Ultra tight recoil spring on Shield

RobzGuns · #**101** 06-12-2015, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by potpot821

Could S&W finally looked into the RSA stiffness issues everyone is complaining about?
>Snip<
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.

It's possible, but I doubt it, as there are New members STILL posting about how hard theirs is to rack.

It seems more like a 'Personal' thing, as mine is one of the 1st batches off the line 3yrs ago and neither I, nor my 'upper body strength challenged' Wife ever had a problem racking it, from day 1. Seems like you also have no problem with what others consider difficult.

I'm no engineer, but I'm guessing that the engineers designing and testing the Shield prototypes did study just how strong the Shield's RSA needed to be to function properly, before they started production.

CaptRon956 · #**102** 06-12-2015, 05:38 PM

Just get one of these guys.... It will help, until then keep shooting & enjoying your new Shields...

Magload · #**103** 06-12-2015, 07:22 PM

I would say that the spring is petty much right the way it is. The gun cycles perfect with everything I feed it. I will say it does toss my brass all over the floor at the indoor range. I can pull the slide back with my thumb and index finger to feed the first round in a mag. Now loading that mag is a different story. if I forget my loader at home I end up only loading 2 or 3 round. I now after 500 rounds can get all 7 in but it takes more effort then I care to do. Don

Bob O · #**104** 06-12-2015, 09:57 PM

This has nothing to do with grip or strength. It's about a defective spring and/or guide rod that makes the spring bind and the slide cannot be fully racked.

How is that so difficult to understand?

If you haven't personally experienced it, then you don't know what is going on.

RobzGuns · #**105** 06-13-2015, 12:10 AM

Sorry Bob O... But with so many Happy customers that Don't have a problem with the RSA, how can YOU (and the vocal Minority) be right, in saying it's defective?

Are you saying that You're right and Thousands of Uncomplaining (Non-Posting) happy customers are wrong?

Bob O · #**106** 06-13-2015, 06:34 AM

My pistol was one with a defective spring or rod right out of the box. So I will go for the upgrade.

Why are so many people going for an Apex trigger? There's nothing wrong with the factory trigger on mine, so they all must be making things up about theirs?

That's the way some of you guys are acting. Sad that some of you have taken poor attitudes on this.

RobzGuns · #**107** 06-13-2015, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob O

My pistol was one with a defective spring or rod right out of the box. So I will go for the upgrade.

That's your prerogative Bob, but to call the whole assembly Defective, just because yours was bad? C'mon.

Quote:

Why are so many people going for an Apex trigger? There's nothing wrong with the factory trigger on mine, so they all must be making things up about theirs?

That's their prerogative too, but most don't call the trigger assembly defective. There's nothing wrong with my 3y/o trigger either and I did not buy an Apex kit.

Quote:

That's the way some of you guys are acting. Sad that some of you have taken poor attitudes on this.

You're funny... You're the one touting that the RSA is a defective design (in every single RSA related thread, no less) and you're saying some us US have poor attitudes? Funny indeed.

If you prefer to use an aftermarket RSA, fine... But to claim the whole design is defective, just because YOU feel you got a bad one???

musicmanwolf · #**108** 06-13-2015, 11:31 AM

Everybody. I own two shields a 9 and a 40. The tight spring just needs time. Both of mine were so tight I could hardly rack them back. I left them in the racked back position for about a week. Problem solved. It seems a lot a people are making a mountain out of a mole hill.

Bob O · #**109** 06-13-2015, 04:20 PM

I didn't say there was anything wrong with the design. And it's not a belief that mine was defective, its a fact. The slide would not rack far enough for the slide lock to engage. The guy behind the gun counter couldn't rack it, and neither could the gun shop manager.

Swap my brand new spring for the one in the display pistol and it was fine. The slide problem was then transfered to the display pistol, it wouldn't rack either, imagine that. Add to that I'm not the only one whose experienced this, and there's your problem.

I'm glad the problem is only a very small percentage.

martybee · #**110** 06-14-2015, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BClayton357

I have a NIB Shield. It is ridiculous that the slide is this stiff. And I don't give a **** what the manual says , the SLID RELEASE and yes that is what it is, should release with the thumb of the strong had.

A "SLID RELEASE ", is not what it is. It is a slide stop! I am 83 years young and I can operate the slide and the stop for breakdown and reassembly with very little difficulty.

mb

Bob O · #**111** 06-23-2015, 08:00 PM

https://youtu.be/7luzERTcTV0

Bob O · #**112** 06-24-2015, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob O

Mine is on the way. I'll give a range report next week.

M&P 40 Shield w/ Stainless Steel guide rod: https://youtu.be/TCiE29u9zUE

Bob O · #**113** 06-25-2015, 08:44 AM

For those who have had the problem of the rear of the factory RSA bending on you, the ssguiderod should take care of that being it is significantly thicker at the rear as you can see.

PROnSHIELD · #**114** 06-25-2015, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob O

M&P 40 Shield w/ Stainless Steel guide rod: https://youtu.be/TCiE29u9zUE

Would you please post a link to the SS guiderod company
you purchased from...thanks

Bob O · #**115** 06-25-2015, 09:58 AM

http://ssguiderods.com/shop/smith-we...eld-guide-rod/

PROnSHIELD · #**116** 06-25-2015, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob O

Smith and Wesson Shield Guide Rod - Stainless Steel Guide Rods

thanks...did you ship your rod ?

Bob O · #**117** 06-25-2015, 10:22 AM

No. I talked with a guy on the phone and told him I didn't want to have my EDC pistol down for a week or more. So he shipped it and I swapped the spring myself. It was basically a 5-minute job.

PROnSHIELD · #**118** 06-25-2015, 01:12 PM

Thank you very much

M&PGunSlinger · #**119** 06-25-2015, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob O

This has nothing to do with grip or strength. It's about a defective spring and/or guide rod that makes the spring bind and the slide cannot be fully racked.

How is that so difficult to understand?

If you haven't personally experienced it, then you don't know what is going on.

I had the exact same problem with mine. My hands got sore trying to put them together. After few rounds of shooting it's fine now. But yeah, I think S&W should take a look at it. It wasn't about the spring being stiff but more on binding.

NCavi8tor · #**120** 06-25-2015, 04:33 PM

1500 rounds through my Shield and she is smooth as butter.

NC

Bob O · #**121** 06-25-2015, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M&PGunSlinger

SNIP
But yeah, I think S&W should take a look at it. It wasn't about the spring being stiff but more on binding.

Bingo....Thank you!!!

RobzGuns · #**122** 06-27-2015, 12:05 PM

Here's another option for those having problems with how hard the RSA is to rack (for those that don't have a defective spring, that is

)
Basically, a charging handle.

TacRack for M&P Shield [2161] - $29.99 : Welcome to Speed Shooter Specialties

triaxle · #**123** 06-28-2015, 07:22 PM

Its a slide lock . I just pull back to release never a problem . Mine all work fine like this Glock also .

Muss Muggins · #**124** 06-28-2015, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob O

My pistol was one with a defective spring or rod right out of the box. So I will go for the upgrade.

Why are so many people going for an Apex trigger? There's nothing wrong with the factory trigger on mine, so they all must be making things up about theirs?

That's the way some of you guys are acting. Sad that some of you have taken poor attitudes on this.

You realize you just defeated your own argument . . .

Raisin · #**125** 06-29-2015, 10:03 PM

After over 300 rounds through my Shield 9 I still could not lock it back without using a bench to push it against. Finally I purchased some GT-5000 grip tape (same as the Talon Grips material). Amazon has it for $6.99 here.

Amazon

After making a pattern with masking tape I cut it to size and stuck it on with no problems. It completely solved my problem. Now I can lock it open with no problem.

Prose1956 · #**126** 07-05-2015, 09:39 AM

I just picked up my CA compliant .40 Shield 2 days ago and had zero issues with the first 200 rounds other than my hands are a bit sore. I'm hoping with more time at the range things will loosen up a little. Trigger pull and racking on the Shield is so very different than my Glock 17C. I did shoot both the 9mm and .40 Shields I rented at a local range prior to deciding on the Shield over the sub-compact Glocks. Most likely the range rentals have had thousands of rounds put through them and that is why my new handgun feels so different.
I haven't had the slide locking issues I've read in this post, other than it does take quite a bit of force to get the slide back and being so much shorter than my other handgun. I just assumed it was just less to hold on to while pushing back the slide.
Both of my thumbs and my trigger finger are sore and even have small cuts on thumbs. I think this is related to new magazines and pressing 200 rounds down them. Is there a loading assist available others are using, something like what comes with the Glock?
I purchased this to be my CCW and I'm leaning towards the IWB type of holster. I have read many posts on different holsters and will continue to do so before I make that purchase.
Paul

Raisin · #**127** 07-05-2015, 01:48 PM

Prose1956 get an UpLULA. They cost around $30 but worth every cent of it.

JFA · #**128** 07-23-2015, 11:46 PM

I am having the exact same difficulty in reassembly trying to lock the slide back.. It seems to take super hand n thumb strength n dexterity. Ridiculous

RobzGuns · #**129** 07-24-2015, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JFA

I am having the exact same difficulty in reassembly trying to lock the slide back.. It seems to take super hand n thumb strength n dexterity. Ridiculous

It helps to use the Owner's Manual pics to align the spring just right... But it'll still be tight for a while.
It does get easier with time (if you don't get disgruntles and sell it first

)

Bob O · #**130** 07-24-2015, 05:46 AM

The spring end Orientation bit just makes me shake my head. It works in every orientation, it will even work with the main spring (not the whole assembly) removed and reinstalled backwards.

The problem goes beyond spring orientation.

martybee · #**131** 07-24-2015, 08:53 AM

It may be a design flaw. S&W appears to be aware of the problem. They are providing most owners with new RSA's but there is a long wait period. It seems they have sent out so many that they are out of them and have them on BO.

mb

Sigsavvy · #**132** 07-24-2015, 08:57 AM

Love my Shield but RSA's really are junk. I think that they bind themselves up and don't fully "contract" which causes the slide to stop short of full travel. Just my opinion but I have a replacement RSA from S&W and it works in every position every time. My original one had to be within a millionth of a degree of the "sweet spot" or it wouldn't work.

RobzGuns · #**133** 07-24-2015, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob O

The spring end Orientation bit just makes me shake my head. It works in every orientation, it will even work with the main spring (not the whole assembly) removed and reinstalled backwards.

The problem goes beyond spring orientation.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sigsavvy

Love my Shield but RSA's really are junk. I think that they bind themselves up and don't fully "contract" which causes the slide to stop short of full travel.

It's not the 'Orientation' (positioning the ends of the spring) so much as it is getting it centered and sitting properly on its 'shelf'. If it's off center, or not seated deep enough, it's going to bind on the slide, which will result in the end getting bent. The problem is not the Spring... It's the 'Shelf'.

The Shield is the only pistol I have that uses the Captured Spring system that has a flat shelf, instead of a scooped out 'trough' for the spring assembly to sit in.

Attached is a pic of my XDMc barrel. Had S&W done something like this, the RSA positioning wouldn't be an issue.
Ultra tight recoil spring on Shield-recoilspringsocket-jpg

Ultra tight recoil spring on Shield-recoilspringsocket-jpg

Sigsavvy · #**134** 07-24-2015, 11:43 AM

Great point! Honestly, I think there are probably multiple factors involved when a person has an issue with the RSA. I do think that if you are not careful about centering or getting the end of the RSA on that shelf you will have no end of problems. I know that every time I installed the RSA I made extra sure that it was seated properly and centered. I look at the RSA from three different angles when installed to confirm. Even after all that, I still couldn't lock my slide back until I rotated the RSA to that magic spot that worked. New RSA never has to be rotated and works every time.

Again, there's no doubt that the centering / shelf interaction gets most people but I feel that the RSA itself is very suspect. Not only in terms of it's rotation but some of them just don't work properly. Given all that, an extra machining operation on the barrel to allow for proper seating and an upgrade in the design of the RSA should be moving up in priority at S&W.

JFA · #**135** 07-26-2015, 11:26 PM

The issue with my shield not locking for reassembly is that the slider lock/stop lever is flush and cannot be pushed up. There is no space for it to be pushed up. But once I tried it with the magazine out that was the solution... So I guess a case of op error on my part.

wyomick · #**136** 10-29-2016, 12:50 PM

You're right on Gyver; that's what's happening. I cannot believe S&W would want to cut production costs so much as to make a gun with problems like this that could be life-threatening. I've had a number of problems with my Shield, all related to the fact that the RSA spring is not flat wound on the ends to keep it symmetrical around the rod, and, the fact that the barrel lug it sits on does not have a flat milled semi-circular ledge seat for the rear end of the RSA. Why, S&W....why? I plan on selling mine and buying a Walther PPS M2. Go to your gun store and field strip one and look at their RSA assembly and barrel - that's the way it should be done for reliable functioning.

wyomick · #**137** 10-29-2016, 12:59 PM

The problem is the spring itself. It is not flat-wound on the ends to prevent it from being unsymmetrical when compressed. This unsymmetrical compression causing binding. Look at a good RSA on a better weapon, like the Walther PPS M2 - that's the way it should be done - smooth as butter operation.

Horn · #**138** 10-30-2016, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2tango2

I took my .40 Shield apart last night for its initial cleaning as I plan on going to the range this morning

It comes from the factory pretty wet. Smells like the used Shooters FP10 to lube it up. Pretty much just wiped down the excess oils and ran a few patches down the barrel with Mil Pro 7. Finished up by lubricating per manual. Used Tetra Grease on rails

When I went to put it back together I thought I was doing something wrong as I couldn't get the slide to lock back in order or flip the breakdown switch back into the locked position Even with putting a magazine in the slide would not lock back I could see that the slide wasn't going back far enough to line up the cutout in order for the flip up to take place

Finally after taken it down numerous times to see if I was doing something wrong I was able to get it to lock back in order to flip switch up.

Now I'm a normal size guy and have a decent amount of strength but this thing is a bear lol. I thought for sure I was doing something wrong

I find also that I have a very difficult time releasing the slide with an empty mag in it. This is when pulling slide back and using slide release button If I drop the mag no problem

I guess the question is, does the Shield spring loosen up with use? I'm about to go to the range and put 100 rounds of WWB 165gr through it

I can see where someone with below avg strength would have a difficult time here. Heck even avg strength people

Does what I'm explains sound normal or do I have jacked spring? Compared to my new FS 9 it is amazing how much stiffer the double recoil spring is

When trying to lock the slide back___you'll find there's a last 1/32 of an inch you have to be aware of. (At least in my two Shields)
Really JERK it all the way back to include that wee bit of a 1/32 of an inch.
After five or six hundred rounds it gets a wee bit easier__but only a wee bit. These short barrel pistols require a pretty stiff recoil spring.
Hope this helps you. Enjoy that fantastic Shield.
Poli Viejo

musicmanwolf · #**139** 11-05-2016, 11:00 AM

Leave it locked back for a week or so.

Sent from my XT1049 using Tapatalk

flgunner · #**140** 07-19-2017, 06:31 PM

Interesting that this thread is as old as it is and the problem persists. I recently purchased a Shield 9 that is extreamly difficult to lock back, and release, even after about 300 rounds. I am a long time gun owner, with multiple guns, and have carefully looked at all the suggestions and still can barely lock the slide back (impossible until I wipe any excess oil off the slide), and have to press very hard against the workbench to get enought slack in the slide to release it. Any NEW suggestions, or this an issue to take up with S&W