Shield .45ACP PC Failure to Feed

[Doc Rock]

This issue may have been addressed elsewhere. If so, kindly direct me to those threads.

I purchased a Shield .45ACP PC and took it to the range for the first time yesterday. I cleaned and lubed the gun beforehand.

Using both 230 Gr FMJs and 165 Gr HPs, I experienced a failure to feed consistently with the two mags that came with the gun plus an additional 7+1 OEM mag I bought separately.

After inserting the mag and releasing the slide, the first cartridge feeds just fine. However, after the first or second round was fired, the subsequent 3 cartridges would "hang." After removing those cartridges, the last few rounds cycled perfectly. Also, when I loaded 4 or fewer rounds in a mag, I had no problems.

Is this an issue with the mags being new and the mag springs needing time to loosen up? Or, is it a problem somewhere on the gun itself?

BTW, I also have a Shield 9mm PC, and have not had any issues after running more than 250 rounds through it.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Rastoff]

Do you have any pictures of the failure?

How many rounds, through the new gun, have you fired so far?

 

[ScaryWoody]

Doc, it sounds like the follower is getting hung up. The follower passes the magazine release slot at round 3. Yes, the spring is stiff and will mellow with time.

I would suggest that you disassemble the magazines. Clean and lightly lube the inside. The followers are known to be problematic. I would suggest a light sanding all around to remove sharp edges. There are newly designed followers now but on the older (before March/April) you can file down a recessed groove. Make sure there is no burr on the magazine release slot. Reassemble (The 7 rounder is a bugger), making sure the spring is correct. There have been instances of backward springs from the factory.

Shoot some more and see if it is better.

 

[JHB51]

Unless the lube is a dry lube it will collect trash in a mag. Paste shoe polish or paste furniture wax is better.

 

[SF180A]

Doc, I recently bought a PC Shield 45 and had this problem first time out as well as the slide would not lock back after last round fired from both mags, fired 100 rds hoping it would work itself out. Sent the pistol back to Performance Center and they replaced the barrel. Fired another 300 rds through it with no problems other then my RSA came apart during cleaning. Called Performance Center and they sent out a replacement RSA. Put another 100 rds through it yesterday, all went well and this PC Shield 45 is now my daily CCW replacing my G19. Having owned several S&W's to included 3 Performance Center revolvers, I was disappointed at first with this failure, but the PC customer service support made it right. I agree with others about cleaning magazines. If disassembling the 7 rd magazine pay attention to the base and spring position, there are several you tube video's out there to walk and talk you through this step. Good luck.

 

[Rastoff]

Unless the lube is a dry lube it will collect trash in a mag. Paste shoe polish or paste furniture wax is better.

Well, I've heard a lot of suggestions for lube, but that isn't one of them. If you're talking about the mags, they don't need any lube. If you're talking about the gun, use a regular gun lube. Shoe polish...?

 

[JHB51]

Yes for the mags. Shoe polish works wonders on a sticky mag until it wears in. Put on let it dry wipe it off nice slick surface. Paste shoe polish makes a great release agent for acraglass bedding compound try it you may like it.

 

[Rastoff]

Nope. Not going to use it and not going to recommend it. I will put it on my shoes though.

Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of seemingly crazy ideas that folks use and that work well. For example, I use WD-40 on ants and it seems to work, but I'm sure pesticide is better.

No, I'll stick to what I've learned works for me. No lube on mags and gun lube for guns. I don't feel the need to experiment in this area. If shoe polish is working for you, continue. I'm just not going there.

 

[sandog]

Nothing wrong with using dry lube on the inside of the magazines. It makes the inside slicker for the follower to go up and down, without attracting lint and gunk like a wet lube. I've been using Remington Dri-Lube for years for that purpose.

 

[Nonuthin]

This issue may have been addressed elsewhere. If so, kindly direct me to those threads.

I purchased a Shield .45ACP PC and took it to the range for the first time yesterday. I cleaned and lubed the gun beforehand.

Using both 230 Gr FMJs and 165 Gr HPs, I experienced a failure to feed consistently with the two mags that came with the gun plus an additional 7+1 OEM mag I bought separately.

After inserting the mag and releasing the slide, the first cartridge feeds just fine. However, after the first or second round was fired, the subsequent 3 cartridges would "hang." After removing those cartridges, the last few rounds cycled perfectly. Also, when I loaded 4 or fewer rounds in a mag, I had no problems.

Is this an issue with the mags being new and the mag springs needing time to loosen up? Or, is it a problem somewhere on the gun itself?

Thanks for your help.

Sorry to hear of your problem with your 45 Shield feeding...
I bought 6 new 45's during the rebate period and experienced the exact same failure to feed problem as you described on 4 of them.

Here's what I did to fix mine:
1. I modified or replaced all the magazine followers with the "new" style grooved follower. That eliminated any tendency for the follower to "hang" as it rose inside the mag tube past the mag catch.
2. I did NOT lube the mag tubes. Instead, I inspected them for burrs (there weren't any) and re-assembled them and left them loaded for 2 or 3 days. Then, I loaded and reloaded them a few times. That loosened them up some so the followers seemed to move more freely up and down inside the mag tube.
3. I replaced the recoil spring assemblies with new ones from the factory.
Result: All 6 newly fiddled with 45 Shields perform as they should have in the first place. A couple of them have been fired 300 rounds or so with a mix of ammo with no failures or flaws. All are very accurate and easy shooters.
The only ammo I had an issue with was my friend's reloads using the red-tipped polymer-insert Hornady bullets. They would not feed at all. Blame my friend!

Best of Luck with your new Shield.

 

[DiegoGarcia]

Are all the new Shield .45's as of now being shipped with the new follower? Thanks.

 

[bsmiley]

Where did you get the new mag followers?

 

[Nonuthin]

Initially, I got 3 new followers from S&W in May. I used one as a model to modify all my old ones. It's easy if you have certain tools like a Dremel and a Dremel drill press or something similar.
Hand filing takes too long.

 

[Doc Rock]

Update: Happy Outcome

Thanks to all of you for your thoughts and ideas. The story has a happy ending!

As we were about to leave for vacation at the time of my original post, I loaded all three mags before leaving town. Upon our return 10 days later, I unloaded the mags, then reloaded them the next day.

Today, I went to the range for the first time since getting back home, and, voila, the pistol operated flawlessly with all three mags through 50 rounds of 230 gr FMJs.

Hopefully, that has done the trick.

Again, thanks to all.

 

[FloridaS&W]

Are all the new Shield .45's as of now being shipped with the new follower? Thanks.

No sir, in fact brand new magazines with the old defective parts are still being shipped, both by Palmetto State Armory and also directly by S&W to consumers in my experience. I'm just thankful we have a good user group forum here, otherwise I would have never found about this.

 

[CDelta]

No sir, in fact brand new magazines with the old defective parts are still being shipped, both by Palmetto State Armory and also directly by S&W to consumers in my experience. I'm just thankful we have a good user group forum here, otherwise I would have never found about this.

I can confirm that as of 06/17, the date of my shield45, the faulty followers are in my mags. Im going to put in a call to customer service today. Both the 6 round and 7 round mags fail to feed the 2nd round into the chamber. Nothing like hearing a click and no bang to make you feel good about a carry gun

 

[BlueZee]

I just bought a new Shield 45 and am patiently waiting to pick it up (gotta love NY). Quick question now is how do I know if I have the older problematic followers or the new ones? Other than this one possible issue I've heard lots of good things about the Shield 45s. Fondling one at the range made me want to buy it. Can't wait to get it to the range. Thanks all.

 

[FloridaS&W]

I just bought a new Shield 45 and am patiently waiting to pick it up (gotta love NY). Quick question now is how do I know if I have the older problematic followers or the new ones? Other than this one possible issue I've heard lots of good things about the Shield 45s. Fondling one at the range made me want to buy it. Can't wait to get it to the range. Thanks all.

The new ones have a notch along the side;
please see this thread for more details:
Shield .45 mag dropping

Photo by Bigmaxdog:

 

[BlueZee]

Thanks!! Good thread. Should have searched first.

 

[striker56]

I had the same problem, sent it back to S&W, got it back yesterday. They polished the barrel/chamber and gave me a new 7 round mag. Haven't tried it yet.