Ammunition for Shadow 2

[PA USPSA]

I just purchased an Accushadow 2 and I'm realizing it is very particular with regard to ammunition.  What ammunition are people using in their Shadow 2 pistols?  Will all 124 grain FMJ fit?  Are there any 124 grain FMJ that do not fit?

[tdogg]

Welcome to the forum!  I too just purchased an Accushadow 2 that I'm building a carry optic rig with at the moment.  CZ's have a "tight" chamber that is designed for 124gr ball ammo.  If you are purchasing bulk ammo you may want to verify it will chamber in your barrel first (take your barrel with you to the store and verify it will pass the plunk test).  There is a ton of info in the sticky here:  https://czfirearms.us/index.php?topic=114236.0

Cheers,
Toby

[Wobbly]

Welcome aboard !

You shouldn't really have trouble buying factory FMJ ammo or reloading your own FMJ ammo for your Shadow. CZ's are more particular about their ammo than a Glock or a Ruger, but 99% of the issue is going to be with strange bullet shapes (like conical or JHP) or strange bullet weights (like 147gr) that are not sold in Europe.

This is all detailed in the Stickies you've already been directed to. There are 2 sections, 1 for purchased ammo and 1 for home reloads. The information there walks you through the whole process. When you finish digesting one or both sections, if you still have questions, we'll be more than happy to go into more detail. But there's so much info there that it's not worth repeating here.

We will wait on your questions.

All the best.

[PA USPSA]

Thanks for the replies.  After researching the links it seems that any 124 grain FMJ should be fine.  I had planned on using 130 grain FP but only half of the cartridges passed the plunk test.  I'll shoot the 130 grain through my Sig and stick to 124 grain FMJ for my CZ.  Thanks again.

[Wobbly]

I had planned on using 130 grain FP but only half of the cartridges passed the plunk test. 

This statement is unclear. You plan to LOAD 130gr or you plan to BUY 130gr ??

I shoot 135 and 147gr all the time in my stock SP01, but I reload them myself.
Federal also has a 135gr self defense round that chambers well in the CZ.

[PA USPSA]

Federal Syntech 130 grain PCC ammunition produces a power factor of around 130 using a 5 inch barrel.  Since I don't reload and prefer a flat nose bullet for knocking down steel I had planned on using that in the Accushadow 2 for USPSA competition.  When I did the plunk test using my Accushadow 2 barrel only half of the rounds passed.  After researching a little more I also learned that the Accushadow 2/Shadow 2 prefers round nose bullets instead of flat nose bullets.  I'm therefore now looking for 124 grain FMJ to use in my Accushadow 2.

[PA USPSA]

Both the Blazer Brass 9mm 124 grain RN and the Freedom Munitions 9mm 124 grain RN (new) passed the plunk/fall test with my Accushadow 2 barrel.  To do the test, I drop the round into the barrel and listen for the plunk sound.  I then turn the barrel upside down to see if the round falls out of the barrel on its own.  100 rounds of both of these passed the test.

I shot 100 rounds of both of these with no malfunctions of any kind.  At 5 yards shooting 5 rounds freehand, the Blazer Brass had a 1 1/2 inch group with 3 shots touching and 2 shots touching while the Freedom Munitions had a 1 1/4 inch group with 4 shots touching and 1 outlier.  Without the 1 outlier the Freedom Munitions 4 shot group was 7/8 inches.  I'm sure the accuracy would be better shooting off of a rest, but I wanted to know what my accuracy would be.  I was very impressed.

[Don_P]

...... What ammunition are people using in their Shadow 2 pistols?.....

Personally, ....my 9mm reloads.  124gr bullets of various manufacture over Vihtavuori N310 & N320 powder.  The matches I shoot, power factor is not an issue so my goal is the lightest possible recoil that will still allow the pistol to function reliably. 

When performing your "plunk" test, once you drop the round in the chamber check to see that you can turn the case without resistance of the projectile ogive.  Turning the barrel upside down and allowing the round to drop free doesn't tell you much other than gravity is still a viable law. 

[Wobbly]

When performing your "plunk" test, once you drop the round in the chamber check to see that you can turn the case without resistance of the projectile ogive.  Turning the barrel upside down and allowing the round to drop free doesn't tell you much other than gravity is still a viable law.

Respectfully, I disagree.

Dropping the cartridge into the chamber....
1) one can have the tendency to lay a finger on the primer inadvertently to "assist just a little", or
2) the momentum of entry can wedge things at the last moment.

By dropping back out of the chamber, the cartridge can only be using its own weight. It proves there is no wedging and there's no was errant fingers helping things along. So dropping back out is a very useful second part of the test, especially for novice reloaders who are trying to perfect their process.

Just because you choose not to conduct a full test doesn't mean our method is invalid.

[Don_P]

Could you clarify the full test process if you would?  I’m uncertain when and where the “spin” portion of the test comes into play, or if it is even included in the full test process.  I’ve read all the “stickies” and there was no mention I could locate concerning the requirement of inverting the barrel as to allow the round to drop out of the chamber under its own weight.  Thanks.

[PA USPSA]

My plunk test I drop the round into the barrel, spin, and then turn the barrel upside down to drop the round out of the barrel.  It's not always easy to tell if the round is spinning or if my fingers are slipping, but it's easy to tell if the round falls out of the barrel on it's own.

I recently plunked 100 rounds of Eley Minor 9 ammo.  Every round dropped into the barrel with a solid plunk sound.  Spinning was questionable, and when I turned the barrel upside down each round did not fall freely.  When I shook the barrel a little the rounds would fall out, but it took a little shake to get them to fall.  It seems the bullet is just barely touching the rifling.  I will shoot them tomorrow and don't expect any issues, but I won't be buying anymore.

[Wobbly]

Could you clarify the full test process if you would?  I’m uncertain when and where the “spin” portion of the test comes into play, or if it is even included in the full test process.  I’ve read all the “stickies” and there was no mention I could locate concerning the requirement of inverting the barrel as to allow the round to drop out of the chamber under its own weight.  Thanks.

You're quite correct. No single document contained all the pieces. That has been corrected in both the Buying and Reloading directories. Thank you for pointing that out.

[PA USPSA]

I shot 100 rounds of Eley Minor 9 124 grain with no malfunctions.  It plunked when dropped into the barrel but would not fall out of the barrel without me giving the barrel a little shake.  At 5 yards shooting 5 rounds freehand, the Eley Minor 9 had a 2 inch group with 4 shots touching and 1 outlier.  Without the one outlier, the 4 shot group was 1 inch.

Given that the Eley Minor 9 rounds did not fall out of the chamber freely and the cost ($22.30 per box plus shipping), I plan on using Freedom Munitions 9mm 124 grain RN (new) ($13.90 per box plus shipping).  The Freedom Munitions accuracy was slightly better than the Eley (most likely the difference was because of me) and I couldn't feel any difference in recoil between the Freedom Munitions (1065 fps) and the Eley (1050 fps).

[Wobbly]

I shot 100 rounds of Eley Minor 9 124 grain with no malfunctions.  It plunked when dropped into the barrel but would not fall out of the barrel without me giving the barrel a little shake.

This is a danger sign you need to pay attention to !

Typically, when you get those results the case is properly proportioned, but the OAL is too long for the CZ's short leade. The bullet is then wedging itself into the rifling, which is what's retaining the cartridge inside the chamber. This will typically defeat the "spin" portion of the "Plunk & Spin" test.

The danger is that if one of the cartridges happens to be 0.008 to 0.015" longer for any reason, then the slide does not go completely into battery. The trigger is allowed to drop the hammer, but the slide is not locked. Then you get accidents that look like this...



Of course, your Shadow may not be plastic, but the spewing of brass bits at 30,000 psi is never good for the human.

[PA USPSA]

Thanks, Wobbly.  I'm not buying anymore [Eley 124gr].  Given that it was barely touching and it's a low pressure round (1050 fps) I felt it would be low risk to use up the 100 I bought.  I also had plunked each round, so I knew each round would seat correctly and not be out of battery when I fired it.  Even though I fired all 100 without any issues, I do not recommend the Eley Minor 9 for Shadow 2 pistols.  I won't be using anymore.