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S&W 9mm Shields have unsupported chamber?

Tex1001

Tex1001

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I was skimming some component suppliers for availability and I happened across this statement from Starline Brass for both their 9mm and 9mm+p cases. Quote:

**NOT RECOMMENDED FOR USE IN S&W SHIELD PISTOLS DUE TO POORLY SUPPORTED CHAMBER CONDITION**

I've been following all of the situations that some new owners are having with Shields. If this is a valid condition, it would REALLY affect 9mm reloading for Shields, much the same as Glock chambers.
I post this for informational purposes only. I have no Shield investment, but if I did, or if I was contemplating a Shield purchase, this would definitely affect me as a reloader.
Is this a valid concern or a tempest in a tea cup?

I posted this on the reloading section also. Please delete this thread if inappropriate in this section.

_______________________
I don't have Alzheimer's- My wife had me tested.
 
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I did some more research. and found this thread; http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-...ed-w-pictures-new-shield-chamber-problem.html

Oddly enough, I had to send my shield back to Smith in March due to light strikes, and FTF using winchester white box. Seemed to shoot everything else just fine. At any rate, they modified the chamber, and it seems ok now. It also looks like amatuer work however, exactly like this poster's barrel in the above link.
 
I have an answer, direct from Starline Brass. Spoke to a company tech person, who said they personally have not tested any Shields with their brass. Their information was derived from reading problems about Shields on Forums, and as such put the notice on their website. He said the issue is only with high powered ammunition, and not with normal practice ammo. He said with higher power and +P loadings, that there might be an issue with case bulging. He said it is not a consistent issue and my be a minor occurrence, but they felt notice should be posted. Only the Shield and no other M&P models.

I am an avid reader of this Forum, and this is a very uncommon issue, case bulging. Most everything I have read, this is a very isolated issue. I personally shoot CorBon high powered in my Shield 40, and have never had any ammo related issue. This ammunition is loaded to maximum +P specs. My advice is that it should not be an issue. In that one thread about a problem, it appears the barrel was machined improperly, causing the likelihood of bulging, but only with high pressured ammunition. Has anyone else read of any other casing or ammunition manufacturers stating "not to be used with the M&P Shield?" I would think not and I think Starline overreacted by posting the notice, with minimal information about isolated incidents of case bulging.

Bob
 
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I follow this M&P section pretty closely. I did a quick search before starting this thread, and my search came up empty. I started the thread to keep ahead of any information curve. I hope that its a non issue. Apparently it is.
Sorry for cross posting. Delete as needed.
_______________________
Quis custodiet ipsos custodiet
 
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Seems this thread was moved and my post was deleted so I'll try again without mention of the other forum.

The Shield has a fully supported chamber but it is loose or sloppy.

I fired some +P 124 grain rounds and the brass bulged a bit.

I spoke and e mailed Starline, it is not Starline brass it is the chamber or barrel of the gun. I sent pictures to them and they want my brass to evaluate. Starline makes 9mm brass for other companies!

It is not an issue if you do not reload the brass several times. It's kinda like the Glock bulge on their older barrels but not as severe.

If you do not shoot +P or reload fired +P brass then no worries.

My barrel:








These are close up MACRO files so the bulge appears larger than it really is, but it is there and over time and repeated reloadings will get weak!





 
Starline has asked Rule3 to send them some of his SHIELD FIRED AMMO, to examine.

They must know him.

Rule3 stated he thinks this would be MAX LOAD or +P issue IF CONTINUALLY SHOT WITH THIS AMMO.

The Shield IS NOT A "RANGE GUN" per see as Bulleye Pistol is.

The firearm is a Self Defense one so it will probably be a NON-ISSUE.

Time will tell.
 
Moonman said:
Starline has asked Rule3 to send them some of his SHIELD FIRED AMMO, to examine.

They must know him.

Rule3 stated he thinks this would be MAX LOAD or +P issue IF CONTINUALLY SHOT WITH THIS AMMO.

The Shield IS NOT A "RANGE GUN" per see as Bulleye Pistol is.

The firearm is a Self Defense one so it will probably be a NON-ISSUE.

Time will tell.
Click to expand...

No they do not know me nor do I know them. I called them after reading a thread and seeing on their website that the do not recommend their brass for the Shield. I wanted to know why.

I spoke with Hunter and e mailed him the same pics I just posted. I am not supposed to disclose who they make brass 9mm brass for but it is is big company:)

Note the say "poorly supported" not unsupported.

They received brass and complaints direct from Bill Wilson of Wilson Combat so it's not a internet thing.

https://www.starlinebrass.com/order-online/caliber.cfm/caliber/9MM/
 
y5u5evah.jpg


They are no different
 
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I'm sorry and forgive me but all I can think of, after reading this thread is a quote from Heinlein's "Time enough for love" "When in danger or in doubt, run in circles scream and shout".
 
"S&W 9mm Shields have unsupported chamber?"

No they don't. They are supported just poorly or "sloppy" with a lot of room which allows them to feed and chamber easily.
 
Nice photos kodiakpb. This shows the same barrel configuration for several different brands. Starline didn't make notice that there was also issues with Glock, Sig, and Beretta. Why not as they are all the same. It looks like they just jumped the gun with their notice for Shields only.

Bob
 
robkarrob said:
Nice photos kodiakpb. This shows the same barrel configuration for several different brands. Starline didn't make notice that there was also issues with Glock, Sig, and Beretta. Why not as they are all the same. It looks like they just jumped the gun with their notice for Shields only.

Bob
Click to expand...

I did not believe it either which is why I am involved in this. I reload so I am used to plunking test rounds in barrels.

My Sig and Kahr, CZ and other 9mm do not bulge. I shoot the same loads in those guns and no bulge, so ?????

Because they are NOT the same. The 9mm Glock was never a ("bulged) case problem gun. The 40 SW was.

"POORLY SUPPORTED" a picture will not show that. There needs to be measurements with very precise equipment.

I contacted Starline again and hopefully they will chime in here.
 
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To set the record straight, Starline has been contacted by a few people complaining of excessive bulging in S&W Shield 9mm's. Bill Wilson of Wilson Combat was the first to let us know about this. He found that max loads and +P loads were bulging all brands of brass in his personal Shield and his wife's Shield pistols. The same loads in several other pistols, including the Beretta 92, Glock, and M&P showed know bulging or other pressure signs. We have been unsuccessful in obtaining a Shield for testing even after contacting S&W directly. After a couple of other complaints we decided to post a "RECOMMENDATION". Having seen several of the other posts about sending Shields back to S&W due to bulging, we feel that posting a recommendation was warranted. Rule 3 contacted me about the issue because he hadn't had any problems. After he did some testing with +P ammo, he found that his Shield was bulging cases with +P loads as well. Keep in mind that this is only a recommendation and if your Shield doesn't have a problem with bulging brass then you should be fine. Hopefully this is only an issue with a limited number of Shield pistols but we want to be on the safe side. If we find that the issue is very limited we may remove the recommendation.
 
Just a FYI.

I called SW CS. They are aware of the bulged brass situation. The CS rep stated that the barrels are designed that way to enable any kind of ammo to feed reliably (which is why Glocks are so reliable, ugly, but they work;))

Also sent a e mail to SW with pictures to see if they think it is bad enough to replace the barrel. Mine is a new one and not like some of the first ones produced that had a severe undercut of the barrel at the feed ramp area.
 
All I know is my Shield has worked with every brand of ammo I have put through it and I recover all the brass, reload it, and shoot it again.
 
gnystrom said:
All I know is my Shield has worked with every brand of ammo I have put through it and I recover all the brass, reload it, and shoot it again.
Click to expand...

Mine does also. Have you shot +P factory ammo? If so have you inspected the brass for bulges before resizing?
 
Any reports on the .40 having these problems, I have not seen any with mine. But am curious if this is an issue.
 
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