ChrisfromCT
Member
I hate to add this one to the list, but it seems my firearm now joins the group of people who have had an blow-up with their Shield 40. I am kind of new here, I just decided to write it up in the forum because as of right now smith and wesson said the best they could do for me is have me purchase a replacement for around 300 dollars after a month and a half of waiting and "testing".
Before I get into the background, a couple modifications to mention: I had new sights on it and also installed the complete apex tactical trigger kit a few months prior to this all happening.
Ok so here is the story (which is what was attached with the firearm when I sent it in):
---
(Beginning of May) I am at the range everything is going smooth and about the 15th round in, BOOM. There was a huge internal explosion so big it kicked out the magazine, it was something I have never seen or felt before. I felt like the gun just exploded into pieces in my hands. It was like all the energy came out of the back of the barrel into the gun and through the sides, luckily not cracking the frame (at least this is what I thought at the time). I wait a bit to make sure nothing else would go wrong I switch the safety on, removed the magazine, removed the newly cycled bullet from the chamber and place the gun on the table. I was in shock and so was everyone around me. (I tried to track down the casing that was ejected when it happened but but no luck. It was a needle in a haystack with all the spent brass on the floor of the indoor range)
I inspected my hands - there is black char where all of the gun seams were touching my hands, my thumb is stinging from something hitting it through the slide lock. I was finished for the day and that was the last time I shot it of course. Luckily no one was injured.
I went home and started doing research. I find out that there are Shields that have exploded in hands and the sides were blown off of the gun and cracked. I found stories of barrel issues in shield 40s, magazines are releasing etc. After inspecting the gun thoroughly, I decided to send the gun in and have it inspected and tested at the manufacturer just in case.
---
After waiting a month and a half, spending hours on hold for some sort of update, I finally get a letter in the mail about a week ago telling me that says its not Smiths fault and that I can purchase a discounted new shield for $334. They said that "they had determined that the damage to this weapon was not the result of a defect in materials or the workmanship of the weapon".
(Fast forward to today) I asked the customer service rep what exactly was the issue with the firearm and he said that their was a crack in the frame near the trigger. I know for a fact that when I sent that firearm into them that there was no visible damage whatsoever, but I guess I was wrong (I will post some pictures when it arrives back home). How anyone would miss a cracked frame is beyond me but whatever.
Some of the remaining white box (target 165g) rounds are still available, and after speaking with someone at Winchester, they said they would like to inspect the gun along with the remaining bullets. She said she needed the casing from the incident but like I said before it was nowhere to be found. They seemed to be in shock that smith and wesson would deny responsibility but they were very nice and extremely helpful... not to mention I wasn't put on hold at all. Maybe Winchester can shed some light on the issue a bit more when I send it to them.
Anyways, I just wanted to share my experience with the forum and see what you all thought. I will keep checking in with you all and update you as the process goes on.
For now, take care.
Chris
Before I get into the background, a couple modifications to mention: I had new sights on it and also installed the complete apex tactical trigger kit a few months prior to this all happening.
Ok so here is the story (which is what was attached with the firearm when I sent it in):
---
(Beginning of May) I am at the range everything is going smooth and about the 15th round in, BOOM. There was a huge internal explosion so big it kicked out the magazine, it was something I have never seen or felt before. I felt like the gun just exploded into pieces in my hands. It was like all the energy came out of the back of the barrel into the gun and through the sides, luckily not cracking the frame (at least this is what I thought at the time). I wait a bit to make sure nothing else would go wrong I switch the safety on, removed the magazine, removed the newly cycled bullet from the chamber and place the gun on the table. I was in shock and so was everyone around me. (I tried to track down the casing that was ejected when it happened but but no luck. It was a needle in a haystack with all the spent brass on the floor of the indoor range)
I inspected my hands - there is black char where all of the gun seams were touching my hands, my thumb is stinging from something hitting it through the slide lock. I was finished for the day and that was the last time I shot it of course. Luckily no one was injured.
I went home and started doing research. I find out that there are Shields that have exploded in hands and the sides were blown off of the gun and cracked. I found stories of barrel issues in shield 40s, magazines are releasing etc. After inspecting the gun thoroughly, I decided to send the gun in and have it inspected and tested at the manufacturer just in case.
---
After waiting a month and a half, spending hours on hold for some sort of update, I finally get a letter in the mail about a week ago telling me that says its not Smiths fault and that I can purchase a discounted new shield for $334. They said that "they had determined that the damage to this weapon was not the result of a defect in materials or the workmanship of the weapon".
(Fast forward to today) I asked the customer service rep what exactly was the issue with the firearm and he said that their was a crack in the frame near the trigger. I know for a fact that when I sent that firearm into them that there was no visible damage whatsoever, but I guess I was wrong (I will post some pictures when it arrives back home). How anyone would miss a cracked frame is beyond me but whatever.
Some of the remaining white box (target 165g) rounds are still available, and after speaking with someone at Winchester, they said they would like to inspect the gun along with the remaining bullets. She said she needed the casing from the incident but like I said before it was nowhere to be found. They seemed to be in shock that smith and wesson would deny responsibility but they were very nice and extremely helpful... not to mention I wasn't put on hold at all. Maybe Winchester can shed some light on the issue a bit more when I send it to them.
Anyways, I just wanted to share my experience with the forum and see what you all thought. I will keep checking in with you all and update you as the process goes on.
For now, take care.
Chris
