I have recently swapped my carry gun from my Shield 9mm to a Shield Plus 9mm, and have been having an odd problem. Every so often the 10 round magazine falls out of my holstered pistol without me pressing the mag release. The mag drop had only happened when I am seated; usually in my wife's car with its overstuffed seats. I am using the same IWB kydex holster on my right hip as I used with my Shield, and that holster 'mostly' covers the mag drop button. At first, I thought that I might be carrying the holster a bit far back on my hip and that the mag bottom was pressing into the seat back and being released. I have been keeping the pistol forward more and canted a bit further forward. However, every so often I find the mag lying on the car seat when I get up, and today the mag dropped onto the floor today while I was laying back in my dentist's chair. The dental assistant returned the mag to me without any comment. In any case, the mag drop issue is making it hard for me to trust the pistol. Has anyone else run into a similar issue? Any other ideas that I can try? Thanks

I don’t own a Plus but aren’t those larger than a std Shield? Unless I am wrong then the first thing I would look at is holster choice. A uniform model may not work properly even if a slide fits. One that is made to hold and protect the Plus model specifically.

Adding, when I first got my EZ, it seemed to fit a holster I had for my full size MP. And I figured for messing around on some property while plinking it would be close enough. Nope it kept ejecting mags. Correct EZ holster = zero issues.

There is very little doubt that with the slightly wider frame of the Shield Plus your magazine release is being contacted by the Kydex holster as it flexes. You should be able to slowly and gently heat and re-shape the area on your holster that covers the magazine release to give it a little more clearance.

I’d wager you have a holster issue and not a pistol issue. You basically have three elements involved, gun, mag and holster. Try a different magazine. If it persists then try a different holster. If it still persists then I’d be looking at the pistol or more likely the mag release button.

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The mag release on my 1st gen Shield 9mm is carbon steel, and prone to sluggish operation once the coating scrapes off and rust starts. Removing the rust and a coating of white grease solves that.

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None of my Kydex holsters covers the mag release button on the left side of the gun. A few partially cover it on the right side, perhaps helping to prevent accidental operation.

However, with Glocks, a Beretta, numerous Shields and FS M&P’s, an uncovered mag release has never caused a mag to eject accidentally while carrying.

I agree you do not have a gun or mag problem. You have a holster problem. If you are going to carry a firearm, the investment in a holster made specifically for that firearm is wise.

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The usual culprits for dropping SA mags are a weak catch spring, an extended catch too long for the holster or a floppy material holster. All these assume the SA is carried in a holster spec'd for the gun. The first thing I'd suggest is to check the holster/gun fit spec.

If you are going to use this holster you need either cut off the part covering mag release or using heat gun bend it away from the mag release button.
Kydex holster is flexible and presses the mag release in specific positions.
I've experienced the same with IWB holster for M&P22C.

I always kind of amazed at the posts that guys claim a holster made for one gun fits another model or make. It’s like if you can stuff it in, it fits? No

Sometimes it works. You just have to adjust it if needed.
Amazingly there are lot of holsters that fit few different handguns.
I have few IWB holsters which works with CZ75 Compact and M&P9 Compact, few that fit PPQ and VP9 and P30. Recently I found out that T1C Axis for M&P9 4.25 works great with Staccato C2.
Just test them and be sure they function as designed.

The Shield Plus slide is almost the same as the Shield 2.0, only a tiny difference. However, the grip is fatter on a S+ because the mag is much wider.

I've never had a mag drop out of a holstered weapon yet. You could, as suggested above, heat up the kydex and move it back from the mag release button.

But in your case I would just get a new holster that's specific to your new carry. CrossBreed now has several holsters for the S+, including the new Rogue full kydex. Here's my review, FYI

CrossBreed Rogue System, AIWB Shield Plus holster

My Colt Pocketlite would drop mags. That's another reason I got rid of it.

In addition to the frame being slightly larger (not sure if that particular area is), the mag release itself is slightly bigger/different than original Shields. I've had this same problem when trying to use original Shield holsters. Solution - new holsters...

Thank you all for your many ideas and comments. I have been looking into how my old Shield holster works with the new Shield Plus. Remember that one of the Shield Plus selling points was that it was supposed to fit your existing Shield holsters. That said, I do find that when I holster my Shield (non-plus) in my hard plastic taco style IWB that I can just press hard on the outside of the holster near the mag release and NOT drop the mag. However, the mag WILL DROP from the Shield Plus with that same test. So, I am now shopping for a new IWB mag for my Shield Plus and a little more cynical of manufacturing sales claims. Thanks again for all your comments!

Good point about the S+ supposedly being able to fit regular Shield holsters. I’ve seen some holster websites offer the same holster for Shield 9/40 and Shield Plus, but it appears there’s a mag release issue with at least some holsters even if they do fit. One concern is whether holster makers will want to invest in a separate Shield Plus mold. If not, I guess it’ll be trial and error on which Shield holsters will work without mag release issues on the S+.

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Ed

I saw pictures of the effects of a holster before and after seating. Pressure was definitely applied in a seated position. The fix was heat or trimming.

Just a follow up as to my Shield Plus mag drop issue. My prior Shield holster, which I was using with my Shield Plus, was a CYA IWB. I asked CYA if they knew about the mag drop issue, and they responded that they had redesigned their CYA IWB to better fit the Shield Plus. I ordered ($41) their new one and have received it. Their new IWB holster was redesigned for by extending and enlarging the holster material around the mag release. The new CYA IWB now passes the mag drop test, covering the mag release and retaining the mag no matter how I press on the holster. So I am back to carrying my Shield Plus. I will provide a follow up post if anything changes.
Much thanks to all of you that pointed me towards this mag drop problem being a holster issue. You were all correct.

I had a holster for the original shield. Works great and the fit good with the plus. Just reversed the mag release for a left handed shooter and my mag started dropping. I took a heat gun to where the kydex is and remolded it. Mag doesn’t drop anymore.

Give a heat gun a try. Took me five minutes to fix it and save myself fifty or sixty bucks.


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I bought a holster for a Shield Plus. It was interfering with the mag release and bumping it enough to cause the mag to eject.

I think they assumed the Shield holster would work for a Shield plus, like SW stated, but it was slight and didn't take much. Holster went back to manufacturer.

Mag release, holster and car. The first is too nice to swap, the last is too expensive. So, the holster. Carefully examine the fit with both models and figure out what's different. You may be able to modify the holster or you may want to get a new one.

My older LCP had the mag drop problem when pocket carried in almost anything BUT a Kydex holster that covers the mag button.

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I also have a shield plus as my edc. I had a cheap 20$ kyfex holster off Amazon and never had a mag drop issue when carried appendix. Switched to a alien gear shapeshift with 4 o'clock position made for the shiel plus 9mm,and now it's always hitting the mag release off my back. I'm not a big guy either and there is no kydex covering the mag release its kydex in front and fabric behind.
I'm gonna assume it's a gun issue since my 9mm ez 2.0 does it as well in all its specific holsters . Also the plus is built to fit the same holsters the original shield takes... as per S&W
They fit perfectly it's not like jamming it in a different form factor.

It is a holster issue.