.40 Shield - lessons learned

[Capttjk1]

These recent posts of the .40 Shield kaboom issues have been interesting and informative. I have learned a lot by reading them.

I think what we can come away with from all of this information is to just use a little common sense with the .40 S&W Shield. If you search the internet, the only stories I can find are the 5 here on the forums. And of the 5 or so stories here, a few appear to be ammo issues, not issues related to the firearm. There are more kabooms with the .40 Shield out there I am sure, but after doing some internet research, the stories of the .40 Shield blowing up are few and far between. I have full confidence in my .40 Shield and it is my favorite carry weapon I have ever owned. I don't believe the kaboom problem with the shield is widespread. It appears to be a few isolated issues.

With that being said, I don't think shooting extremely hot loads out of the .40 shield is a good idea. It is a small, nearly pocket sized .40 and using some common sense with regards to ammo should be used.

I have been researching ammo ballistics and I believe I will limit my Shield to .40 ammo that is loaded a little lighter from now on based on what I have read in the "kaboom" threads. For example:

PMC Bronze. 165gr target ammo with a muzzle velocity of 989 and energy at 358 ft.lbs.

Federal Hydra-Shok JHP 165 gr personal defense ammo with a muzzle velocity of 980 FPS and energy rated 352 ft.lbs.

These are two examples of lighter loads that I personally will feel totally comfortable with shooting through my .40 Shield.

I don't believe there is a reason for Shield owners to panic over these few kaboom stories. Kabooms can happen with any firearm or caliber. There are stories that can be found about almost any gun on the internet if you look. Just using some common sense, especially with the .40 S&W round which is known to be more prone to kaboom issues just makes sense when shooting any .40 caliber weapon. Using reloads or odd +P ammo is probably unwise.

Just my opinion. I am not endorsing any type of weapon or ammo in this thread, this is just what I personally am going to do when I shoot and carry my .40 Shield.

 

[Roger S&W]

I plan on shooting factory range ammo ONLY.
For defensive rounds, I'm going with Speer Gold Dot 180grain Short Barrel.
I noticed the velocities and muzzle energy are lower in these compared to the standard 180grain.
Speer knows what they're doing. These rounds probably perform better out of a short barrel. (obviously) and less stress on the Shield.
I know there's been talk warning against 180grain rounds because of the increased chances of "bullet set-back" but I don't chamber, unload and then re-chamber my rounds all the time anyway.
I've got one in the pipe and six more behind it.
Hopefully, I'm GTG.

 

[Buttercup]

I have done some additional digging and research and have developed my own interesting theory. I dug into the issues that glock had many moons ago with kabooms in the .40's and discovered that the real problem they were having was not the ammo but in the guns themselves. Glock tried to short cut their .40's in their rush to get them to market by simply boring out a 9mm to accept the .40. This lead to inadequately supported feed ramp and thinner barrel walls which caused the cartridge to shear off at the base especially with 180grn ammo which tends to have higher pressures. When glock stopped that method and designed their .40's to be a .40 with proper barrels and slides the kabooms on factory ammo stopped. This also stopped a shooters ability to simply drop a 9mm barrel and mag into a .40 and convert it. I have researched other manufacturers and none of the top rated brands allow for such a simple conversion between the 2 calibers. Smith and wesson 3rd gen .40's were actually specifically designed for the necked down 10mm thanks to the order from the FBI and have proper support in the feed ramps, proper thickness on the barrel walls and of course a proper slide. Now what caught my attention was threads in this forum where our owns guys have simply dropped a 9mm barrel into their shield .40's and changed their magazines and have been able to run flawlessly with no extraction or feed problems. Some reports were into a couple thousand rounds this way. Sound familiar? It should because you used to be able to do that with the glocks that were going kaboom! I have read threads in this forum about bulging casings and inconsistancy in the .40's feed ramps and their support. Since 4 of the 5 kabooms were with 180 grain cartridges and the ease of converting to a 9mm I suspect that smith may be doing the old bore out the 9mm barrel trick which is possibly leaving the shield more susceptible to kabooms especially on 180grain ammo. I would not shoot over 165 grain if I owned a shield.
I know some out there will have a few choice words for my theory but history has a tendency to repeat itself and with the tough economic times companies are trying to squeeze out every penny they can not to mention the impossibility of keeping up with current demand could push a company to take what they may deem as an acceptable risk.

 

[Roger S&W]

You gotta remember though. Ever since 2005 when the M&P semi-auto line of pistols was introduced, they've been "built around" the .40S&W cartridge. Designed to handle it's more powerful blast.
The chamber support in my M&P40 Full Size and M&P40c are both excellent. Chamber is fully supported.
My Shield 40 has a miniscule amount of gap. I'm talking like .4mm may be. This gap is similar to my new Glock 23 barrel.
Glocks, since 1981 have always been ''built around" the 9mm.
After all their .40 KaBooms, they had to go back and design the chamber better for that better support.
Because the chamber support in my Shield 40 and new G23 barrel look identical, I'm going to go ahead and shoot it.
Do I wish they were 100% like my M&40, M&P40c and FN FNS-40? Sure.
But perhaps some compromise had to be made for reliable feeding purposes.

 

[TailRunner]

I have both 9mm and .40 in Shield. Both barrels measured outside behind the end bump 0.554". Wall thickness measured in the groove 9mm was 0.105" and .40cal was 0.081".

My 9mm is my edc, the .40 has not been out of the box except to check serial number and take measurements, it was purchased as an investment and back up for/during ammo shortages when all I could find on the shelf was .40 ammo. Test fired 7/12/13 with HPP**** serial number. I'm following the KB's with much interest.

 

[UncaGrunny]

From an engineering standpoint, it's probably a lot safer to take a forging designed for .40 and bore it for 9 mm, than it is to take a forging designed for 9mm and bore it out for .40

 

[S&WForty]

Because of post #3, post #4 cannot be repeated enough.

If the Shield 40 was a manufacturing shortcut spawn from the Shield 9, and that was the reason for these kabooms, there would be kabooms all over the place.

 

[Roger S&W]

Actually, I really should clarify what I said above regarding short barrel SGD vs. standard SGD.
The velocity and muzzle energy data given on the Speer Gold Dot website was obtained as follows:

SGD 180 Short barrel ammo - fired from a 3.5'' barrel pistol.

SGD 180 standard - fired from a 4'' barrel pistol.

As you guys know, this of course will make a difference. So, the short barrel ammo is probably a little hotter. Plus, I found out the hollowed out center is a little deeper for more rapid expansion.

 

[modraker]

In the aftermath of this kaboom scare, I'm glad to be a member of this forum. Much information has been shared, many opinions and ideas have been exchanged and reasonable conclusions have been reached. The 40 Shield is back as my EDC and it is loaded with Speer 180gr GDSB as it always has been. I will use only factory 165gr FMJ at the range. Thank you all for your contribution to these very interesting threads.

 

[soad]

Anyone notice that the Shield Kaboom scare has directly coincided with the release of the Glock 42???

Maybe "Gaston's Secret Police" are out there blowing up Shields to increase Glock's market share.

Just kidding of course....but.....

 

[fdw]

I just don't see the fascination with a 40 and I'm certainly not bashing those who own one. But if I was going that route, it would be a 45 all day long...

If it was for carry, as the shield is designed for, well it would be a 9...

 

[RussC]

I realize there are many 40 caliber fans out there but rather than worry if the load is too hot why not go with a Shield in 9 mm?

Speer Gold Dot 124 grain +p short barrel is an excellent self defense round that will not blowup your Shield.

Russ

 

[jimmib]

I am sure this has been discussed before, but if you just buy the 9mm barrel you have solved the problem until they figure out what is causing it...that is my plan anyway

 

[wdk535]

My 9c manual says it's rated OK for +P ammo, but extended use may cause premature wear problems.

 

[feelinlucky]

My 9c manual says it's rated OK for +P ammo, but extended use may cause premature wear problems.

Every Shield manual says that, even the 40 manuals, and even though there is no such thing as 40 S&W +P ammunition. Any ammo maker selling 40 S&W ammo claiming it is +P is falsely advertising.

Smith and Wesson might prevent some confusion if they would make that clear in the 40 manual.

 

[bronconagurski]

I would never, ever double tap again with a Shield 40 using reloads. Never. For that matter, with any weapon using reloads.

 

[Roger S&W]

I am sure this has been discussed before, but if you just buy the 9mm barrel you have solved the problem until they figure out what is causing it...that is my plan anyway

Only problem is your more likely to meet a Martian than to find a Shield 9mm barrel for sale.

 

[Capttjk1]

I was looking at Glocktalk.com yesterday and saw a pretty nasty picture of a Glock 17 (9mm) Kaboom someone had posted. Said it was a double charged reload.

As I said, Kabooms can happen with any firearm under the right circumstances. Several of the .40 Shield stories on this forum appear to be ammo related just as the Glock 17 on Glocktalk.com was.

I just shot my .40 Shield yesterday with no issues, and I don't expect any either.

 

[Rastoff]

I suspect that smith may be doing the old bore out the 9mm barrel trick...

No, I don't believe that to be the case at all. Look at this pic:

This shows that the case is fully supported in a full sized .40S&W M&P.

If anything, I believe it's this:

From an engineering standpoint, it's probably a lot safer to take a forging designed for .40 and bore it for 9 mm, than it is to take a forging designed for 9mm and bore it out for .40

It makes more sense that the M&P was built to .40S&W standards and then bored smaller for the 9mm.


The issues we're seeing are only with the Shield which has a different feed ramp that doesn't allow full support of the case. Thus, it is more susceptible to case failure whit an over charged round.

 

[vipermd]

Rastoff: Not sure that I understand the photo and your statement. Since that is a 9mm in a 9mm barrel. ? Be Safe,