Shield 45 Concerns

[Capt_Destro]

I haven't been having much luck with firearms lately. This shield 45 actually had a bent guide/recoil rod out of the box. S&W Shipped that to me no problem.

So on closer inspection I discovered this:




Does anyone else have a Shield 45 with these notches in the feed ramp? I just wanted to know if it's intentional or if it's a defect. To the naked eye I thought it was chipped. After zooming in it actually looks machined.




I was also wondering what everyone elses feed ramps looked like.

[Popeye77]

After mine gets back Tuesday from S&W I will tell you.

[M29since14]

I’m sure the nicks are not “intentional”. I don’t see that they are a “defect”, either. Does you gun function normally? If the nicks present sharp edges, you might lightly stone the sharp edge away, but nothing more.

[Jeppo]

Out of the box, my 9mm Shield had some tool chatter marks on the feed ramp. $10 and 3 minutes of my gunsmith's time spent polishing and it was fine.

[SATX]

It appeRs to have come from the factory that way since the finish is present. Mine is not like that.

[Capt_Destro]

Originally Posted by M29since14

I’m sure the nicks are not “intentional”. I don’t see that they are a “defect”, either. Does you gun function normally? If the nicks present sharp edges, you might lightly stone the sharp edge away, but nothing more.

I'll be contacting S&W. My Full Size M&P's look perfect. I've held off on shooting at the moment. I had to request a new guide rod because the one it shipped with turned out to be bent. So far I'm having bad luck with this thing. I want to see what they say before I start putting rounds through it or polishing.


If they will replace it on their dime I'll have them do that.

I was just curious if the 45 shields were machined differently since there are a few differences between the 45 ACP Version and the 9/40 versions.

I'm a bit puzzled how flaws in the machining process are not considered a factory defect?

[M29since14]

If the gun works as intended and presents no hazard to the user, it’s not something I’d describe as defective. Calling it defective would indicate to me that one of those two things is involved, or both. If you find it cosmetically unacceptable that’s something maybe S&W will address to try to keep you happy. That’s all I meant. Anyway, good luck with your Shield .45. Mine has been great!

[Capt_Destro]

Originally Posted by M29since14

If the gun works as intended and presents no hazard to the user, it’s not something I’d describe as defective. Calling it defective would indicate to me that one of those two things is involved, or both. If you find it cosmetically unacceptable that’s something maybe S&W will address to try to keep you happy. That’s all I meant. Anyway, good luck with your Shield .45. Mine has been great!

Sorry I didn't mean the gun was defective. Just the metal/machining on the barrel was a defect. I really want to like this thing and I think I was just off to a rough start.

Really glad to hear yours has been treating you good. I installed night sights, replaced the faulty guide rod and got the grip texture just right before I discovered this. So I am dying to take this to the range and put it through it's paces.

By the way the trigger is amazing. It puts my stock M&P45 2.0 trigger to shame. It feels like it has even less take up than a complete apex/flat trigger kit on my full size.

[FloridaS&W]

I don't like the looks of that edge, I would have it replaced.

[ScaryWoody]

It looks like some pretty deep chips. The bullet may hang up on the middle one. I think it would be hard to polish out. I would send them your pictures and they will most likely replace the barrel.