Shield 7+1

[nanney1]

At the range today, I decided to go with one in the chamber plus the full magazine. Put in the 8 round mag, chambered, dropped the mag and added another round. Then shot 9.

Tried to do the same with the 7 round mag, but after chambering, dropping the mag and adding a round, I could not get the 7 round mag to insert. Tried slamming it in, but it wouldn't go. Put the safety on and tried to bang it in on the table, still wouldn't go. I'm guessing it's just tight.

[RobzGuns]

Fully load both the 7 round and 8 round mags, then try to push down on the top round (as if trying to load 1 more into the mag). You will see that the 7 round mag has less 'push room' than the 8 round mag does. The Shield 7 round mag is notorious for being a bear to insert when the slide is closed.

You see the notch on the top of the rear wall of the mag? When the slide is closed, the bottom of it actually pushes down on the top round in the mag... Almost the full depth of that notch. If you can hardly push the top round down further than the depth of the notch, it's going to be very tough to insert the full mag without ***REALLY*** slamming it home.

Of course... There IS the slight possibility that the factory inserted the mag spring backwards. It rarely happens, but it HAS happened before.

[nanney1]

I asked the range officer about it and he mentioned that it would be tough to seat the mag with the slide closed. I tried it and he was right. The 8 will with no problem. He is a local deputy and he said at the Sheriff's Dept that they chamber, but not plus 1. The load their Glock 17's with 17 rounds, chamber one round and leave 16 in the mag. He said it is less pressure on the springs and they are less likely to wear out.

[clarkg1124]

I had the same issue with the 7-rounder.A Wolff mag spring solved the problem.
Clark

[SaintsDad]

The 7 round magazine uses the same spring as the 8 round. I found that out when I had to replace the 7 round spring when it collapsed. Called S&W and they told me that when I asked for a replacement.

[Talldog]

The 7 round mag is really tough until it loosens up. What works for me is to hold the pistol with both hands, fingers on top of the slide and thumbs on the mag.