.40 Shield Kaboom

[ginzo]

To me that is at least a valid question. I would try that just out of curiosity if I had a shield.

To the OP, glad your GTG, and thanks for what you do.

Would it be a good idea for Shield owners to load the chamber with a snap cap, cock it, and manually push the slide O.O.B. to a few different lengths to see if the trigger will release the striker? Is that a valid test?

 

[Fchewy]

I just tried to Dry-fire mine at various positions from in battery to all the way out of battery and unless the slide was FULLY closed no bang, which is good.
I only have about 200 rds through my 40 Shield but it has been perfect and very accurate.

 

[Llando88]

Dang. Glad you are ok OP, hope everything heals as fast as possible.

Good reminder for ALL of us to wear eye protection AT ALL times.

 

[peterthefish]

Would it be a good idea for Shield owners to load the chamber with a snap cap, cock it, and manually push the slide O.O.B. to a few different lengths to see if the trigger will release the striker? Is that a valid test?

Not completely. Most locked breach firearms the breach will still be locked for the initial rearward portion of slide movement. Even if the strike releases while the slide is 1/8" back it's likely still in battery.

As the breach unlocks the firing pin moves vertically out of alignment with the chamber / primer. A stuck firing pin can cause an OOB event as the barrel is locking into the slide, but in a standard locking pistol much is made of OOB events where the trigger releases the striker when the slide is slightly back but the breach is still locked.

Let me be the first to ask for some photos of the remaining ammo / box / lot number? This could be an ammo problem - be kind to your fellow shooters.

 

[cmj8591]

Smith is going to tell you that the gun performed just how it is supposed to when you have an overpressure round. My bet is that this is an ammo issue not a gun issue. The barrel did not burst and the slide remained in tact. When the gas from the round escaped, it was directed downward towards the magazine well and away from your face. Usually in cases like this the magazine get ejected. If this were a steel frame gun, it is likely that it would be salvageable. My advise to you, for what it's worth, is forget about law suits. Send the gun back for replacement. Call Winchester and give them the lot number of the ammo you were using. If you have any left over, don't use it. Most likely, Winchester will advise you to return it to where it was purchased and exchange it. This is a rotten thing but it is a risk that we all accept as part of our shooting hobbies and it has been happening since guns were first invented. Learn the lessons that come from this, share it with others who enjoy shooting and move on. You did everything right. The design engineers at Smith did everything right. Somewhere along the line, the manufacturing system, in the course of making billions of rounds, failed and the law of averages fell on you. Maybe this would be a good time for you to buy some lottery tickets?

 

[cmj8591]

And, at the risk of sounding redundant, ALWAYS WEAR EYE PROTECTION!!!!!!!!!

 

[TheMystro]

The ammo manufacture is who you eed to direct some rage at. They will want the ammo back but I would ask for some damages from them.

 

[pibulloncrack]

What caliber is the M&P pro in this picture?

 

[Arndog123]

Looks like a 45 because of the "dragon scales" at the front of the slide.

 

[cmj8591]

That is (was?) a 45. The ammo was Federal 230fmj.

 

[timn8er]

I, for one, would be very interested in knowing the lot numbers of the WWB that was being used. I have WWB in three different calibers & the fact that the incident happened with WWB concerns me!

 

[oldIrish]

To the OP, very glad it wasn't worse. A lot to be learned and I value the input of the wide variety of forum members. A Shield40 is my EDC.
Other than the tight spring issue, it has been flawless. This is not the hobby/interest to become complacent and these threads remind me of that. Look forward to the rest of the story.

 

[Russo2]

Third or maybe fourth on those lot numbers. I have 85 rounds of them I'd really like to be able to shoot and not be afraid of.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2

 

[vipermd]

returning ammo

Most likely, Winchester will advise you to return it to where it was purchased and exchange it.

No-He cannot return it to where it was purchased, they will not and should not take it back. Win is responsible for any ammo issues not the local vendor.
It would be nice to weigh 10 cartridges, then another 10, and so on and compare them for differences in charge weight. Unfortunately this falls down when you consider variation in the weight of case and/ or bullet may be greater than a "double" charge of powder. I have no idea what win uses 5-10gr per round???.
OP: Glad you are healing, and it was not worse. I would believe win will refund/exchange ammo though I do not believe you will ever know real "results" unless there would be a recall. Hopefully one of the companies will pay for your losses- gun,ammo, medical,work, peace of mind. Thank You for sharing the info of the event with out "drama". Anger/Fear have their place, but not when relating facts. Be Safe,

 

[cmj8591]

In the case of the gun that I posted the photo of, it was a police gun. We had about 15k rounds of the Federal ammo on hand which we decided was not worth taking a chance with. The vendor took it back and swapped it for Winchester and then he returned it to the Federal distributor and was reimbursed. I don't know if it would be handled the same way for a civilian with only a small amount of ammo. And I don't know if it was just the vendor attending to customer service. As for weighing your factory loads, I'm not sure what that would accomplish as the factory loads by volume not weight and there tends to be more weight variation from charge to charge than you think. Add that to your scales margin of error and I think the weights would be all over the place.

 

[modraker]

Third or maybe fourth on those lot numbers. I have 85 rounds of them I'd really like to be able to shoot and not be afraid of.

Yes, yes, lot number please. I have 450 rounds of WWB left that I'd like to use up. Although I believe it could be the gun that caused the mishap, I don't want to take any chances.

 

[2001gmc]

WOW! Not another 40 Shied Kaboom. This is the 3rd one I know of including mine. I'm really glad your ok. I feel you pain. I strongly urge you to read my Shield 40 Mishap thread before you send in anything. May I ask what your serial# starts with? Like the first 3 letters or numbers.

 

[Roger S&W]

I'm glad you weren't more seriously injured. I hope the real cause of this incident will be revealed.

 

[BigCityChief]

I am happy that you were not injured seriously. Please keep us posted on your situation.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Justin69]

Thank God you were wearing eye protection (as everyone should) things could have been a whole lot worse for you. Hope you recover quickly & are able to figure out what happened.