Do M&P Shield mags ever get better?

Sorry to hear you are having a problem which I can't understand.

I hear this complaint a lot and don't understand it. Both my Shield 9 and 45 were stiff when first bought, but after about an hour of loading 3 rounds, unload, load 4 rounds, unload, load 5 rounds unload, load 6, unload, load 7 unload......they broke in quite nicely and I have never had a problem since then....Could it be I got the only mags that broke in ???? Doubt that.........

Try this before you sell.......load 3, backslap the mag, load another, backslap the mag, continue this until last round loaded.....
 
Sorry you are having problems with your mags. I also heard complaints about how hard some mags are to load.

I've been shooting competition for many many years and normally don't have a problem with loading mags by hand. But. I also have a Lula & a Uplula both are a great piece of equipment. They just come in handy some times and makes life easier

Different people have different hand strength and other physical limits.
Don't know how many times when working part time at the LGS that some guy & gal would come in to look at ( per them ) a "real gun ", a semi auto firearm and not have the hand strength to work the slide. Then I would show them a revolver.. A wheel gun.. :D

I figure that's why they make so many different firearms..

You might also want to check your magazine spring / assembly to make sure it's not twisted ,, jammed ,, etc.

( My 9mm Shield was kind of stiff on the first loading ,, then loosen up )
 
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The 9mm's do. When I first got mine the 7 round mag was a pain and the 8 round mag was impossible. Now with over 600 rounds down range I can load the 7 rounder okay and if I'm into deliberately hurting myself I can get the 8 rounder loaded. I choose to continue to use the Uplula. Maybe by 1500 rounds I'll have it tamed.

 
Joed49 said:
Bet he couldn't do it without a loader, I sure can't. I honestly think the springs are bad. Even the GLOCK 26 was horrible at first but after about 6 months got to the point that I can load it without a loader.
Click to expand...

Don't know about garddog56's dad, but I can. Of course, I'm only 70, with arthritus.

I don't normally load by hand though, UpLula is so much easier and faster.
 
A couple weeks ago I got a 3-pack of Wolff springs for my Shield mags, and after switching, I immediately re-loaded a 7 and 8 round mag, and had no problem (never had any issues loading with the low-miles factory springs, and I ain't no spring chicken, my own self).
Sure, the very last rounds were predictably a little tougher to wrestle in, but nothing I would remotely consider thread-worthy (and surely not enough to justify swearing off S&W pistols).
Suck it up, Nancy !! :D
 
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Do you leave the mags stored fully loaded? I know the conventional engineering wisdom is that mag springs only weaken from repeated compression/expansion, NOT from being stored compressed, but MY Shield 9 mags got decidedly easier to fill after a month or two being fully loaded.

YMMV, of course. (And I still use a Caldwell loader almost all the time. It's just that I CAN now load the mags by thumb if I have to.)
 
All four of my mags were impossible to load without a speed loader. A month of owning them, shooting, reloading, and cleaning; they all load fine now. Speed loader is still helpful, but I don't need it, my wife doesn't even need it. Make sure the guide doesn't have a spur on it. I would toss it if everything inspects OK and you still can't load it.
 
Just left the range and the Shield 9mm factory mags are stiff on the last round (8 rounders). These were new out of the box; never before used. They're stiff, but not impossible for me.

BTW, I keep seeing people compare the mags to other single stacks. The Shield mags are not true single stacks. They're about 1.5 stack.
 
I prefer to use my Uplula, but can load my 9mm Shield mags without it. Yes, the last round (both 7th and 8th) can be tough but doable.

If it's too tough, you need to buy more mags. ;)
 
I had no problem loading the correct number in each mag. I just wasn't successful in loading the extra one. They are not as easy to load as 1911 magazines, though. I like the little gun a lot, and if it turns out to be 100% reliable, it will get carried regularly.
 
Never had one problem loading either one of the 2 Shields I have owned. Never used a loader and never will. Just seem unecessary. I have even gone to the range with just one mag that I’ve relosded over and over for 150 Rounds. No trouble at all.
 
Out of all three calibers, the 40 mags were toughest for me to top off. First time out only 5 rounds. Second time out 6 rounds then 7. You have to shoot the gun or cycle the magazines. They age well.
 
The two 9mm 8 Rd Mags I use regularly have softened some but still use a loader. When bought Shield couple years ago thought something was wrong with the Mags but turned out was me. Employee at LGS loaded a 7 Rd by hand with ease, sold me an UpLULA
 
mags

dben002 said:
Sorry to hear you are having a problem which I can't understand.

I hear this complaint a lot and don't understand it. Both my Shield 9 and 45 were stiff when first bought, but after about an hour of loading 3 rounds, unload, load 4 rounds, unload, load 5 rounds unload, load 6, unload, load 7 unload......they broke in quite nicely and I have never had a problem since then....Could it be I got the only mags that broke in ???? Doubt that.........

Try this before you sell.......load 3, backslap the mag, load another, backslap the mag, continue this until last round loaded.....
Click to expand...
have over 1000 rds thru my .40 shield and they are only slightly easier than new.
 
I'm 70....yeah, the last round is a little difficult. Takes a couple seconds longer. But hell, sell the gun?!? C'mon!! Sounds like a technique issue, or acute arthritic hands.
 
I can tell the mags for my shield 45 have gotten easier to load after moderate usage. :)
 
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