9mm Shield Plus Carry Comp Striker Block

[MikeNV]

Last week I picked up a new 9mm Shield Plus Carry Comp pistol. I haven’t fired it yet but while cleaning and dry-firing it, I noticed the trigger being not as smooth as my other two Performance Center pistols. On closer examination, I notice the Carry Comp striker block has a squared off edge compared to the other PC's having beveled edge striker blocks. I suspect this is accounting for the difference in trigger feel.

I called S&W but couldn’t get a definitive answer whether the striker block was correct or not. The rep checked with a couple of other people and said his info didn’t show a change in part numbers from previous PC versions, but there may have been a part number change? I could send the gun in and if it’s the wrong striker block they will change it out, but if not, they would just return it as is. As you might suspect, I wasn’t too happy with that answer. I told the rep I didn’t want to return it, wait 4-6 weeks, and find out the striker block in the Carry Comp was changed to one with a square edge.

My question to the forum is does any one else have a 9mm Shield Plus Carry Comp and which striker block is in your pistol? The attached pics show my Carry Comp compared to one of my other PC striker blocks.

Thanks in advance for your feedback.

 

[gunny4053]

I'd bet good money it's correct. I'd actually shoot it before I started worrying if somethings wrong.

 

[MikeNV]

Update - Since I usually don't give up too easily, I decided to write S&W about my problem on their Contact Us page. I just couldn't believe that no one there knew which striker block went in a Carry Comp.

After exchanging a couple of emails and sending a pic, I got an email today saying they have sent me the correct striker block by mail. So, it looks like the Carry Comp should have had a beveled edge striker block.

 

[SupportTheSecond]

Good catch!

 

[Saudade]

Yeah, those are the 2 "styles" of striker blocks. The chamfered (squared) came in the "regular" M&Ps. The PC ones are the rounded ones.

My M&Ps are all 1.0. My fullsize, Compact and Shield have the "squared" one. I bought a 5" Ported CORE kit for my fullsize that uses the rounded one. It alone made a big difference. (Note Apex Tactical also sells their Ultimate Striker Block).

The original slide on the left with the CORE slide on the right.

 

[Beju]

That's interesting. My full size M&Ps that were all bought in 2021 and earlier have the more sharply beveled striker blocks.

The 2.0 Compact that I bought this year has the rounded striker block, which gives it more of a rolling break that feels lighter. It's not actually lighter when measured on a trigger pull gauge, but feels that way.

 

[RenoHuskerDu]

Good catch, Sir

Thanks Mike for the heads up on this. I checked my brand new 2024 Shield Plus PC longslide against my old one from 2021.

The 2024 striker block is lower and more squared off. The trigger feel of the new gun is not quite as smooth, but it's very close. There is a smidgen more overtravel too. Not sure if that's related. These are production guns done on a mass assembly line, so I'd expect some variance.

The 2021 model has a few boxes fired thru it and quite a few cleanings. But the new one has not been fired, waiting on optic. Once it has some rounds thru it I'll compare again.

 

[MikeNV]

RenoHuskerDu - Nice pics, looks like your Carry Comp came with the same striker block as mine. My two previous PC Shields, one a ported 3.1" 2.0 (DOM 7/1/19) and the other a 4" ported Plus (DOM 1/22/22), came with the beveled/rounded striker blocks. I can definitely feel a difference in the Carry Comp trigger.

After sending a pic of the Carry Comp to S&W and complaining about the gritty trigger, they said they would send me the correct striker block. I haven't received it yet, so I'm not sure what it will look like? I will post a pic when I get it.

 

[STORMINORMAN]

It would appear that there is a hole(?) in the 2024 slide that does not appear in the earlier version as well..

What's THAT about?

Cheers!

 

[RenoHuskerDu]

Smith needs to focus on build quality

I just used the S&W contact form. I'll inform as to their response.

---------------------
Customer contact for to S&W

I visually inspected this brand new 2024 Shield Plus PC (S# EWH3nnn) against my older one (S# JHD5nnn).

It is apparent that the 2024 striker block is lower and more squared off. I have closeup photos to share if you will tell me the correct email address to use.

Comparing trigger feel of new vs old, the new gun is not quite as smooth. There is a smidgen more overtravel too. The 2021 model has a few boxes fired thru it and a few cleanings. But the new one has not been cleaned or fired. I notice you put much more oil on the new gun than in previous (we own about 10 Shield Plus).

In a little research on Smith forums, it seems that others have spotted this, and were informed by you that the rounded striker block should be on all PC models. My new PC would, in that case, have the incorrect striker block in it. Please comment. I am competent to install a striker block.

I also notice a new hole in the slide near the striker block. Would you please tell me what is its purpose?

 

[MikeNV]

It would appear that there is a hole(?) in the 2024 slide that does not appear in the earlier version as well..

What's THAT about?

Cheers!

I believe the hole you're referring to is quite a bit forward of the striker block and under the optic cut. If you look at the pics in my post (#1), it shows the same hole in both pics. My second pic is of a slide from a Shield Plus PC ported 4" barrel with optic cut (DOM 1/22/22). I suspect the hole has something to do with the machining/fab of the optic cuts.

 

[Beju]

Newer 2.0C on the left, older 2.0 full-size on the right.

The 2.0C came with the current flat trigger, the full size was converted. Both were LE box guns.

 

[RenoHuskerDu]

I put in two customer contact forms with Smith that day. One was for an unreadable serial number on my 2021 carry, probably perspiration damage. They answered that in an hour, asked for pics.

The one about the striker block remains unanswered to date. Of course there's the holiday in there to consider. I reckon my question about the striker block surpassed frontline CS knowledge, had to get kicked up to a backline support team.

FYI

 

[MikeNV]

Update

I received a padded envelope in the mail yesterday with a new striker block from S&W - I should say striker blocks, they actually sent two in a plastic bag with a part number on it (see pic). They have what I call beveled edges like my other Performance Center striker blocks. Now, I need to install one in my Carry Comp.

I know S&W customer service gets a lot of negative feedback on this forum but they have been good to me - they seem to be trying to cover for their quality control short comings. I realize I shouldn't have to install the correct parts myself, but I see it as saving the hassle of returning my gun and having to wait 4-6 weeks for the turn-around.

 

[kppdx]

I purchased an M&P 9 Shield Plus Carry Comp today and took it out for the first time. It was great overall, but I had some issues with the trigger, which brought me to this forum and your thread. I checked my striker block and it's the one with the squared off edges. I'll try to get the part they sent you to see if it addresses the issue.

Is it safe to assume you've put a few rounds through yours by now. How does the trigger feel?

 

[kppdx]

Never mind. I saw your report back in a different thread. I'm glad it's working well for you.