Fix for 13-Round Shield Plus Magazine

[HEADKNOCKER]

On the other S&W Forums there has been a FIX for the 13-Round Magazines that just wouldn't load up to their potential
I even bought a Brand-New 13-Round Shield Plus Magazine & it would only load up to 11...
There is a guy who came up with the FIX & it just requires the follower be slightly beveled on the bottom side to allow the spring to compress inside the follower, I didn't give the link but if you search you can find it...
Here is a photo of the massaged follower
I used a sanding drum on a Dremel Tool
Done this on four magazines & it does resolve the issue every time, it allows the larger part of the springs wraps to stack into the follower correctly
I would also ASSUME it will also work on the Equalizer 15-round magazines too
The 10-round Shield Pluses magazines don't seem to suffer because their springs aren't totally compressed BUT use the exact same follower

 

[xfarfuldog]

When you say the bottom, are you referring to the interior? The only difference to my old eyes is very slight. The follower on the right appears thicker.

 

[HEADKNOCKER]

When you say the bottom, are you referring to the interior? The only difference to my old eyes is very slight. The follower on the right appears thicker.

I put an arrow toward the area that gets the Dremel Tool
Others have just shaved it with a pocketknife etc.
It could be sanded smoother & polished but isn't needed
This is absolutely a 100% fix for the loading problem with these magazines, you can even load them with the base plate off & see it happen, see the spring stack up on that little ledge

I put the spring in the follower upside down, & you could instantly see where it catches & causes the spring to stack robbing you of the last few rounds the magazine is capable of

Wish I could take credit for the FIX, on youtube they call it a FIX instead of a MODIFICATIO... ksak is the guy who came up with this FIX

M&P Shield Plus 13rd Magazine Fix w/ Explanation of Issue - DIY #educational - YouTube

 

[ZGrand]

Good to know. I guess I got lucky with my 13-rounders. I've always been able to load 13 rounds (but I always use a Maglula). If I ever have an issue, now I know the fix.

 

[kbm6893]

Mine were tight but I loaded them using an Uplula and unloaded them every day for a week or so and now I can use my thumbs.

 

[outta_ammo]

Magguts has the +2 extension kit the takes the 13 up to 15 rds.

Sadly, in Oregon mags over 10 rds will soon be illegal for carry.

MagGuts +2 Conversion for Smith & Wesson Shield Plus-13 Round Magazine - MagGuts

 

[Hawg Rider]

Mine were tight but I loaded them using an Uplula and unloaded them every day for a week or so and now I can use my thumbs.

Same here...13 rds. were tough to load even with a Maglula when the mags were new. I loaded them and left them for a couple of weeks, and now there are no issues loading 13 rds. However, I always use a Maglula for my pistol mags.

 

[RobzGuns]

I always wondered if this could resolve the Decade old 'hard to load' problem with the original (Gen 1 & 2) Shield 7-round mags.

I may give it a try later on.

 

[MattLarmore]

My 13 rd mags were difficult loading at first, however after emptying each mag 4-5 times(shooting) the springs seem to not be as stiff, and I'm not having to struggle hand loading anymore.

 

[HEADKNOCKER]

I haven't looked at any of the older Shield Magazines YET
I have 6 of the 9mm ones & 3 of the 40 S&W 6,7, & 8 round magazines

They all seem to be stiff & hard to load

I assure anyone having an issue with the 13-round Plus magazines this is the problem & the Fix is an easy one & doesn't hurt the follower at all, just keeps the spring from stacking at the very end of compression when the last few rounds are inserted

 

[Lee in Quartzsite]

I can load all 3 of my Shield + 13 rounders by hand, but I prefer a Uplula loader to make it faster. One mag was stock, the other 2 bought from S&W. Guess I'm lucky...but appreciate the photos just in case.

 

[MikeNV]

Very helpful thread HEADKNOCKER! I was able to "fix" all three of my plus 13rd mags.

Disassembling two recent purchases, it looked like S&W had put a slight bevel on the follower edges, but they still wouldn't take 13 rounds easily. I used a file and smoothly rounded the edges and now all three will take 13.

 

[coltle6920]

I don't carry so one less round in a 13rd mag isn't much of a factor for me. I have 7-13rd mags and none of them will load to the max.

Lacking the ambition that so many of you have I would just chamber a round and add one back to the mag.