I had the same thing happen with my new 9mm Shield a couple of days ago while reading the stripping and assembly instructions and performing the first cleaning before the first shooting. After MANY, MANY attempts to re-assemble the slide and having it not going back the full rail distance to rotate the take down lever back up to secure the slide, my wrist was at the point of laceration from the front sight-this is a VERY heavy/stiff recoil spring.
The Shield recoil spring has a full round butt plate that wedges into a notch at the barrel lug, unlike a similar fit on my .45 Colt Combat Commander which has an eliptical cutout on the recoil spring butt plate that makes for a perfect centerline replacement match.
The fix: The Shield recoil spring needs to be PERFECTLY placed horizontally and fore and aft in the slide. I saw that although the recoil spring was PERFECTLY placed vertically as per figure 35 and 36, it was a degree or two off parallel to the edges of the slide as per figure 33 and 34. Once I made the Figure 33 and 34 re-alingnment, the slide traveled full length and I was able to reset the take down lever abeit a VERY stiff slide to rack.
I posted about this previously... their is an orientation for the spring to be in, and if you don't get it right the assembly can be very difficult. It is outlined in the manual, but they don't stress the importance of it. You can actually screw up the front of the spring if you don't do it right. The front will get twisted and bent if you don't line up the end of the coil just right.
Reading thru these posts I started to look for an after market spring.There's a outfit www.DPMsystems.com that will be making replacement spring and rods in about 30 days. I don't know anything about them, but they look like they pretty well built products and they responded right away. Might be worth a try. My spring has worked fine, but like others is a little stiff to pull back. I've put in an Apex kit, so I will probably try their spring kit when it comes out.
Hmmm.. I just had a thought about springs. Some people like to experiment with different recoil springs. We can get all kinds of springs with different "weight" ratings. We can get springs for just about any kind of pistol. Even most all of the M&P series. But, not the Shield??? I haven't read a single comment about anybody trying out different spring weights. Can't find any Shield springs on Wolff web site.
Reading thru these posts I started to look for an after market spring.There's a outfit www.DPMsystems.com that will be making replacement spring and rods in about 30 days. I don't know anything about them, but they look like they pretty well built products and they responded right away. Might be worth a try. My spring has worked fine, but like others is a little stiff to pull back. I've put in an Apex kit, so I will probably try their spring kit when it comes out.
I just bought a .40 Shield today, brand new from a Sporting goods store. The display model functioned perfectly, no hang-up when racking the slide, no binding, dragging, etc.
I told the salesman that I wanted to have a NIB pistol rather than the display model, so he got me a brand new one. Upon inspecting it, I found that the slide would not go back fully, and you could not lock it back. He said that they are stiff when new and it would break in after shooting it.
I asked him if the display model has been shot, and he said "no", but it has been handled a lot and that's why it was smooth. I then proceeded to field strip the pistol and inspect the RSA. I was not impressed at all with what I found. Basically the ends of the large spring (mostly the forward end) were too large and partially overlap the caps.
I asked him to try this RSA in the display model, and he did. Guess what, the display model now had the same problem. I put the display model's RSA in the new pistol and it functioned just fine. So in the end, he let me take the RSA from the display model and walk out the door with my new pistol.
I haven't shot the pistol yet, but I'm not the least bit impressed with the fitment of the large spring. When I gave the pistol it's initial cleaning this evening, I found the ends of the large spring to be too big, but obviously not as big as the other one, as it hasn't caused any binding and the slide functions just fine when racking it by hand.
I'll report back after I get a chance to put a box of rounds through it. I really hope this DPM outfit makes a better RSA for this pistol, as I really do like it. Even if the pistol shoots fine after a box of 50, it's one of those things that will always be in the back of my mind. I need to have full confidence in my carry gun, and I just know that this will bug me being that the problem seems to be fairly "common".
A bad spring on a brand new pistol....seriously? I will keep checking on this DPM company, maybe even try to contact them to see if they are going to produce a RSA for the Shield. I will buy it for sure if it's a higher quality, closer tolerance assembly.
I must be living a charmed life, I'm beginning to think I'm the only person on this forum who hasn't had an issue with the recoil spring, I just slap it back in after cleaning and it's worked every time and no issue racking the slide. I've thought about getting ahold of S&W and say mine broke so they will send me one so I will have a spare in case the other one goes to s***.
Well, I just got back from putting a box through the pistol.....everything functioned just fine, no problems at all. I video taped just in case, but it was uneventful.
Why be flamed for that....because they want you to send your assembly in to them?
The only problem I see with the information is it says the factory rod is plastic. The best that I can tell, mine is metal.
ADDED:
Here's what I think the problem is.....the guide rod is not of large enough diameter. What I mean is the difference between the O.D. of the rod and the I.D. of the large spring is too great. This allows the spring to get all slinkied when compressed and it binds up. I'm no gunsmith or spring expert, but this sure seems like the problem to me.
I had a Glock 22 Gen.4 with a similar style RSA. I replaced it with a Gen.3 guide rod and spring, which was the same type of ribbon style spring as this one, only a lot longer. The spring fit the rod very closely, thereby preventing it from getting all out of shape when compressed. The ends of the spring were also "formed" and flattened out like a washer, rather than simply cut like the factory Shield spring seems to be.
I'm going to contact the SS Guide Rods company and ask them if their rods are of larger O.D. than the stock rods.
__________________
MSP - Retired
Last edited by Bob O; 12-21-2014 at 01:30 AM.
Reason: add
I thank each of you for your horror stories regarding the slide during reassembly. You have saved my sanity.
I spent the better part of fifteen minutes trying to reassemble my new Shield. No matter what I did, I simply could not lock the slide in order to flip the slide release lever.
Finally, with effort I did not know I had, I got the slide back farther about 1/8" and the slide allowed me to move the slide stop and then the slide release lever in place.
This was harder for me to do than with a new Les Baer 1911.
Regardless of what has been said about the springs being needed this way, I have never had this problem with small size Glocks, FN or Kahr striker fire pistols.
Same issue here with my 40 shield. It did not happen in the store but after I reassembled after cleaning. Its a 50/50 on whether I can rack the slide far enough too lock it. Called s-w and they are sending a new rsa. Could take 12 days since they are backorderd. Probably sending a bunch out to folks. Hope the new one works better. Haven't even shot it yet.
My slide was hard to rack back also. I called S&W and they sent me a new RSA out. It was also hard to rack back. I only shot 250 rounds. I think it still needs more rounds before it breaks in.
But however, I have two RSA now and I purchased the stainless steel guide rod and sent my OEM guide rod in to fit the spring on the stainless one. I should be getting it tomorrow. They have fast turnround service. I will post my result on it and range report in a few days.
SNIP
Regardless of what has been said about the springs being needed this way, I have never had this problem with small size Glocks, FN or Kahr striker fire pistols.
I've never had this problem with any semi-auto handgun I've owned, ever. Striker or hammer, they all have recoil springs and guide rods. This is the first and only handgun I've owned with a problem like this.
shart,
I look forward to reading about your results, as well as comparison pics if you get a chance.....thank you!!
My slide was hard to rack back also. I called S&W and they sent me a new RSA out. It was also hard to rack back. I only shot 250 rounds. I think it still needs more rounds before it breaks in.
But however, I have two RSA now and I purchased the stainless steel guide rod and sent my OEM guide rod in to fit the spring on the stainless one. I should be getting it tomorrow. They have fast turnround service. I will post my result on it and range report in a few days.
I checked out the web site for the replacement guide rod, it says it replaces the plastic guide rod in the Shield. I just checked the guide rod in my Shield 9 that I have had about a month, my guide rod is shiny, looks like it could be SS, and the end piece that retains the spring is steel, I checked it with a magnet.
Here are the photos of the SS guide rod that I got. After installing it, to me it is easier to rack the slide and to move the take down lever. We will find out Saturday how it performs at the range. So far so good. Plus, its a lot easier to insert then the original OEM guide rod.
Add me to the list of people who had a heck of a time getting the Shield (9mm) back together after an initial cleaning prior to shooting. The problem led me to this thread. Positioning the spring in the 6 o'clock position didn't make it any easier. I had to power it back with all my strength.
The gun doesn't want to go in to battery after a press check unless I give it a little nudge. I assume this also has to do with the RSA. Anxious to hear if a new recoil spring from Smith fixes it.
These issues took all the fun out of buying a new gun today
I must have been lucky. I cleaned my new Shield 9 for the first time yesterday and didn't have any trouble reassembling it. I must have just put the RSA back in just right by chance.
The positioning didn't matter in the case of my pistol. The assembly or spring was bad.....binding up and preventing the slide from being racked fully.
The guy initially told me that new guns are tight and it would get better after a couple boxes are shot through it. I asked him if I could try the RSA from the display model, and when I did, it functioned just fine. When he put the RSA from my brand new unfired pistol into the display model, it would not function.
He then got the store manager over to look at it, and he said to give me the working RSA, and they would send the defective one back to S&W with the display model. He also said he was concerned about the rest of them, and he was going to inspect them due to what I had brought to their attention.
I think that it's going to take a few dealers sending stock back to get S&W interested. Mine has had three springs and a trip back to the factory. It's still harder than heck. There is no way my wife or daughter can use this gun regularly without help.
I bought a second SIG P938 today to serve their needs. I'm putting the Shield on the market. It's had a thousand rounds through it. It's otherwise perfect and it shoots great, but the spring ruins it for carrying for them, and we have better range guns so it has failed to find a use at our house. I love the way it shoots, it's size, and the way it feels in my hand. But we just have too much trouble racking it.
I bought a second SIG P938 today to serve their needs. I'm putting the Shield on the market.
Man... Too bad you couldn't have used it as a trade towards the P938.
True... You wouldn't have gotten as much in trade as you could selling it yourself, but do you really want to sell a pistol you feel is defective/flawed to another individual?
The Shields are very tight when new.Some of the stiffness can be alleviated by leaving the slide locked back for 7 or 8 days.
Also leave the magazines loaded for the same amount of time.This,and just simply shooting it a few hundred rounds will make a noticeable difference.
When you get the slide locked back take notice of the orientation of where the lock engages the slide.It is further back than it should be and the internal portion of the slide lock is angled back.
It was not designed to be used as a slide release as most other pistols.A small design flaw in my opinion,but just slingshot the slide to chamber and you'll have no trouble.With practice this will become easier and faster to do.
Don't start grinding and sanding on this quality pistol,just follow this procedure and let it break in.It won't take long and you'll be better off for it.
The Shields are very tight when new.Some of the stiffness can be alleviated by leaving the slide locked back for 7 or 8 days.
I did this for maybe even longer. I would leave the slide locked back while I was working or sleeping and would work the slide some back and forth while watching TV. Mine was tight, but seems fine now.
Emailed S&W to see if they'll send me a new recoil spring assembly. Says it can take up to 5 days for a response though.
On a brand new Shield 9 just received a week ago Friday, the recoil spring end was actually hanging over the edge of the spring guide, preventing me from retracting the slide far enough to rotate the disassembly lever without using a crazy amount of force not necessary on any other Shield I have handled.
When I finally did get it apart, it would not go back together except in one specific location. With all due respect, that is UNACCEPTABLE. I have never had it happen on any other Shield received in on order.
I could not sell this weapon in this condition in good conscience without a replacement recoil spring. One week ago, on Monday, I simply telephoned S&W, got a customer service representative in less than 3 minutes and nicely explained the issue. I even offered to pay for the new recoil spring assembly. He would not hear of it. He was exceedingly nice and very willing to help. As I write this, the replacement spring is on the way, no charge.
I post this because I tire of hearing that folks used email and are ok with a 5 day wait for a response when a free call to their 800 number will get the same job done in under 10 minutes. Of course, I began dealing with S&W when we still used rotary dial telephones. Remember those?
Man... Too bad you couldn't have used it as a trade towards the P938.
True... You wouldn't have gotten as much in trade as you could selling it yourself, but do you really want to sell a pistol you feel is defective/flawed to another individual?
You make a very good point. I would never sell a firearm to anyone without making full disclosure as to why I was selling it. I hope none of us would. But in this instance, I do not feel that it is a defective gun. I have shot it a good bit. But the recoil spring issue keeps it from being used for the purpose that I bought it for. My frustration is that not all Shields are like mine. I've handled many others that were about the same as my M&P9C. But mine isn't, and I've failed to find a cure. Someone with strong hands would probably never notice the issue.
BTW -- with these guns going for $350+/- NIB, the trade in value tends to run around $160 to $180. That's why I didn't trade it.
Just a quick update that I finally got my new RSA from CS. Threw it in the Shield and it works like a charm. No doubt in my mind that some of the RSAs out there prevent the slide from full travel frequently. Now I couldn't get it to bind up. Very happy and looking forward to shooting it.
I just picked up my Shield last Saturday. I have experienced all the issues mentioned here, slide release not working with and empty mag, stiff spring, assembly difficulties, flawless operation at the range. The test fire cartridge that came with the pistol is dated Jan 2015 and I purchased it in Jan 2015 - wow, fast movement into the supply chain.
At any rate after 50 rounds at the range and lots of exercise at home it is starting to loosen up. I frequently put on a pair of griper gloves, remove the mag and fully rack the slide 10 times right hand, 10 times left hand, repeat, repeat, repeat... That way you can build up hand strength and loosen things up at the same time. I view the Shield as my personal hand exerciser. It also helps keep your clutch and brake hand in shape over the winter while your MCs wait patiently for a winter exercise session when the road is dry.
?..It also helps keep your clutch and brake hand in shape over the winter while your MCs wait patiently for a winter exercise session when the road is dry.
Ha! The best reason ever for giving the Shield another go. But I have to warn you, I wore out a good pair of leather gloves racking it. The front sight finally cut through the palm.
But I was at the lgs today looking at more toys (bought four boxes of ammo - HP stuff) and I played with a new Shield that was smooth as glass. I'd give anything to get mine to be like that one. (I have to admit, though, i can't get the little .380 M&P Bodyguard out of my mind. A smooth little gun with an unfortunately long reset - it was hard to hand back, as was the XDM. Decisions, decisions)
Most of us have had the same problem with a new Shield spring being stiff and have posted about it. My wife couldn't rack in and I had a heck of a time getting it to lock. The take down level was also very stiff and hard to rotate. The good news is that things loosen up with use.
Great ideas on the slide problem. My neighbor and I just bought identical 40, non-safety shields and his is harder to engage than mine. We will try points you guys have made.
When y'all were in the store, do you not give your potential new purchase a once over (work/lock the slide, do a quick take down to inspect it, etc) before putting your cash/card on the counter, or do you just take a quick look, say 'that's nice', pay and go? How does one NOT notice this before they get home?
If you had noticed this while still in the store, you could have tried another Shield, or simply said 'No thanks... I don't like it....That spring's too tight'.
Why accept (buy) something that's so........ Unacceptable?
When I bought my SR22 the guy at the store made it look easy to get the grip off the display model, which may have been on and off numerous times and which did not prepare me for how hard it was to get the grip off a brand new untouched SR22 when I got home.
Originally Posted by RobzGuns When y'all were in the store, do you not give your potential new purchase a once over (work/lock the slide, do a quick take down to inspect it, etc) before putting your cash/card on the counter, or do you just take a quick look, say 'that's nice', pay and go? How does one NOT notice this before they get home?
If you had noticed this while still in the store, you could have tried another Shield, or simply said 'No thanks... I don't like it....That spring's too tight'.
Why accept (buy) something that's so........ Unacceptable?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mcwsky09
When I bought my SR22 the guy at the store made it look easy to get the grip off the display model, which may have been on and off numerous times and which did not prepare me for how hard it was to get the grip off a brand new untouched SR22 when I got home.
Thanks for confirming my point. One needs to actually check/inspect the pistol going on the Form4473 (their 'potential new purchase') before they complete the paperwork.
I recently bought a new revolver that had problems. The sales person though had already put the Serial# on the Form4473 before I noticed it. While I found the problem before leaving the store, we did need to find another revolver, destroy that paperwork and redo a new 4473 with a different serial#.
Just ordered a SS guide rod. The website mentioned nothing about sending my factory one in. I'm hoping it ships with the option of allowing me to swap it myself.
I posted somewhere on this forum that I would never ever again read a thread that had anything to do with the Shield or the Bodyguard.... Just out of morbid curiousity, I'm here and dammit. I knew I shouldn't have read these comments.... My eyes have rolled so much in these past few moments that I now have a migraine.
Seem like the first thing every new guy that goes out & buy's a new M&P Shield is to get on the forum & complain about the recoil spring and suddenly they're mechanical engineers and come up with their own solutions to S&W's "design flaw".
All I know guys is this.... Both, my M&P Shield 9, which I use weekly in local IDPA matches & my EDC Shield 40 have performed flawlessly since day one. I have no issues at all with S&W's design, in fact I think the Shield is a superior CC weapon the way it is from the factory and posts like this are magnets for advertiser's pushing their products, ie; their own recoil springs and newbies take the bait so eagerly... Rant over, have a good day
Last edited by CaptRon956; 06-07-2015 at 12:08 PM.
The fact is that some people have gotten defective spring assemblies in brand new pistols....and others have had the factory assembly fail on them.
Mine was defective right out of the box. Since the factory replacement, I've had not a single problem. But since there is a beefier option out there, I will try it rather than risking my replacement assembly going bad like has happened to others.
I believe I read in the manual that their is an orientation of the spring when replacing it. the end of the coil had to face upwards. It may have been another pistol manual I read it in, but I have always replaced mine doing this.
Right on! That is how I reassemble my shield after field strip & cleaning. It works every time!
Could S&W finally looked into the RSA stiffness issues everyone is complaining about?
I bought the CA version in mid May, the spent casing in the box was stamped Mar 2015. The only thing I did when I cleaned it prior to shooting around 150 rounds, was to put a mark (correction fluid) on the top of the RSA rod that seat against the barrel, before taking it out. I also did, as of this time maybe about a hundred or so dry fires.
The RSA is not as stiff as I imagined it would be. I can lock the slide with no mag, pushing the slide lock as I rack the slide.
Linear Mode
