9mm shield failure to return to battery out of the box

[jjoutback]

I just purchased a Shield to add to my S&W collection. Right out of the box, after cleaning it, first time loading it, it would not return to battery after locking the slide back and placing a shell into the chamber. It would hang up about 1/3" back.

If I load the magazine and then rack it, it will chamber sometimes.

I've never had a problem with three(3) other S&W firearms. Very disappointed in the quality of this supposedly great gun.

Anyone have any suggestions ?

 

[CB3]

Your description of "placing a shell into the chamber" may be the problem. If indeed as you describe you are closing the slide on a round already in the chamber, the extractor must snap out and around the rim of the chambered cartridge. This is not the proper loading procedure, as the rim of the cartridge is supposed to slide up out of the magazine behind the extractor claw. If your extractor has to snap over the rim, that certainly could interfere with going into battery.

As well, new machined mating metal parts are typically rather sharp and may have tiny tool marks that create friction until worn down. Perhaps the forward part of your barrel hood that locks up into the slide has sharp edges that could be slightly rounded to help the barrel lock into battery.

Your breech face could likewise be rough, and the back of the barrel that slides up it. The insides of the slides rails could be rough, and the locking lug on the bottom of the barrel may be sharp and need polishing.

This is a mass produced gun. Any combination of these characteristics could temporarily interfere with going into battery. Lubricate all mating metal parts well with grease that will stay in place, and hand cycle some snap caps through the gun a hundred times, including pulling the gritty trigger. It will smooth out and function properly--if you load it properly.

If not, return it under warranty.

If you are concerned that you have to do this, fear not. I have not had one S&W M&P (6) that did not need this treatment to feel right. It is to be expected on a mass produced gun slapped together in 20 minutes and barely tested for function. It will work better and better as it wears in, but you do not need to burn up expensive ammo to do this. Two nights in front of the TV running cycles and you will like your gun just fine.

 

[msjdgman]

While I will not disagree with cycling the gun by hand to help with the break in process, I would also suggest:

1. load the mags with ammo
2. Insert mag into gun.
3. Slingshot the slide and load first round.
4. Shoot gun until mag is empty.
5. Repeat steps 1-4

After you've run a couple hundred rounds, then if there is an issue, it will be time to complain.

 

[Lee in Quartzsite]

A couple of comments...

1. If you are having difficulty with your gun, DO NOT use live ammo to troubleshoot the problem! Use Snap Caps or other dummy rounds.

2. Make sure you reassembled the gun properly and that the recoil spring is indeed installed correctly.

 

[CB3]

When you first shoot your Shield, I recommend good quality new brass cased FMJ for the best feeding and extraction. Don't use cheap reloads or steel cased ammo. This is about breaking the gun in, not yet testing a variety of ammunition in a gun already known to function well.

 

[Zoner]

you described the problem with the gun but have not talked about the "ammo"....was it reloads,factory ammo, etc. If factory did you try different bullet weights or different brands?

 

[okiegtrider]

 

[federali]

Sounds like User Error

In theory, at least, in a survival type emergency, a gun should accept a hand-fed round into the chamber and have the extractor over-ride it and go into battery.

For practical day-to-day use, all rounds should be fed from the magazine with the slide traveling under its own power. Easing the slide forward under the mistaken belief that it is somehow better for the gun is also likely to induce a stoppage.

 

[Bozz10mm]

How does it shoot?

 

[patrickd]

take the gun apart and with the recoil spring removed work the slide back and forth on the frame. If you notice any binding you've found your problem. Does the pistol have the correct recoil spring?? If the ammo was reloads was the case mouth flare ironed back out during bullet seating? Even a slight amount of flare on the case mouth will hinder a slide returning to full battery. Have you done a plunk test to see whether the ammo easily chambers fully?

 

[CB3]

In theory, at least, in a survival type emergency, a gun should accept a hand-fed round into the chamber and have the extractor over-ride it and go into battery.

True, but the OP's new gun is apparently not doing this. The extractor could be tight in its groove, or have machining debris in with it creating too much friction for it to snap over the rim.

Once a gun is broken in and if necessary "tuned", like making small adjustments to the extractor/channel, one should be able to gently close the slide on a chambered round and push the slide into battery with pressure on the rear of the slide. However, the extractor is not designed to be slammed over the rim of a chambered cartridge on a regular basis, but it can be done infrequently. Many new guns probably have too many unworn friction points to allow this lockup to happen.

Unfortunately, we still don't know from the OP whether this is actually his problem.

 

[AlHunt]

Me? I'd make sure it was clean and properly reassembled and then go shoot it. I suspect it just needs a little break in. Maybe start with only 1 round if you're concerned. I'll bet it'll return to battery when it's flying full speed.

 

[jjoutback]

New Ammo that cycles just fine on three other 9mm's. But just in case, tried other rounds and none would load from releasing the slide from a locked position prior to seating the magazine.......unless they were stripped from the magazine after a full racked slide.

I.e., it appears instead of an 8+1 and 7+1 capacity.......this gun will only chamber
8 rounds and 7 rounds from the magazine.

Was cleaned, Rem Oiled and reassembled correctly.

 

[jjoutback]

So, I shouldn't have an expectation that a New firearm will chamber a round adequately to engage the firing pin ?

Every other firearm has worked out of the box.

 

[CB3]

�� Wow. Good luck figuring this out on your own.

 

[Lee in Quartzsite]

Are you loading 1 round of ammo into the chamber by hand and not from the magazine, then closing the slide? If so, that is not the proper way to load your gun. Ammo should be loaded from the magazine. Once a round is chambered, then you can remove the magazine to add one more round to insure a full magazine. To slam the slide shut on a chambered round risks damaging or breaking the extractor.

And I'll say it again: If you are having difficulty with your gun, DO NOT use live ammo to troubleshoot the problem! Use Snap Caps or other dummy rounds.

Read the last warning in the Shield Owner's Manual on page 18:

http://snwcdnprod.azureedge.net/sit...als/M&P_Shield_All_09-30-16_441310000_web.pdf

 

[GerSan69]

JJ, I think you're unintentionally setting yourself up for failure by not loading properly and (I think) expecting your gun to seat a full magazine right away (meaning without breakin.) First, and I don't want to diss anyone, never try to drop the slide on a loaded chamber. Never. You risk breaking the ejector or worse. There's no reason to do it. If you simply want to load a round and then insert a full magazine, put one round in a mag, seat it, and pull back your slide/release smartly to chamber. Then insert the full mag.
Now, in case you weren't aware, Shields are notorious for having super-strong magazine springs. Many folks report not being able to completely load them when brand-new, and when they do, the magazine is very difficult to seat. This is normal! In this case, you'll need to break-in your mags by leaving them fully loaded for a a while before they'll start to work properly. Oh, and if you don't have one, get one of the many tools to assist your fingers with loading. The Uplula is a bit pricey, but it works extremely well.
I hope this helps....

 

[AlHunt]

So, I shouldn't have an expectation that a New firearm will chamber a round adequately to engage the firing pin ?

Every other firearm has worked out of the box.

It sounds like you're opposed to firing the weapon. Your only other option at this point is to call S&W.

 

[Joezilla]

Quit trying to load one round manually then inserting the full mag.

Instead, insert the full mag, pull back slide and let go. That will load the first round for you. Eject mag and load another bullet into it. Them insert full mag into the gun. You now have the +1 you are looking for. In my opinion, this is the only correct way to load the +1.

Joe

 

[jjoutback]

Didn't think of that way to skin the cat.

Are you loading 1 round of ammo into the chamber by hand and not from the magazine, then closing the slide? If so, that is not the proper way to load your gun. Ammo should be loaded from the magazine. Once a round is chambered, then you can remove the magazine to add one more round to insure a full magazine. To slam the slide shut on a chambered round risks damaging or breaking the extractor.

And I'll say it again: If you are having difficulty with your gun, DO NOT use live ammo to troubleshoot the problem! Use Snap Caps or other dummy rounds.

Read the last warning in the Shield Owner's Manual on page 18:

http://snwcdnprod.azureedge.net/sit...als/M&P_Shield_All_09-30-16_441310000_web.pdf

Thanks for the response. Didn't think of that way to skin the cat.

Have always dropped around, released the slide and then popped in the magazine. Old habits die hard.