My spring seemed to be touching the slide, but was sticking out only about a third of its width and the bottom of the spring is being held in tightly by the plastic grip frame, so perhaps the guns that develop the spring-popped-out problem are only those that have a loose fit in both the frame/locking block and the slide/locking block.

So...no interest in anyone else's experience, but yours should be taken as gospel truth? OK. No mechanical device is 100% reliable. Revolvers have been known to have a part break or just lock up for no immediately obvious reason.
This "alarming" Shield issue is one known to occur in "several" of the million sold. Without boring anyone about my several years of trouble free experience with 2 Shields, suffice to say that there ARE semi-autos I will trust with my life, and those I will not. Both of my Shields qualify as the former.

Just asking... is this a design or a quality control issue?

Or both...????

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

Yes, been a Shield owner and fan for many years. Just checked my PC Shield and the spring has backed out so I punched it back in. We'll see.....Glock 43?........

first time pistol owner brand new 9mm shield .About 350 rounds 2 months old,go to field strip slide wont come out, Sent it to S&W they received it on 10/13 .send me a notice on 10/20 that they have it where was it for a week ?.Called today and return time is 3 to 5 weeks, read this thread is this going to be an on going problem ?

Mine is fully flush, even a touch recessed. Manuf early may 2017. Thanks for the heads up on this inspection point!

not trying to be a smart ***** but i take you dont carry a gun? no gun is 100% reliable. in fact, nothing mechanical is 100% reliable. engineering 101.

I had the exact same problem!!!

Posted on Oct. 7th

hard time disassemble shield 9 and I can't put my rail back on

Here is my previous post.

I guess this isn't a rare case.

I sent my shield for service (S&W provided the shipping label) 3 weeks ago and I am still waiting for my pistol to arrive.

Well, this isn't going to change my mind either but when I break down my Shield next time, I'm going to have a look just to see if there is a potential problem.

I think the Shield is a great gun and I use it.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

Looks like my pictures have been good reference! I found these issues on a new PC9 when the slide was locking back. Barrel was a tight fit, when all the way back, which seemed like the culprit.

That spring was popping out and when I noticed it I pushed it in and it has been fine since. Have around 800+ with the two Shields.

Hasn't been an issue since.

Here's another angle. Notice one spring is shined up... that's from contacting the slide til I caught it.

Yep, just checked my shield. Dated 04.04.17. Only fired about 150 rounds and spring was out. Simply took a small flat bladed screw driver and tapped with palm of my hand and spring returned to flush position. Thanks everyone for pointing this out. Btw..I am still going to use my shield for everyday carry.

Sent from my SM-T800 using Tapatalk

Curious, how do you find the manufacture date?

It's on the box label like this:
042317

All my Shields that had partially seated springs were dated between 112316 and 062717.

I’m still not seeing it. I am looking right at the part that the red arrow is pointing to. The right side of that piece is flush against the steel insert (is that the locking block? The U shaped piece that covers both sides of the frame?). That piece with the arrow is immovable in any way. Could somebody post a pic with the screwdriver touching where you should be tapping? I assume two down towards to bottom of the weapon?

Not me.
My shield 9mm PC has over 2-K of my hand loads and cast boolets in the last 8 months with out ONE issue. I feel quite confident with it.

Take a look at the portion of the two frames laid side by side-- in between the take down lever.

On the left it is black as it is colored leaving the factory-- on the right it is silver... polished from rubbing the slide.

As mentioned above, press it in with a flat head and shoot it.

Mine is dated 060717 and black and fully seated, so no "Conspiracy Theory" there!

I'd say it's a design flaw and it can happen to any one of our pistols.

That "hitch" or bend in the spring creates an interference fit in the grove to keep it retained but the shock from recoil could cause it to walk.

For those who found their spring walking and pushed it back in will probably find it happening again. If it does then the only fix will be to replace the lock block and spring due to wear.

A better design would have been to cast the top of that spring grove at an upward angle so the installed spring pressure would naturally keep it seated.

Sadly some "Dingbat" had used that picture with a listing of how 2 good ones look like and I said 1 of those is messed up!

I appreciate this thread being started. One of the great things about this forum is the good info like this. I just purchased a 40 Shield on 9/27/17, but I will have to check the manufacturing date on it. I'm also going to break it down tonight to check this on it and see if my spring is walking or not. Hoepfully not, but if so, I'll just pop it back where it needs to be. It is what it is at this point.

However, others here have mentioned some other situation about the mag springs and I haven't heard anything about that yet either, so it looks like I'm going to have to use the search function to find out what that problem is all about.

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Mat - M&P 40c & 40 Shield

Here's 1 there are many more!

Shield 9 bent magazine spring

U can get a 3 pack of Shield 9mm springs from Wolff for $17.29 and their ship is very cheap like $3.

So I replaced my Shield springs and will do the same whenever I get my Rebate mags!

https://www.gunsprings.com/Semi-Auto...1/mID58/dID440

Still cant believe S & W cant fix this issue which has been around from day 1 with the Shield, they did replace the springs with a newer version different color more dark late last yr. but still happens and most people don't know but there are many vids on U-tube!

Mine is flush

1k plus rounds


I guess my frustration with these threads, is that you have people that say "THATS WHY I DONT BUY A SHIELD!"

If you google GUN "XXX" problems..... YOU WILL FIND THEM

I will say again....... The Shield is a great weapon, very reliable

A better thread title might be

Shield Maintenence Issue to keep an eye on......
I would have given a thumbs up to and would have added a "like"

IF it fails vs WHEN it fails, might have helped as well

Take care

7,000+ rounds through my Shield 9mm and zero issues. Always good to thoroughly inspect your guns though for any potential issue.

I have had my Shield 9 about two and a half years. Stopped counting rounds at 7,500 and estimate at least 9,000 rounds (or more) at this writing. Spring is still solid so I guess I got one of the good ones. Have not had a single issue with this jewel....ZERO.

Checked my new Shield 40 yesterday and it was flush and good to go. I looked and it was manufacturered on 4/17/2017, I think was the exact date. I haven't checked the mag springs yet, but I know I had a heck of a time trying to get the 6 rounds in the 6 round mag initially. Now it isn't as bad because I've had 5 rounds in there for a while and it compressed the spring a bit, but I'll pull them apart tonight and check the springs in all three mags. Thanks for the info on the Wolff springs too. I'll probably just order them anyway and replace the factory ones and keep them on hand as backups.

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Mat - M&P 40c & 40 Shield

I just checked my 9mm shield. And the spring in question is proud and it is worn the color off and is bare metal. I will be attempting to tap it flush soon as I am not immediately have access to my tools.

I bought my gun used. So not sure how many rounds through it. I have shot 500 to maybe 750 rounds. Has never malfunctioned. But it is barely even broken in yet. Depending upon how many rounds the previous owner shot.

I had called S&W and learned the the gun was less than a year old from date of manufacturing (from When I bought it) and they had no record of the gun being back to factory for service. I can’t remember the exact date of manf. I think it was August of 2016. I wrote it down somewhere.

I tend to agree with this. A little better choice of wording would have been better received.

Oh... I would call 750 + rounds broken in. You likely will never have an issue with it, but somehow if you do, you have something to watch for. The one thing I have not seen or read in this thread (maybe I missed a post) is where some said they seated the spring and it came out again causing a failure. From what I've seen everyone that has seated the spring has not had it come loose again, I could be wrong, but time will tell in my own case. When or if that happens I will cross that bridge then and send it to S&W.

I like my thread just the way I wrote it.
Sorry if a few devout Shield owners can't read plain English and have to nit-pick words ala Bill Clinton ("What the definition of is is").
Here's the bottom line: Just because your Shield hasn't popped its spring yet doesn't mean that it won't AND it doesn't mean that OTHER Shield owners haven't already or are about to run into this rather significant spring problem. If you want to bury your head in a pitcher of S&W KoolAid, be my guest. This thread was started for the rest of us.
Best Regards to all Shield owners.
And, keep an eye on that spring thingy.

NOn,

Personally, I honestly commend you for bringing this potential problem to light and a possible fix. Had I not seen this thread I likely would have never noticed that the spring was not fully seated and because of your thread I did seat it. I may have never had an issue, but now I have something to watch for.

No company is perfect, large company or small. Defects are a part of manufacturing. I work in Quality control and sometimes business decisions ($) take precedence over quality decisions. That usually comes down from upper management. Sometimes corners are cut due to cost savings and backfire, other times the design is just plain flawed. I don't consider myself a so called "S&W coolaid drinker" If I have a legit gripe I won't be bashful in stating so. In the case of the Shield and this particular issue we have no way to know or can we speculate what percentages of Shields are failing due to this issue. My best guess is a small percentage in comparison to the sheer number of Shields sold and that are actively in use.

But I have to admit when I first came across the title "Fix your Shield before it Fails !!" It did sound like a not "if" but "when" it happens statement. Please don't take it the wrong way, I think most of us are applauding you for bringing this up.

Thank you for your comments and your participation.

No mention was made in a Shield armorer class of any particular "problem" with the spring working its way loose. Yes, it's easy to glance it as part of a normal visual inspection during cleaning, just like visually confirming other parts & assemblies on the guns appear in normal condition.

The spring isn't intended to be removed as part of any "routine" cleaning or inspection, either. Don't pick and pry at it. (This isn't exactly a new thing, either, kind of like how the rear sight base and extractor was mentioned as never being removed for "normal maintenance" in the previous 3rd gen S&W pistols, only being removed for repair/replacement.)

This little U-shaped slide stop lever spring is only intended to be removed for replacement. Replacing it involves using something flat to press the spring into the recess in the side of the locking block. The flat end of a new brass punch (think 1/4") can do nicely, positioned across the top end of the spring, to push/seat the widened "wiggle" part of the spring flush into the recess. The "wiggle" spot in the wire provides for a tight press fit in the groove.

BTW, this is the same sort of spring/block housing design used to power the Shield manual safety lever, too.

We've got a fair (and growing) number of guys and gals shooting Shields and carrying them off-duty, and some retired guys, and aside from a couple of them finding the recoil spring assemblies stiff to retract, the little guns seem to run pretty well. Nobody has had the slide stop lever wire spring work its way loose yet. If one does, one of our armorers will no doubt remove it and press in a new one.

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Ret LE Firearms inst & armorer

Here's the perfect solution to that. Makes a very noticeable difference. This mod IMO is superior to the factory spring/rod assembly. Makes the slide much easier and smoother to manipulate. A no brainer. Smith and Wesson Shield 9mm & 40 cal Stainless Steel Guide Rod Assembly - Stainless Steel Guide Rods

Thanks, but there might be a couple of potential issues with the use of an aftermarket guide rod/RSA to consider when it comes to an authorized/personally-owned weapon dedicated to an off-duty (or even duty) role.

First, since we're talking about approved off-duty/secondary duty weapons, any changes of parts from original factory (aside from something relatively simple, like sights or a grip sleeve) may introduce a degree of unnecessary exposure to potential liability in the event of a mechanical problem. Also, if it's not a factory provided or factory approved part, then the factory can (reasonably, and understandably) claim a lack of responsibility for its usage and any unwanted performance.

Secondly, if the "problem" were to involve unwanted/unpleasant consequences for the user, then the armorer who decided to take it upon him/herself to "authorize" the aftermarket part would be exposed to a degree of personal, individual responsibility and liability that might not otherwise exist if the factory (or factor approved) parts had been used, and the armorer had followed practice and policy of adhering to the factory armorer training (use of factory parts).

Factory provided/approved parts typically receive a lot of R&D, and ongoing monitoring of user/customer feedback, to make sure the parts meet the desired performance and reliability standards set by the engineers. Sure, sometimes these things get revised, and things can sometimes start to change once the product gets out in the hands of actual owners/users.

Anyhow, let's say the use of some aftermarket part/assembly resulted in a problem which resulted in injury or death to the user/owner. Now, even if the aftermarket company can be found to have some degree of liability ... it's still the armorer who has to explain to the family why a non-factory part was used in the first place, and perhaps without approval (depending on policy). Not a position in which I'd ever wish to find myself. What armorer would, right?

In earlier duty pistol times we even had to give careful consideration to making changes to relatively "simple" things like recoil springs, mainsprings and magazine springs. We'd sometimes use aftermarket springs in them, but only after careful consideration and having them approved by someone in the decision-making chain (also called the liability loop ).

FWIW, since most major gun makers have their springs made by outside spring makers, it's sometimes possible to end up using "aftermarket" springs made by the original OEM spring maker, but then you still have to give some consideration to how you're now stepping outside the original engineering specs, as determined by the gun engineers.

Making changes to sporting and gaming guns is one thing, but when you enter the area of anything that's dedicated to service as a defensive weapon, and especially as an "approved & authorized" weapon, there's always going to be the degree of liability exposure to consider. It's often prudent to act to avoid unnecessary exposure to liability.

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Ret LE Firearms inst & armorer

Just checked mine 1000 + rounds NO PROBLEM

To avoid any confusion I may have can someone tell me if mine looks normal?
See attached photos.
Thanks.

Attached Images

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	IMG_1429.jpg (55.9 KB, 1129 views)
	IMG_0072.jpg (56.7 KB, 118 views)

Looks fine, easiest way to tell if its starting to come out is look for the black paint on spring wearing off!

What bothers me is that a warranty repair that they used to turn around in less than two weeks is taking longer.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

I saw this thread and I just had to look. Sure enough the spring is silver on the side from rubbing on the slide. I tried tapping it back but can't seem to get it entirely inside the block. It seems to be captive in side the polymer frame. I don't carry the gun but it is in my truck. I'll check it every time that I clean. One more thing to worry about.

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Made it, Ma! Top of the world!

Silver on the entire spring is not so good. As you already found, the spring is not fully inset flush with its locking block groove. Silver on just the end is worse because that's the end that can pop out and cause shooting malfunctions and prevent slide removal.

Either way, I have been successful tapping the entire spring back into its groove by using a small tack hammer, a 1/16" pin punch and starting at the little wrinkle in the center of the spring and working toward the curved end that disappears down into the frame, then working toward the end until the spring is fully flush. Sometimes I had to repeat this 2-3 times before it was flush along its entire length. No heavy hammering is necessary! This has worked for me every time on my own 13 Shields, 9mm, 40's & 45's.

And, to appease the S&W KoolAid drinkers who criticize my thread title wording, let me offer this disclaimer again:

There have been numerous instances of these springs popping out and causing malfunctions and preventing slide removal - WAY TOO MANY for my taste. It may never happen to you because we know that after 6 years of Shield production, not every spring has popped out. If you believe S&W's marketing claims, over 1 Million Shields have been sold. Obviously, they all didn't pop their slide lock springs and jam. As to what production dates seem to pop most, my first hand experience with 13 of my own Shields and 3 of my friends with Shield 9mm's dating back to 2016 production, all are suspect from 2016 to present. One friend's 2017-made, 9mm Shield spring end DID pop completely out and cause stovepipes, failures to return to battery and prevented slide removal. It seems that the problem of the spring end jamming the slide appears more frequently on the most recent production guns.

So, again I say FIX YOUR SHIELD BEFORE IT FAILS because if it does pop its spring, the likelihood of your being able to seat the spring back into its groove and for it to stay there is almost zero because of the spring end distortion that will likely occur once it pops out and jams the slide.

In my opinion, it's certainly worth checking this spring to avoid malfunctions like that and/or a long trip back to the factory.

Your opinion is absolutely correct. Since there appears to have been a problem with a few pistols out there.

Doing this VERY SIMPLE visual check, when you disasemble the weapon, seems to be a no brainer.

Many people clean without inspecting things, even a quick glance could address this and many other portential problems

Proper message is everything

People like myself, who have owned many different brands of rifles and pistols and who have unfortunately seen warranty work from a few, and who arent really tied to any manufacturers's weapons, appreciate sound advice.

Almost ALL of what you have offered is sound advice..........

SOME of what you have offered sounds like sky is falling advice, which quite frankly is NOT what is happening.

It sound like there are a small number of weapons being sent out that have this problem. SW needs to address this

Thanks for MOST of this thread........ I will keep an eye on it moving forward.

This is exactly the process I performed to seat mine. AS Nonuthin stated, you must start at the middle or the wrinkle and slide the punch toward each end all the while tapping the spring back in. I also had to do it several times to push it all the way in, but it worked.

I checked mine last night,and it is was completely seated from the factory.Mine is a .45(mfg.3/17/17).I did a close inspection of the internals,and could find no wear.
Clark

Anything made by humankind will never be 100% reliable.
Used to carry a Model 28. One fine day, while sitting in a drawer the main spring decided to snap in two...just like that. Imagine my surprise when I took the revolver out to shoot it. The rattle and VERY light trigger pull gave it away.
That is why a routine, cursory inspection of any gun you plan on using...for any purpose, is mandatory.

Hey, if it worries you that it's not flush with the side of the locking block, why not have it checked by S&W? If there's something just slightly out-of-spec with either the spring (too wide) or the locking block (shallow spring groove), it's easy for the factory to replace the parts with new ones.

BTW folks, I was just told that the company is either approaching 3 million Shields sold, or has passed it. It's broken every sales record for S&W firearms ever set in the company's history.

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Ret LE Firearms inst & armorer

Finally checked mine again yesterday. It wasn't flush, but it is now. Thanks for the reminder.

Correct if it’s mechanical it will eventually break or wear out, not saying today or tomorrow but it will wear and break. Heck I’ve even seen solid objects break, broke a axel shaft 1” solid steel, defect in casting. The only thing you can count on being 100% is you will die sometime.

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Psalm 23:4

It all depends on how busy or short staffed they are. A couple of years ago turn around time was over 3 weeks. The slide lock tab broke off of my M&P 40 and rather than simply sending me a replacement to install myself, I had to send it in. Fortunately I have lots of other range toys to play with so I wasn't without a gun during that time and even though it's my favorite, I didn't miss it too much.

I'll second that. I don't know what he's talking about either.