First Shield - lots of brass build up?

[Sancosys]

Hey folks,

Wanted to share that I've joined the 9mm shield club. Pretty excited to try it out. Got a question for anyone that might be able to help. This gun was purchased new but it seems like it has a lot of brass build up for being new. Also the magazines have some marking on the followers. Not sure if it's just mine or if others have experenced anything like this. I know my 1911 doesn't look like this after a few hundred rounds. Thanks for the help!

Aaron

 

[Huntrocketman]

The markings on the followers is pretty normal.

It's hard to tell from the pictures but the stuff on the breech face looks like polymer or lacquer that is found on some types of ammunition that is not brass cased.

Either way, just use some Hoppes #9 and that will clean right off.
Even most of what's on the followers.

Oh, Welcome to the forums!

 

[Sancosys]

Thanks for the reply. The concern is my LGS sold this as new. Does it seem like more than the S&W test fire rounds?

 

[B0308]

I didn't take any pics of my Shileds when new, but pretty sure there was no brass or other deposits on the breech face. Looks more like a couple hundred rounds.

How about wear on the barrel at the muzzle, crud under the extractor or wear on the metal frame rail areas?

 

[PROnSHIELD]

Aside from the enclosed shell casing (one each per pistol) there was no physical evidence that one round had been fired from either of our pistols.

Certainly no fouling residue on any of the magazine followers and the breech face was spotless.

 

[moose1953us]

that looks well used, certainly not how a pistol with one test round fired through it looks...

 

[MattO]

They certainly couldn't have fired the 1 test round with both magazines. I'd say you were sold a pretested(used) gun.


Matt

 

[Bkreutz]

The marks on the mag followers is normal, it's a Sharpie (or some other brand) mark that I suspect is a QC deal. I had that mark on every 9mm mag (it disappears with use ) You never said how many rounds you have shot through the pistol. If it's none, then it's definitely used. I'd have to agree with the lacquer theory on the breech face marks. The picture below is of my 9mm Core at 60K rounds.

 

[1hatchet]

This is why we all need to inspect our new guns before purchase.

 

[Sancosys]

That's what I expected to hear. I've shot zero rounds. Pretty much picked up then brought it home for the first cleaning.

I'm normally really good at looking them over before purchase and at pick up (in ca). I've shot a few hundred rounds at a time and havnt had it look like this.

 

[Timmeh8604]

Sorry off topic, but is the loaded when up on the top a CA only deal? Seen a few with this and wondered why they have it while mine has the normal hole to see a chambered round. Thanks.

 

[Sancosys]

Here are a few more pictures I took after taking it down.

Thank you to everyone that has posted. Either way Im going to take it back and see what the owner says (he wasnt there today)

Aaron

 

[Sancosys]

Sorry off topic, but is the loaded when up on the top a CA only deal? Seen a few with this and wondered why they have it while mine has the normal hole to see a chambered round. Thanks.

Its a CA thing, go figure. Ive shot the CA Shield in a 40 and it doesnt seem to get in the way of sights.

 

[Timmeh8604]

Cool, thanks. My moms ruger LC380 has the loaded when up thing too but we are in Florida.

 

[hoc9sw]

The marking on the followers is normal, probably some sort of QC mark. In a trip back both mags had been cleaned and the marks removed, they were there again when it came back.

Mine was pretty dirty out of the box. I called and asked, CS advised that they do not clean them after firing the test rounds, and that some are fired more than others in the QC cycle.

 

[hokiefyd]

To me, one of the best indicators of a used gun vs. new is in the area where the trigger return spring connects to the trigger bar. This area generally gets a lot of powder fouling that is not often cleaned off. The trigger bar in this area on my Shield for example, has turned a pretty dark color. One of the pictures above sort of shows this area, but it's not a good angle. And the angle that it does show doesn't indicate to me much use. The trigger bar still looks clean to me as far forward as I can see.

The inside of the barrel looks fine to me. The rear sear block looks fine to me. The wear on the rails looks normal to me (both of my M&Ps looked like this when new). And, to me, the brass marking on the breech face doesn't look like it's from wear...it looks more of like a witness mark from one casing that might have "printed" more than usual.

I dunno...your gun looks new to me.

 

[hokiefyd]

The black markings on the magazine followers may be for QC, but they may also have a purpose for identifying the followers during magazine assembly. Without that dark stripe across the caliber mark, you'd have to hold the face of the follower up to the light to try to read the caliber mark. With the stripe, you can very quickly see that these are 9mm followers.

 

[Ksimons]

The other thing is a new pistol is loaded with oil. At least mine have been. Yours looks pretty dry for being once fired. Take a part the striker block. If there is any build up of residue you will know for sure. Most don't clean in there every time.

 

[Decipher]

Everyone has their own opinion, but if this were my gun, I'd be calling the dealer and demanding a refund or a deep discount. What I'm seeing is wear from use, NOT from manufacturing and certainly not from one test round. Just seeing the wear on the guides alone suggests extensive use. This weapon was fired, repeatedly, and is not new in my book. My two Shields looked exactly as you'd expect with a new gun. They had NO visible signs of wear, there were NO marks on the mags, and it was caked in machining oil. This weapon is unquestionably used and, IMO, the dealer used deceptive practices in selling you a weapon labeled as "new" when there are multiple points of wear on this weapon. Again, I'm just one voice but I would be extremely angry if I were you.

 

[NCW Ray]

Just because they only put "one" empty casing in the little brown envelope doesn't mean they only shot one round. Could it be they fired a magazine or two through it as a spot test?