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Smith & Wesson M&P Pistols All Variants of the Smith & Wesson M&P Auto Pistols


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Old 09-18-2014, 10:06 AM
Steve2Q Steve2Q is offline
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Default Shield 9 firing pin question

Hello: I have just put around 300 rounds thru my new Shield 9mm. Love the gun; accurate, well balanced, and no mechanical issues. I did notice one thing; the firing pin impression on the spent shells is not round, it is more tear shaped, and when I looked at the slide where the firing pin exits, there is a small notch. Is this normal for the Shield or something to be concerned about? There are two pictures attached.

Thanks, Steve
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Old 09-18-2014, 10:10 AM
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Lots of people have reported this. It is normal.
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Old 09-18-2014, 10:45 AM
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Don't worry about it. This can happen with any brand/model.
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Old 09-18-2014, 03:49 PM
Steve2Q Steve2Q is offline
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Thanks for both your replies. Have read a number of other posts about Shield issues and am glad this is not one of them.

Steve
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Old 09-18-2014, 05:04 PM
dlay dlay is offline
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It is the shape of the firing pin, common to striker fired weapons the way I understand it. will not happen if the firing pin is round..
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Old 09-18-2014, 05:11 PM
robkarrob robkarrob is offline
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It is called a primer smear or primer wipe/swipe and is caused by the striker tip (not firing pin) still contacting the primer as the slide starts to recoils back and the chamber drops. Some guns have this issue, but is not to be concerned about. Can be caused by a few issues. The striker could be a little longer and stick out further, causing the contact during recoil. The striker return spring could be a little weak so that the striker does not recoil back as fast as usual. There could be some dirt/debris in the striker channel, causing the striker to recoil slower. A stronger recoil spring could help as it would slightly slow down the start of the slide recoil, which would allow a little extra time for the striker to retract. All of the above could be perfect and you still get the condition.

And no it is not the shape of the striker tip, all are rounded.


Bob

Last edited by robkarrob; 09-18-2014 at 05:52 PM.
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Old 09-18-2014, 06:24 PM
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The small dished out area under the firing pin hole on the breech face is for a primer that may have "flowed" or extruded during firing. If a primer flows into or all around an extended firing pin during firing and recoil unlock, that alone can tie up a pistol to where is literally locks the case to the breech face and shuts down the weapon. The small dished out area acts as a cam to allow the extruded primer to escape upon barrel unlock/ downward camming. Kind of like a "ski ramp" for extruded primers. One reason Glock"s firing pins are flat on either side. Same deal; just different way to do it.
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Old 09-18-2014, 10:50 PM
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ok, shape of the striker, every one of mine looks like that.
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