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Hunter8282
US Veteran
Sadly, my Shield .45 still has feeding issues. Not sure what I am going to do. 
Maybe just trade it on a 2.0 Compact 9mm. 
Maybe just trade it on a 2.0 Compact 9mm. 
Shield .45 back at the Mother Ship
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FloridaS&W
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Yeah that's a tough one; will S&W trade it out?
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Hunter8282
US Veteran
Not sure. I definitely have zero confidence in it as a cc gun and that's what it's made for. I don't know if I want to deal with sending it back S&W again, or just go to my LGS and trade it on something else.
andyo5
Member
Problem not happening until 2nd or 3rd round suggests weak mag spring.
Rastoff
US Veteran
That's tough. I understand not wanting to send it back, but I wouldn't give up just yet.
I had a S&W 1911 that had a feeding issue. I sent it back twice with no resolution. After the second failed repair, I asked them what was next because sending back time after time didn't make sense. They gave me three options:
- Send it back for repair again.
- Trade it for a different pistol of equal value.
- Send it back for a refund.
I took option 3. It took two weeks, but they sent me a check for the entire purchase price including tax. They may do the same for you.
andyo5
Member
Well, guess what!
I took my 45 Shield to the range this morning and experienced one of the FTF failures just as described in this thread. The first round fired, but the second one jammed in the magazine with the nose against the front of the mag. I would describe it as a failure for the nose of the round to rise quickly enough. Pulling the slide back and releasing it cured the problem. The magazine was a brand new 7 rounder. There was one failure, out of three magazines full of Speer 200g +P defense JHPs. I also fired three mags of my reloads without any issues. My reloads use Ranier 230g plated hollowpoints. The length of the Speer rounds is close to that of my reloads. One difference that I see is that the Speer bullets are wider at the front than my Ranier bullets, which are more tapered. Also, the Speer ammo is +P, whereas my handloads are more like standard velocity and feel less powerful to shoot than the Speer.
I should also mention that out of perhaps 300 rounds fired so far, this was my first failure of any kind. Almost all of those 300 rounds were my handloads.
I took my 45 Shield to the range this morning and experienced one of the FTF failures just as described in this thread. The first round fired, but the second one jammed in the magazine with the nose against the front of the mag. I would describe it as a failure for the nose of the round to rise quickly enough. Pulling the slide back and releasing it cured the problem. The magazine was a brand new 7 rounder. There was one failure, out of three magazines full of Speer 200g +P defense JHPs. I also fired three mags of my reloads without any issues. My reloads use Ranier 230g plated hollowpoints. The length of the Speer rounds is close to that of my reloads. One difference that I see is that the Speer bullets are wider at the front than my Ranier bullets, which are more tapered. Also, the Speer ammo is +P, whereas my handloads are more like standard velocity and feel less powerful to shoot than the Speer.
I should also mention that out of perhaps 300 rounds fired so far, this was my first failure of any kind. Almost all of those 300 rounds were my handloads.
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ScaryWoody
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I still think the magazine and magazine follower is problematic. If you disassemble the 6 rounder (easier) and insert the magazine in the pistol with slide locked back. Use the spring to push the follower along. You can observe how it passes the magazine retaining slot. Mine hung up just a bit. The follower would drag. That would be where rounds two and three pass the slot. Once past, never an issue.
I took sand paper and took off all sharp edges off the follower. I filed the magazine retain slot (from inside the magazine) as it had sharp edges. Observed the follower slide through the magazine and it was much smoother. No issues feeding now.
Takes about 15 minutes. Try one see if it improves before you part ways.
I took sand paper and took off all sharp edges off the follower. I filed the magazine retain slot (from inside the magazine) as it had sharp edges. Observed the follower slide through the magazine and it was much smoother. No issues feeding now.
Takes about 15 minutes. Try one see if it improves before you part ways.
andyo5
Member
One thing I find curious about this gun is that S&W feel a need to keep the rounds in the back of the magazine, and to prevent them from moving forwards until they are in the top position. I say this because:
1. The scallops on the bottom of the slide surface that extends backwards from the breech face are cut so as to push the round under them backwards just before it is picked up by the breech face for loading into the chamber. No other semi automatic that I have ever seen used this feature.
2. The front surface of the magazine has a stamped detent at the next-to-top-round position, in the center. The effect of this is to push the nose of the next-in-line round backwards. Again, I know of no other semi automatic that uses this feature.
1. The scallops on the bottom of the slide surface that extends backwards from the breech face are cut so as to push the round under them backwards just before it is picked up by the breech face for loading into the chamber. No other semi automatic that I have ever seen used this feature.
2. The front surface of the magazine has a stamped detent at the next-to-top-round position, in the center. The effect of this is to push the nose of the next-in-line round backwards. Again, I know of no other semi automatic that uses this feature.
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andyo5
Member
Swsig, I am puzzled by your post. The photo in post #4 shows the bullet nose down against the front of the magazine. It is not touching the feed ramp or anything else outside the magazine. So I am wondering how polishing the feed ramp would be helpful here.
I couldn't see that in the original photo, but once I figured out I could click on it to enlarge it, I can see that it is caught on the front of the magazine. When my failures to feed occurred, I was mainly concerned about getting my Shield back in action as quickly as possible. I examined the jam as best I could under the dim lighting at my range, and it appeared to me that the rounds were caught up on the small ledge at the bottom of the lower feed ramp. I figured that if I smoothed out and slicked up the feed ramp area, that any round that touched it would be more likely to slide on by.
I suppose those rounds could have been caught on the magazine, but without brighter lights, I had no way to know for sure. I had been pretty diligent about loading my rounds firmly to the rear of the magazine. (They make a slight click when they are fully seated if you're using an Uplula.) In addition, I was rapping my loaded magazines against the heel of my palm for insurance. Thus the possibility of having the round caught on the front of the magazine did not occur to me.
Unfortunately, I did not use a systematic approach to solving the problem that would have let me determine which of the fixes I employed was the most effective. I essentially cleaned the mags, installed the updated followers, and polished the feed ramp area all at the same time. After cleaning, I worked the followers up and down vigorously about 20 times to insure they were not binding. My failures to feed disappeared after that, and haven't returned. And that's all I cared about.
If I had the same problem as the one shown in Hunter8282's photo, it's possible the magazine cleaning and the working of the followers was the key solution, especially since he already has the updated followers. Maybe I don't need to polish my feed ramp after all, but I'm going to continue to do it, just in case.
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andyo5
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FloridaS&W
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Those are some nice big holes 
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Hunter8282
US Veteran
So I opened another ticket and got Rachael on the other end. I explained I already have the updated followers as this was her first recommendation. They want me to send it back in again.
I am torn between sending it in or just trading it in at the LGS.
I am torn between sending it in or just trading it in at the LGS.
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andyo5
Member
Another thing I noticed, FWIW.
The Speer GDHP that I had my jam with has an OAL of 1.215". My JHP reloads have an OAL of 1.235". I found a note that I had written in 2013 in the box with the Speer GDHP ammo. The note was a warning to myself that this ammo did not feed well in my Springfield Champion.
So OAL may be an issue. I once had a Kahr that was so sensitive to OAL that it would not only jam, but lock up on loads under 1.230" in length. Disassembly was required in order to clear the jam.
The Speer GDHP that I had my jam with has an OAL of 1.215". My JHP reloads have an OAL of 1.235". I found a note that I had written in 2013 in the box with the Speer GDHP ammo. The note was a warning to myself that this ammo did not feed well in my Springfield Champion.
So OAL may be an issue. I once had a Kahr that was so sensitive to OAL that it would not only jam, but lock up on loads under 1.230" in length. Disassembly was required in order to clear the jam.
Operator 203
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I took my 45 Shield to the range on Thursday. The pistol was clean and lubed. It had the new factory RSA Installed. Each of the 6 round magazines had the latest followers and new Wolff +5% power springs. Ammo was Blazer Brass 230FMJ. The first magazine was fired with no issues. Second round in the second magazine suffered the FTF nose down in the magazine failure. I had two more of the same failures in 50 rounds. That’s it for me. I sold it to a shooting buddy who is fully aware of its issues. I have returned to the XDs 45 which has never jammed over a period of 2 years and 2 thousand rounds of FMJ & HP ammo.
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Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Did you guys try what ScaryWoody posted?
His mag catch was projecting into mag tube,
and the follower was hanging up on it...
His mag catch was projecting into mag tube,
and the follower was hanging up on it...
andyo5
Member
I can't say that I blame you. I have also sold or traded guns that I just could not get to work properly, even though I really liked them in other respects. Life is to short to tolerate endless frustration.
kbm6893
Member
So I opened another ticket and got Rachael on the other end. I explained I already have the updated followers as this was her first recommendation. They want me to send it back in again.
I am torn between sending it in or just trading it in at the LGS.
Trading it in at your Gunshop is going to not only going to lose you some money, but it’s passing the problem along to somebody else. Squeaky wheel gets the grease. Complain loudly to S&W and they’ll probably fully refund your money, and you can buy the new gun with it, or just exchange the gun for what you want.
OP
Hunter8282
US Veteran
Yes I understand that. I sent an email in this morning requesting a refund. I got the following response.
"Unfortunately, that isn't a decision I can make, but it is certainly something you can request. When you send in the firearm, include exactly what you are telling me and a copy of the receipt. Tell them you would like to be refunded for the firearm. The gunsmiths are the ones who make these decisions.
Smith&Wesson values its customers and we are happy to have served you today. Please do not hesitate to contact us should you require further assistance.
Regards, Rachel"
So I guess I'll give that a try.
Funflyer
Member
I'm beginning to wonder if some of these FTF problems may be the shooter and not the pistol. I say this because my 45 Shield has 500+ rounds through it and has never had a single issue until Saturday.
Went to the range with my BIL, who has never fired my Shield and on the very first mag he gets a FTF on the second shot. I go over to look and lo and behold my Shield had its first fail, a nosedive in the magazine. He fixes that and finishes off the mag. Then I fire three mags through it without issue.
A while later he wants to shoot the 45 again and the same thing happens, another nosedive. Although his grip seems adequate and he's not a new shooter, I'm convinced he's the problem. So I examine his grip then show him how to lock his left wrist over (he's right handed) and also place his left index finger on the front of the trigger guard. Well that's all it took and was the last he saw of any nosedives.
I'm not saying that shooters are limp-wristing like someone new to shooting or someone with no grip strength, just that the Shield 45 may be right on the edge and require a bit more grip than shooters think.
Went to the range with my BIL, who has never fired my Shield and on the very first mag he gets a FTF on the second shot. I go over to look and lo and behold my Shield had its first fail, a nosedive in the magazine. He fixes that and finishes off the mag. Then I fire three mags through it without issue.
A while later he wants to shoot the 45 again and the same thing happens, another nosedive. Although his grip seems adequate and he's not a new shooter, I'm convinced he's the problem. So I examine his grip then show him how to lock his left wrist over (he's right handed) and also place his left index finger on the front of the trigger guard. Well that's all it took and was the last he saw of any nosedives.
I'm not saying that shooters are limp-wristing like someone new to shooting or someone with no grip strength, just that the Shield 45 may be right on the edge and require a bit more grip than shooters think.
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