How long will my M&P Shield Last?

[midlifecrisisbb]

I am approaching 1000 rounds through my Shield. It is cleaned after each use.
Is there any other required maintenance required?
How long can I expect a semi-auto handgun to last?

 

[Inusuit]

The Shield has not been available long enough to establish a track record. Your general question about "a semi automatic handgun" is very broad although I assume you want to know about your Shield. There are Glocks out there with hundreds of thousands of rounds downrange without failure.

I cannot give you a definitive answer, but I suspect your Shield will last through more ammunition than you can afford to buy or reload. Just my opinion based on no facts whatsoever.

 

[Arik]

How long can a semi auto last? It will outlive you and your kids and probably theirs

 

[walkin' trails]

I don't know either, but I would say that it will continue to run well if you send it back every 3-4K rounds and have the factory keep the springs, including the RSA fresh. It's covered under warranty.

 

[B0308]

midlife,

As you see so far a lot of variables. But at 1,000 rounds a year, no huge temperature extremes where you shoot (real hot or cold), replacement of the RSA at 3-5,000 rounds, inspection for any cracks or part failures and use of standard pressure factory ammo, it should last indefinitely.

 

[RobzGuns]

My Shield will be 4 Years Old in May '16 and has over 10K rounds through it. It's still running on all its original springs (including the original RSA).

I figure it's built at least as well as my 26y/o G19 that's still running like a champ and that my Shield will still be going strong when it reaches the same age.

 

[JLM]

It'll last generations. But to be safe, buy a second one as a spare. And lots and lots of magazines.

 

[KSDeputy]

Not nearly as long as my Gen. 3 pistols ie: 4506.

 

[growr]

Shields were only engineered to last for three generations of owners...case in point....Third Generation Auto's!! LOL

You can try to wear it out....hope you have a deep wallet for ammo though..you're going to need it!

Randy

 

[BigDog48]

I have a Beretta model 1934 and a Walther PPK that my father brought home after WWII. The Beretta is a .380, and the PPK a .32. I don't shoot either of them much, but they still work after more than 75 years of life, without very careful treatment early in their lives, or much besides cleaning and lubricating for the last 40. I wouldn't worry about the Shield.

 

[midlifecrisisbb]

10K rounds sounds good to me. I won't worry any more.

 

[Rastoff]

Those claiming "generations" of longevity are stretching the truth a little. There isn't a single polymer gun made that has been around long enough to earn that reputation. The longest is the H&K and they discontinued the first model some time ago.

There are plenty of folks that have a realistic 75K through their M&Ps. I don't know of any Shield that has more than about 5K. Even so, there's no reason to believe it won't last just as long as the full size models.

B0308 has it right. Just shoot it and inspect it like you should with any gun. It's unlikely that you'll wear it out unless you use it in competition every weekend. The recoil spring assembly will get weaker over time, but I wouldn't replace it until it starts to have problems cycling.

 

[Mister X]

Chuck Taylor has a 2nd Gen Glock 17 that he has put a ridiculous amount of rounds through. The last time I asked him about it(several years ago), the number was 275,000 rounds.

 

[kramden]

Have a wierd thing going on with my 2 Shields

I have two 9mm Shields and all of a sudden when I'm shooting them the last round in each magazine almost misfires and the empty round will not eject or stovepipes. And when the last round fires it sounds weak. Almost as if that round only had half the amount of powder in it. Happening with both pistols. The previous rounds are fine. It always the last round only????!!!! Any ideas?

 

[martybee]

I have two 9mm Shields and all of a sudden when I'm shooting them the last round in each magazine almost misfires and the empty round will not eject or stovepipes. And when the last round fires it sounds weak. Almost as if that round only had half the amount of powder in it. Happening with both pistols. The previous rounds are fine. It always the last round only????!!!! Any ideas?

I fear you have a very vivid imagination (LOL) or I don't understand y your problem!

 

[Rastoff]

...when the last round fires it sounds weak.

Any ideas?

There is nothing in how the gun functions that could cause this. If a cartridge fires, it fires. The gun can't make it "weak" or half power.

 

[jtaylor996]

I am approaching 1000 rounds through my Shield. It is cleaned after each use.
Is there any other required maintenance required?
How long can I expect a semi-auto handgun to last?

I might think about cleaning and oiling mine when I hit 1000 rounds. I'm probably at 500 now, and I've had it about a month now.

Cleaning after every use is a little silly, IMO. I like to know for sure that my gun works dirty

 

[Rastoff]

Cleaning after every use is a little silly, IMO. I like to know for sure that my gun works dirty

No, cleaning after each use is not silly. And, no, you don't need to, but it creates a good habit. It's simply about taking care of your gear.

I treat all my equipment the same. I use it as intended, but I take care of it. I don't let dirt accumulate. That way, when I need it, it's ready at a moment's notice.

Also, by not cleaning it, you are increasing wear. Dirt is the same as sand paper and will abrade the surfaces faster if left dirty.

Now, you don't need to do a deep clean every time. Just do a simple field strip, wipe down frame and slide, and lube contact points. It takes less than 5 minutes to do this so, it's silly not to do it.

 

[gonerydin]

One of the YouTube talking heads just today mentioned that he has one of the first Shields with over 15000 rounds, no broken parts and only superficial cleaning. You should be good to go. My GF cleans hers every time it gets used.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Bonephish]

How long can I expect a semi-auto handgun to last?

Forever with proper maintenance.