My New S&W shield Plus

[slabside2]

I took my new shield home, broke it down, cleaned it put a little oil where it needed to be put it back together again and went to the range. I took various types of ammo with me since this is gonna be my new carry gun. Sorry to say it was a big disappointment, I read the slide lock is really hard to release the slide but that's no problem because I could just pull the slide back and let it go in chamber around. Not the case once the slide locks back no matter what you do you can get it to go into battery unless you remove the magazine. It does it with both magazines that come with the gun. I've been a big Smith & Wesson fan for over 40 years and own many revolvers. I could send it back to Smith & Wesson and wait three or four weeks and hope it comes back repaired but now I lost faith and trust in the gun. I'm going back to my Glock 43X that never let me down no matter what I put through it. I'm happy for all you guys that are happy with yours that work great is it just my luck or is quality control lacking? I hate Post and he's kind of things but I just wanted everybody to know.

 

[Dave Lively]

I want to make sure I understand what you are saying.

With the slide locked back you are inserting a loaded magazine,pulling the slide back and the gun will not chamber the round. Is that correct?

If so before you send it back take a look at the slide stop and see if you can figure out what is pushing it up. There might be something you can see.

If you don't feel confident in your gun its best to find one you do. Even if that lack of confidence is more a gut feeling than something based of facts. I feel that way about my Sig P365. I bought it a couple of years after it came out and all the problems were supposedly fixed but mine had reliability issues and had to go back to the factory. Its had about 1000 trouble free rounds through it since then but I still don't completely trust it which is why I still carry a G43 and recently bought a Shield Plus. I am keeping the P365 because the rational side of my brain keeps telling me it is a good, reliable carry gun I shoot well. But until I do feel completely confident in it I am not going to carry it.

 

[Paul in Nevada]

It's a slide lock, not a slide release. It is working exactly the way S&W designed it. I personally think you are better served training to slingshot the slide on reloads but I am not an expert or a professional who carries a gun in harm's way, just some anonymous chucklehead on the internet.

 

[MSD2343]

It won't slingshot into battery with a loaded mag? If so and you can't find anything obvious, it has to go back for repair. But I'd try giving yourself another whirl with it when it comes back.

 

[slabside2]

It won't slingshot into battery with a loaded mag? If so and you can't find anything obvious, it has to go back for repair. But I'd try giving yourself another whirl with it when it comes back.

That's exactly what's happening. The slingshot method works sometimes and sometimes it doesn't. I have to remove the magazine and then the slide will go forward. So I think you're correct it has to go back still very disappointing.

 

[REVCHARLIE]

I own several S&W revolvers as well as a few S&W pistols. I'm fine with my revolvers and maybe two of the pistols(M&P Full Size and Compact in 9mm).

But if I was betting my life on a pistol it would be my Glock 43X!

 

[Nevada Ed]

I have a question.

One would think that S&W would check the functioning of the pistol
to make sure that it works correctly, with dummy rounds, or live
before they say that it has passed all the test, required, before letting the public buy it.

Has their quality control gone gotten so bad that faulty pistols are being
given a "Green light" ?

 

[MSD2343]

I hope the answer is "No," but I fear the answer maybe "Yes." As anecdotally evident by the feedback often seen here, Smith's quality problems seem to manifest more in their revolver products, but let's just say many here will not be shocked to learn about your issue.

 

[coltle6920]

It's a slide lock, not a slide release. It is working exactly the way S&W designed it. I personally think you are better served training to slingshot the slide on reloads but I am not an expert or a professional who carries a gun in harm's way, just some anonymous chucklehead on the internet.

Not to cause an argument but if you read the manual on the Shield and pretty much any firearm The first thing mentioned to chamber a round is to drop the slide lock/release. The second option mentioned is to pull back the slide.

In some cases one might not have two hands available to pull the slide back.

 

[Paul in Nevada]

Not to cause an argument but if you read the manual on the Shield and pretty much any firearm The first thing mentioned to chamber a round is to drop the slide lock/release. The second option mentioned is to pull back the slide.

In some cases one might not have two hands available to pull the slide back.

HERE is the manual for the 9mm.
And HERE is the manual for the 380.
Both describe slingshotting the slide on page 20, neither mention using the slide stop to release the slide. If I am missing it please show me where. I tried CTR-F for "slide" and "slide stop" and I didn't see it.

•Pull the slide to the rear and then release it, allowing it to carry
fully forward. This strips a cartridge from the magazine and seats
it in the chamber of the barrel.

 

[LVSteve]

This may be a silly question, but when the slide won't go forward with a magazine in, are there rounds in the magazine? Assuming there are, it sounds like the mag is catching on the slide lock parts. Isn't there some deal with the slide lock spring getting loose, or am I thinking of another gun.

 

[majorsideburns]

Does it happen when you download the magazine by a round? Maybe the magazine spring is still really tight. Leave the mags fully loaded for a few days to loosen it up a bit.

 

[Dave Lively]

This sounds more like a magazine problem than a gun problem. If you do call S&W see if they will exchange the magazines before you send the gun back. Its a lot less hassle than sending a gun back these days.

 

[coltle6920]

HERE is the manual for the 9mm.
And HERE is the manual for the 380.
Both describe slingshotting the slide on page 20, neither mention using the slide stop to release the slide. If I am missing it please show me where. I tried CTR-F for "slide" and "slide stop" and I didn't see it.

Whatever! It's still an acceptable procedure whether it's written in the manual or not.

It is in the manual for my...
S&W 5906
Springfield Hellcat 9MM
Sig P365-380
Springfield XDS 45ACP

I use the slide lock/release on my Shield Plus to chamber a round. It can be hard at times and does require more force than other pistols but it's new with maybe 300rds through it.

Apparently from other threads the mags are an issue as far as being able to fully load them. I use an Uplula loader. On my 13rd mags it is extremely difficult to load any more than 10rds. With usage I should be able to load more in the future.

The recoil assembly could possibly add to the problem. It's new and while it pushes the slide assembly back it also pulls the slide forward with force. Add that to an "overloaded" mag spring pushing up it could make the slide release harder to push down by adding pressure on the slide release. Laugh at me all you want but I consider any and all possibilities.

Also while we're talking about S&W quality control I'd bet the firearm is tested for all basic functionality. I doubt the tester uses a fully loaded mag to test fire it so that problem would only be evident by feedback from the users.

I would suggest the OP take it to where he bought it from if it's a local FFL. They usually have someone with gunsmithing skills that might be able to diagnose the problem. If the firearm will function consistently with less that a fully loaded mag I would keep using it hoping it loosens with usage. Everything considered and it still wont function then a return trip to S&W is the only the best thing.

I never claim to know much about how firearm functions but if my opinions can offer any insight into an issue I will continue to post them regardless of any negative feedback.

 

[Dave686]

I would be curious to hear from Smith & Wesson on this. There are two groups of people, slide release and slingshot. Do whichever works best for you.

For 50 years I have been part of the slide release group. I only use the slingshot method if I need to clear a jamb. Regardless of what anyone's personal opinion on that is… is Smith & Wesson saying this is no longer an option for the Shield Plus?

I can't buy a plus until they offer it in 40S&W, which may be never. But I won't buy one until I hear from S&W on this.

 

[Maddmax]

Being it does it now & then, or every so often. Make sure the mag is fully seated and locked in with an extra palm slap, then slingshot the slide.

 

[Rev 19:11]

M&P Shield Plus Performance Center Big Capacity New Flat Trigger! - YouTube
Jump to 14:20. Same problem OP?

 

[N4KVE]

Whatever! It's still an acceptable procedure whether it's written in the manual or not.

It is in the manual for my...
S&W 5906
Springfield Hellcat 9MM
Sig P365-380
Springfield XDS 45ACP

I use the slide lock/release on my Shield Plus to chamber a round. It can be hard at times and does require more force than other pistols but it's new with maybe 300rds through it.

Apparently from other threads the mags are an issue as far as being able to fully load them. I use an Uplula loader. On my 13rd mags it is extremely difficult to load any more than 10rds. With usage I should be able to load more in the future.

The recoil assembly could possibly add to the problem. It's new and while it pushes the slide assembly back it also pulls the slide forward with force. Add that to an "overloaded" mag spring pushing up it could make the slide release harder to push down by adding pressure on the slide release. Laugh at me all you want but I consider any and all possibilities.

Also while we're talking about S&W quality control I'd bet the firearm is tested for all basic functionality. I doubt the tester uses a fully loaded mag to test fire it so that problem would only be evident by feedback from the users.

I would suggest the OP take it to where he bought it from if it's a local FFL. They usually have someone with gunsmithing skills that might be able to diagnose the problem. If the firearm will function consistently with less that a fully loaded mag I would keep using it hoping it loosens with usage. Everything considered and it still wont function then a return trip to S&W is the only the best thing.

I never claim to know much about how firearm functions but if my opinions can offer any insight into an issue I will continue to post them regardless of any negative feedback.

Just as acceptable as calling a magazine a clip? GARY