I posted about a failure to feed on a 9mm CORE and got some good advice about the extractor. Thanks. That has been a lousy customer service experience which made me read up on today's S&W.

Based on all the QC complaints I saw I tested a few more pistols at my gun club this weekend.

I shot my 22A for the first time and it jammed every couple of shots. I was using 40 grain Federal AutoMatch and Aquila Match. It is a $200 pistol so I did not expect much but didn't realize it was a 1 shooter.

My Shield 40 kept dropping the mag when I shot. That never happened before. I made positive it wasn't user error of me accidentally depressing the mag release on recoil and let some others shoot it to confirm. I later looked it up and it is a known problem only on the 40s.

The good part is everyone at the range knows me now. The Glock guys keep me laughing the whole time. They love to see the QC issues on the M&Ps the most.

Everyone now calls my pistols Mush&Ps.

I know there are 2 camps on this. 1 that say these things happen and Customer Service is great and another that says these things happen way too often now-a-days and Customer Service used to be great but is hit or miss at best now.

I expect the people in camp 1 will attack me and call me a liar. So be it.

Having 3 newer pistols returned to the shop at once really has me steamed.

Here is a photo of my S&Ws other than the CORE which is in the mail to S&W now. The 22A and Shield will go back Monday when I get the labels.

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I have a Shield and I love mine. But the stock trigger was awful. I did the apex duty carry and aluminum trigger and now it works awesome! I will say as far as quality and comparing that to Glock pistols, I think the MP frames and slides are of much better quality than Glock. The MP's uses stainless steel chassis which Glocks do not. The frame on MP's also seem a lot stiffer and better built than Glock's. The only reason I prefer Glock pistols is they are much easier to work on, they have triggers that are so much better, and the Glock because of their better trigger shoot more accurately. However, since doing the mod on my shield, my shield shoots better than a stock Glock 19

I have the M&P .22 and It occasionally has a FTF. I would say, if I'm shooting some bulk ammo, one or two every other magazine or so. Usually it's the second or third round of the magazine. I have three and it doesn't matter which one it is. If it's going to happen, it'll happen. A quick rack and you're good to go. Obviously it doesn't do it on the higher end ammo like CCI.

I will say that I looked at the 22A when researching a plinking pistol and decided against it (and many others) because apparently it's tough to do a semi-auto .22 well because you have to balance the slide weight, recoil spring and feed ramp just right to have it be reliable. People also make comments about a lot of semi-auto rifles with .22 ammo.

My shield is a 9mm so I don't have a magazine problem, but my friend bought a Kahr CW40 and the mag drops ever so many shots, but only with one of the magazines. <shrug> Not sure why. He hasn't decided if he's going to fight for it or not.

I too am a S&W lover and have been buying them for 38 years. Yes I have other brands: colts, ruger, glock,ect. I will tell you that I have sent smiths back, 9mmPRO1911 2 times starting to act up again, 1911 45/108284, bodyguard. I also have sent 2 of my glocks back. 1 ruger went back. The colts are revolvers the quit making no problems. No problems with any more smiths. My thoughts are they make as fast as they can today. quality is bound to be affected

I have the 22A and have had no problems with any type of ammo I shoot, minus subsonic.

I have purchased 3 M&P products, all 3 have been sent back for various reasons, all 3 have been taken care of and they paid shipping both ways and have included a free mag twice. I've had other weapons that I had to return on my own dime and were not fixed to my satisfaction, these so called "deal" weapons weren't so much of deal when all was said and done. When considering a new purchase I'll look at S&W first.

Wow, three pistols and three returns. What are the odds? With that experience I could certainly understand if you said that you'd never buy another S&W product.

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Freedom isn't free.

Yeah, I hate having to send a weapon back but at least S&W has taken care of me. I have sent back a 9c and a FS 9, the barrels were replaced on both, my Shield went back for misaligned sights, I took it to a gunsmith first and he broke his sight pusher trying to fix it so I sent it in. At least the odds of getting a good one next time is on my side.

Damn guys, what a pain. Fortunately I have not had the type of issues you have described. I did have an issue with a 9mm Shield Recoil Spring Assembly which was replaced without question, although it did take a month to get the part, being promised "in the mail" four weeks running. The RSA functioned OK, but was replaced because it looked like the flat wound spring was cut by bending until it fatigued and broke.

I have 3 S&W wheel guns, 3 M&P's, and MP 15 and MP15-22. All have functioned without issue. I wish I could say the same about a Sig Nitron Rail. I am having issues with a periodic failure to feed. Working with cartridge OAL, crimp, and bullet style. Have not ruled out magazine issues.

Point being anything can have a problem. I do not believe design is a issue because most work without issue with the mentioned firearms. Stay on top of the manufacturer and give them a chance to solve issues. If they fail to solve issues, a replacement is required. I believe all manufacturers will follow this.

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State of Jefferson
Jim

Bought a Colt 1911 and the rear sight fell off during a match. Got a used 2206 S&W that would not work with the new mags and had to return for factory repair. Bought a Taurus PT 22 that has been back for repair 3 times for things like cracked slide, broken barrel lugs, barrel pins, ejector.
And now my 2011 Charger RT has been recalled to have the entire timing chain, guide, etc replaced because 50,000 engines were built with defective chain guides.
I had to put Windows 7 on my computer because XP is no longer supported.
HP has no parts for my Photosmart printer, but will sell me a new all-in-1 with nifty features I don't want.
My 35 yr old chain saw still runs fine, but the 1/4" chains are no longer made.
Our school system has all Microsoft systems and only ONE certified IT technician, who knows only Microsoft, but the Board is happily accepting over 1000 new laptops at a GREAT DEAL............from Apple.

I am convinced of 2 things:
It is 2014.
I am too old for this.

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Science plus Art