M&P SHIELD 0.40 CALIBER MAGAZINE DROP PROBLEM POLL
 

I called S&W about my magazine drop problem on the Shield 0.40 and the guy seemed clueless but after checking they will send me the replacement mag release part. Just curious how widespread the problem really is for this gun. Thought that I would take a poll on whether you have had a magazine drop problem on a factory new Shield 0.40?

None here.

Nothing wrong here.

After reading the threads concerning this problem with the 40 cal. Shield,I went to the range yesterday and ran 100 rounds through mine using the extended magazine and had no problems.
For what it is worth,my Shield is prefixed with a "DXT" series serial number.

500+ through my .40 with no issues. I am concerned that it is happening there is wide-spread topics on various forums and YouTube videos showing the problem. More concerning are the reports of people calling S&W and they saying there have only been a couple of issues. Surly thy are smart enough to turn on the google machine and do a quick search. I have no idea how many Shields have passes the production line so far, safe to say a lot! Maybe the limited number of reported occurrences is within their +\- margin of error? Even so, I would be a happy camper if the mag popped out every time I fired my new gun. Best of luck!

No problem with mine either.

cjwig,

got a .40 shield yesterday...your post made me go to my safe to check.

i can't get the short mag to hang up, but my hand causes the extended one to hang up by interfering with the (extended) floor-plate. for me, it's not a gun, but an ergonomics problem.

budman

ignorance is fixable...

I see quite a few people (with various pistols) who insist on loading with the slide closed, and then get a magazine drop after firing. This is caused by not fully seating the magazine against the 1/2 round additional compression of the magazine spring, which can be verifed if the magazine does not drop when loaded from an open slide.

I believe both sides of the story: quite a few people are having trouble with magazine drops, but only a few guns have actual mechanical defects that need new parts.

guys,

sorry, i'm new to the shield/m&p arena. i thought the problem was with failure to eject, not the mag dropping out on its own.

thanks for the warning...

My 40 shield is fine. Never has dropped the mag in 400+ rounds

No problems here. 150+ rounds.

200 rounds through mine and no problems, but it doesn't take much movement of the release button to drop the mag. Maybe a longer mag catch mechanism could be the answer. Something that will go deeper into the notch in the mag.

YES!
Mine occurred more often after about 100-150 rounds through. I always load with the slide open, I adjusted my grip to make sure I wasn't hitting the release and I also shot one-handed. Now I get the mag-drop on every single shot with the extended clip now. Mostly with full mag and +1. Exactly as on the YouTube vid. Didn't at first.

Called S&W and they are actually shipping my gun back rather than send the part. The Cust. Serv. person (Jeff) said he only heard about it one other time. I called back twice and got the same person on the phone, so don't think they have a huge staff. Perhaps I am wrong, but in either case I find it hard to believe that S&W doesn't know about this issue.

Great to read that others are not having the same issue. Gives me more confidence in the weapon, but I gotta say the problem really gave me some serious doubt. Simply can't/won't use the weapon as-is.

no prob here after a couple of months and several hundred rounds.

Mine dropped the magazines loading with slide open or closed. Sent it in for repair today.

Picked up my .40 cal a few weeks ago and started having the same problem. It is NOT an issue with seating the magazine or hitting the mag release by accident. I called S&W and they sent me a new mag release which I installed but have yet to shoot and test. They seemed to be aware of the problem when they told me they would send me a new release. I have my doubts as the new release appears identical to the old one. I'm hoping they left a little more material on the release catch and I just can't see it with the naked eye. I would assume all they would need to do is re-engineer the release catch to be slightler longer where it contacts the mag. With my slide off and mag in the frame I can push the mag over to the left and make it so the smallest amount of pressure on the release will drop the mag. My guess would be the recoil of the .40 round is causing the frame to flex just enough to allow the mag to pop off the release catch.

Yes :(
The short mag has ran with no problems ran around 200 rounds. The extended mag really started failing after a 100 rounds. Yesterday the magazine ejected after every round for the first three rounds and I got several stove pipes. The mag release is loose. It wiggles front to back and drops a loaded mag wiggleing the release without pushing it in. Called smith and they want me to send it infor repair.

I have to wait a week as I am out of town until Friday.

Well gentlemen hate to chime in with more bad news but..... After reading this forum again I decided I would venture out and test this new mag release that S&W sent me. Same problem from round one. Being LEO I called and left a message for their west coast LEO rep so hopefuly I will have an answer in the next day or two. Being an avid collector of firearms I have plenty to use in the mean time and I know S&W will take care of the problem in the long run. Just frustrating :-<

I'm wondering if the dropped magazine problem isn't with the mag or mag release but the extension collar that is on the 7rd mag. It's plastic or rubber and could be molded out of specs pretty easy and could be keeping the mag from seating properly. Maybe trimming a hair of the top would cure the problem. Just wondering.

Having problem with extended mag
 

I'm having the problem with the extended mag, especially if I insert a full mag with a loaded round in the chamber. Have not had the problem with the short mag but both seem to fit rather loosely. I emailed S&W two days ago but haven't heard yet. I kind of suspect it will be better to wait a bit till they have a better solution to the problem. As a defensive weapon, I would like to be able to carry that extra round.

if you need more contact between the mag catch and the mag, it's much easier to change the mag then to change the mag catch.

use a 1/8" punch, insert from the opposite side and push out the top edge of the cut in the magazine that contacts the mag catch.
http://i566.photobucket.com/albums/s...466A702B2A.png

If I ever have the problem this is IMHO the solution until S&W redesigns the catch.

I don't believe the problem is really in the pistol. I believe it is in the magazine. The magazine has way to much play in it, vertically and simply poor fit. The outside dimensions of the magazines are simply undersized by too much relative to the size of the magazine well. To truly fix this problem, I believe S&W will have to replace the magazines. With properly fitted magazines this problem will go away. One thought would be to add a polymer outer skin to the mag similar to what Glock has done. This would tighten things up a bit and allow tight fit without binding.

The problem is with the mag dropping out on its own when firing...

So far, this poll is indicating about 1 out of 3 Shield 0.40's have this magazine drop problem - much higher than I was expecting. I will update this again in a few days. Thanks for the response.

Did smith and wesson say anything about this?

Copy GLOCK in how they make their pistols??!! How dare you say that on a S&W forum!! :)

Sorry, I had to beat some die-hard S&W fan to the punch. OBTW, I agree with you about a mag design change (clips for those who cringe at the word).

I just wish S&W had also copied the "no safety" part too.

Edmo

Yes, both mags. Extended mag worse. It went to S&W and they replaced the mag catch. Only 60 rounds since return, all 60 okay but won't trust it until I get a few hundred more without issue.

Actually I haven't experienced mag drop. I was simply pointing out that the mags fit poorly. I doubt seriously that 1 in 3 have problems. I spoke with Joe at S&W CS yesterday and suggested to him it might be partially if not fully caused by poor mag fit. He listened but I came away feeling like he simply wanted to get me off the phone.

I haven't had any problems to date....

I purchased a 9mm M&P Shield and my buddy purchased a 40 cal M&P Shield. I have no problems with my magazine, but with my buddy's 40 cal the extended magazine dropped after every shot or every other shot. His 40 cal short magazine did not have this problem, never dropped.

One other oddity was that I shoot my 9mm about 8" low with windage OK. I shoot my buddy's 40 cal 1" low with windage OK. Not sure what's going on.

Today is Saturday and my buddy intends to call S&W Customer Service regarding the dropping magazine on Monday. Is the magazine or the magazine release?

CJ, I've attached my response that's in another Shield 40 thread. There is a definite problem with these firearms. If you own one and all you're doing is punching paper with it then it's dependability is not a factor. If you're carrying one off duty or concealed and your life or someone else's may depend on it's operation, please rethink your decision anout carrying it. The fact that mine experienced an out of battery detonation was bad enough but to send the gun to Smith and have it returned with exactly the same problem has destroyed any confidence I had in the gun as an off duty. ..................

Original post.
I ordered my Shield 40 in May and received it mid June. I shot a box of Speer Lawman ammo through it and experienced 2 mag drops. Thought it to be an ammo or grip problem so I taped an foam ear plug just above the release as a land mark and switched to regular duty ammo. Shot another 15 rounds with no issues.
I took the Shield to my semi-annual LEO quals so that I could carry it off duty. I had 2 feed malfuntions due to the mag dropping approx a quater inch out of lock and 45 rounds into the course of fire I had an out of battery detonation. It blew the mag completely out of gun and form fitted the case to the feed ramp and the rear half of the chamber. The case head hit my ballistic glasses just above my right eye , creasing the lens and gouging the frame. My trigger finger is still sore. I sent the gun back to S&W.
Two weeks later I recieved a call stating they were replacing the lower but sending me back my original slide. Wouldn't give me an explanation as to why. Lawyer BS I imagine. Received the gun a week later. Second shot out of the box, mag dropped 1/4", round stove piped and I went to cussing. If they can't repair a gun that I'm trusting the public's and my life to then that gun shouldn't have been returned to service. Needless to say this is my last S&W and I'll be returning my Shield and my new 1911 for a refund.

As someone stated before it was probably a bad run of some of the .40's. I own both guns and have fired both of them 500+ rounds through their paces, whether it be target practice or fast paced ammo dumping. I mean if "everyone" had this problem I would jump on the bandwagon, but S&W seems to know about it and has a fix, frustrating I know, but this is what happens when everyone jumps to brand new cutting edge equipment. There is always the possibility of a "human" beta test.

I'm also having the mag drop problem with the extended mag in my .40 Shield. It happens about every other round on average, although sometimes it will happen for several consecutive rounds. I went to the range for the first time with this weapon on Sunday, and shot about 300 rounds through it. I field stripped it and lubed it before the range trip. It got so exasperating using the 7 round mag that I probably shot over 250 rounds through the 6 round one. I also had the range officer, a person whom I consider very knowledgeable about firearms in general, to try it to make sure I wasn't crazy. He experienced the same mag dropping problem with the 7 rounder. I had this happen with the 6 round mag perhaps 3 or 4 times out of the 250 or rounds fired through the smaller mag.

Going through the poll numbers so far, folks are reporting that approximately one of two Shield 0.40's are having the magazine drop problem.

I have the problem. Contacted S&W and they said they would send a replacement magazine catch. When it came, it was obviously not a proper fit and worked no better. When I contacted them again, they apologized and said they had sent the wrong part. They had me return the gun. They said they were still working on a proper replacement magazine catch and told me it would be a while before it was finally produced. They estimated it would be about four weeks before I received the gun back. They are now very aware of the problem and seem convinced it is the magazine catch. I agree since my magazines were never fully seated.:(

Drops Consistently
 

Took mine to the range the day I bought it. Fired well until round 48. After that it dropped with nearly every round. As others have said, I tried to adjust my grip and evaluated whether it was me or the pistol. Even one-handed with my thumb partially off the grip the magazine dropped. Sent it back to Smith yesterday, as that is what they recommended. Looking forward to hear how other members' repairs went. Maybe we'll need to start a thread dedicated to members who have had their Shields returned after "repair".

My 40 is currently at Smith for this problem. The 9 Sheild no problems however so far.

Thought I would add my $.02.
I purchased my Shield .40 in June, serial # DXP2nnn.
Since then I have put almost 300 rounds through it.

Not a single drop.

Here is what I have noticed; the 6 round mag is very loose. I can wiggle it around when it is inserted with the slide open. I have pushed down on the mag with the slide open, even though it is still loose, it did not fall out.

The 7 round mag is much tighter, and has very little play. Again, I was not able to get it to drop by manually manipulating. And, it as well as the 6 round have never dropped in almost 300 rounds.

This is my first M&P, and one of things that surprised me was the visual low quality of the mags. They almost appeared to be galvanized steel rather than stainless.

My XD mags shine like new penny, and my M22a mags look like quality stainless. The Shield mags do not.

So what is the possibility that it is a mag problem and not a pistol problem.

Has anyone with the mag drop problem tried mags from a buddy that does not have the drop problem?

I know I am a new member to the S&W forum, but not new to handguns, however I recently purchased M&P Shield .40. I have not made it to range yet, I was just happy to find one, so I bought it. You mentioning your Serial Number was a excellent idea. Mine is DXV6xxx. Maybe if the rest of the members of this thread did the same thing, we could see if there some similarity. Maybe a certain series of Serial numbers have this problem and maybe why others aren't. I had heard such great things about this gun, it hard to believe S&W would not come forward with a recall. I guess I'll just keep carrying my PPS and Glock 27 until the count is in. I also need my a.. to the range.

No problems with mine, but only 101 rounds through it.

After talking with Dave from S&W about my magazine drop problem and agreeing to send me the magazine release, I decided to call back after waiting two weeks since the part was not received. I got Miguel and he said that the S&W new policy was that the firearm had to be sent to them for repair and apologized for the misunderstanding with a slightly arrogant tone. This is very poor customer service. S&W should have called me if the policy changed after my call since I would have been waiting for the part indefinitely. I am really miffed and S&W is at the bottom of my list for future gun purchases. I will likely return the gun for refund tomorrow. This manufacturing defect in approximately 50% of their Shield 0.40 guns based upon this poll is totally inexcusable. S&W - shame on your quality and customer service.

Call me stupid but where to return the gun for a refund? In Louisana all sales are final.

I had same though so I removed the rubber boot adn still had mag drops.

mine has not dropped any to date.

I buy most of my guns from one dealer so he works it out with the gun supplier if returned. I returned a jamomatic Diamondback DB9 to my dealer earlier this year.

The interesting part of the story is that S&W called me back today to tell me that they are sending me the part after all - changing positions. Erratic folks at S&W.

My serial number is also DXV6xxx hmmm same problem here.

Took my .40 shield to the range saturday, shooting with the 7 round mag, and going though 4 reloads, the 7 round mag would drop after firing once. This was repeated by 2 other people and it did the same thing. Also did it shooting one handed. Dismayed and disgruntled. I will never ever buy a brand new hyped up gun again ever in my life. I hope S&W fixes my gun. /sigh back to the glock 23 for carry.

SN: DXX0xxx. I assume mine was manufactured after the DXVxxxx ones mentioned above. My 7 rounder drops on average every two rounds. Two or three drops only with about 250 rounds through the 6 round mag.

No problems with mine. DXT3xxx serial number.

Two folks have had trouble with a DXV and one with a DXX. If people with the trouble could list their S/N prefix, maybe we could get a better idea of a trend.