Took my new gun to the range today. Bought 200 rounds of the Rangers. Brought em all. First let me say my first mistake was shooting the gun without cleaning the factory **** off! I know better but have had such good luck as of late and was in a hurry to go to work i shot 50 rounds of our departments Speer 124 grn FMJ and 100 rounds of the Rangers with multiple failure to feeds with both. Didnt panic because i knew i should of cleaned it. So on my lunch i field stripped it and cleaned the hell out of it. Q tips, dentist pick on the rails, Hoppes Elite and Fire Clean. All nooks and crannies were spotless. Even cleaned my mags. After looking at the amount of **** that came out of the gun i wasnt surprised it wouldnt run........ Then went back to the range. Put another 50 FMJ through it ran fine but the ******* still wont feed my Rangers.



Are there known problems with Rangers? I looked but everything i read said failure to extract Winchester Brass. Couldnt find any issues on feeding. Id hate to go out n buy Golt Dots or Sabers and have it choke again. Should i just call S&W? Thanks for the help fellas!!

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The feed ramp might need to be polished?

mine took 200 rounds and two cleanings before it would cycle reliably. Now it goes fine, though the only HPs I have tried are Sperr Golddots and Federal HSTs.

My shield 9 went back the first time for similar problems, different ammo. They did a heavy polish job on the ramp and chamber, but it still jammed. They finally put in a new barrel. Runs well now.

Give them a call. If they can work with me, they can work with anyone.

Not every gun will feed every type of bullet...you really do have to find what your handgun likes best. If it won't feed a particular round, find one that it will...with 100% reliability.

I ran 50 rounds of Winchester Nato and 50 of Blazer, both 124 and they weref flawless in my wife's new Shield 9mm. I always polish the feed ramp with Flitz and a cleaning rag on a new weapon.

What he said^^^^^^^!!!

Not all pistols will work with all ammo.

You must find what works reliably in your pistol, not my pistol, not everyone else's pistol: YOUR pistol.

It's fairly common to find some specific ammo doesn't work reliably in your pistol and then find folks that have had no problem with the ammo in question. Doesn't mean there's anything wrong with your pistol

Reliability here is defined as 100+ rounds with no problems.

Find ammo that works every time in your pistol: not all ammo will do so

There may be a problem with your pistol (fairly common in these), but you should understand that some ammo won't work as well as other ammo in any given pistol.

I'd rather carry range ammo for sd than the latest gee whiz stuff if I know the range ammo works reliably and have tested the gee whiz stuff (minimum 100 rounds) and it doesn't. Or, more commonly, haven't fired 100+ rounds of the gee whiz stuff so the shooter really doesn't know whether it's reliable or not.

You've identified ammo that won't work in your pistol. That's great. Don't use it.

Get rid of the ammo that won't work every time.

Shoot what works every time in your pistol.

Thanks for the prompt replies, its supposed to be my summer off duty/back up weapon in place of my Glock 26. I just finishes cleaning the hell out of it again. May take it slow pounding the FMJ and cleaning it before i try the winchesters again. Also read to leave the slide locked back for a day or two to work the spring some. If this wont remedy it back to S&W itll go. Bummer bc it really does shoot lights out when it runs!!! Any other info or experiences would be helpfull. Ill update as i go along

As to Hollow Points -
Federal HydraShock JHP 124g works best for me. Speer Gold Dot 147g also work well.

I've had no issues using SIG and Hornady 124 JHPs. Also Winchester 124 NATO.

The only times my Shield failed to load or eject was when I was working up reloads and started out on the wimpy side (too conservative). Once I zeroed in on a decent load it hasn't failed since. (500 rounds ago).

Just left the range. 2 failures to feed out of 200 rounds of the Speer FMJ (rounds 98 and around 140 one with each mag), gonna clean it and put 2 hundred more of the FMJ. If it wont feed those hoping S&W will remedy the issue

Where are the cases going when ejected? Were those two FTFs mag specific?

Ejection is consistant and in the proper direction, malfs occured while firing not chambering a new round from slide lock. Ive had issues in both mags which would only lead me to believe its the angle of the feed ramp itself. If it was just the HP's id say try a diff brand but those Speers are FMJ.Called S&W just gonna send it back and have em check it out. Said 3 weeks tops which sucks but if it comes back right ill be pleased!!! Ive pumped quite a few rounds through it while it and its mags have been cleaned so its hard for me to assume its a "break in" issue, which im kind of iffy about anyway. Not knocking S&W it happens!


Curious though how common this is. Ive been reading and reading and you dont see much with feeding issues

I just got a Shield 9mm last month.... and have put over 500 rounds through it so far, which is a LOT for me. Playing with a new pistol is a bunch of fun.

I have tried out various ammo with no malfunctions of any kind:
115 Federal range ammo
124 Federal
115 American Eagle
147 Speer Gold Dot
124 ( I THINK ) Hornady Critical Defense AND Critical Duty HP
CCI Snake shot cups

ALL have fed and ejected without fail

I did indeed slightly polish the feed ramp along with a couple little machining type marks that were on the barrel and trigger bar.

I am NOT an expert shooter, but I am extremely pleased with the Shield as an EDC . Small, light, safe, accurate, reliable, consistent, easy to maintain.
So far I couldn't be happier with the little bugger ....

Just sent it via fed ex, because i want all of that!

If you're determined to carry the latest "designer" ammo, I will be of no help. If, however, you're open to other options may I suggest the Federal 9BP.

It's a standard pressure 115gr JHP.

The 9BP is not sexy, but it has alot going for it.

1) It's shape is closer to ball, so it feeds well, even in finicky guns. If it will feed in a Browning Hi-Power with a humped feed ramp (and it does), it will feed through anything!

2) It's a standard pressure JHP, so it won't beat up your gun as bad as extended use of over-pressure rounds will.

3) It's plentiful in 20rd and 50rd boxes, and it is considerably less expensive that "designer" ammo. Lower ammo cost = more range time.

4) It's been around for over 35 years, and in that time it has piled-up a very impressive record in actual shootings with a number of PDs around the US, the largest and most notable being Philadelphia PD. When they carried the 9BP they had no complaints about it's "stopping power".

If you insist on carrying over-pressure ammo, Federal also makes the 9BPLE, which is the same round in a nickel case, loaded to +P+ velocities. In my own chrono tests, the 9BP left the muzzle of a Shield at 1130 fps. The 9BPLE left the same muzzle at 1230 fps. These were the averages of ten-shot strings with each round.

I carry the 9BP in everything I have in 9mm, and it has proven both reliable and accurate.

Best.

Well i have to say i carry Rangers in all my other caliber duty weapons partly because of the success ive had in feeding. 1911's - Glocks... That and because they are always in stock at out local cop shop. They only carry Winchesters and Hornady. But maybe i can try something new. Cant beet the discount either

Quick update. Guns at S&W according to the customer service rep theyre most likely going to replace the barrel and thats dandy just as long as my feed ramp was the issue. The more research i do on the topic the more i hear horror stories of owners sending shields back 2 or 3 times. Really do want to give this pistol a fair shake. Hope S&W takes the time to actually check the pistol out

I will take exception to this statement. It is my firm opinion that any ammunition produced to SAAMI specification, including reloads, should function in any quality handgun. Any, repeatable, failure to feed, failure to fire, failure to eject or stove pipe is a failure of the gun, the operator or gun cleaning.

Update......S&W rep said that the warranty return department polished the ramp and chamber on my barrel. I asked politely if that department was anywhere near the quality of their Performance Center guys and she replied their skills are on par with the PC smiths. Only difference is one is a paid for service and the other is free of charge. Not quite sure how much i believe that, but overall everyone has been polite and service has been great. I should have it back by monday she said so thats a super fast turn around time... Hoping my shield runs right... Ill update as i shoot it

LOL... Ask a 'Questionable' question and expect a questionable answer. Did you expect her to say that the Warranty guys were minimum wage 'Day Workers' that she wouldn't trust with HER weapons?

No experience with the Shield, but I have a pretty new M&P9c that now has about 700 rounds thru it. The issue I have is failure to extract with Ranger 124+p. It mostly happens when the gun has fired a few rounds and getting a bit dirty and at the same time when doing one hand drills. I have eliminated limp-wristing for the most part. The extractor seems to fail to catch the rim or comes loose and a fresh round tries to feed. My thinking is that the rim sizes or thickness may vary a bit. I'm due for some vacation shortly and may send it back anyway. My duty carry round is the Ranger 147 bonded and those seem to work fine.

True, i know better but id figure i would ask anyway lol

I have had no problems with my 9mm Shield from the feeding or extraction area, but the trigger is somewhat heavy, over 12 (what my trigger pull scale goes), but reasonably smooth. The main problem is with accuracy, around 5" at 12 yards, where my compact RIA 9mm will shoot under 2", (but has a 4 lb trigger). Can anyone recommend trigger improvements?

__________________
H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Did you somehow get a Mass Compliant version by mistake?
If you're into DIYs try this: S&W M&P Trigger Job

If you're not that into hands-on and just want to swap out parts, you can look into the Apex Carry Kit for around $100 (give or take, w/shipping).

Others have contacted S&W CS and had them do some work on it.

Just buy a good gun. Think p2000sk

Update. Ok so i got it back and took it down. Cleaned it and the mags again. The gun came back filthy so im assuming they shot it quite a bit. Upon inspection you can tell the barell and chamber were polished. And then i noticed the lip on my Recoil Spring Assembly..... Its bent/deformed. This cant be normal. Sorry for the **** pic of my polish job really does shine in person. Ill toss in a pic of the other issue when i get off work. Lmk what u guys think. Kind of leary about shooting it this way. And i can tell you i didnt send it in like that. Damn

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My shield feeds 124gr bonded rangers..

Heres a pic of the guide rod. Think its safe to shoot? The spring sits the right way with the start of the spring facing upwards as stated in the manual. The bent piece sits snugly in the frame like it should. What to do?

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Well i ran 150 straight Speer Lawman FMJ no issues just now. Ran both mags +1 and did some off hand training so im happy with that. Going to keep shooting the Speer for another 350 or so before i try the Ranger. Does anyones guide rod look like mine? Or should i be satisfied with the progress after getting it back?

I'd agree with aforementioned statement with one caveat. Make sure you shoot a box or two through it if it is the ammo your department issues so you KNOW with certainty it will function.

I always run atleast 100 HP's without failure before its holstered on or off duty. Hoping that the S&W polish job did the trick and Im going to run about 350 more FMJ's before i even attempt the Rangers again. Guide rod is kind of bothering me though. Shot well today at 5 yards. A tiny bit left but my elevation was good. 150 rounds with a little support hand thrown in produced a softball size hole! Gotta get used to that trigger and find the sweetspot

Called S&W they said bending was normal but theyd send me a new one anyway which is cool of them. Now to keep cleaning and shooting!

UTO,

I had the same issue, called, and they sent a "new" one at no charge. It was the same. So at this point I think it is par for the course.

Correct? Can't say.

It sounds to me they know the "bending" isn't normal which is why they're sending you a new one. I have both the Shield 9mm and the 9c and neither of them have bent plates like your picture.

Also, when I first got my Shield I had a problem feeding some off-brand PD ammo because the nose on the hollow point was so short it kept jamming on the feed ramp. Switched to Hornaday's and haven't had a problem with it (including a bunch of different range ammo) since.

The rep i spoke to said it was normal and it would happen to the new one as well. He said hed be glad to do it anyway but it would take some time because Smith does some kind of summer vacation deal for employees and theyre working short staffed till Aug 8.

He asked right away if it was a shield so they are def aware and not acting surprised and shocked is semi comforting. Youd think if their was an issue theyd tell me not to continue to fire it

Agree with post #19.

Your gun should run perfectly with any name brand ammo produced to SAAMI standards, HP, +P (which is not overpressure) or otherwise. Accuracy can and will vary, but functionality should be perfect.

That little bend at the end of the rod is nothing. But you can replace it with the new one Smith is sending you. Or not.

Be patient. Smith is really good people and the Shield is a really good gun.

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USAF, 69-92
Vietnam, 72-73

Yea im pleased so far. Good service!

You mentioned a "softball sized hole" at 5 yards as the accuracy. I personally don't consider a group that large at 5 yards very good, and the source of my post (#24). After a little work, the trigger pull on my 9mm shield is 7 lbs, but smooth. The groups are still around 3 1/2" at 10-12 yards, while my other 9's, 45's & 38's all group into about 2" at that distance. Is this what can be expected from the Shield?

__________________
H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Nope the Shield is far better than that. Granted im sure there are quite a few guys here that would eat me alive lol. My group was opened considerably because of my support hand training. Shame on me for doing it once in a blue moon, glad i decided to integrate it now bc it needs work (some of you marksmen would chuckle at me shooting dot torture. Im dead on all stages at 3 yards untill i shoot 5 rounds weak handed!) ! Illshrink it up. Anyways i ran another 150 today, no issues but at ten yards my groups were still left lol but much smaller than yesterday because i shot all two handed......so i set up a NRA bullseye target backwards at 15 yards and shot off a rest. Results after my 8 round mag was within a fist size with proper elevation, but still a little left! Looking at my sights they appear to be favoring the right side of the slide just a touch. Would that lead me to shoot left just a touch? Its the only gun i own that i shoot left. Its either that or maybe my hands are just a little meaty and need to adjust my grip. On my Glocks and Springfield 1911's my first finger pad sits center of the trigger. On my Shield its just past the first joint closer to the middle of my finger. Either way if i toss in a little English im dead on all day. Would rather not have to apply kentucky windage though. Tommorow ill go back run another 150 and try n snap a photo or two. Either way im starting to regain trust in it and hope it will pass my 100 round duty ammo test shortly!!!!! Thanks to all its a great help to hear your oppinions

You need to move the rear sight more to the right. Always move sight in the direction you want the group to go. Mine is the same, had to drift the rear sight more right. Somewhere I had read the Shield rear sight wasn't adjustable, but it is for bondage. It really fits tight.

__________________
H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Yea ive been researching drifting the sights, read it was a real kick to the nuts with the loctite and all. And those reports came from guys with sight pushers! I may have to have my Smithy give it a bump over. Starting to like this gun the more i shoot it. Trigger is def different than what im used to. So i been placing the shell casing on my front sight and getting it to stay in place 9 out of 10 times. Off hand results not so favorable. Its my achilles heel for sure! But hey it only means more range time! Workin out the kinks. Just workin out the kinks

Another 150 Speer digested flawlesly.Didnt clean the gun from yesterdays session. Just kind of Q-tipped it. Here ate some sample groups at 10 yards. Kind of rushed my session but not terrible. Since i got it back its ran 450 Speer FMJ without a hickup. As soon as i can get my paws on 100 Rangers 124+P itll be time for the test!!!! I think itll run fine

10 yards both hands

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More at ten. The top group was two handed. The bottom group was of a rest. Both are left side of my POI. Little less than 3 inches

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Thinkin i should get my sights moved a smidge. Like i said. Kind of rushed the seasion. If i would of really concentrated i could of closed em some. Rest of the trip was controlled pairs at 10 yards.

Finally got a hold of 100 Rangers 124grn +P, and after the work that Smith did to it it ate em all; slow fire, double taps and mag dumps


Super pleased and grateful to S&W for making it right
I can now confidently carry it off duty!!!