I made a purchase from a coworker, it was a 9mm shield, i fired about a dozen rounds or so and took my firearm down for cleaning, upon doing so my recoil spring took itself down further, is it more time/cost effective to go through s&w for a replacement or is it safe to fire once i put back together. Or should i just buy a new one. I am not disappointed with the weapon at all and i get thing breakdown over time. My biggest concern is the safety of the weapon now. Can i still use it as it is designed to be used or am i "crippled" because of the spring assembly

Ive read several forums with the same issue but all were about just replacing the part which i am fine with, but until the new part comes in can i safely operate my firearm in a dire situation

Welcome to the forum.

Don't use it. Smith & Wesson will send you a replacement free.

My Shield Recoil Spring Assembly, RSA, also failed a couple of years ago.

If by "took itself down further" you mean that the front retainer disc came out of the guide rod and allowed the large outer spring to come free, then you have an unrepairable recoil spring assembly. If you somehow are able to get it back together, you will be the first. However, I would advise not shooting it. On Monday, call S&W customer service and ask for a new one. As bigwheelzip has said, they'll send you one for free.

Welcome to the Forum!

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What, me worry?

Good advice above. S&W should send you a new RSA. As you're not the original owner it may cost you. MidwayUSA and/Brownell should have them also.
Welcome from the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Do both, call S&W and try to buy one, check with Brownellsdotcom. Having a spare RSA is not a bad thing.

FWIW, we had several such failures discovered on full size M&Ps during semi-annual armorers inspections. They'd apparently been working fine, but those had a single spring and the shaft of the RSA engaged the slide hole solidly enough to allow the RSA to remain in it's proper place without the retainer at the end.

Thanks for advise everyone

Midwest Gun Works is also an excellent source for replacement parts for Smith and Wesson, and other brands.

Smith & Wesson

Carter

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Ret. LE, FA Instr, S&W Armorer