Magazines

[HE44]

M&P 40 Shield Magazines

I recently purchased a S&W M&P 40 Shield. The magazines are the worst I have ever seen from a major manufacturer. There is no way I can fully load them. The spring is just too stiff. And it's not just me. Nobody at the range when I was there was able to fully load them either. So far S&W doesn't seem to care.

 

[Univibe]

I recently purchased a S&W M&P 40 Shield. The magazines are the worst I have ever seen from a major manufacturer. There is no way I can fully load them. The spring is just too stiff. And it's not just me. Nobody at the range when I was there was able to fully load them either. So far S&W doesn't seem to care.

Any brand new Shield magazine will do this. My 9mm certainly did. Load them full and let them sit a couple of weeks. Use a mag loader if you have to. They will then loosen up a bit, still stiff, but loose enough to load.


N.B. to OP: Don't buy Pro mags.

 

[BRL40]

I recently purchased a S&W M&P 40 Shield. The magazines are the worst I have ever seen from a major manufacturer. There is no way I can fully load them. The spring is just too stiff...

Ahhh the memories!

When I tried to load even the very FIRST round in my new .40 Shield magazine, I thought the factory must have messed up and included 9mm magazines with my pistol!

They eventually do ease up A LITTLE, but I just guess they need to have stiff springs to keep lifting the rounds up in front of that really fast moving slide over the life of the pistol.

I also have a strong enough thumb now to shove it through a telephone pole without it bending!

 

[Ranger17]

I recently purchased a S&W M&P 40 Shield. The magazines are the worst I have ever seen from a major manufacturer. There is no way I can fully load them. The spring is just too stiff. And it's not just me. Nobody at the range when I was there was able to fully load them either. So far S&W doesn't seem to care.

Many have commented about Shield mags, I did as well early on.... and found the Uplula magloader is one answer that has helped often and it works well.

I wouldn't say SW doesn't care, more that the stiff springs in the single stack design (esp when new) can make those mags difficult to load. Just my .02

 

[LVSteve]

I recently purchased a S&W M&P 40 Shield. The magazines are the worst I have ever seen from a major manufacturer. There is no way I can fully load them. The spring is just too stiff. And it's not just me. Nobody at the range when I was there was able to fully load them either. So far S&W doesn't seem to care.

Stiff mag springs are a necessity in a gun with a small, light slide slide that reciprocates quickly. It's the only way to ensure the next round is presented in time to be loaded. Rules of Physics, I'm afraid.