Shield reloading with self defense bullets?

[thefish]

Wondering if anyone is hand loading self defense bullets in shield 9mm.

I'm thinking of buying a box or two or 115 grain Speer gold dots or hornady XTP bullets and working up handloads to test feeding reliability.

I guess specifically what I'm asking is if anyone has had feeding or ejection issues with a 115 grain, or should I step up to a 124 grain?

I've loaded and shot a bunch of extreme 124 grain round nose and flat point, but I know that's a different animal altogether.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Mad Chemist]

I've tested 115 and 124gr XTPs and 124gr Nosler JHP in my shield. I've also tested nuclear 147gr GD in it.

All the loads were previously worked up in my G19. And performed reliably in that pistol.

I used VV 3N37 for the 115 and 124gr XTP loads. I worked up to the book max load with 3N38 for the 147 grainer.

The 147 gets close to 1200fps out of my G19. This load was not pleasant from the shield. Follow up shots were slow and maintaining grip positioning was a challenge. The load functioned reliably but I ruled it out as a backup SD load for the Shield due to excessive recoil.

115gr XTP performed flawlessly up to the Viht book max. I've also worked this up to just below Alliant book max with Unique and the same bullet. It also proved reliable.

My 124gr loads start slightly below book max and the top loads exceed it by a small margin. They were all developed using my G19. I had extras and ran a ladder with the Shield. They performed well up to max published data. At .1 grain above I had one failure to extract. I believe this was due to slide velocity running too fast. At .2gr above published max I had 2 more failures to extract as well as significant brass flow near the case head where it sits above the chamber (guppy brass). I stopped the test at this time. The 124gr loads up to and including the load at book max performed great.

I have now standardized the 124gr XTP load at .1gr below Viht book max. It works reliably in both the G19 and the Shield and I am confident in the terminal ballistics of this bullet. These are not a primary SD load. I carry factory ammo for that. These rounds serve as backup SD ammo.

 

[thefish]

Thanks so much. I found a few bullett options at the local shop. Ill try a few 124 grain favors and load em up.

 

[RussellC]

I've used 124 grain XTP, 124 grain Nosler, and 115 grain Gold Dots in handloads for the Shield. The only problems I've had were when the gun was new, and that was with factory ammo, RN 115 grain. I guess it was fail to eject, two bullets sort of jamming up, or is that fail to feed? (both unfired rounds, so I guess feed?) After a couple hundred rounds it has become as reliable as my Glock, one of the few I really, really trust. Never one hickup with the Glock 17 in Thousands of rounds.

I have read, but not tried 147 grainers in the Shield are a bit heavy due to short barrel and the problems Madchemist spoke of with recoil. I am getting ready to load a few hundred 115 grain Gold Dots.

Russellc

 

[sfed]

I like the 115 grain nosler hollow point for self defense roles.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

I'm using 124 xtps with 4.2-4.3grs of Titegroup. They run well through mine.

I have to keep my OAL at 1.120 or shorter with the xtps or I hit the riflings.

I've never found Gold Dot bullets around here.

4.0 gr of Titegroup is much more manageable for recoil though and cycles well.

5.5gr of Longshot works well also. but it's also a little stout.

 

[RussellC]

Really...Iwill have to check it out. I see most XTP loads are on the short side, But my Shield will plunk test 1.160 with round nose, 124 grain.

Russellc

 

[gamestalker]

I load exclusively with jacketed bullets, and I load everything, 90 gr., 115 gr., 124 gr., and 147 gr., XTP's, Gold Dots, Nosler, Sierra, Win, and just about everything in between. I mostly work with HS6 and Longshot the last decade or so, and have never had anything unusual or beyond normal typical performance happen ever. Not even with other powders I've used over the years, just plain flawless function.

Additionally, I shoot these powder and bullet variations through more firearms than I can honestly track. Various Taurus models, Beretta 92's, S&W's, XD's, SCCY's, G17's, and the list goes on.

GS

 

[JamieC]

Mad Chemist, wow, you're getting nearly 1200fps out of a 147gr XTP? I was happy when I got 1030 out of my Sigma. There is room to 'grow', didn't see any signs of over pressure, since I'm relatively new at reloading, thought I'd stop there, (I plan on re-visiting this when I buy some more. Hornady's own ammo is around 970fps. Closing in on 1200fps with a 147gr is bad ass, I can imagine it's not fun shooting out of a Shield.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

I see most XTP loads are on the short side, But my Shield will plunk test 1.160 with round nose, 124 grain.

Round nose and truncated cone bullets take different OALs because of the different shapes of the bullet. I also notice that Hornady loads short but you can go as long as you want with no penalties from pressure. You just can't go shorter than published data with out asking for trouble you don't need.

OAL in semi-autos is dependent on the barrel your loading for. Hornady's short OAL's assures them that their loading data will work in everyone's pistols without incident.

With my Keltec PF-9 that is notoriously short chambered I have to strictly adhere to Hornady's OAL or even reduce my powder charge and go even shorter just to get them to chamber.

That's why we do "plunk tests" on our barrels no matter what who's data says.

 

[Potatohead]

I just now started playing with 147s, and I didnt think you could get one up to 1200.Wow, I bet it wasnt to comfortable.. What powder was that with, sorry if I missed it above.

 

[RussellC]

Note that the nearly 1200 fps was with his Glock...not the Shield. Its short barrel wouldnt be quite as fast. Really not the gun for +p or extra hot loads. I tried some with accurate No. 2, as They recently published some +P load data...While Accurate No. 2 normally barely lifts the brass out of my Glock, dropping them at your feet, They were FLYING out of the Shield! Recoil was a little sharp also. I think I prefer my Shield loads a little more tame. I found some 135 grain Federal Personal defense Hydro Shock "Low Recoil" rounds that were nice, but I think 124 would be better in the Shield. Im betting some fairly hot 115 grain Gold dots I'm about to load will be perfect, we'll see.

Russellc

 

[gamestalker]

1200 fps with 147's!! And I thought I run them warm at 1050's fps with Longshot. Looks like I found another powder that needs some attention.

GS

 

[Mad Chemist]

That 147gr load is the Holy Grail of VV 9mm loads.

It's the max load of 3N38. It is the only way to get anywhere close to 9mm Major with a stock gun. It was not fun from the shield and it wasn't much nicer from he G19 either. I think this load would really shine from a carbine. But I will not shoot it from my pistols anymore. From a carbine, I think it could be a viable small game load as well as a good SD load.



A 1200fps 124gr XTP with a stout charge of 3N37 is much more manageable. It's also very low flash even in low light.

I would not use heavy charges of Power Pistol for any SD loads. The flash is just too bright.