Reassembly problem with Shield - HELP!

[S&WForty]

I haven't looked at the manual in a while. It's not explicit is it? IMO, parts of the manual could be clearer. If they were as detailed in all areas as they are in the safety/safe handling portions, it would be 110% clear.

 

[rock doc]

Fig 34 on page 24 of the manual shows it, but does not explain it very well.

http://www.smith-wesson.com/wcsstore/SmWesson2/upload/other/M&P_Shield_Manual_04-02-2012.pdf

 

[kodiakpb]

Fig 34 on page 24 of the manual shows it, but does not explain it very well.

http://www.smith-wesson.com/wcsstore/SmWesson2/upload/other/M&P_Shield_Manual_04-02-2012.pdf

It sure doesn't. That illustration could be interpreted as making sure the RSA is not cockeyed.

 

[beartd]

It sure doesn't. That illustration could be interpreted as making sure the RSA is not cockeyed.

I agree that the manual is referring to the assembly being cocked, but the pdf images are much better that the ones in the printed manual.

 

[kodiakpb]

Yep either way, orienting the spring and seating it properly as shown does correct the issue.

 

[beartd]

Yep either way, orienting the spring and seating it properly as shown does correct the issue.

I agree that spring orientation is key.

 

[Splhurts]

Thank you very much for pointing this out. It solved my assembly quandary!

 

[Epiphany]

I had the same issue with mine. Its still at repair center because I had some other issues with the shield. I think they should have designed the spring better to not have this issue. Cause the spring does walk if the gun cycles from what i've seen trying to diagnose problems with my shield.

 

[papajoe]

Cannot Reassemble M&P 9 Shield

Picked up my NIB M&P 9 Shield with NO SAFETY Thursday 7/03/14 just like my M&P 9 pro 4.25" & M&P9c both with no thumb safety. How in the world could I image it would be the hardest gun I ever owned & it would be a nightmare to reassemble. Googled how to reassemble the M&P shield & got the S&W Forum which I'm a member of. Was amazed at all who had the same problem. But unfortunately with all the helpful suggestions mine still remains unassembled. I called S&W that evening and was able to get some in tech support, before they closed for the holiday weekend. Paul gave me the same advice as did the forum, & told him did it all. He said that there have been some issues with the recoil guide rod, and would send me a replacement Monday. Well I guess I have to wait to see if that will be the fix. If not???

 

[Stratajema]

Papajoe, there sure are a lot of crazy replies in this thread with people thinking it is normal for the recoil spring to fully retract in only a certain rotated position. As if the recoil spring won't rotate while firing. You did the right thing in requesting that S&W replace the RSA.

 

[beamon]

Following this thread with interest as I have a new Shield 9 that also requires the strength of Hercules to rack the slide.

Called S&W Customer Svc. this morning and explained to "Joe" the problem. My point was that even if the gun "breaks-in" to the point that mortal men can rack the slide, it's virtually impossible to sling shot the slide with thumb and forefinger as normal range exercises dictate. I mentioned that according to various boards that I frequent, S&W has acknowledged that some RSAs for the Shield have had issues. That info plus my charming demeanor clinched it and Joe agreed to send a new RSA to me.

I, too, will await the new RSA and hope for some relief. Fascinating, though, that some Shields are bought for the distaff side and apparently are workable by them.

 

[Robotech]

Papajoe, there sure are a lot of crazy replies in this thread with people thinking it is normal for the recoil spring to fully retract in only a certain rotated position. As if the recoil spring won't rotate while firing. You did the right thing in requesting that S&W replace the RSA.

It CAN rotate when firing, particularly depending on the angle of the cut end, which I'm pretty sure is why my slide has failed to lock back after the final round in the magazine a couple of times.

I also DID request and receive a replacement recoil assembly, where the cut angle wasn't as sharp, but it may be only coincidence that I haven't had the lock-back problem since then. It wasn't a major improvement, and I still have to be careful with the rotation position when reassembling.

Now, the most recently built Shield I was able to examine a couple months ago had a MUCH better recoil spring assembly, a flatter cut end on the spring, the main spring had a better finish and a closer fit to the rod, so it didn't bow out anywhere near as much to the side. I suspect these newer Shields won't be having the same recoil spring related problems.

 

[hokiefyd]

I might be the only one who owns a Shield that's easy to take down and re-assemble! I actually don't do it the way the manual says...

Disassemble:
1) Rack slide a few times, chamber check, point away from you, dry fire.
2) With slide at normal battery, simply flip the takedown lever down. Slide will spring forward a half an inch. Remove slide.

Re-assemble:
1) With takedown lever down, install slide to the frame. It'll appear to be about 1/4" forward of normal battery.
2) Grasp gun with your thumb under the beavertail and the top of your hand across the slide (like you're taking down a Glock), pull the slide back some...at least until the barrel becomes unlocked from the slide, and flip the takedown lever back up.

You're good to go. Never need to mess with the sear disconnect pin. Never need to pull the slide back and use the slide stop. Never need to worry about the correct orientation of the recoil spring assembly (although that's good practice to do anyway). I can field strip and reassemble the Shield as quickly and as easily as I can a Glock.

 

[hokiefyd]

I made a quick video just a few minutes ago. Pardon my wife's phone blowing up with text messages in the background!

36 seconds start to finish for field strip and reassembly, not working particularly fast. If you want to field strip without using the trigger, you obviously have to use the slide stop to hold the slide open while you manipulate the sear disconnect lever (if yours came with one!), but if you don't mind to dry fire the pistol before takedown, as you do must do with some other pistols, then the Shield field strips down very easily.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZrwSILlz7w

 

[bronconagurski]

Anyone having a problem with the spring and guide rod on their Shield during reassembly? The spring is katy cornered on the end of the guide rod on the muzzle end and one side of it wants to ride up on the guide rod. The last time I reassembled it, I couldn't get it to lock open. I took it back apart, and the spring was "froze" on the end. Caught, it you will. I had to push it down to break it loose and then the gun reassembled fine. I think what happened is the flat end of the guide rod didn't seat (I was I had looked) in the hole like it should because the spring was riding up in the hole.

 

[papajoe]

Did not work

Thanks for the info but in did not work for me. Take down lever would not budge. Had to grip slide & pull back about 1/4" the take down lever was a bear to push down. Slide still does not lock back with out or with a mag.

I made a quick video just a few minutes ago. Pardon my wife's phone blowing up with text messages in the background!

36 seconds start to finish for field strip and reassembly, not working particularly fast. If you want to field strip without using the trigger, you obviously have to use the slide stop to hold the slide open while you manipulate the sear disconnect lever (if yours came with one!), but if you don't mind to dry fire the pistol before takedown, as you do must do with some other pistols, then the Shield field strips down very easily.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZrwSILlz7w

 

[Mcwsky09]

My son in law has a Shield 40 and it was the first gun I noticed could be hard to reassemble if when you pull back in the slide it is not lines up with the rails properly. In other words if you are pushing left or right or twisting the slide even a little you can get the trailing edge if the slide caught on the rail and simply ensuring that the slide is lines up properly with the rails makes it much easier.
On some of my other firearms if I try to cause this I may be able to get it to happen but generally doesn't happen easily or often as there is either less play or the gap in the rail isn't at a point where the slide is likely to be able to catch during reassembly.

 

[hokiefyd]

Thanks for the info but in did not work for me. Take down lever would not budge. Had to grip slide & pull back about 1/4" the take down lever was a bear to push down. Slide still does not lock back with out or with a mag.

Sorry if I missed it earlier, but how old is your gun? I found mine to be pretty stiff when new, including rotating the takedown lever down. Once I got it field stripped the first time, and got a little bit of lubrication on that lever and end of the recoil spring assembly, it became smoother, and continues to get easier every time.

If your slide doesn't lock open with a magazine, and you can't "thumb" the slide lock lever up and hold it open with no magazine, it sounds like something's not aligned right inside your gun.

 

[Redlegvzv]

This exact issue happened to me a couple days ago when I first disassembled my Shield. I took the slide back off, reseated the recoil spring, and it went back on without a hitch. Seems the Shield recoil spring placement is pretty finicky.

Yes. Me too. Had the same experience.

 

[papajoe]

Brand new no thumb safety

Build date June 2014 haven't been able to shoot it yet. Just got off the phone with S&W to see if they shipped the guide rod, shipped yesterday.
Told him about the slide not locking with or without the mag, he said the new one should resolve the problem???????????? will see.

Sorry if I missed it earlier, but how old is your gun? I found mine to be pretty stiff when new, including rotating the takedown lever down. Once I got it field stripped the first time, and got a little bit of lubrication on that lever and end of the recoil spring assembly, it became smoother, and continues to get easier every time.

If your slide doesn't lock open with a magazine, and you can't "thumb" the slide lock lever up and hold it open with no magazine, it sounds like something's not aligned right inside your gun.