Shield PD ammo

[Jmick]

Was wondering what shield 9mm owners use for their PD ammo? I was thinking about trying Hornady Critical Defense... anyone use that? Thoughts? Other recommendations? Thanks!

 

[Fleshwound]

I use the critical defense in my shield 9mm. Works great, low recoil and accurate and feeds flawlessly. Gets my vote! Good luck..

 

[Abacus]

I use Federal 124 grain +P HST's. I have found these to be very accurate in both my shield and my FS M&P. Recoil is snappy but manageable.

 

[Pbchucker]

I use Hornady Critical Defense, because that was in stock at the time, and I bought a bunch. These function flawlessly in my 9mm shield, and they are accurate.

Having said that, there are several other very good defense rounds, and many other good rounds. Before I switched to the Hornady CD, I was using, "gasp!", the old Federal classic 9BP, 115 gr HP.

If I had to start from scratch today, I think the standard pressure gold dots or Federal HST would be my first pick.

 

[JMichaelTX]

Here's an interesting chart showing the results of a survey at defensivecarry.com forum:

View Poll Results: What ammo do you carry?

Top 3:

1. Federal HST: 39.55%
2. Speer Gold Dot: 35.03%
3. Hornady Critical Defense: 19.21%

 

[Ransom]

Speer Gold Dot

 

[Willydog]

Remington 147 Golden Sabers. Theyre not bad, I can find them without too much trouble and they aren't horribly expensive.

I let the salesman talk me into buying a box of hydrashocks (25) for $30 when I bought my shield, but I hadn't bought 9mm defensive ammo in 20 years either. I'm sure I'll use them eventually.

 

[danhalen1096]

I have been using critical defense in my pistols including my shield for a few years now and I have never had any problems with it and it has always been very accurate no matter what I shoot it thru.

 

[swsig]

When I first got my Shield 9, I shot and compared Gold Dot 124+P, Golden Saber 147, HST 124, Win Defend 147, and Hydra-Shok 135, all at 12 yards. All fired without any problems. The Gold Dots were the most accurate, and the HSTs were a close second. I carry the Gold Dots. Somehow I've never gotten around to checking out the Hornadys. I'd like to repeat the tests now that I have over 1600 rounds through my Shield (and a brand new RSA I've waited 3 1/2 months for). But first, I must find some more of those elusive Gold Dots.

 

[Ballistic147]

Currently HST's in 124 grain since those were available at the time. I will also run Speer Gold Dots if I can get them.

 

[hourglass]

HST 124 grain. Great ballistics and easy to handle recoil.

 

[bigwheelzip]

Ammo Quest at Shooting the Bull 410 has a good series of SD Ammo tests. Last I looked, The Federal HST's were top rated in 9mm caliber.

 

[Jim1392]

Speer Gold Dot LE 124 grain HP.

 

[sschrick]

so, just curious, as to why so many people favor the 124gr rounds. In my other carry gun, Springfield EMP (which is also a short barrel gun), I am running 147gr. Speer Gold Dots.
Is it the 147 grain cannot achieve velocities over 1000 and therefore are less effective for penetration and expansion? OR some other reasons?
Is there really a reason to run +P ammo or the new "short barrel ammo"?

 

[John R]

Fereral HST's.

 

[MKE.guns]

Ammo Quest at Shooting the Bull 410 has a good series of SD Ammo tests. Last I looked, The Federal HST's were top rated in 9mm caliber.

The key take away with his SD Ammo Test was does the ammo expand properly. The Gold Dots and the Gold Dot G2 in 147 grains did not perform well. Federal HST in 147 grains was flawless.

Some ammo did not expand reliably if shot from a 3 inch barrel. So just because a particular ammo feeds through a gun, your search may not be over.

MKE

 

[Prasko]

Speer gold dot 124+p.

 

[JMichaelTX]

Ammo Quest at Shooting the Bull 410 has a good series of SD Ammo tests. Last I looked, The Federal HST's were top rated in 9mm caliber.

Is this the series you are referring to, a series of YouTube videos:
9mm Ammo Quest by ShootingTheBull410

Is there a summary of results somewhere?
I couldn't find one.

 

[ghoffman]

Hornady 135 Flexi-points

 

[JMichaelTX]

Great test/video by ShootingTheBull410:
[ame=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lGqdMdbir0&list=PLgNSGOEQko_M90AMdRCDMgd-w4Yozc27i&index=7]Ammo Quest 9mm: Federal HST 124 grain tested in ballistic gelatin test review[/ame]

He says the Federal HST 124 is the best performance in gelatin he has seen, and rates it very high.