Well, 6 weeks later and my Shield .45 is back from warranty work. All they did was replace the mag followers in both mags and test fired. So, I just happened to have 2 different mags with bad followers and that is why this thing was dropping mags? Really? 6 week wait for THAT? I will take it out and burn 150 rounds through it, but I have zero confidence in the "repair". Maybe they fixed it. I'll report back in a day or three.
Shield .45 mag dropping
- Thread starter M.Yurco
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Well, I'll be damned. It would appear that the folks at S&W made me whole with the new mag followers after all.....despite my initial extreme skepticism. I just ran through 220 rounds including Rem UMC FMJ, Blazer FMJ, Golden Sabre, and Federal HST. Absolutely flawless operation. Zero mag drops or any other malfunctions. Deadly accurate at 10 yards and I wasn't even trying to be precise. Before I sent it in, both mags were dropping every time. Weird that it took 150 to start occurring. I wish they would have sent the old followers back to me to compare. I am really curious if there was an obvious difference. I will go ahead and buy more mags and test them out. In any case, looks like I can trust my life to it with confidence. I'm happy to say that. It's a nice pistol and made in the USA.
That's a shame you have been waiting so long. Just like Ray M my issue was the magazine followers- I just had S&W CS mail me new ones, received in mail in less than a week. I installed them myself and so far I have been 100% reliable with about 250 rounds so far.
The old follower design was hitting my mag release tab that secures the mag in place - the new followers have a notch cut in them to prevent this from happening.
Here is a pic, one on bottom is new one with notch.
The old follower design was hitting my mag release tab that secures the mag in place - the new followers have a notch cut in them to prevent this from happening.
Here is a pic, one on bottom is new one with notch.
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WOW I just called S&W to get the new followers and the customer service rep said absolutely NOT did they redesign the .45 Shield followers. I stated that I have seen the pictures of them on this forum. He said not possible. There is no changes to the followers UNBELIEVABLE
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My own experience so far, I sent my 45 in on 4/17 and it was received 4/19. They started working on it (per the email they sent) on 4/24. haven't heard anything since then.
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Update
Just received the email today, my 45 is being shipped and I should have it back by next Tuesday. So that's about 5 weeks in their hands to fix the problem.
Just received the email today, my 45 is being shipped and I should have it back by next Tuesday. So that's about 5 weeks in their hands to fix the problem.
Update: I sent my shield .45 in for repair on April 10th. I received it back yesterday, 5-25-17.The repair slip stated that they replaced the followers.They had the black line down the center as others have observed.I disassembled my mags.I did not see any rounded edges.Last night,I fired over 200 rds.(both training and self defense rds.) through the gun without any malfunctions. I do not believe anything else was replaced on the gun except the followers.
P.S. One of the mags was returned that was reassembled improperly.It was the extended magazine.The side tabs on the inside base plate protruded out of the base.The gun still functioned, but I was surprised that the technician missed it.
P.S. One of the mags was returned that was reassembled improperly.It was the extended magazine.The side tabs on the inside base plate protruded out of the base.The gun still functioned, but I was surprised that the technician missed it.
mustangman
Member
I haven't had a mag drop yet, but I've only shot 50 rounds.
I looked at my followers, and they appear to be the "old" style without the notch.
Think I'm going to be proactive and try to order me a set just in case.
I looked at my followers, and they appear to be the "old" style without the notch.
Think I'm going to be proactive and try to order me a set just in case.
ScaryWoody
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If you are handy, just sand it. I laid 220 grit flat and held the follower at an angle for the desired area. I then used the wife's manicure bar to make it smooth. Same result as the "new" follower without the wait. Clean the inside of the magazine while you have it open.
I still haven't received the 4 followers that customer service said they were shipping to me. I live only 1 1/2 hours away. Hopefully they will arrive soon. I did remove one follower and attempted to make some modifications to that. Haven't had a chance to get it to the range yet.
gqllc007 - As I said earlier I was sent my new followers in less than a week and it definitely solved my problem, no mag drops since on all my mags, I am confident that the followers were my problem. Seems as though you have been waiting far longer than me which makes me think that maybe they were not sent out. It should only take 3 or 4 days to get to you.
This is not rocket science here - the original mag design was hitting the metal nub that holds the mag in place, so once I was about 1/2 through my mag it hit the nub and mag would drop- an absolutely unacceptable issue for a carry gun that S&W should be held accountable for.
I would suggest yet another call to S&W to make you right?
Again here is pic of new Follower
This is not rocket science here - the original mag design was hitting the metal nub that holds the mag in place, so once I was about 1/2 through my mag it hit the nub and mag would drop- an absolutely unacceptable issue for a carry gun that S&W should be held accountable for.
I would suggest yet another call to S&W to make you right?
Again here is pic of new Follower
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Thanks I called today and he refused to look into it. Got kind of testy and said we told you 7-10 business days. I said I understood but I only live 1 1/2 hours away and it should only take one day in the mail. He said call next week nd that there was no way for him to be able to look it up...I agree with you and call it B.S.
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Range Update: Brought my gun out to the range, fired 150 rounds of ball and JHP with no issues. S&W did not give me new followers like other people received. The order sheet says they just replaced the mag retention spring. If any further issues arise ill just file down the followers.
ScaryWoody
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Interesting! I thought the spring for the magazine release was molded into the frame. Hopefully, it holds up at 100%. On the magazine I popped the top of the slot out to make a bit of a lip. More real estate to hang on too. As my carry gun, I don't want to drop a mag when I need it.
The 1st time mine fell out I sent the mag and another gun to S&W for repair. The sent me the same mag with new internals. The 2nd time it fell I sent the gun back. Took S&W between 3-4 weeks to get it back to me. They sent 2 new followers with the flatter sides. I had already done this to my other 3 mags with some 40 micron sandpaper on a precision milled steel plate.
Funflyer
Member
After seeing the threads of mag drops I took my new 45 mags apart to have a look. The followers do make contact with the mag release and move it just about flush with the inside of the mag. This is my new never fired Shield so I decided to be proactive and mill a slot in the follower of just the 6 round mag so it doesn't touch the release. I left the 7 round mag alone to see if it ever has a drop issue.
I bet S&W will eventually incorporate this mod to all the mags.
I bet S&W will eventually incorporate this mod to all the mags.
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