Having an issues with my New M&P Shield 45. With the 6 and 7 round magazine while shooting the magazines pops out. Usually while shooting +P rounds in over 1,000 rounds it has happened about 5 times.
Wondering if anyone else has had this problem, and if its a magazine problem or the magazine release button. any suggestions would be helpful
thanks
1SG

Not trying to be insulting here, but is there some reason why you feel it necessary to shoot +P rounds in your Shield? It was not intended or designed to use that ammo, and in my experience it is not necessary. I believe your owner's manual recommends against that type of ammo. Even if your Shield shoots it without problems, +P ammo is much harder on it and will likely shorten it's lifespan. The recoil spring is designed for standard pressure ammo. Do (or did) your mags remain in place when shooting standard pressure ammo? If so, that's a clue!

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So long ... Ken

As kthom mentioned, use standard pressure ammo. Also, make sure your thumb isn't hitting the mag release button under recoil.

If you determine that the fault is with the gun, call S&W, get a mailing label and they'll fix it and have it back to you pretty quickly. Less than two weeks, usually. Whether it's a gun or a magazine problem S&W should fix it.

Do you use more than one mag? If so, does it do it with all of them? They usually want you to send the whole gun.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

Hi
I like the extra velocity of the +P round in the shorter barrel, Many many you tube videos on ballistic tests prove that this is a better option for short barrel guns it aids in expansion and penetration. Also, +P ammo is available to me all the time and its my issued round.
The owners manual DOES NOT reccomend the use +P+ rounds, +P ammo does beat up a gun a bit more than standard velocity rounds but I'll take that chance. Also, My thumb is NOT hitting the mag release as I fired the weapon left handed as well, I cannot remember if it happened with standard velocity or +P rounds , but that's immaterial to me as the gun should work while firing standard pressure, +P, or +P+ rounds.
I am fortunate to live about 90 minutes away from S&W I'll call and see if I can have the gun looked at.
Thanks
1SG
Out

Call them. S&W will email a Fedex return label. Turnaround time is 3 weeks and mine just got back for the second time because the slide locked back prematurely - now operating perfectly. I was told not to send the magazines with the pistol.

I'll take the 90 minute drive, That's a nice Perdomo cigar and a med coffee

1SG
Out

How often would this happen? When the 40's first came out I had this issue and was somewhat flamed because everyone typically always assumes it's the shooter. Hopefully it's just the extra pressure or an accidental bump on the magazine release. I have yet to shoot mine and look forward to giving it a go as soon as I can get a new RSA since mine literally falls out when I try and take it apart and put it back together. Just a tad too short. Best of luck!

its happened about 5 times in over 1,200 rounds. Enough to make me wanna have it fixed, I called S&W they advised its probably a faulty Magazine catch/ release

Great. Now it is happening in the .45 model as well.

This is totally unacceptable.

Sorry, but my sour mood is likely the result of a long week. That said, I remember when S&W used to know how to build guns.

Sorry S&W.

Well actually I haven't heard of this happening with other Shield 45s. There were reports of early model shield 40s But my Shield 40 was perfect.
I asm sure its an easy fix for S&W, I will keep you posted
1SG
Out

I am here to say that sadly it is true.. i bought a 45 shield today and shot roughly 60 rounds with about 7 or 8 failures.. both the 6 and 7 round mags fell out during normal operation (i.e. proper grip, not hitting mag release, standard velocity ball ammo).

I emailed S&W a few hours ago and am awaiting a response.. really disappointing because so far its the only flaw i have with it! I especially love the extra aggressive grip..

And before i get called out for my username, i love all guns equally (except glock ��) lol

Will update when a response is recieved.

This is why a new model is made..wait couple yrs get one.so they can get the bugs out

Sent from my LGMS210 using Tapatalk

I've been reading about the problems with the Shield 45 on this forum and haven't had any of them myself. I bought one right away after they were released and it's been flawless.

I do agree to wait awhile on new models since every company seems that way now a days, but it's more of a recent thing since many early adopters don't seem to have these issues. That's not to say someone won't chime in about their early model, but it's the more recent posts that seem to be the bulk of the issues.

sorry for the delay, I should have posted this months ago.
I had the mag release replaced which fixed the problem, I now have well over 1,000 rounds without a single issue. Real nice gun, real accurate and now totally reliable.
1

Same for me. Mag fell out twice during the first 7 shots I made with the gun. Emailed S&W and a day later they sent me a FEDEX label and I shipped it out after having it for three days. I've read turn-around time is about three weeks. Love the gun by the way. Very manageable recoil. Plan to use it as my carry gun. P238 will have to suffice until I get the Shield back...
tj

As long as it is that simple and quick i will have no problem with the issue. My only concern is having it back in time for my CCW class in early May. Sure i could use any one of my CZ's for the class, but why should i miss a chance to show off the beautiful shield 45?
Did they make you pay for any of the shipping? This would be my first time dealing with a firearm company (if they choose to do so), and have no idea what to expect. I've heard some companies make you pay either 1 or both shipping charges.. i hope thats not the case.

I've sent a firearm to S&W 3 times and never paid for shipping. They sent a label in an e-mail which I taped to the box I put the firearm in and dropped it off to my local FedEx distribution center.

Just received an email stating it is most likely the magazine catch and they are sending me a new one to try out. If it doesnt fix the problem i will have to send in for repair.

Now to learn how to replace the mag catch.... lol

Well !!!!! I am certainly glad the old crew was working the day they made my Shield 45....9 months now, over 2000 rounds and narry a problem of any kind..beautiful handgun......but then again so was my Shield 9...for over 2years....

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Hipcocked45

Now the sky can retreat to it's normal altitude.

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Sure you did

How did you get Smith and Wesson to send you a mag catch??

I emailed them saying i was having an issue. When they emailed back they said they were sending one.. why is that rare or something?

I have read here that they rarely send out replacement parts. Especially something like a mag catch. I could see them sending a recoil spring assembly

I assumed it was because it was such an easy fix that paying shipping back and forth would be a waste. Not to mention turn around time on my behalf..

They save money, and i get to shoot my gun right away. Love it!
Now i just hope it works. Will notify by sunday.

***i may have neglected to mention here that it was purchased new*** meaning QC error from the factory causing my issue. And therefore the responsibility of s&w to correct.. is that the answer you were looking for? Lol

haha no not the answer. If you read other threads 99.999% had to send back their pistol. I have an early release Shield .45 and my mag has not dropped yet.

Just sent mine back today for the same issue. I mentioned to CS rep that I had been informed that it could be the mag catch and he told me that it sounded more like a slide stop issue. 2nd time it's happened to me. 1st time I just sent the 7 round mag back and they replaced it. Now both mags are coming out shooting Federal 230gr FMJ. If it doesn't work out this time, I'll probably will be selling it.

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Shield 45

That's funny because i just got it in the mail today lol.
And why would it have to be installed by a gunsmith when it's easy (and extremely common) for gun owners to switch the mag release for left hand?

Sounds like somebody's jelly.

True, but it's still common practice nonetheless.
In any case idk why they sent it directly to me but I'm not complaining. I'm in a hurry to test it out so i can feel good about trusting it as my ccw.

*fingers crossed* I'll find out this weekend

I had the same issue of dropped mags with mine. I posted my magazine mods that seemed to have cured the problem. For me it was more magazine related.

Forum Link

I might have to agree with you on that, i switched out the mag catch they sent and seemed to work better for the most part.. but i had also purchased a brand new magazine.

With the brand new mag, it popped out almost every time going from the 4th to 3rd round (when follower crosses mag catch). I don't recall the other mags doing it at all.. perhaps they have been in use long enough and worn down past the catching point?.. i have been reluctant to email them again about it until i get more testing/info done with it. Plus i love the 45 so much I'd hate to see her go for weeks at a time while they try to repair.

If you take the magazine apart and just run the mag follower through while having your finger over the magazine release slot you can feel a slight bulge when it passes. It may be just enough to release the magazine. I sanded on that area until the feeling was nearly gone.

Mine was fine for the first 150 rounds then both mags started to drop frequently. I sent it back and just received it back. They replaced both mag followers and that was it. Took about 6 weeks to get it back. I was skeptical of the repair, but I just put 220 rounds through it yesterday with various target and defense loads and had zero mag drops and no other malfunctions. The follower passes by the mag catch with 4 to 3 rounds left in the mag. If there is any excessive follower dimensional variances, then it could definitely result in a premature mag release under recoil, so I am pretty sure that was what was occurring in my case. I'm going to buy some spare mags soon and make sure they work. I can't explain why it took 150 rounds to intially start occurring, but it could have been how long it took for a little magazine and mag catch wear to develop. If the followers were oversized just a bit, then that may have been enough to allow the follower to knock the mag release tab off the mag catch notch. S&W only replaced the followers on my mags. The mag body still had wear on it as did the mag catch tab, and the followers definitely looked new, so I don't think they replaced anything other than the followers which was consistent with what their documentation stated. Looks like they nailed the fix on mine. I'll just need to be sure to run in any new mags in the future to ensure they are good to go. I picked up a sweet Viper holster for Appendix carry, and it will be entering the summer carry rotation. Nice little pistol.