hyena
Member
Looking for comments, as in what would you do. I have a .45 Shield. The last time I took it to the range, in somewhere less than 100 rounds the slide locked back in the middle of a magazine three different times, using both magazines. I was shooting 230 gr FMJ, new, not reman or handloads. Neither my shooting hand or support hand were anywhere near the slide lock lever. The slide was not attempting to come forward to strip a new round off the magazine, and jammed. It just locked back, same as if the magazine was empty. Each time, for what it's worth, I couldn't release it using the lever, but it easily released and went forward normally when I sling shotted it. Each time the gun functioned normally through the remainder of the magazine.
I called S&W, and they immediately said send it in. When I got it back, the only notation on the repair was they replaced the barrel. I thought that was odd, but I'm not a gun smith.
I took it to the range today, with three boxes of three brands of 230gr FMJ. The slide lock happened once, same as before, with Winchester white box ammo.
Not sure what to do. When it happened before, I didn't note the brand of ammo, but all three slide locks may have been with Winchester.
My EDC is a .380 Bodyguard, which has gone many hundreds of rounds without a malfunction. I have a Hi Power I bought new in the mid 70's with countless thousands of rounds without a single failure, ever, on factory ammo. Also a full size M&P in .357 SIG that has never malfunctioned. I add all that to say I guess I don't have confidence in a gun that doesn't work perfect. The Shield wasn't bought to be a range gun. It's for home defense and sometimes concealed carry. I don't want to give up on it, because I like the gun and I shoot it very well.
Curious what others would do. Keep shooting different brands - see if it only happens on the Winchester white box? Send it back to S&W again?
I called S&W, and they immediately said send it in. When I got it back, the only notation on the repair was they replaced the barrel. I thought that was odd, but I'm not a gun smith.
I took it to the range today, with three boxes of three brands of 230gr FMJ. The slide lock happened once, same as before, with Winchester white box ammo.
Not sure what to do. When it happened before, I didn't note the brand of ammo, but all three slide locks may have been with Winchester.
My EDC is a .380 Bodyguard, which has gone many hundreds of rounds without a malfunction. I have a Hi Power I bought new in the mid 70's with countless thousands of rounds without a single failure, ever, on factory ammo. Also a full size M&P in .357 SIG that has never malfunctioned. I add all that to say I guess I don't have confidence in a gun that doesn't work perfect. The Shield wasn't bought to be a range gun. It's for home defense and sometimes concealed carry. I don't want to give up on it, because I like the gun and I shoot it very well.
Curious what others would do. Keep shooting different brands - see if it only happens on the Winchester white box? Send it back to S&W again?
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