thought about BigDots for mine, just not sure yet. Looks like they work well for u RussC.

As far as the qt about keeping group data, I just want to know if your Shield shoots as GREAT as mine.

Pic of groups would be great!!!!

 

[RussC]

Have thought about BigDots for mine, just not sure yet. Looks like they work well for u RussC.

As far as the qt about keeping group data, I just want to know if your Shield shoots as GREAT as mine.

Pic of groups would be great!!!!

Magtf388:

If you look at my avatar the target was shot with the stock 3 dot.

You are going to give up tight groups if you switch to the XS Big Dot but target acquisition is much faster with XS vs. notch and post sights.

From my attached picture you can still get shots free standing in the black at 7 yards which is good enough in my book.

The Shield is more accurate than the shooter. Practice trigger control and the Shield at 7 yards is capable of round stacking like my avatar picture with notch and post sights.

Russ

 

[Jayhawkhuntclub]

You're not gonna have a benchrest in a dark parking lot.

That's my point. You're accuracy is going to be decreased dramatically by a number of factors. Why not start with something that you know is accurate? BTW, an inch can be the difference in winning and losing.

 

[RM38spl]

I have a question. The people who are getting very tight grouping from 15 or more yards away with shield or other small weapon, are they rapid firing or slowly obtaining site pic taking their time to get such grouping? Just curious not knocking anyone's ability, I am know expert. New to concealed carry, but not to shooting. I will continue to practice to obtain such tight grouping, luckily the shield is a great weapon to keep practicing with. Thanks.

 

[RussC]

I have a question. The people who are getting very tight grouping from 15 or more yards away with shield or other small weapon, are they rapid firing or slowly obtaining site pic taking their time to get such grouping? Just curious not knocking anyone's ability, I am know expert. New to concealed carry, but not to shooting. I will continue to practice to obtain such tight grouping, luckily the shield is a great weapon to keep practicing with. Thanks.

Anyone shooting groups less than 2 inches with a Shield free standing at 15 yards has surgeon hands.

Russ

 

[magtf388]

I have a question. The people who are getting very tight grouping from 15 or more yards away with shield or other small weapon, are they rapid firing or slowly obtaining site pic taking their time to get such grouping? Just curious not knocking anyone's ability, I am know expert. New to concealed carry, but not to shooting. I will continue to practice to obtain such tight grouping, luckily the shield is a great weapon to keep practicing with. Thanks.

Your shooting at 15 years is like anything, practice, practice, practice. The further back you go the more your shooting errors will be demonstrated on the target.

I tend to think about it this way: two shots at 21 feet in a group about the size of a 3x5 card is a winner. Shooting for groups is a bit different than the "flash sight picture" and bank that takes place in a real world shooting. Having investigated many shooting this is my experience.

What I was looking for in this POST was what are you seeing the Shield is capable of? How tight of a group are you getting with your Shield and from what distance. I've fired 3" groups at 25 yards with Fed 147 HS rounds and at 10 yards I've seen several shoot keyhole shots with this little pistol.

Just looking to see what others are getting with their Shields.