Am thoroughly enjoying the new 9mm Shield, which has drawn me back to autoloaders after many years with revolvers. But loading those magazines is getting very hard on my thumbs. So I'm in need of help.

In my previous autoloader life I used both the Glock and Uplula mag loaders to load Glock, Browning Hi Power, and SIG magazines. But I developed shoulder problems which made the use of that style mag loader very painful. I am still unable to do certain weightlifting moves without shoulder pain.

I switched to the HKS, thumb lever, style mag loaders in which the magazine is completely supported within the loader, so pressing down on the loading lever keeps all pressures within the loader frame, and involves no muscular effort that gets to the shoulder.

I used this style loader with complete satisfaction, and had several different loaders for various single and double stack styles of magazine. (All of which have moved on to my son, along with the guns they went with, so I don't have any to check out.) But I don't see an HKS loader that is listed as designed for the Shield mags. They are wider than typical single stacks, but not as wide as real double stacks. And I understand how the extension piece on the bottom of the 8 rounders would present a support problem for at least some of the HKS designs.

Does anybody know if any of the HKS loaders will in fact work, even marginally, with either of the Shield 9mm mags? Or do you know of any other brand of magazine loader that would work with these mags but does NOT depend on the hand pressing down on the loader while the magazine is supported by a surface outside the loader (bench, knee, etc.)?

Thanks for any help.

I've been using the Cadwell Universal Pistol loader for my M&P CORE with good result so far.
Caldwell Mag Charger Universal Pistol Loader [New] - YouTube

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Improvise, Adapt, Overcome

VERY cool. I'd never heard of this device, but now I have one on order. It fits my operating requirements, and the fact that it will work with all of my other mags is the clincher.

Many thanks for the immediate response.

THAT is cool! How much did that set you back?

Check out this thread

My DIY .45 Shield Mag Loading Tool

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Mike
S&WCA #3065

Just under $40 from Midway, with tax and shipping. Despite free shipping, the Amazon Prime delivered cost would probably be a dollar or so more now that they collect MO sales tax. It might be available elsewhere cheaper, but Midway is just down the road so I tend to use them if they're competitively priced.

<$40 pp on Amazon right now. It could go up if a lot a people go look at it. Amazon uses dynamic pricing. The few I saw on Ebay are a few bucks more.

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Si vis pacem para bellum.

How does it hold the mag tight? I'm assuming it squeezes it somehow? Is there a concern with over-tightening it and damaging the mag?

It holds pretty good. You twist a knob to tighten and loosen. Surprisingly it doesn't take much pressure to hold the mag in place.
I do recommend counting your rounds when loading a mag. It is powerfully enough to overload a mag. I did it several times when I first got it.

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Improvise, Adapt, Overcome

What a remarkable tool. (I told you Midway was just down the road. I frequently get overnight service at "normal" shipping rates.) After a little fiddling to get the right feel, loading a 7 or 8 round Shield magazine is almost effortless - and it's completely effortless for my thumbs. The last round feels like it loads as easily as the first. A nice feature is that it pushes each round fully into the mag, unlike the HKS loaders which let you get each round back under the magazine lips, but then need a push to fully seat to the rear.

My tired old hands view the Caldwell loader as an excellent investment.

BTW, the "clamping" action is front to back on the mag, in line with the ammunition, NOT across the sides which I suspect might be a bit more flexible if squeezed with a large screw knob. I don't get any sense of distortion of the metal from clamping the mag in the loader.

Kodiak, that Caldwell loader is intriguing. I have an UpLula and a live-in grandson so my mag loading needs are taken care of but, I'm thinking the Caldwells would make great Christmas gifts for my shooting friends.

Ya learn something new everyday.

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

Here's a cheap push type for under $14. I don't personally have it did think about buying it but like my Lula just fine. A reviewer says it works with the Shield or look below in the suggested area for others you may like. The Caldwell looks like it would work for most but for me the squeezing would probably hurt me as I get cramps from respective use of the hand like that, carpule tunnel.

Amazon.com : Magazine loader M&P Shield, Springfield XD-S, Ruger LCP, Sig 938, all Colt 1911 SINGLE STACK, 9mm, 40, 45 ACP, Pocket Pistol Mags, speedloader, clip assist reloader, MADE IN THE USA, RAE-702 (PURP) : Sports & Outdoors

Or this

Amazon.com : MAKERSHOT Custom .380 ACP Caliber Magazine SpeedLoader (Accu-Tek HC-380) : Sports & Outdoors

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Psalm 23:4

I'm happy I recommended something that could help you guys out!

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Improvise, Adapt, Overcome

That one looks like it is 3D printed. By the looks of it (all the lines on it), a cheap printer at that.

For those of you that have (or have access to) a 3D printer, here are plenty of "plans" for these types of loaders.

We have a printer at work, so I'm going to see if I can get one of these printed and test it out.

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Colt 45 M1911/S&W M&P Shield 9

How about this one? (see video link below)

I saw this at a recent gun show.

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Colt 45 M1911/S&W M&P Shield 9

Who's got two thumbs and loads his magazines........this guy!

Nailed it!

I used to use the UpLULA most of the time until my wife took her CCW class. The instructor told everyone that you need to practice loading the mags by hand and I thought he had a good point.

So, I still use the Uplula once and while but not as often. I could not find it on my last range trip, so it was all by hand. It seems to get easier and faster the more you break in the mags.

Did you guys read the part where the OP has some physical issues that prevent him from manually loading the magazines?

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Retired Career Security Guard

I guess we did. Sorry! Those Magazine Speedloader look like they would work.

Why not just snip two or three coils off the magazine spring?
I would not have any kind of gun that required an additional mechanical device to load the magazine with.
If loading is that hard, the spring is too long. That kind of spring tension is not necessary to push ammunition up a polished metal or polymer chute.

Most Kahrs benefit from that treatment as well. Makes them feed better.

I would be very hesitant to modify the magazine in such a manner.

My experience with the Shield is that if you load it to capacity and leave it for a while the magazine will loosen up.

YMMV greatly

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Retired Career Security Guard