M&P Shield 45 Problem

[awmp]

Well had an issue with my 45 Shield as well.

Would not take another round with two rounds like in the magazine and it would also release the magazine.

Call S&W, they said send in all your magazines, they sent me all new magazines.

So back to the range I go to see if the magazines were the issue.

 

[Aksarben]

Please take my word for it and inspect every gun you plan on buying. Several of the complaints on this very forum could have been avoided if the buyer inspected before buying/accepting a gun.

I agree wholeheartedly! Except when I bought my Shield .45 at Cabela's the 19th I looked at the pistol, took the slide off, looked at all components, tried the trigger, etc. Said I'll take it. Next thing I know he goes in the back and brings out a whole different pistol than the one I was looking over. Of course brand new, but I never got it until all the paperwork was finished.

It was kind of a gritty trigger and the internals seem a bit "cheap" but it seems to work fine and does a very good job at 21 feet. Definitely a little hand full!

I did not really cotton to that much of an aggressive stippling, so I used an emery board and softened it just a touch.

Polished the "tab" that pushes the striker safety up and out of the way for firing, and that smoothed out the trigger quite a bit. Plus a lot of working of that plunger *up and down* helped to wear in any after-machining burrs.

I was a bit taken by the poor milling of the ridge that the bullets slide across when the slide moves. Looks like someone did not either get a sharp tool and or did not set the control up right for the milling job.

I'll post pictures.....

 

[Aksarben]

Well had an issue with my 45 Shield as well.

Would not take another round with two rounds like in the magazine and it would also release the magazine.

Call S&W, they said send in all your magazines, they sent me all new magazines.

So back to the range I go to see if the magazines were the issue.

Smith & Wesson would do well to emulate Sig Sauer magazines. They are pretty top notch. Even my Taurus Millennium G2 has exceptionally well made magazines. These magazines look like they were made for something like the Hi-Point or some other off wall breed.

 

[Martinl2]

I had the same problems. Brand new and sent it back to S&W, they still have it, but it has only been two weeks. Pretty bad purchasing a new weapon and couldn't even clean it let alone fire it!

 

[Bigmaxdog]

I posted this in another thread- but thought I should share here- For those who are still having mag dropping issues with your shield 45's...

I called S&W last week- and the sent me newly designed followers to install in the mags. The new ones have a channel cut down the length of the corner edge, to prevent the followers from making contact with the metal magazine retaining nub in the mag release assembly. I think this is what my problem has been- the follower hitting the metal nub that holds the magazine in place.

I have not had a chance to go to range yet- but I am hoping this is was my problem- since the mags were dropping about 1/2 though the mag when the follower would be passing by that metal tab holding the mag in place.

The arrow in the pic points to the channel in the new follower, old follower in back does not have the cut.

 

[Dad_Roman]

......... overall, the 45 Shield is a real success. If some poor soul was to just read your rant, they'd never have a clue.

Couldnt agree with you more.I picked up 3 more the other day for a total of 4. They all run like Swiss Watches.

@OP....My toys work....Im sorry yours dont. There is obviously some issue with yours but your initial postings dont allow us to help you. Lotsa good cats here who can help.

DISCLAIMER: I clean and lube, including mags. The 45 mags were brutally tight for about 75-100 rounds but they loosened up quickly and nicely with some help from MagLuLa, CLP, and sitting overnight fully loaded. Total of 730 rounds at this point with -0- failures. (attributable to the guns)

Plan"B"....Send em back to the "mothership"

 

[lightning99]

My Shield 45 has same issue. With a loaded mag. It was nearly impossible to rack to load a round. If I locked the slide open then insert loaded mag. It would load a round fine. The Shield fires fine. Love the feel.

Called SW and shipped it to them about 4 weeks later got my tracking notice it was one it's way home. Called again to see what they found. Notes were "fires fine nothing found". I already knew it fired correctly. It was a racking issue. Was told to clean it when I received it back. Of course. And try it out.

I only have 2 issues with my service. If they couldn't find a problem they could have called me before sending it back. Maybe I could have explained it better on the phone compared to a note. And, be a little friendlier when I call. We all get busy.

Just thought I'd give an update.
I now have several hundred rounds through my Shield 45 along with several cleanings. I really enjoy this Shield 45. Very accurate. One of my favorites. I've had no issues with the mags or misfires. Racking is still a little rough but seems to be alot better

 

[Aksarben]

Just thought I'd give an update.
I now have several hundred rounds through my Shield 45 along with several cleanings. I really enjoy this Shield 45. Very accurate. One of my favorites. I've had no issues with the mags or misfires. Racking is still a little rough but seems to be alot better

I did not like the rough racking and used a polishing wheel on my Dremel to smooth out the surface somewhat. Still functions perfectly, no issues. Your Mileage May Vary. Not saying you should do that but I did and had no ill effect but achieved a much smoother racking action.

 

[Brasky]

So S&W fixed the firearm and sent a $20+ magazine wth it and you are complaining?

Who cares if the magazine has a blemish, it will develop many blemishes as you use it. What matters is if it works reliably and every time

 

[phixer]

I had the same machining marks on my slide. I very carefully ground them off and the slide works much better.

before

after

I was told that they are there to slow the slide but I find this hard to believe since there are better ways to accomplish this.

 

[phixer]

^^Couldn't see the Pics, fixed it.

Thanks

 

[ScaryWoody]

I spoke with Smith and Wesson at the NRA show and they said the cuts are also to help push the next round back. Better chance for a proper chambering of the next round. Phixer, have a had a chance to shoot many rounds to see if there is an issue?

 

[Aksarben]

Mine is not "gone" like above, but I did use a polish wheel and it is a lot smoother. Was just out shooting this evening both Federal FMJ and some Winchester RA45T standard rounds.

Functions great!

 

[Dad_Roman]

Ive done nothing to mine except feed it. Functions great.

Why is this thread named "M&P Shield 45 Problem"???

 

[kannonvaggon]

The designed slide will function just fine.
IMHO there is nothing to " fix " and there isn't any problem.

YMMV

My Shield in .45 is still my favorite EDC . Like butter ....

 

[phixer]

I spoke with Smith and Wesson at the NRA show and they said the cuts are also to help push the next round back. Better chance for a proper chambering of the next round. Phixer, have a had a chance to shoot many rounds to see if there is an issue?

Put 75 reloads through it a couple of days ago and no problems.
I'll run 200 round through it and post the results.

 

[Bleek Gilliam]

Those milling marks are a non issue

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

 

[rkmdogs]

Some thoughts.




If you complain about the mag, the note might make it to the repair tech, who might include a new mag in the box when the repaired gun is returned. (If your accompanying letter mentioned the mag.)

The people who answer the customer service phones are many and varied. I've been told that on an average day there might be anywhere from 18-35 people in the CS phone bank area. They may be new-hires, or someone who has only worked the retail store, selling apparel and other things (and may never have held a firearm) ... or someone who's been with the company for many years, doing any number of things, including building guns, but who is now enjoying just answering phones.

That is what happened to me when I called asking about stiff springs in both mags of my new .45acp cal Shield. I cannot load more than 3 rounds in either mag. I was told to buy a speed loader by the rep! Not the kind of reply you want to hear after buying a new gun from them!
Like the gun but if you can't load the mags, what good is it?

 

[LAA]

That is what happened to me when I called asking about stiff springs in both mags of my new .45acp cal Shield. I cannot load more than 3 rounds in either mag. I was told to buy a speed loader by the rep! Not the kind of reply you want to hear after buying a new gun from them!
Like the gun but if you can't load the mags, what good is it?

They probably were just being nice, and didn't want to say it....... But you might need to exercise your hands a bit more, or simply buy one of those Uplulu's. Because of the design of the Shield being what it is, a small gun, handling a large calibur, and doing a good job at it, it looks like stiffer springs are part of the package. I might have a tougher time loading the last two by hand, but I'll just usually use the good old Uplulu.

For the record, I've been using them red & green tin snips on the job, for the last 47 years. Perhaps I have a slight advantage in my hand muscles.

 

[rkmdogs]

M&P Shield .45 mag issue

Yeah, I am an old dufus, 80 years old, but that does not stop me from shooting good guns!
I have a few, and this is the first one where I cannot hand load a full magazine!
I even have a 10 rounder for my 1911's that loads by hand!
Do you drag your speed loader to the range when you want to spend some time practicing?
I don't even have a loader yet, except my two hands, and they have worked pretty good for all my years so far..
and no problem loading the mags for my Kahr 45 which is about the same size as the 45 Shield.