Shield Plus mags fall apart during insertion

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BEMacCoon

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I just got my new Shield Plus 4” (SKU: 13253) and tried shooting IDPA with it.


Problem is; when I insert the mag with force, as you would on the clock, the movable base plate component slides off the catch causing the entire base plate assembly to fall apart which dumps the spring and bullets on the ground.


Obviously I have a forward motion component in my mag insertion technique. One might argue I need to change my method. However; none of my other M&P pistols exhibit this behavior including the Shield Plus 10 round mags. The 10 rounder has a legit locking ‘tab in slot’ base plate retention design. See for yourself how easy the base plate slides off on the 13 & 15 round mags … this is not a battle hardened design.


I called S&W. They have no complaints on record. Wanted me to send my mags in. All 4 of my 13’s & 15’s behave this way so replacement is not an option for me.


I will be pinning the base plate assembly so it won’t come apart and will update with a photo when complete and tested.


Anybody else having this issue?
 
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So I'm new to S&W Shield Plus. I don't have the older 13 round mags to compare but I heard they changed the design of the base plates. The old 13 round mags worked like the 10 rounders where you push a button to be able to slide the base plate off. The new design makes it so there is no button to depress. You can just slide the plate forward. I saw on a video review (Honest Outlaw Shield Plus Carry Comp) where the reviewer had the same issue. The baseplate didn't come all the way off when he loaded the mag but it did disengage sliding partially forward.

So I just tried my fairly new 13 round mag. I could not get the plate off without using a flathead screwdriver to get it started forward. I snapped it back on and I still can't do it with my thumb and fingers. Meaning it's tight. BUT I tried to fake slam the base plate as if I was mounting the mag in the gun and got it to disengage 4 times in a row just holding the mag in my hand!! I can only imagine this will get worse the more you get that base plate to disengage as it's only plastic that will wear the more it happens... IMO a poor "Upgraded" extended mag design for sure. The old design with the wiggly spacer wasn't great but it was secure! While making the extended spacer fixed to the base of the mag was a good idea getting rid of the button to depress was a fail.

I guess you have a couple options. Try to secure it somehow. Look for the old 13 round mags...? I don't know if the 15 round extended mags are all new design...?
 
On my M1.0 M&P45 Compact I experienced the floorplate coming off of the magazine when I slammed it home during a combat drill. I discovered that several of my magazines had the same issue. Apparently the baseplate retainer was moving upward with just enough momentum to release the baseplate. I fixed it by drilling and tapping a hole through both pieces together and then used a small Allen headed machine cap screw from ACE hardware and I screwed the 2 pieces together after reassembling the magazine. Now the baseplate WILL NOT come off until the screw is removed to allow the retainer to be pushed up.
 
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Summary;
Placement of a #4-40 x 1/4” Hex Socket Button Head Cap Screw now holds the assembly together during insertion … pinning it works!
Details;
I was careful to place the screw within the spring capture boss on the inside of the aluminum base plate. It is centered in the front quarter of the pocket so the follower does not interfere with the screw shank protruding through the aluminum base plate. The location happens to be between the S&W and Shield 13RND logos when viewed from the outside. There is room to trim 3/32” to 1/8” of length off the 1/4” screw and still have full thread engagement.

I match drilled the assembled base plate to ensure hole alignment between the parts with the tap drill then opened up a clearance hole on the outer plastic part.

Dropbox

Dropbox

Hope this helps ��
 
Two of my shooting buddies have the Shield Plus. No problems with magazines at all but, again, we're in NYS and limited to 10 rounds.
 
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If they are 10RND mags they won’t have a problem … it’s the 13’s and 15’s!
 
BEMacCoon said:
Summary;
Placement of a #4-40 x 1/4” Hex Socket Button Head Cap Screw now holds the assembly together during insertion … pinning it works!
Details;
I was careful to place the screw within the spring capture boss on the inside of the aluminum base plate. It is centered in the front quarter of the pocket so the follower does not interfere with the screw shank protruding through the aluminum base plate. The location happens to be between the S&W and Shield 13RND logos when viewed from the outside. There is room to trim 3/32” to 1/8” of length off the 1/4” screw and still have full thread engagement.

I match drilled the assembled base plate to ensure hole alignment between the parts with the tap drill then opened up a clearance hole on the outer plastic part.

Dropbox

Dropbox

Hope this helps ��
Click to expand...

Bravo for finding -and sharing- a solution to your issue.
 
Glad I’m not the only one. I’ve actually seen one or two other posts about this after researching it. I actually ended up selling mine just because of this issue.

I kind of miss it though and have been thinking about grabbing another but the magazine baseplate design being how it is keeps steering me away. Now at least there is this fix for it. I appreciate you posting this!
 
Shameful. This kind of problem should never occur in the first place, but is completely unacceptable in any firearms for potentially serious use. This is the kind of problem that should result in a recall and replacement of all the bad mags.
 
I had the issue with my only 15rd base plate coming off twice on me. No issues on the 10rd or 13 rd base plates. Followed the advice of BeMacCoon for a simple fix. I couldn't find a #4-40 x1/4 so I opted for a 6-32 x 5/8 or so Hex Socket Stainless button head screw. Drilled and tapped with 6-32, tap both the Plastic base plate and the aluminum piece, Trimmed and filed the first threads on the screw down so it was perfectly flush inside. Simple 10 Minute fix for the 15rd mag. If I need to disassemble use a 5/64th Allen wrench no problem. TY to the poster of the fix.

To add... the Kobalt 6-32 drill and tap set was $3.58 from Lowes with 10% discount and the 6-32 x 5/8 screw was .53 from ACE with 10% discount. Cheap fix for a solid platform
 
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I had to use a small common screwdriver to get mine apart. It wasn't easy. Not sure what is different from the mags that came with mine (as well as the many 13 and the four 15 round mags I bought later). Tight and a distinct popping noise when the base plate finally slide forward.
 
You do not need to slam them with force to be fast.lol
Get some professional training on how to reload under pressure.
 
Is the new mag design specific to the Shield Plus or are other models affected as well? Im looking to get an EZ-9.
 
I have got to be missing something. I have two Shield Pluses, and I have 10, and several 13, and 15 round mags. I just looked at my 13 and 15 round mags and have no idea how the bottoms are coming off. I have tried twisting, pulling, and slamming the bases. Both of these guns have several thousand rounds put through them.
 
In the injection molding manufacturing world there are (at least) two forces that constantly influence outcome. One is mold machined dimension tolerance and the other is mold cavity erosion.

The fact is molds wear out. Furthermore, we as recipients of the Shield Plus magazine base parts, have no idea where in the mold life cycle our parts came from. This point alone puts a huge variable into this discussion of what works and what doesn’t. Who knows, maybe S&W listened to complaints and made a design change to enhance the snap fit or change out obsolete molds more frequently.

My goal in this thread was to make you aware of my experience. If your baseplate doesn’t come apart then good for you. I hope they never fail for you. Lucky for me I shoot IDPA & USPSA regularly and found this problem and a reasonable fix BEFORE I need to defend my life with this shooting platform.

PS. See Honest Outlaw YouTube video “ New S&W Shield Carry Comp first shots”; 8 minutes:46 seconds to see exactly what happened with all my 13 & 15 round mags.
 
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I watched Honest Outlaw’s video as well.
I have 1 10 rounder, 2 15 rounders and 5 13 rounders.
I noted they have different stamping in the witness numbers on the mags.
I have tried to pry the base pads off without any kind of screwdriver to seaparate them and have had no luck. Each mag, with the exception of my 10 rounder, easily has 100 rounds plus, my 13 rounders are my favorite to shoot and each probably as north of 150 rounds through it.
All are a tick over a month old, some less.

I plan on tearing each down soon, to fully clean and inspect.
I hear ya.. I just haven’t had the issues with mine yet.
 
I have had no issues with mine, but I think the baseplate design is supremely stupid. I don't see it offering any advantages over a traditional design, but it has the draw back of potentially unintentionally coming off, more difficult to intentionally remove, and prevents the use of magazine extensions.
 
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