Why do Some 9mm Shields have FTE? And what is the real cause?

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DeeBee

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I have 2 Shields in .40, that have never given me any mechanical malfunctions through thousands of rounds. BUT, I have a 9 mm Shield that randomly gives me FTEs (failure to extract) (phase 3 malfunction). I have had it happen with all different types of ammo also. I am not a newby to guns and shooting, but I really want to know the fix for this!....help!

BTW, that is a Winchester Ranger 124 gr. +P in the picture.
 

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I wish I knew how to fix it. My extractor had some play in it, you could move it forward slightly and then back. Sent it off last week for FTE (extract). It was random too. Multiple types of ammo over about 600 rounds.
 
Ya know... In the pic above, I don't see the ejector protruding through. Perhaps it's just the angle of the pic, but if it's broken, that would cause the occasional FTEject, but it would mostly only occur with just the last round in the mag (when there's no other round to push the case out of the way).
That's pretty simplistic thinking though

sent from my Commodore64 & acoustic modem
 
DeeBee try this. Field strip you piece, now take a live round or empty and push it up under the extractor like it would coming out of the magazine. Does it hold it tight or does it seem loose or wobbliy?
It could be your extractor doesn't have enough tension on it to hold the round like it should during the extraction cycle. In any event you might want to contact S&W about it!
Dale
 
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Is what's pictured a failure to extract? Just clarifying, since that is the failure type I had.
 
Is what's pictured a failure to extract? Just clarifying, since that is the failure type I had.
Could be either, eject or extract. I will send the picture in when I send the gun in. I can't believe when I called for the shipping label, the guy asked if I lubed it, etc. etc. etc. The gun should be flawless, unless there is a mechanical problem with the gun. He sounded like he was trying to talk me into NOT sending it in?
I just hope they fix it right the first time! I am tired of always having to wait for 3 weeks+ waiting to get it back. Then I have to go out and shoot 200 or so rounds to see if they fixed it.
Then if it's not fixed, you have to do it all over again!
 
Are you only experiencing this with the +p ammo?
May need to change the recoil spring
 
If your extractor claw is undamaged, you could have a weak spring behind your extractor.
 
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Could be either, eject or extract. I will send the picture in when I send the gun in. I can't believe when I called for the shipping label, the guy asked if I lubed it, etc. etc. etc. The gun should be flawless, unless there is a mechanical problem with the gun. He sounded like he was trying to talk me into NOT sending it in?
I just hope they fix it right the first time! I am tired of always having to wait for 3 weeks+ waiting to get it back. Then I have to go out and shoot 200 or so rounds to see if they fixed it.
Then if it's not fixed, you have to do it all over again!

I'm probably going to sound a little harsh, so my apologies up front.

Considering the number of non issues that are brought up on this board, and the number of people who immediately scream "call customer service" or "request a shipping label" is it any wonder CS goes down the stupid question list? I'm sure the general population that wouldn't even think to look on a S&W forum board for answers makes our forum members look like mensa members.

Now let talk perfect and flawless. Can anyone show anything made by a man/woman that is perfect? What is the failure/defect rate in weapons manufacturing? Could/should it be better, and at what cost? Would you be willing to pay double for a half point decrease in failures across the board? Perfection is a lofty goal, I don't know if I can afford it though.

/rant

I hope everyone has a perfectly flawless day.
 
Many people have had this problem. Someone must have gotten the proper repair?
I don't know why the breach face can fit a .40 cartridge in it? That could be the problem ? Who knows? I am just looking for An answer...
Would you want to carry a gun you can't trust?
 
It's pretty common for 9 and 40 slides to be interchangeable. I've had a few unreliable guns in my life. I no longer own them. As long as customers keep buying them, S&W has no incentive to change there current business model.
 
I'm probably going to sound a little harsh, so my apologies up front.

Considering the number of non issues that are brought up on this board, and the number of people who immediately scream "call customer service" or "request a shipping label" is it any wonder CS goes down the stupid question list? I'm sure the general population that wouldn't even think to look on a S&W forum board for answers makes our forum members look like mensa members.

Now let talk perfect and flawless. Can anyone show anything made by a man/woman that is perfect? What is the failure/defect rate in weapons manufacturing? Could/should it be better, and at what cost? Would you be willing to pay double for a half point decrease in failures across the board? Perfection is a lofty goal, I don't know if I can afford it though.

/rant

I hope everyone has a perfectly flawless day.

Actually,you make NO sense... I never said anything was perfect (except GOD). But the gun should shoot without failures... Who wants a carry gun the FTEs every 50 or so rounds??..NOT ME! You can goahead and carry it,but I sure wont.
You are saying FTEs are a "non issue"..Are you kidding me??
You need to start rethinking, what you are saying, as I guess I am a little closer to being a Mensa member than you are. ;)
 
Look here DB, you said you weren't a newer shooter, but I'm gonna throw this out there. Is there any chance that you'd admit to possibly not having the firmest of grips and not fully locking your strong hand out in front of you? I'm trying to save you heartache and expense here. You know the recoil impulse is different in 9 and 40. Maybe just a little bit lax in technique. Little polymer pistols aren't exactly user friendly.
 
Reading comprehension isn't your strong suit, is it?

I wasn't pointing out your FTE, I was pointing out that customer service gets called for a lot of dumb reasons. I'm not saying yours is dumb. How many threads have you seen about a cracked revolver frame right by the hammer? How about a slide that wont automatically lock back when there is no magazine installed? How about lead fouling that someone believes is a manufacturing defect? Customer service has no idea if you're a gun newbie, or world class gunsmith. They have to ask the dumb questions.

I've already stated that not only would I not carry a gun with a known fte issue, I would not contiinue to own it either.

Obviously I wasn't clear enough before, I'll try to do better.
 
Look here DB, you said you weren't a newer shooter, but I'm gonna throw this out there. Is there any chance that you'd admit to possibly not having the firmest of grips and not fully locking your strong hand out in front of you? I'm trying to save you heartache and expense here. You know the recoil impulse is different in 9 and 40. Maybe just a little bit lax in technique. Little polymer pistols aren't exactly user friendly.

Limpristing "usually" causes FTFeed problems, in my experience. I have never had a limpwristing issue in my 25 years of shooting, and that includes Glocks, which are supposedly prone to limpwristing. ( I intentionally limpwristed the Shield, and it shot perfect..)
If you read some of those threads I posted, you will see, that other people have shot the gun and still had the problem. (which would rule out limpwristing).
 
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ALL I WANT TO KNOW IS IF S&W HAS ACTUALLY FIXED ANYONES FTE ISSUE? AND WHAT THE ACTUAL PROBLEM WAS? THATS ALL!
I swear it is the oversize breachface which lets the round wobble all over the place. How is the extractor supposed to hold on to a 9mm round that is sitting in a .40 cal sized space?? without something going wrong?
 
Mine hasn't been fixed, so I can't help you with that, but I can report back when it returns and let you know how successful they were. The theory about the breech face is interesting, but since that design includes all Shield 9mm's I would expect to see the problem on every one.
 
ALL I WANT TO KNOW IS IF S&W HAS ACTUALLY FIXED ANYONES FTE ISSUE? AND WHAT THE ACTUAL PROBLEM WAS? THATS ALL!
I swear it is the oversize breachface which lets the round wobble all over the place. How is the extractor supposed to hold on to a 9mm round that is sitting in a .40 cal sized space?? without something going wrong?

You make a good point DeeBee. The simple truth is that S&W makes more money by using as many common parts as possible for the 9mm and the 40SW versions of their handguns. The 40SW version works better than the 9mm version because the gun is designed for the bigger caliber first and then made to work for the smaller caliber.
 
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