Anyone notice this issue with their Shield?

[Shielded]

In all honestly, this is next to nothing when compared to real problems many other companies have had with their micro 9mm and 380 offerings.

Very True ! Just push the thumb on the back of the slide when drawing & should really be a non issue. I'm not going to worry about it.

 

[offensive]

I think I may be onto something. I did a quick strip down of mine and wiped it clean of any lubricant. Guess what, mine does it. My round count is roughly 1000. Wiped the outer part of the barrel with a Rem oil wipe, doesn't do it anymore. The only issue I have had with mine is the white dot off of the right rear sight came off while shooting 147gr American Eagle's this past weekend. I trust the Shield with my safety and my families. This is a tight tolerance break in issue in my opinion.

 

[Lost Lake]

Are you saying the barrel needs a light film of oil on it to operate?

Love my M&P's, but I'd expect better reliability. This is really going to excite the wolves looking for a weakness in the Shield.

If the tolerances are so tight between the barrel and the slide that it will hang up unless a film of oil is there, what happens when a speck of sand or dirt gets in that gap?

My M&P's don't hang, but I haven't tried wiping them down with denatured alcohol or anything and trying them completely dry.

 

[shipwreck]

I have 4 M&P's, 2 Compacts and 2 Shields. My Compacts are 5 years old, the Shields about 2 weeks....all 4 do the same thing. This isn't uncommon in Semi-Autos, that's one reason to always carry in a good holster that fits the gun so that the slide isn't subjected to any outside resistance that may force it to move out of battery. Both of my Shields are tighter in that area than the Compacts, but the Compacts have a couple of thousand rounds each through them, the Shields only a couple hundred. I have no qualms about carrying my Shield and I really believe this is a non-issue if the gun is handled properly.

I agree - I have had numerous OTHER guns do this. It was really only noticable when breaking in a NEW holster. When a leather holster is new - just keep your thumb on the back of the slide while inserting it into the holster.

You'd think the sky is falling - and some people still are getting worked up over this even when others state what you stated. I'm fine with my Shield, personally.

 

[JimC]

I was just thinking this over and went back to my LE days and firearms training.

We did in fact teach the shooters to put their thumb on the rear of the slide when re-holstering to stop the slides of their pistols from moving backward, especially in new or tight fitting holsters.

I myself still revert back to that practice when using some new holsters.

This however does not take away from the fact that I think S&W may have a problem with the Shield that needs to be addresed.

 

[Nakanokalronin]

I agree - I have had numerous OTHER guns do this. It was really only noticable when breaking in a NEW holster. When a leather holster is new - just keep your thumb on the back of the slide while inserting it into the holster.

You'd think the sky is falling - and some people still are getting worked up over this even when others state what you stated. I'm fine with my Shield, personally.

I agree with you totally but if it's something that S&W can tweak with-in a standard work day, it may be worth it to call them and see what they say. I'm still waiting for my LGS to get in any more Shields, but if I had one right now that did this, I'd give them the real world feedback that they should hear.

I think I may be onto something. I did a quick strip down of mine and wiped it clean of any lubricant. Guess what, mine does it. My round count is roughly 1000. Wiped the outer part of the barrel with a Rem oil wipe, doesn't do it anymore. The only issue I have had with mine is the white dot off of the right rear sight came off while shooting 147gr American Eagle's this past weekend. I trust the Shield with my safety and my families. This is a tight tolerance break in issue in my opinion.

Funny thing is, I put a light coat of oil on the barrel of every semi-auto I own. Now I know I would not have noticed this on my Shield at all. This is a common way to lube up a 1911, especially with tighter tolerances. I think when it comes to poly guns, people are used to loose tolerances and lube as little as possible.

ETA: Those plastic white dot inserts have a tendency to fall out. I just let them fall out and use good old fashion paint.

 

[Lost Lake]

Oh I can see a lot of problems with this....

Pulling your weapon and bumping the slide against something backing the slide out of battery, maybe you are pulling your gun out in a car and bump the steering wheel. Maybe you struggle with a BG and he hits at your gun and bumps the slide back a bit.

Maybe you drop your gun and pick it up and the slide is out of battery. Or the whole holster thing. I don't like the idea myself, and none of mine do it, but this is going to be huge.

It may as well be a safety that just comes on at will. Same effect.

Have no doubt, if the Shield can be bumped and rendered inoperable, there is a problem!

Welcome to the start of the fastest growing thread on the forum!

 

[Nakanokalronin]

Oh I can see a lot of problems with this....

Pulling your weapon and bumping the slide against something backing the slide out of battery, maybe you are pulling your gun out in a car and bump the steering wheel. Maybe you struggle with a BG and he hits at your gun and bumps the slide back a bit.

Maybe you drop your gun and pick it up and the slide is out of battery. Or the whole holster thing. I don't like the idea myself, and none of mine do it, but this is going to be huge.

It may as well be a safety that just comes on at will. Same effect.

Have no doubt, if the Shield can be bumped and rendered inoperable, there is a problem!

Welcome to the start of the fastest growing thread on the forum!

Have you tried lubing the barrel to see if it still occurs? If not, THAT is something to mention to S&W themselves. They are going to need repeated feedback of the same "issue" if they are going to "fix" it.

 

[xICEMANx]

Hmmm I've noticed when inserting a loaded mag and closing the slide it sometimes does this. However, it's never done it while holstering or unholstering. I'm thinking it may be an issue with the mags. I think it's happened maybe once or twice in 300 rounds.

 

[Lost Lake]

Have you tried lubing the barrel to see if it still occurs? If not, THAT is something to mention to S&W themselves. They are going to need repeated feedback of the same "issue" if they are going to "fix" it.

Nope. I don't own a Shield yet.

I just took an M&P9c apart and watched the slide go over the magazine without the barrel in place. The rounds in the magazine rub against the bottom of the slide and the shell has to slide up and down inside the extractor arm as the barrel drops.

Is there a burr on the extractor? A burr inside the chamber?

 

[shipwreck]

Even when not using a holster - just doing a press check. I've owned probably 50+ handguns in my lifetime.

I have many of them not have the slide completely close back automatically if I pulled the slide back just a tiny bit to see if there was a round in the gun. Even a few 1911s. I've had to just push the slide back that tiny bit manually. Probably at least 10 or more handguns I have owned before did this.

That's the main report - that if you pull the slide back a tiny, tiny bit, it doesn't close itself all the way.

Now, personally, I haven't had any REAL chambering issues with my Shield - either thru pulling the slide back manually or using the slide release.

 

[Lee in Quartzsite]

Are you saying the barrel needs a light film of oil on it to operate?

It's in the Owner's Manual as a lube point......helps to read the manual once in awhile.

It's also a known fact that if you get into hand to hand combat with someone that is using a semi-auto against you the easiest way to disable the gun is to push the front of the slide back just a little. The trick is to do it quick enough before it goes BANG.

I think this is a "Chicken Little" issue...the sky is not falling and the gun will function as intended if properly maintained and used as intended. If it failed to go into battery while firing then maybe I would worry about it. Coming out of battery by manually forcing it to do so is a non issue. A gun should always be carried in a proper fitting holster and this is just one example of the reason why it is important.

I am sure the guy who sent his gun to S&W for this issue will find they say the same thing. If he is uncomfortable with the gun he will have no problem selling it.......
Just my $0.02..........

 

[shipwreck]

It's in the Owner's Manual as a lube point......helps to read the manual once in awhile.

It's also a know fact that if you get into hand to hand combat with someone that is using a semi-auto against you the easiest way to disable the gun is to push the front of the slide back just a little. The trick is to do it quick enough before it goes BANG.

I think this is a "Chicken Little" issue...the sky is not falling and the gun will function as intended if properly maintained and used as intended. If it failed to go into battery while firing then maybe I would worry about it. Coming out of battery by manually forcing it to do so is a non issue. A gun should always be carried in a proper fitting holster and this is just one example of the reason why it is important.

I am sure the guy who sent his gun to S&W for this issue will find they say the same thing. If he is uncomfortable with the gun he will have no problem selling it.......
Just my $0.02..........

+10000

Hell, I'd go buy another one right now if I wanted a 2nd one...

 

[JimC]

Now this is beginning to sound like a Kahr CM9/PM9 thread!

Next thing ya know, someone will tell everyone to squeeze their mag lips, grind down the tip of the slide stop and sand their followers!!!

 

[Lost Lake]

It's in the Owner's Manual as a lube point......helps to read the manual once in awhile.

Ouch.

My guns are all lubed according to the manual. I have no issues at all. I am not having the problem. I don't want to have the problem.

That doesn't mean it isn't a problem. And explaining it away isn't going to work for Kahr owners, revolver fanatics and the Glock group.

The idea of a SD gun is that it works. Even in the rain, even after being dropped in the mud, or when pulled out of a drawer after 6 months.

To me, dependable for SD means it will work when not lubed perfectly. If a gun needs a drop of lube to return to battery I think it should have been made to a bit looser tolerance.

That's just my opinion though so don't get all bent out of shape that my opinion doesn't match yours. I come from the military where we took dang good care of our weapons, then went out and subjected them to torture of mud, sand, heat, and neglect. (But then again the M-16 / AR's have a forward assist for this very reason. ) The reason we took good care of them was because our lives depended on them. But the same holds true for your SD gun, your life may be riding on it going bang when you pull it. Do you want a gun that needs a drop of oil in just the right spot to work--- or one that doesn't really care?

Besides, this oil thing isn't proven yet. All we know so far is they do catch out of battery. No doubt that is a bad thing for a life saving tool.

 

[growr]

The real source of this problem seems to be the bottom of the slide dragging across the top of the brass.

This same thing exists in a store new but factory fired Shield in a local store.

Two things I suspect are either far too much spring tension in the magazine or that portion of the slide being over sized or roughly finished or both.....

For all who are concerned about the sweeping of his hand, he is an instructor and is using dummy rounds that I made for him for this demo.

Repeated attempts were made to MAKE the Shield or any other M&P fire out of battery and they simply WILL NOT fire unless there is total lock up in the slide and barrel

Randy

PS, there were NO failures in 500 rounds with this Shield in live fire ,only when the demo is exercised does ths condition exist.

 

[Lee in Quartzsite]

Ouch.

I come from the military where we took dang good care of our weapons, then went out and subjected them to torture of mud, sand, heat, and neglect. (But then again the M-16 / AR's have a forward assist for this very reason. ) The reason we took good care of them was because our lives depended on them.

Thank you for your Service. I was a M-60 Door Gunner in Vietnam...survived two tours... so I do know a little bit about maintaining a weapon and recognizing a life threatening problem. I still believe this is a non-issue and only time will tell the tale.

 

[Lost Lake]

Thank you for your Service. I was a M-60 Door Gunner in Vietnam...survived two tours... so I do know a little bit about maintaining a weapon and recognizing a life threatening problem. I still believe this is a non-issue and only time will tell the tale.

And thank YOU for your service!!

I'm not questioning your weapon maintenance at all, but I worry when all the stars have to be in perfect alignment for a self defense weapon to do its job. This just seems too delicate for me. I tried to get one of mine to do it and they won't.

 

[Nakanokalronin]

The real source of this problem seems to be the bottom of the slide dragging across the top of the brass.

This same thing exists in a store new but factory fired Shield in a local store.

Two things I suspect are either far too much spring tension in the magazine or that portion of the slide being over sized or roughly finished or both.....

For all who are concerned about the sweeping of his hand, he is an instructor and is using dummy rounds that I made for him for this demo.

Repeated attempts were made to MAKE the Shield or any other M&P fire out of battery and they simply WILL NOT fire unless there is total lock up in the slide and barrel

Randy

PS, there were NO failures in 500 rounds with this Shield in live fire ,only when the demo is exercised does ths condition exist.

Interesting.....I wonder if the mag springs are to strong or the top round sits to high when inserted into the gun. I've had guns with some overly heavy mag springs that do not exhibit this issue.

It seems to be either in the raised ridge in the slide being to large, the mag spring being to tight or the mag body in the feed lip area being too tall. I'll bet polishing the part of the slide that is dragging on the top round would eliminate this. It may go away with just firing the gun but it can still happen after 1,000rds it seems.

 

[blujax01]

I can make my 25 year old Colt Series 80 do it.

I can also balance a spoon on my nose.