New shield/gun owner

[chimcham]

Hey everyone! Just picked up my new shield the other day.. It was between this and the G43 but after the overwhelming positive reviews on the shield I felt like I had to have it.. One thing that is bugging me with this thing is that the slide doesn't fully close sometimes.. I found this to be more prone when loading a round and I don't rack it hard.. Is this a known thing?

[V0OBWxZS16]

Does it happen while shooting?
Does it happen with multiple ammo types and brands?

"I don't rack it hard" leads me to suspect you are riding the slide forward when loading it. When loading retract the slide completely to the rear and let go of it so it closes at full speed.

[Bill G77]

It's a short barreled automatic pistol. Wrack the slide all the way back and let it go, don't baby it. If you slow play it or ride the slide down what your talking about can happen.

Shoot Safe,
Bill G77

[RobzGuns]

As mentioned, MANY times, it's simply due to the owner inadvertently riding the slide. The other thing that can help, is to follow the lubrication guidelines in the manual. A drop on the hood, where the slide meets the chamber, as well as the various slide points. Friction and riding the slide can easily equal not going into battery... Especially with a Subcompact.

[chimcham]

Originally Posted by RobzGuns

As mentioned, MANY times, it's simply due to the owner inadvertently riding the slide. The other thing that can help, is to follow the lubrication guidelines in the manual. A drop on the hood, where the slide meets the chamber, as well as the various slide points. Friction and riding the slide can easily equal not going into battery... Especially with a Subcompact.

Thanks for the replies.. mentioned many times meaning people have mentioned this as an issue? When racking the slide correctly this issue does not occur however without a round if I were to pull back a little bit it would stick as shown.. I have not shot the shield as of yet was just wondering if this is something that other people have noticed..

[McE]

While it's true you shouldn't ride the slide forward, I can't get any of my guns to stay out of battery like that by riding the slide or doing a press check.
It may just be a new gun thing that needs a little lube and breaking in.

However, this is not a good problem to have for a carry gun. If it gets knocked out of battery and stays out of battery in the course of your moving about, it might not be ready to go when you need it to.
Try to figure out where it's getting hung up. Slide contacts the rest of the gun with the lug around the recoil spring rod and the slide rails. Could just be some excess polymer flashing gumming something up.

[Ransom]

Yes, it has been reported many times. My Shield is 3 years old and well broken in. I can cause mine to go out of battery by riding the slide. It's never happened on its own and never caused a problem for me.

[MyDads38]

Originally Posted by chimcham

Thanks for the replies.. mentioned many times meaning people have mentioned this as an issue? When racking the slide correctly this issue does not occur however without a round if I were to pull back a little bit it would stick as shown.. I have not shot the shield as of yet was just wondering if this is something that other people have noticed..

So you're just barely pulling the slide back, with an empty mag inserted into the gun? Have you disassembled to clean and lube? You haven't shot the gun yet, are you looking for problems/issues because of what you've read on the internet? The Shield is a stiff operating little gun, especially when new. You can't "ride the slide", pull back the slide and let it "go home" with full force. No one wants to have issues with a new gun, but if you sit around and wonder "what will happen, if I do this", then just about anything is possible.

I recently bought 2 new Shields, a 9mm and a 40 S&W. Did my homework BEFORE the purchase and haven't had a single issue as of yet. But then, I wasn't LOOKING to have any issues, I was just buying another (2) S&W's to add to my growing collection.

[Ballistic147]

Nope, there is no problem with the gun. It's operator error. On any semi auto firearm be it a pistol or rifle to chamber the first round you rack the slide all the way back and let it go quickly. Anything less may result in the issue you are having. Some guns are more prone to this than others. Don't baby it, yank the slide back quickly and let it go quickly.

As someone else mentioned, the slide can get knocked out of battery while holstering and most of the Shields I've seen are likely to stay that way if it does happen. Simple solution is to ride the back of the slide with your thumb as you holster the gun using your thumb to push it in. Once properly seated I just can't imagine any good holster to allow the slide to be knocked out of battery.

[martybee]

I just got back from the LGS&R after putting 65 rds. through my shield.
I had one FTF and it has my fault. I inadvertently rode the slide back to chamber the first round and it did not go into battery! Tap, Rack, cleared the round an all was good! And I know better but it can happen if you are not focused 100% on what you are doing.

mb

[sschrick]

my new Shield does this also. No issues when shooting, the gun always loads a round and drops back into battery. Initially, the gun is really tight due to being new. I notice now the issue is less and less and I put rounds down range. No problems with the gun.

[Radco]

First WELCOME to the forum!
Second Congrats on your new Shield.. My 9mm Shield is going on 2 months old and shoots everything I feed it with no issues. I can not say the same for my Ruger SR9E

[chimcham]

Originally Posted by sschrick

my new Shield does this also. No issues when shooting, the gun always loads a round and drops back into battery. Initially, the gun is really tight due to being new. I notice now the issue is less and less and I put rounds down range. No problems with the gun.

Thanks makes me feel better love it otherwise

[RobzGuns]

Originally Posted by chimcham

When racking the slide correctly this issue does not occur however without a round if I were to pull back a little bit it would stick as shown..

This is what could be referred to as either a Press Check, or an Administrative Check. If it sticks when you do this, simply push it back into battery... No Big Deal.

As mentioned, a Very Snug Fitting holster COULD push it out of battery during insertion (holstering), but if it's THAT snug, I would figure that the holster would also pull it back into battery during withdrawal (unholstering). Also as mentioned, if you place your thumb on the rear of the slide (on the slide plate) and push during insertion, this would eliminate any worry of the holster pushing it out of battery.

Now Get Out There And SHOOT That Shield, Rather Than Finding Little Things To Worry About!!

[chimcham]

Originally Posted by RobzGuns

This is what could be referred to as either a Press Check, or an Administrative Check. If it sticks when you do this, simply push it back into battery... No Big Deal.

As mentioned, a Very Snug Fitting holster COULD push it out of battery during insertion (holstering), but if it's THAT snug, I would figure that the holster would also pull it back into battery during withdrawal (unholstering). Also as mentioned, if you place your thumb on the rear of the slide (on the slide plate) and push during insertion, this would eliminate any worry of the holster pushing it out of battery.

Now Get Out There And SHOOT That Shield, Rather Than Finding Little Things To Worry About!!

I went ahead and purchased some break free CLP (best stuff in the world it seems) and it seemed to fix this issue.. Everything is smooth as butter. I also went over to my local gun smith and he mentioned it wasn't an issue and to just fire the damn thing already.. :P

[RONALD HENSLEY]

Headed to the range today, my shield will go with, and a few other guns I like my local range, nice folks.
It can also turn into a show an tell of guns, wide range of shooters, experience levels.
you got your conceal carriers, your tactical dudes, your hunters,and the family just teaching the fundamentals to the kids.
Enjoy your new shield, mine is a constant companion!

[M3Stuart]

Welcome to the forum!

No. That's not common or any kind of known issue.

Just slam the rack forward 'combat-tacticool' like and keep wasting the zombies...

Again, welcome to the forum!