I purchased a 45 shield about 2 months ago. Great pistols other than the slide has locked back when I still have rounds in the clip. Returned it to S&W and they returned it with no repairs done stating they placed 5 clips thru it and could not reproduce the issue. I had read another thread that someone had taken a dremel to a little lip exists at the bottom of the loading ramp. I did this. Took it to range and same issue. Returned it back to S&W, this time with my clips because the customer service guy said the newness and spring tension on the clips could be causing the issue. Not having a good feeling that they are going to be able to correct issue. Any suggestions on what to do if it comes back the same?

Have you let someone else shoot it, using the same ammunition?

How often does it happen? (Does it happen within shooting 5 magazine loads, as the factory tech apparently tried?)

What ammunition are you using when it occurs? Over-powered ammunition can sometimes cause early slide stop engagement.

How experienced of a handgun shooter are you?

How experienced are you with shooting smallish .45's?

Do you use a high/forward thumbs grip, or a revolver-like 'crush' grip?

Do you use a 'crossed thumbs' grip, where the tip of your support hand is pointing toward the slide? Or, do you have the knuckle of your shooting hand resting up underneath the slide stop lever?

While it's certainly possible for premature slide lock to be a mechanical gun problem, more often than not it's a shooter-induced problem, and even sometimes (to a much lesser extent) an ammunition problem.

Let them give it another try.

I only know one guy who presently owns a Shield 45, and he's been raving about it (another instructor and armorer). He's reported no problems with it, nor has any of the other instructors he's let try it.

Did you see this other thread? Shield 45 issue

Since your Shield 45 is going back a second time, I'd not be surprised if they decide to just replace the locking block, or the locking block's slide stop spring (or both), to try and address your problem and concern. Let us know.

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Ret LE Firearms inst & armorer

I've been shooting 20 plus years. Own XDS .45, Kimber Ultra CDP II and Mustang pony pocket light to name a few so this is not my first small gun. No issues with any of my other guns. When I went to the range after getting it back the first time, it jammed on the 2nd and 4th bullet of the first clip, 3 bullet of the 3rd clip, don't remember which round it jammed on the 4th and 5th clip. Stopped after that, it was useless to continue. I use Winchester standard rounds. My grip isn't accidentally hitting the button to lock the slide back. Not so strong that I am squezzing the grip to tight. I have a hard time believing it is me. This forum has other people with the same issue so.....Thinking I just go a lemon.

We can probably discount it being a magazine issue since it happened with all of them. Like fastbolt said, it could be the locking block or stop spring. I'd send it back to S&W with a detailed report on what's happening. The slide locking on 5 magazines is not good.

I would have some of your friends shoot it to see if it happens to them as well. Then you can eliminate any grip issue and tell S&W that it also happened to others while shooting your gun.

I have it and the only issue I had was that the 7 round magazine would prematurely eject. Sent the magazine back to them and they replaced it.

Good luck.

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Shield 45

See this thread too:

Shield-45-issue

Lots of similar experiences there.