New to S & W. The Shield is my first. Have Glocks but bought the Shield because I wanted 9mm single stack. Bought two weeks ago. Cleaned and taken to the range for 60 rounds with wwb, Hornady. No problems that I notice. Just got back form range yesterday with 100 rounds down range. When cleaning the barrell I noticed on the outside of the barrell at the end was a crease around the barrell tan is uniform aroud it. It starts around the last 1/4 inch of the end of barrell. When you run your finger over it that last 1/4 inch is higher than the rest of the barrell but is uniform around the barrell. Is this they way they are cast or defective? Looking at the end of the barrell the inter ring where the rifleing starts is pitted and is not round. there is an outer ring (looks like an inter and outer barrell) that is smooth. My glocks do not look this way. If you have a shield let me know if it is normal or do I have an issue with this barrell. The gun shot fine expect for a few times slide would not lock back last shot ( Imay have had thumb on slide or weak load) and it is real hard to load a mag full. Have to grad the slide and squeeze hard to get the mag to click. Thanks for the help. I want to love this gun!

My barrel has the same ridge as your barrel and since it's nice and uniform, I suspect it's normal... But the Shield is my 1st S&W pistol as well. Mine does not have the pitting you've noticed though.

The mag spring will loosen up as it gets exercised. I've had many new mags that were hard to insert at first (and near impossible to get the last round into)... Including the G-26.

The ring around the end of the barrel is normal. Can you get pic of the pitting so we can see what you're talking about?

As noted, it's normal and aids in the barrel lock-up to the slide. It is also one of the lube points so things slide more easily.

Just out the door to put down a few more rounds. First time on forum. Will take some pictures today and then try and figure out how to post them! I cleaned the end of the barrell again and it is till there like scrathes or fileings. Looks like the barrell is not round. Look through the other end and it looks round as it should all the way through. Shot 10 rounds of hornady plus p. The manual says excessive wear can result, but so does Glock. I believe this is CYA as everyone uses plus P as devesive rounds. 90% of time I will not use plus P on the range.

Load with the slide locked back if you want easier loading, avoiding compressing the maagazine spring that extra 1/2 cartridge against the bottom of the slide.
Magazine springs will settle to normal with use.

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Science plus Art

My thoughts. The shield comes on a 9mm .40 They probably use the same slide but the outer diameter of the barrel is different, just speculating. On the 9mm barrel diameter, I measured .558 and .567 on the front 1/2" on the barrel.

Most likely your thumbs keep the slide from opening on the last round.

Keep your magazines loaded to soften your spring, Its hard to load the magazine with the slide close as stated earlier, I think it will get easier with time.

The front end of the barrel of my PPS has a small bevel on the inside, the SHIELD does not have it and its sharp, you are feeling the end of the rifling that why it feels pitted, remember that the inside is not perfectly round. I dont think that the barrel is cast I think is machined

I believe your are spot on about barrell. It is the only thing that makes sense. Since the barrell on Glock 26 and 19 are not that way I freaked out. Makes sens about useing the slide for the 40. Just got back from shooting again and watched my thumbs after it happened again. I have big hands. Think you are right about end of barrell. Gun shots better than me. The small and thin grip and the trigger is a learning curve. Still shoot my 26 better but more practice should take care of it.
Thanks!

I am back to shooting after many years of not. Getting better at it. Love the shield. I installed a Houge handall jr grip sleeve and it made a difference but after cleaning the gun some oil gun under the sleeve, cleaned t but it moves on me after a while. I would love to see a sleeve grip with more meat on the rear of the grip. Need to see of limbsaver makes a grip for it. If you are handy working in your guns do the stricker block mod and the lightening of the trigger pull. I posted some pics. It also made a difference for me as far as accuracy since the trigger pull is much smoother.

My son had the same issue with the slide as he has big hands also. I was freaking out about it

Glad to hear you did better today

Fercho64... I've read that the Limbsaver made for the G-26 (12013) also fits the PF-9 & LC9 nicely, so it might work for the Shield as well.

Thanks Robz, I'll head out to Ganders and see if they got one and how it fits

Genthod, just looked at the video review of the Shield .40 and it looks like it has the same flared out 1/2 inch on the front of the OD of the barrel, guess I was wrong. But may be they are using the same slide on a .45 coming out and here we go again!!

Had one of those with me actually, just checked and the bottom is to large

Ah... Lucky that you had the right size available already.
Good to know for future reference. Thanks for the 1st hand info.

I used a piece of innertube (16" bicycle inner tube). I've used this on many polymer handguns over the years. It never moves on me while shooting.

[QUOTE=Fercho64;136514416]Thanks Robz, I'll head out to Ganders and see if they got one and how it fits

Genthod, just looked at the video review of the Shield .40 and it looks like it has the same flared out 1/2 inch on the front of the OD of the barrel, guess I was wrong. But may be they are using the same slide on a .45 coming out and here we go again!![/QUOTE

Well at least I know it is normal. Wonder if Talon will make a grip for the Shield? I need something. A 45 ? My Visa hasn't recovered from my last purchase!

Well its the same model that I use on my PPS.. I may try a new one but I bet is too big on the bottom of the grip.

My Houge ripped just now when I removed it, I may need to install a new one with hair spray and see how it holds. Sure is going to be funny me buying hair spray as I have nothing on top

Pachmyar makes the one that fits the LC9 Part 05177. It should also work!!

Why Not!!

It just seems to stay put

get a set of Talon rubber grips they work great

Interesting comment about loading the 7 round magazines. I have found they are an bear to insert, and they really bind on the magazine release. Something just wasn't right.

So, I stripped down both a 7 and an extended 8 round mag, and discovered the springs are the same length, even though the mags aren't. S&W did not shorten the 7 round mag spring in proportion to the mag's length, so when you load that 7th round, you are doing so on a fully compressed spring with no more give. No wonder the last round is so hard and inserting the mag is so difficult!

I clipped off one coil of the mag spring and reassembled. Now the 7 round mag is perfect. It has the same amount of give as the 8 rounder, and the same amount of resistance and travel when the last round is loaded.

Fully impressed with the Shield, especially with the Apex Tactical kit. Fabulous gun!

When you guys use a grip sleeve, mix a drop of shampoo with water as the lubricant. It is slippery and dries tacky. Let it dry for 24 hrs.

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Bob

I usually soak the grips in very hot water (boil it, remove from flame and soak grip for 5 minutes), spritz grip and handle with Windex to lubricate and wrestle it on before it cools too much. Never slips after cooling.

Geez. This thread from 2012??