First Shots With The New Shield

[highaltitude]

Just had the new 9mm Shield to the range for the 2nd time, and not very happy with the results. 65 rounds fired and 4 cycling problems. (6 if you count the 2 times the slide failed to lock open on the last shot.) Had one where the round failed to strip off the magazine, like it did on the last trip. I checked the mag and it was properly locked in. Then I had an FTE that jammed in the door. Switched to the other mag and had 2 where the round slammed the top of the chamber and failed to feed. I had taken it down and cleaned it after the last trip, and oiled at the points shown in the manual. At home, looking at what's happening with a snap cap, it looks like all these problems are the result of the same thing: The slide isn't coming back that last 1/4" at times. Not sure if I should do anything or just hope for the recoil spring to soften up a bit. Do they use the same spring for the .40 and the 9? Seems REALLY tight. Would a little grease on the frame rails be better than oil? (Manual calls for 1 drop of oil) I noticed a pretty good scratch on one of the frame rails, but couldn't see any burr or anything on the slide that might be causing it. Any suggestions, or just keep shooting?

IMO, range ammo should not cause feed problems. I can see weak ejection.. and in fact sometimes shooting my Shield with Federal 115 I'll have the occasionally casing land on my shoulder… but not feed problems. You shouldn't have to do anything special to the gun. You cleaned and lubed it according to the manual and that should be sufficient. If it were me, I would probably be calling S&W.

 

[shakyshoot]

IMO, range ammo should not cause feed problems. I can see weak ejection.. and in fact sometimes shooting my Shield with Federal 115 I'll have the occasionally casing land on my shoulder… but not feed problems. You shouldn't have to do anything special to the gun. You cleaned and lubed it according to the manual and that should be sufficient. If it were me, I would probably be calling S&W.

Thanks--I'll probably give it one more outing w different ammo, then think about calling. I've got orders going to Cabela's and Gander for Lawman, WWB, and Blazer Brass, + a backorder for Herter's. I'll try a couple of different brands, then if I have to call in, at least I can say I tried it w 4 kinds of ammo.

 

[naturally aspirated]

If you think it's a tight recoil spring, you could try locking the slide back for a couple days. My dad was having a FTF problem with his Ruger. It works flawlessly now.

 

[shakyshoot]

If you think it's a tight recoil spring, you could try locking the slide back for a couple days. My dad was having a FTF problem with his Ruger. It works flawlessly now.

Thanks for the suggestion. I'm way ahead of you. I've kept it locked back the last 2 days.

 

[shakyshoot]

3rd range trip with the Shield and VERY happy with the results. Had feed issues last time with UMC ammo that I decided were caused by the slide not coming all the way back. Since then I kept the slide locked open for 3 days and racked the slide manually 50 times a day for 3 days. I can feel that the recoil spring has softened up a bit. Also used some different ammo. Went though 50 rounds of Winchester WB and 50 rd of Federal Champion. All smooth as silk, zero issues. Next time I'll try the rest of my UMC ammo and see how that goes. Plus I nailed the shooting, If I do say so myself. The bullseye target was 10 shots, slow fire at 30 ft. That's a 1 1/4" group. The silhouette target was at 50 ft in 3 fairly rapid 5 shot strings. 15 straight shots to the head (ok, some just barely) Wanted to keep shooting it, but I deliberately only brought the 100 rds, then switched over to my .22.

 

[Rastoff]

That's good shooting with a Shield. Better than I could do I think.

 

[shakyshoot]

Thanks--I'm very happy with the accuracy out of a 3" barrel on an (almost) pocket pistol. I was pretty pleased with the trigger out of the box and it's only gotten better after a couple of hundred rounds and a couple of hundred dry fires.

 

[jhc37013]

That is good news and no surprise, could you feel the difference with the better ammo like the WWB and Federal had a bit more snap cycling your slide with a little more zip?

 

[shakyshoot]

The WWB felt a little stouter. The Federal about the same as the UMC, but I would expect a Federal product to be more consistent than the Rem. I've got 500 Fed American Eagles on order, which have a little more oomph than the Fed Champions. Can't really argue with the Walmart price on the Champions, though, at $25.77/100.

 

[Shieldfan1]

Clean mags

I havent seen where anyone mentions cleaning your magazines prior/after range time. I usually clean mine every other trip. I cant be the only one who does this.

 

[shakyshoot]

Always a good idea to clean the mags when cleaning your gun. I might take a mag apart and clean it every 400-500 rounds. Normally for routine cleaning I just clean under the lips and the top of the follower with a q-tip and some Hoppes. That and wipe off the outside. I do serious cleaning on my .22 mags more often than I do centerfire, just because .22 burns dirtier, and I shoot a lot more rounds at one time.

 

[scott9mm]

... I do serious cleaning on my .22 mags more often than I do centerfire, just because .22 burns dirtier, and I shoot a lot more rounds at one time.

Good move. Most (all?) rimfire autoloaders are blowback operated so more gunk is likely to come out the breach end and foul the mag.