Put 350 rounds down range today. Very impressed with this little guy. Shot 4 different brands of ammo. Shot it fast, slow, up close, 25 yards unassisted, assisted, single handed, weak hand, tight grip, loose grip. Shot great. Now on to the ammo.

 

100 rounds of American Eagle 115 grain = not an issue

 

100 rounds of Winchester White Box 124 grain = not an issue

 

100 rounds of Remington UMC = 2 bad primers, 1 failure to feed, 2 stove pipes

 

50 rounds of Hordany Critical Defense = 4 bad primers, 1 failure to feed.

 

Wish I actually had some steel case to run through it too but didn't have any. I figured the Remington would have a few issues. The Hordany really surprised me. For being a premium ammo, it sure had some problems. I liked the WWB the best.

 

I am now looking for some gold dots or federal hst. If anyone has some, I have plenty of FMJ to trade.

Am impressed with that litte gun. Buddy of mine has one. He also has an xd and he is consistently more accurate with the shield.

Needs a grip sleeve, grip tape, or something. I like the positive trigger reset, the sights and sight distance, but the spring in trigger pulls the front off a little. Either something off a little when pulling the trigger, or not broken in enough, yet, with about 400 rounds through it.

Put 350 rounds down range today. Very impressed with this little guy. Shot 4 different brands of ammo. Shot it fast, slow, up close, 25 yards unassisted, assisted, single handed, weak hand, tight grip, loose grip. Shot great. Now on to the ammo.

 

100 rounds of American Eagle 115 grain = not an issue

 

100 rounds of Winchester White Box 124 grain = not an issue

 

100 rounds of Remington UMC = 2 bad primers, 1 failure to feed, 2 stove pipes

 

50 rounds of Hordany Critical Defense = 4 bad primers, 1 failure to feed.

 

Wish I actually had some steel case to run through it too but didn't have any. I figured the Remington would have a few issues. The Hordany really surprised me. For being a premium ammo, it sure had some problems. I liked the WWB the best.

 

I am now looking for some gold dots or federal hst. If anyone has some, I have plenty of FMJ to trade.

 

Was that the first time you shot it? I often have issues with UMC , but not the others you mentioned. If this is the gun's break in period , I would clean , oil , and run the ammo that had misfires/feeds again , maybe run the ammo in reverse order?

My Shield 9mm is a great gun. I have been shooting a 1911 the last few years. I picked the shield up and shot better groups then with my Kimber. Its really a perfect CC gun and I can see why they are so tough to find.

Wow. A 10% failure rate on the ammo I would personally count on in an emergency? Not good at all. I have most of my HD guns loaded with this stuff...I can't imagine the failures are gun-specific, is it?

Wow. A 10% failure rate on the ammo I would personally count on in an emergency? Not good at all. I have most of my HD guns loaded with this stuff...I can't imagine the failures are gun-specific, is it?

 

I don't know. Some guns are just picky. Some lots of ammo are just crappy. I know I won't be using it anymore.

 

Have you tested it in your HD guns? I test all my guns with what I plan on carrying in them. Have to make sure it works.

 

Was that the first time you shot it? I often have issues with UMC , but not the others you mentioned. If this is the gun's break in period , I would clean , oil , and run the ammo that had misfires/feeds again , maybe run the ammo in reverse order?

 

That's my plan. Still have some Hordany stuff so I will try it again. Won't trust it though. I will be putting another 2-300 rounds through it on Monday.

I am thinking the gun was dirty after 200 rnds...

The HPs may have had trouble feeding after 200 rds but that really shouldn't matter. I haven't cleaned my shield 9mm in about 500 rounds and its been fine. I have shot PMC & Speer fmj and gold dots. I think I have only had 2 failures . I love my shield.

 

It just might not like that ammo but I think it was prob a combo of things. Break in period, dirty, and them being HPs

I never tested my guns with HD ammo because I only bought 1 box per gun (with the realistic expectation of never having to use it). I need to rethink that. Thanks for the range report.

Yeah I'm surprised at the Hornady CD getting light primer strikes. Did you try to re-shoot them afterwards?

 

Did you clean the gun before the first trip to the range?

Even if it was dirty, it should still be lubed up. Was it dry? I know my full size M&P had issues (esp w/ HP) when it was a little dry and dirty as will a lot of firearms..

Gave it a good cleaning before shooting it. Didn't over lube it.

Yeah I'm surprised at the Hornady CD getting light primer strikes. Did you try to re-shoot them afterwards?

 

Did you clean the gun before the first trip to the range?

4 of the primers worked the second time and 2 worked the third time around.

That's rather disconcerting that Hornady CD would do that. I've had 0 malfunctions with Hornady CD in 3 guns.

 

Were they all from the same batch? Maybe record the batch number and get some from another batch to test?

Yes all the same batch. Should have kept the boxes and emailed them. Oh well. Going to try some Winchester ranger SXTs and see how they do.

What is the recoil like? My Kel Tec PF-9 is like hi-fiving a hammer, although it's a bit more concealable. Is the M&P Shield a good, fun range gun?

I love it, its very comfortable to shoot. My wife likes it as well and she is pretty recoil sensative...

 

I think its more comfortable than my 229 .40 and MUCH MUCH better than my old Kahr CM9. (actually sold the Kahr to buy the smith...)

Loved it too. My glock 23 is going to be a safe queen now.

I wish they would come out with extended 10-round (or more) magazines for when reloading the Shield, and, I think they would have a seller with a Shield variation... I wish they would come out with a long-slide Shield... say with a 4-4.2" barrel and the same grip configuration and a slightly longer site radius. It would be also nice to have a new base plate with a finger rest on it, something like a Pearce base plate for a little more options... Lastly, I wish S&W would come out with a Shield .22LR that was as reliable as a Ruger SR22.

Shot another 300 down it today outside in the rain and mud. I had 1 failure to extract from a squib load. Fortunately it came out of the barrel and hit the ground. Now after shooting it again and using it in real world application(100 round qualification course) I do believe it needs a houge grip just to fatten the grip up just a little bit. I was getting too much finger on the trigger and shooting low to the left at 15 and 25 yards.

 

I used America Eagle 115 grain and winchester 124 grain today. The FTE was with an American Eagle.

Reloads?

No reloads, factory brass

Factory Rounds and you had a squib? I'd contact the manufacturer with the lot number....

I would do that, but the boxes got all mixed in with everyone else's boxes.

Man either I have been lucky with mine or i havent put enough rounds through it.. I think i have only had 1 maybe 2 failures...

Most of the problems I have had are coming from ammo. As ammo companies try to catch up to demand, I think we are going to see a lot more issues with ammo. Quality will start to go down as production speeds up.

Yeah most of my ammo was purchased last year at some point, before the panic set in... maybe thats why

Never had a 9mm till about a month ago. Always had 40s.