9MM Shield slide issue

[rlsbee]

I have a slight concern with my new Shield. When chambering the first round, fresh eight round mag, the slide does not fully return without a little push. It hangs with about 1/8" hanging over the frame. It takes very little to push it forward to full seat it. I haven't shot it yet, just cleaned it and polished the rails a little. Anyone else have this issue?

 

[Levesque45]

Shoot it.... It will loosen up. I had the same issue. It didn't hang after a full rack and release letting it slam home but it i was gentle it would need the extra help. Not with 1k rounds through it... No issue at all. Love this gun so much

 

[rlsbee]

Thanks. I was hoping that someone else had the same issue and it loosened up.

 

[Rastoff]

When you rack the slide for that first round, how do you do it? Slingshot the slide? Press the slide stop?

 

[Starwalker]

Sounds to me like your pistol is a bit tight. I would advise that before going to the range that the pistol is properly cleaned and properly lubricated to reduce the potential for cycling problems.

Use a fairly firm grip when shooting.

After a few hundred rounds the pistol should loosen up a bit and be just fine.

Best of luck!

 

[rlsbee]

When you rack the slide for that first round, how do you do it? Slingshot the slide? Press the slide stop?

I grip the slide with my palm over the slide and push the grip forward, releasing my grip on the slide at the end of travel. The slide stop isn't engaged when doing this.
The gun was cleaned and properly lubricated. Additionally, I dressed the rails (with 1200 grit sandpaper glued to a popsickle stick) to smooth out any burrs from machining. The slide racks very smoothly without a magazine. I have other S&W's, Sigs, Berettas and never saw this issue before. I'd like to get some range time with it to see.

 

[Rastoff]

That's how I do it too. However, there is a potential to ease the slide forward when doing it. You may not even realize it.

So, just a suggestion, when racking the first round, try to rip the slide off the back of the gun. This should result in your support hand going to your shoulder. This method ensures that you don't "help" the slide forward and you get as much forward momentum from the recoil spring as possible.

 

[Roger S&W]

I have a slight concern with my new Shield. When chambering the first round, fresh eight round mag, the slide does not fully return without a little push. It hangs with about 1/8" hanging over the frame. It takes very little to push it forward to full seat it. I haven't shot it yet, just cleaned it and polished the rails a little. Anyone else have this issue?

You "polished" the rails a little? With a Dremel tool? Just need to "oil or lube" the rails a little.

 

[MichiganScott]

You "polished" the rails a little? With a Dremel tool? Just need to "oil or lube" the rails a little.

The OP posted that he used 1200 grit paper and a popsickle stick.

It never fails to amaze me as gun guys, how we can fix something that ain't broken until it is.

 

[rlsbee]

The OP posted that he used 1200 grit paper and a popsickle stick.

It never fails to amaze me as gun guys, how we can fix something that ain't broken until it is.

The rails had a very slight sharp edge similar to the edge when cutting steel. You could run a finger nail along the edge and it would,ever so slightly, dig in to the nail. It was very, very minor. All I did was 'polish' it with 1200 grit paper until a fingernail slid smoothly across. A Dremel wasn't used.

 

[Rpg]

You should not have to shoot hundreds of rounds through a pistol to 'break it in' (read: do the finishing work that should have been done at the factory).

Your pistol should work out of the box! If it doesn't, send it back

How can you use one of these things in a life or death situation if you aren't sure it works?

I fear that S&W is conditioning its customers to accept less than what is reasonable and used to be customary in the firearms industry.

Just my opinion, of course.

 

[dullh]

My Shield just logged it's 700th trouble-free round - never had a problem out of mine from day 1 so sorry can't help...

 

[DocSunShine]

1 of my friend's .40 shield does that if he doesn't sling shot the slide when chambering. It's a benign non-issue.

 

[Marshal Tom]

Mine was just fine right out of the box but I have heard this before. Almost all semi autos need to be broken in, ie fired and then they are fine. Just shoot the darn thing a bit! It will more than likely be fine after a few hundred rds.

Tom

 

[robkarrob]

I see no problem with a light sanding with 1200 grit sandpaper. That grit has almost no abrasion to it. Nothing wrong with trying to make your gun better. Do you have the problem with one less round in the mag? Leave the mags fully loaded, this will help reduce some of the pressure, as the springs will slowly fatigue. As someone suggested, make sure you are "fully" pulling the slide back and then "completely" release it. You will get maximum forward thrust from the recoil springs. If it doesn't clear up, call S&W. There may be an issue with the mag, recoil springs, or?

Bob

 

[mr2r6]

Sounds like user error to me. Rack the slide like a man and you wont ever have a problem. Think about how a round fires and the slide pushes back so fast you cant even see it. Try and imitate this and I guarantee you will not have an issue. My wife is bad about riding the slide and this would happen to her.

 

[Cokeman]

Wrong. Some guns can do this after a round is fired.

 

[mr2r6]

Wrong. Some guns can do this after a round is fired.

No you're wrong read the op post. He says it happens when you racks the slide.

 

[Ed911]

How can you use one of these things in a life or death situation if you aren't sure it works?

I fear that S&W is conditioning its customers to accept less than what is reasonable and used to be customary in the firearms industry. Just my opinion, of course.

I agree. If you have cleaned and lubricated your Shield and it still won't cycle...never take to sanding anything. Send it right back to the factory...it's defective. Mine shot right out of the box...right off of the shelf at the gun range...after lube...and never missed a beat. No FTF's or FTE's. It's supposed to work that way. Machining is toleranced. Something isn't working well together. You sure wouldn't want to pull you weapon in selfdefense only to find that the most minuscule amount of grim has caused it to malfunction, because you just barely got the weapon to function properly. Unless you can check tolerances...let the guys who can, fix it. Nothing, other than a perfectly working firearm, is acceptable.

Remember, all the manufacturer's have repair departments. Some just use them more than others.

Just my two cents.

 

[DocSunShine]

Wrong. Some guns can do this after a round is fired.

Interesting, do you have first hand experience with this happening? Any youtube videos of this occuring or is this all second hand information? First I've heard of a Shield ever doing this when firing.