Fix Your Shield Before It Fails!!!

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Hunter991 said:
for some reason i can't understand where this spring is.
Click to expand...

From the original post: "the slide lock spring can work its way out of its retaining groove in the left side of the locking block just above the disassembly lever."

Remove your slide. Hold your frame in your right hand. Look at the left front rail, just above the takedown lever, which is pointing toward 6 o'clock. The tiny silver spring (about the diameter of a common pin) is in a groove just under the left front rail, looking from the left side of your frame.
 
Thanks for the information. I checked mine (only about 300 rds. thru it ) and it was OK. I know several folks that have Shields ,, I'll pass it on the info.
 
This is a good tip for observation and maintenance.

It may become a problem on a very small percentage of Shields, although the click bait type thread title and thread writing style seem to be out of proportion to the actual, potential problem, as the OP later admits.
 
Hunter991 said:
for some reason i can't understand where this spring is. I am a shooter, not someone who knows all the parts of the gun. I looked on youtube and its funny no one has detailed this problem. Usually by now there would be 100 video complaints on this problem. I haven't had the problem and carry the shield every day. Sorry, just can't figure out where this is located or how to fix from these pics. Does anyone have a before and after pic?
Click to expand...


9pDqA2V.jpg


5anDVxR.jpg
 
On post 16 the bottom picture on right where OP claims its seated correctly looks like its about to fall out with all the room on each side!

Mine is flush and no open spaces on sides!
 
xdmshooter59!

Thanks for putting up the best pictures of the spring (with red arrows) I have yet seen, since on most pictures not clear :eek: and a lot of glare! Thanks again!
 
Just to be clear on my situation. I was NOT having any issues with mine before I found this thread even though the spring on my appeared to be not fully seated. Would I have eventually? dunno, maybe, maybe not.

I had already put 600 rds thru the gun with no issues whatsoever. I did however seat the spring shown in the photo above so that is its flush with the block as the OP suggested. Will continue to shoot the gun and monitor the spring to see if it works its way out or not. I'm betting it won't.
 
CB3 said:
This is a good tip for observation and maintenance.

It may become a problem on a very small percentage of Shields, although the click bait type thread title and thread writing style seem to be out of proportion to the actual, potential problem, as the OP later admits.
Click to expand...

Uh-Huh.
Here's another good thread about this on-going issue for those that live in denial... :p

Shield - broken slide stop spring
 
While a possible issue, it seems to have nowhere the probs as the issues with the Shield springs collapsing!
 
While I have had no issues after 2400+ rounds, I'll be checking that spring today.
 
Mine had the exact same problem, thankfully my local gunsmith was able to take apart and fix it for me. I've also expirences the common mag spring problems with 3 of my mags.... I hate to say it but I'm looking to replace my shield as my carry gun, the shield is just too damn unreliable for me, I don't feel confident in it anymore. Thanks op for helping everyone out and posting a fix to the problem, I thought I was the only one lol
 
You can see part of this spring, sitting in its slot, without removing the slide - just look through the slide stop notch, above the takedown lever, when the slide is in battery. (A good light helps.)

Mine looks to be fully seated. But I'm wondering how it can EVER come "out" of its notch when it looks like it's basically covered by the bottom inside of the slide, which leaves very little clearance for the spring to move "out" except at the slide stop notch.

Not saying it isn't happening as some are reporting, just saying I don't see quite how it's done.
 
akdude said:
Just checked mine made june 2017 and its flush and black on the outside and hard to even see!
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Mine is bright silver which makes me think it was dragging against the slide which scrapped the black finish off.

It couldn't have been dragging too much because I've had absolutely zero malfunctions of any kind with my Shield.
 
Cheapskait said:
Mine is bright silver which makes me think it was dragging against the slide which scrapped the black finish off.

It couldn't have been dragging too much because I've had absolutely zero malfunctions of any kind with my Shield.
Click to expand...

It's highly possible that many Shields will not have the spring fully seated and still function without issue as long as it does not come out altogether as was the case with mine. However, others it would seem are fully seated judging by some the posts on this thread. This to me could only mean that there is an obvious QC issue during manufacturing.

It's also hard to tell by a few issues reported on a forum what the real scope of the issue is regarding how many Shields have experienced this problem and have been sent back to the factory. Probably quite small compared to how many Shields have been sold since it's release. Now... how many Shields are coming off the line where the spring isn't fully seated is anyone's guess as well. Unless people are having failures wholesale, no one would probably even notice it unless they saw this thread.

The bigger question then becomes, has this thread changed your confidence in the Shield as your personal defense gun? :confused:

It hasn't for me, Yet.....
 
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xdmshooter59 said:
It's highly possible that many Shields will not have the spring fully seated and still function without issue as long as it does not come out altogether ...
Click to expand...

My spring seemed to be touching the slide, but was sticking out only about a third of its width and the bottom of the spring is being held in tightly by the plastic grip frame, so perhaps the guns that develop the spring-popped-out problem are only those that have a loose fit in both the frame/locking block and the slide/locking block.
 
DocB said:
Let's see. . .this sounds like why I don't and never will carry a Shield. No need for anybody to say, "I've never had a problem with mine."
Click to expand...

So...no interest in anyone else's experience, but yours should be taken as gospel truth? OK. No mechanical device is 100% reliable. Revolvers have been known to have a part break or just lock up for no immediately obvious reason.
This "alarming" Shield issue is one known to occur in "several" of the million sold. Without boring anyone about my several years of trouble free experience with 2 Shields, suffice to say that there ARE semi-autos I will trust with my life, and those I will not. Both of my Shields qualify as the former.
 
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Just asking... is this a design or a quality control issue?

Or both...????

John
 
xdmshooter59 said:
The bigger question then becomes, has this thread changed your confidence in the Shield as your personal defense gun? :confused:

It hasn't for me, Yet.....
Click to expand...

Yes, been a Shield owner and fan for many years. Just checked my PC Shield and the spring has backed out so I punched it back in. We'll see.....Glock 43?........
 
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first time pistol owner brand new 9mm shield .About 350 rounds 2 months old,go to field strip slide wont come out, Sent it to S&W they received it on 10/13 .send me a notice on 10/20 that they have it where was it for a week ?.Called today and return time is 3 to 5 weeks, read this thread is this going to be an on going problem ?
 
Mine is fully flush, even a touch recessed. Manuf early may 2017. Thanks for the heads up on this inspection point!
 
DocB said:
Let's see. . .this sounds like why I don't and never will carry a Shield. No need for anybody to say, "I've never had a problem with mine." I will not carry any handgun that isn't proven to be 100% reliable..
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not trying to be a smart *** but i take you dont carry a gun? no gun is 100% reliable. in fact, nothing mechanical is 100% reliable. engineering 101.
 
Well, this isn't going to...

Well, this isn't going to change my mind either but when I break down my Shield next time, I'm going to have a look just to see if there is a potential problem.

I think the Shield is a great gun and I use it.
 
Looks like my pictures have been good reference! I found these issues on a new PC9 when the slide was locking back. Barrel was a tight fit, when all the way back, which seemed like the culprit.

That spring was popping out and when I noticed it I pushed it in and it has been fine since. Have around 800+ with the two Shields.

Hasn't been an issue since.

Here's another angle. Notice one spring is shined up... that's from contacting the slide til I caught it.

34196377652_d5a69c2998_b.jpg
 
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