I've always been a revolver guy at heart. Never even consided plastic. I reasoned that Glocks have been around forever and they have held up well. So, reluctantly, I gave the Shield a chance. After disassembling the Shield, I had issues with the slide locking up. After less than a month, I got rid of the Shield and went back to my trusty revolver. With the recent sale price of $375 less $75 rebate, I decided to give the Shield another chance. I experienced the same issue with the slide locking up. I have since learned that the guide rod and spring have to be oriented a certain way. Reliability is a must. I decided to install the one-piece guide rod from SSGuideRod.com. Now, the slide won't release. Once I lock the slide back and drop the magazine, there is no room for the slide to move back so that it will release and separate from the frame. What gives? Any suggestions? Really wanted to like this pistol, but would opt for a flintlock over the Shield at this point.

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otis

Shield 40, 9mm and 45. No issues with any. Have you taken it to a LGS and have them examine the gun. It could be something you are doing?

I have none of those problems. Only fired about 1200 rounds since I got my Shield 9 in April. It will be my carry weapon.

You put in a 3rd party part, and now the gun doesn't function properly?

What is the original problem you're trying to solve?

I've had my hands on exactly three 9mm shields, all recent, and all 3 have run and disassembled correctly.

No, the one million plus Shield's sold indicate they don't suck, nor do any of the 4 that I own. Sounds like operator error to me...

They work fine for me..had tge nines now a 45...solid gun.

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Assuming it's cleaned and lubed, there are two more known problems beside the RSA failure (Recoil Spring Assy) that could be causing your problem.

One is the OD of the barrel at the chamber getting stuck on the slide's hole for the barrel. http://smith-wessonforum.com/139496834-post21.html

The other problem is a small piece of Locking Block Spring coming loose from it's normal location on the side of the locking block and getting the slide stuck. It's the end of the spring that's supposed to be recessed into that part above the takedown lever. See the two side-by-side and you see one isn't seated and protrudes into the groove that the slide rides in.




Someone here posted with this stuck slide problem 3 hours before your thread. Locking Block Spring

Here is a picture of his Locking Block Spring protruding from it's seat.

Since you have had 2 and issues with both, I'd say the answer to your thread line is....yes, you have bad luck.

Wow! You would think I insulated someone's girlfriend! I love my S&W's too (when they work)! The original problem was that the slide would jam open upon reassembly. It would seem that I'm not the only person to experience this. The last time this happened, I had to use a rubber mallet to unjam it. You would think that S&W would update their manual to address this. I've owned two, and they BOTH had this issue.

In any event, the slide finally released after pushing down firmly on the slide release. Perhaps things will loosen up after several hundred rounds. On a more positive note, the Talon Grips make a huge difference.

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otis

Not really seeing insults, just comments.Take them as you will. For me I don't own a sheild I do have a M & P 40 C that has been flawless. I too own revolvers and may other brands in Semi. My rule with a semi if it isn't 100 % by around 500 rounds its time to re think it in my collection. Only had to boot one so far since 1980

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Spin The Wheel

Shield rocks. I'm currently on my 4th shield and haven't had any issues with any of them.

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M&P 9, Shield9.

I have read and heard of the "guide rod a certain way"
Issue. Have had 3 shields 2 40s and now my 45.
NEVER paid special attention to the rod being a certian way. It pretty much "fits properly" only one way.
Never have had any one of them lock up or not work effortlessly after reassembly. I can do it in the dark by feel and it will work every time.

Must be your bad luck.



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My Shield is kind of like my girlfriend. She sleeps next to me every night, makes a lot of noise, and she's always loaded.

Over 2000 consecutive rounds with my 9mm Shield without a malfunction, and the .45 is carrying on the tradition.

Don't get me wrong, I do like my Shield and will keep it (probably). It is just very frustrating when a quality firearm gives you fits over what should be a basic simple function.

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otis

Call the factory and tell them the problem and they'll send you a shipping label. Usually warranty work is returned quickly. The last experience I had was less than two weeks. That is a common complaint about Shields, they should know what to do with it.

If you get one that works right, it will be a great gun.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

I definitely like the feel and the price of the Shield over the Glock. Just a few bugs that I need to get worked out. It will come together.

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otis

So pressings down firmly on the slide release Un stuck the slide from the rear position, and you think it is related to the recoil guide assembly?

I own a 40 Shield and a Glock 23. The Shield is definitely more sensitive to proper seating of the RSA and also requires more care to make sure it is seated properly. The Glock RSA seems to just naturally pop into the correct seat on the barrel lug. The Shield sometimes wants to go left or right a little bit, and that can be enough to prevent proper slide installation.

I own a 9mm shield and a 45 shield. Couldn't ask for better guns. Must be you. Sorry for your bad luck.

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Endeavor To Persevere

I had a similar issue when my non PC shield was new. The spring orientation didn't help. My issue was locking the slide after disassembled was a b@tch. I called S&W and they sent me another recoil spring which was better but still tight. They did this after I explained the recoil spring from my PC shield in my non PC shield works perfectly. They are identical. The new recoil spring helped but what helped the most is just shooting it. After putting 500 rounds through it has improved and works as good as my PC shield. New they are super stiff and tight and take several hundred rounds, if not more, to get the broken in.

My PC shield worked out of the box.

Yes. The SS Guide Rod is probably stiffer than the factory guide rod. The factory guide rod in this pistol, as well as the one in my previous Shield, had issues of locking up the slide if it was not oriented with the opening of the spring pointed upwards. Others have experienced this as well. If you don't think this is a phenomenon, take yours apart and orient the spring downward on a regular basis. Seeing is believing.

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otis

Fortunately, my experience with the Shield has been different. I bought my first one about three months ago, have run several hundred rounds through it and cleaned it 8 or 10 times. I've never paid attention to the orientation of the RSA (same as I don't on any of my other M&P's) and I've never had issues with the slide's functioning.

One thing that is critical is to verify the position of the spring when seating it. It isn't difficult to get it "off center" which could cause a world of hurt. In my owner's manual, there's no mention of the "orientation" but a big caveat on making certain it is seated properly (centered).

By the way, I do have an extremely stiff slide lock lever. I don't use it as a slide release so it hasn't been much of an issue for me.

The front of the RSA is easy. It seats into the recess at the front of the slide.
The back of the RSA is easy too, when properly seated it has to be parallel to the barrel, and parallel to the slide.
Try to reassemble when the back of the RSA is canted would lock up the slide. While the orientation of the RSA might be more critical on the Shield than other designs, it's not that hard to get it right.
Just glance at the RSA and make sure it's right before attempting to put your slide back on, and you shouldn't have problems.

otis24, Sorry for your bad luck.
I have read on this forum several complaints about the Shield. Plus I have seen several quality issues with S&W's over the last several years.
However, I have several friends that have the 9mm Shields and are quite happy with them. So, when the rebate started I decided it was time for me to get one.

Just to make sure I really needed one. I took my brother's Shield out in the back yard with a mag of his ammo and proceeded to chew the paint about the size of a tennis ball off the center of a 10" steel plate @ about 12 - 15 yards.

The Shield I purchased shot high with my 147gr. ammo. So, I changed the front sight to change POI and put on Talon rubber grip tape.. Took it to a local Steel Challenge match and shot it.
I figure if a firearm is going to mess up,, it will do it at a match.
The Shield shot like a champ. No problems. I actually shot one of my best matches with it.

I liked it so much I purchased another one. So, far No problems with it either. It also shot high for me with my 147 gr ammo. But switching to 124 gr ammo centered up the sights just fine.

Guess I'll have to change the sights or start loading two different bullet weight ,,
Again sorry for your luck,, hope you get the bugs worked out..

Copy that had an issue with my one and only Springfield (Xds 45 ) . So far never an issue with a Smith

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Spin The Wheel

Page 26 shows the proper RSA orientation.

I think the best thing to do is just send it in to Smith and Wesson if you think something is wrong. I did this for a Shield that seemed to be binding. They sent it back and told me it was fine. At first, I didn't believe them. But, after putting about 500 rounds though it, everything is good.

My wife's Shield didn't have this problem. Funny, since I shoot mine more than she does, mine is now a little smoother. You could also take it to a local gunsmith or back where you bought it if local.

This is why I now check the exact gun before I buy it. Some seem to be smooth right out of the box and others require a break in. However, my Shield was still reliable since new.

I hate that your having bad luck with yours. Been some good advice on the threads on various sticking/jamming problems but like many others, I have four of them and not a single problem.

I did put the SSGuiderod in the Shield9 a couple of years ago for mamma because the spring was a bit lighter. Ended up being a lot lighter and she could limpwrist a 50% failure rate. Back to the OEM and no problems.

Hope you get your sorted out!

My Glock 19 and 26 have a circular recess cut into the front of the barrel lug which perfectly centers the guide rod when you're reassembling the slide/barrel/recoil spring package. The Shield design asks you to center a circular disc at the back end of the RSA on top of the circular barrel.

It really isn't THAT tough to do when you know what you're supposed to do and pay attention while doing it. But I have to wonder how hard it would have been for S&W to cut a Glock-type notch in the barrel lug, and make the correct alignment of the RSA automatic??

I think we're both trying to say the same thing. By orientation, I intended the frequently mentioned discussion about whether the "end of the spring" needs to be pointing any specific direction. This isn't mentioned in the manual and I've never given it a second thought.

On the other hand, I was trying to point out to the OP what is mentioned in the manual...that the assembly must be properly aligned and centered to the barrel.

Before trashing a guy, or just selling it to unload your problems, get a return auth from CS, and send it back. Send (with the gun) a detailed description of the problems. The gunsmith will look at what the enclosures that are sitting there with the gun say, not so much what the CS person types on the form.

I went through more that my share of issues with my Shield, but they finally found the issue and got it right.

My honest opinion is that it's your bad luck.

I have owned the Shield 9 and now the Shield 45 and mine were and are flawless....Had the 9 for 2 years, and have had the 45 for over a year now.....So flawless in fact that when the new 2.0 shield 9 is released I will purchase it also.

Don't know what to say for your situation, but do know there are over a million happy shield owners who have had no problems with their shields......As you admittedly prefer the wheel guns, that would probably be the best place to stay as that seems to be where your confidence is.

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Hipcocked45

IIUC, the problems are consistent and only appear after you disassemble and reassemble. I understand it is a guy thing but make sure you are doing what S&W wants in your reassemble not just what seems right.

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Front sight and squeeze

What!?!? Read the f***ing manual?

Yeah, I think it's part of the 21st Century, kinder-gentler-guy thing our betters are pushing on us.

Some of us continue to RESIST, though. The words I try to live by (as long as things continue to work) are those on the back of a Binford Tools t-shirt I bought decades ago at Disney World:

Too bad it has shrunk so badly I can't wear it any more.

Have owned a Shield 9mm for 3 1/2 years. Was a retirement gift. They had not been on the market long at that time. Never a problem. Had carried a Glock 23 at work for ten years and the RSA is indeed easier to put into place on the Glock than the Shield.

I'm headed into thread drift territory here, but thanks for posting that. I've read dozens (hundreds?) of posts about the SSGuiderod, and they all say, "I've just installed mine, and it's great!" However, yours may be the first that mentions actual long-term user experience. I've always been skeptical about an aftermarket guide rod that uses only 1/2 of the Shield's factory recoil spring system, and your experience shows its limitations. I wish other SSGuiderod users would post about how theirs are working.

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What, me worry?

A quick drift with the wind while they contemplate the manual

We were skeptical also but we were looking for assistance racking the slide back in her early learning days. The experience lasted all of 10 minutes. When I ran a mag, after her, I had -0- failures. Hand it back to her and its back to 50%.

Apparently the OEM RSA is strong enough to overcome some difficulties of rheumatoid arth. sufferer's wrists.

We put the OEM RSA back in immediately after that and sold off the SSGR.

Couple of years down the road and she has no problem picking up my XDM....and it has a BEAST of a spring

My Shield is awesome and so far it's been flawless. The same can be said for tens of thousands of them.

You got a Monday or Friday lemon.

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So you are saying you reassembled it with the guide rod installed incorrectly? The slide stuck to the rear and it was able to release by not moving the slide back any more. As the rear movement is where the binding occurred.

Sorry I'm a little slow. Ya the slide release is really tight on these.

I would go back to the factory guide rod and just be sure to assemble it correctly.

2 shield 9mm 1 40'and 1 45
All have been 100% reliable and 100% laser accurate. I carry my shield 9mm daily and feel comfortable in doing s

The weird thing is the Shield 45 has this on the barrel. Not sure if that means on the next gen of 9mm shield they will change it.