Ok is anyone using the stainless steel recoil spring in the 9mm Sheild? S&W just replaced my factory one but I like the design of the stainless one better..

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

Haven't used one, but honestly I can't see how it can improve reliability or durability. Are you having reliability problems caused by the recoil spring or guide rod? Making the spring out of SS changes nothing. As far as durability goes, stock guide rods last virtually forever in many diferent kinds of pistols.

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USAF, 69-92
Vietnam, 72-73

I am a fan of SS but I like the single spring and guide rod design better less moving parts and friction..

I've wondered how much added abuse the gun will take going from a double recoil spring assembly to a single spring one. I would also think if the single one was just as good or better than the double one I'm sure S&W would probably have used it since it would most likely be cheaper to manufacture.

Believe me, if a SS single spring design was better, S&W would've used it..

Just installed one in my shield today. My original shield one wore out. Spring looked like it was about to jump off the guide rod at any time. I have about 2,500 rounds through my shield before I replaced it.


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ss guide rod

Are you shooting heavy loads (+P) ? The factory spring is rated for 5000 rounds. Were you having any problems with the operation before you replaced it?

There are a few here that went to the SS RSA and love it. They'll probably chime in on ho great it is. I've never seen the need to convert.

I'm also wondering why pvirga88 had to replace his after only 2,500 rounds. My Shield is over 4 Yrs old now with well over 12,000 rounds through it and still using the original RSA. I only use 115gr and 124gr rounds.
I do have a replacement ready to go, but it doesn't seem to be wearing out.

I bought one of these (when all of those people here complaining about having problems with theirs earlier on) but it's still in the box in my Shield box. I've had no problems with mine so I haven't gotten around to trying it yet. I am curious to see if the recoil management is any different vs the stock spring assembly though.

I just bought a new (California version) Shield. At 73, I was having some difficulty locking the slide back, particularly when reassembling the pistol after field stripping. Like many others have stated, I had to push the slide against the edge of the workbench to lock it back during reassembly.

Based on a number of online reviews, I purchased a SS RSA, which I received a couple of days ago. I installed it, and instantly I was dealing with a different pistol. Not only was it easy to lock the slide back, but I was also easily able to do so when reassembling the pistol. In addition, the slide moved more smoothly with the single-spring SS RSA than with the stock dual-spring RSA.

This morning I put 150 rounds through the pistol at the range without a hiccup. For me, adding the SS RSA, the Apex trigger kit and Trijicon HD night sights has turned a very good pistol into a great pistol. Your mileage may (and probably will) vary.

Where did you find the factory replacement and how much was it I cannot find one anywhere.. My original lost the capture on the large spring and was not repairable after about 300 rounds.

I eventually got my factory replacement for free from S&W CS. I simply called and told them that I needed a replacement. If they have 'm in stock, they will send you one.

I also did a group purchase on some from G&R Tactical, back when they were on Back-Order from CS. They were $9 each, but at that time, one needed a minimum order of $50. I don't know if the $50 minimum is still going on.

S&W M&P Shield Guide Rod Assembly at G and R Tactical

Pilot: are you talking about the same unit that the OP showed in the first post of this thread? You entry was very helpful! Think I want to try for my Shield 9mm.
Thanks

Affirmative. That's the one.

I installed one in my Shield 9mm. It is easier to rack the slide and also improved accuracy by about 25-30% with my specific loads (115 gr hp). Can't say that will be the same for everyone but it was noticeable for me.

Pretty much the same for me. Easier to rack the slide. 125 rounds w/o issue. I have not seen any increase in accuracy. I replace the original because it looked warped and had a few FTEs. No FTEs with the SS RSA so far.

I put one in after the after the retaining disc at the end of the factory spring rod bent sometime during the first range session.

I'm sure S&W would have gone to great lengths to make it good, but I decided to spend a few bucks to make sure the problem didn't happen again.

Very happy with both the stainless spring/guide rod and the Shield 9.

Finally got to put about 60 rounds through mine yesterday..........recoil, what's that? Israeli draw is much more confident as the chances of short-stroking is greatly reduced since it's so easy to rack. Going to try and put a hundred more rounds next weekend to see if I get any failures.

Thank you Sir !!! After viewing so many reviews prior to purchasing my Shield I thought somewhere along the line I became a wuz,because the slide was nearly impossible to cycle without a glove on.
Where did you find the new assembly?
Thank You.

Smith and Wesson Shield Stainless Steel Guide Rod Assembly - Stainless Steel Guide Rods

I tried the SS spring today in my Shield 9 and it cycled perfectly. I did however have problems with failing to lock open after the last round. It failed to lock open more than 50% of the time. It was very easy to lock it back on an empty mag, by hand tho. Anyone else experience this? Seems weird as you'd think the lighter spring would make it lock back more easily...
PS - before the SS Spring assembly, it would fail to lock back once in a great while. Nothing like this tho!

I ordered one and received it today.It is much easier to rack the slide now won't be able to go to the range til next week though.

What ammo are you using and have you tried other loads?

Some Fereral, WWB, PMC... All good stuff and it did it consistently with all of it. It's baffling because the SS spring definitely allows the slide to move easier and they all lock back 100% by hand with an empty mag. Don't have to pull it back very hard either.

I believe it is a matter of timing; cycling is apparently faster with that spring and the follower is not able to catch the lock back in time, so the slide goes back into battery. JMHO!

Try a very good cleaning of the mags. In fact if you have one that is newer, or has been loaded with SD ammo, unload it and try using it for TP with ball ammo.

mb

What difference would loading a mag with SD ammo make?

I guess I did not make myself clear in my post. What I was referring to was the fact that if you use a mag that normally has SD rounds loaded in it, It probably is cleaner, as it has not been shot as much as the mags used for TP.
Most people don't shoot a lot of their SD ammo for TP at the range. It would entail unloading the SD and reloading with the TP ammo to see if there is any difference in lock back performance.

mb

I was thinking the same thing about the follower not moving fast enough and the timing being off. I gave the mags a good cleaning and lubing. I'll give it another chance, but I have my doubts. For now I'm only carrying my 9c and not the Shield. If it still won't lock back consistently I'll go back to the stock spring. One thing I failed to mention is that I have the Mag Guts +1 kits in all my mags. They have worked flawlessly thru several 1000 rounds, until I put this SS guiderod in. Perhaps the comb is the problem. If so, I definitely choose the Mag Guts over the guiderod!

After reading your post and have always had difficulty racking either of my two Shields___I ordered one of the SS Guide Rods a few hours ago. From the photo on their web site it did appear not to be one spring "capturing" another. If it improves racking I'll be ordering another for my other Shield.
I do like my Shields (EDC choice) and hope to improve racking one.
You submitted a good descriptive post.
Poli Viejo

Put another 120 or so rounds through her today without a single failure. Spring is definitely broken in though as she's even easier to rack than before.

Went back to the range with mine today and the SS guided definitely doesn't work with Mag Guts +1 kits (in my Shield anyways). Shot a few mags with the SS spring and it consistently failed to lock back after the last round. My dad was shooting with me so I tried his mags (stock, no Mag Guts) and it locked back every time. Put the stock guide rod back in and my Mag Guts equipped mags worked perfectly (just like they have thru 1000's of rounds before the SS guide rod) thru 200 rounds of various range and carry ammo. The only thing I can figure is that the wafer thin Mag Guts follower is moving faster with the lighter recoil spring and the timing is just off. The stock, plastic follower is much thicker and therefore probably provides a larger margin of error. If I have to choose, I'll stick with the Mag Guts as I can live with the stock spring. The SS guide rod is very well made and definitely makes reassembly and racking the slide easier. If anyone who isn't using Mag Guts wants my nearly new SS guide rod (only has about 200 rounds), message me and we'll work out a cheap price or trade.

Have you contacted Mag Guts about the problem? Maybe they'll redesign the follower and possibly send you a free upgrade so you can have your cake and eat it too. I wonder if the stock follower could be used with the rest of the Mag Guts parts and still retain capacity. I wonder if bending the tab up so it puts more pressure on the slide lock when the last round is spent would make a difference.

It's mainly the thinness of the Mag Guts follower that allows the extra round to fit in there. I don't consider it to be a flaw of either product, I just need to choose one or the other. It may work fine for others, one of my Mag Guts equipped mags did not fail to lock back, but the other 2 almost always did. Some folks may be able to accept the slide not locking back after the last round (and that was the only failure I ever encountered using the combo) but I prefer that it does. It's a fine product for sure and seems to work as advertised, I just prefer having that extra round.

I've been using mag guts in flush magazines and ss rsa for around 7 months. Have three magazines equipped with these and rotate for EDC. Shot all of them, probably 150-200 rounds each w/ zero issues. Check your install, or maybe contact your rsa manufacture. Best of luck, sorry to hear about your difficulties.