Interesting comment about loading the 7 round magazines. I have found they are an bear to insert, and they really bind on the magazine release. Something just wasn't right.

So, I stripped down both a 7 and an extended 8 round mag, and discovered the springs are the same length, even though the mags aren't. S&W did not shorten the 7 round mag spring in proportion to the mag's length, so when you load that 7th round, you are doing so on a fully compressed spring with no more give. No wonder the last round is so hard and inserting the mag is so difficult!

I clipped off one coil of the mag spring and reassembled. Now the 7 round mag is perfect. It has the same amount of give as the 8 rounder, and the same amount of resistance and travel when the last round is loaded.

Fully impressed with the Shield, especially with the Apex Tactical kit. Fabulous gun!