Went to the range yesterday with my 9MM Shield. I was using stock S&W magazines, and occasionally, when slamming the magazines into the gun, it released the slide release, chambering a round.

Obviously not a big deal, but has anyone else noticed this problem? I wonder if I accidentally pushed on the slide stop, but with it's heaviness, I wouldn't think that it would act like a traditional slide release.

Should I be worried?

By the way, still love the way the shield shoots. I am getting better and better with it each trip to the range.

Lots of threads on here about that. it is not a problem some people even like it.

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USN Retired/VN VET
M&P X5

As an instructor, I've seen my fair share of regular shooters think they have to "slam" a fresh magazine into a pistol when the slide is locked back, when there's little, if any, resistance to the slide's insertion and seating (presuming the magazine body's cutout and the magazine catch are within normal spec, relative to each other).

This can result in the slide being "bumped off" the slide stop in some pistols, and running forward. The plastic pistols with the thinner slide stop tabs and short (height) slide stop notches (in the slide) seem more prone to this potential shooter manipulation issue.

Inserting a fresh magazine into a pistol when the slide is forward, typically requires more effort, because the fully-loaded magazine encounters the slide, and the slide's pick-up rail has to further compress the full magazine's ammunition load.

It's not uncommon to hear (or see) how a lot of shooters sometimes use a lot of pressure to thrust a magazine into their pistols, when the slides are locked-back, and have the inertia forces bounce the slide against the slide stop (and its spring), resulting in the slide stop releasing the slide to run forward (before the shooter can manually release the slide in the usual methods).

Hopefully, "bumping" the slide off the slide stop occurs in the necessary "timing", with the magazine's insertion and seating of the locked magazine, so the slide's pick-up rail/breech face catches, feeds and chambers a round when the unintentionally released slide goes forward. Otherwise, if the slide somehow out-runs the top round in the magazine load being in the right position during a magazine's slamming (to be caught by the pick-up rail), you might risk ending up with an empty chamber.

Also, it's not been unknown for a "too-forcefully slammed" magazine, in a pistol with the slide locked-back, to "jump" the magazine catch and be shoved too-high. This can risk the left side mag lip hitting up against the ejector in some guns, and perhaps really "jamming" the magazine too high, and then the slide can't be released. I used to know a SWAT guy who thought he had to really slam his pistol mag into his locked-back pistol. One day I pointed out to him how his forcefully inserted mag could "jump" past the mag catch, if the plastic floor/butt plate developed any flex or other looseness (by the repeated force and impacts), and how his mag lip could hit the bottom of his ejector in a manner not intended by the engineers. I suppose it was only coincidence that this same fellow had somehow managed to experience two broken ejectors in his issued pistol.

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Ret LE Firearms inst & armorer

You must have really hit it. Neither of my Shields in .40 have gone into battery from slamming home a mag. Not unusual for my Pro Series 9mm to do it though. Come to think of it, my Pro Series .40 will also if I hit it hard enough, but I don't look at it as a problem!

Insert , don't slam !
Your "problem" will be solved.
Gary

Thank you all for the replies. I used to "insert", but found a thread somewhere that suggested to "slam" the magazine in. I agree, that the extra force is probably not needed when the slide is locked back.

Over time I've found that when loading a fresh mag into one of my pistols when the slide is locked back, a smooth and normal insertion seats and locks the mag fine, as I continue to smoothly release the slide as part of my loading sequence (which ends with a normal "shooting grip", if continued fire is necessary and desired after loading).

When doing a "tactical reload", meaning inserting a full mag to "top off" the pistol after some rounds have been fired (but not emptying the primary mag), I'm using a different trained and ingrained "technique". By that I mean I'm only inserting the magazine, usually with a brisk palm thrust (a full mag against a closed slide), but not having to release a locked-back slide.

Two different circumstances and requirements, and two techniques to accomplish them. Having done enough training & practice over time, I don't even stop to think about the difference.

Naturally, there are manipulations that may be required for stoppages and malfunction clearance (like a double-feed), which may also require seating a magazine with some brisk force.

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Ret LE Firearms inst & armorer

I has happened on my shield, but only once or twice. On my full size 40 pro, it does it every time i insert a mag with any force. I know how much it takes when loading a mag to have it chamber a round. or i can insert it softly and the slide will stay back. It does not bother me. in fact, i think i like it. I'm gonna start checking the shield out to see if it does it when i jam a mag in with a little more force.

While I love my new Shield 45, the magazines are an issue. Unbelievably difficult to load and the 7 rounder has to be SLAMMED to get it home.
No mean SLAMMED !

Update: Last night at the range, "inserted" the magazine, not slammed, and had no problems. Once again thank you to everyone for their thoughts, suggestions, and comments.