M&P SHIELD 0.40 CALIBER MAGAZINE DROP PROBLEM POLL

[insomniac]

Picked up my .40 cal a few weeks ago and started having the same problem. It is NOT an issue with seating the magazine or hitting the mag release by accident. I called S&W and they sent me a new mag release which I installed but have yet to shoot and test. They seemed to be aware of the problem when they told me they would send me a new release. I have my doubts as the new release appears identical to the old one. I'm hoping they left a little more material on the release catch and I just can't see it with the naked eye. I would assume all they would need to do is re-engineer the release catch to be slightler longer where it contacts the mag. With my slide off and mag in the frame I can push the mag over to the left and make it so the smallest amount of pressure on the release will drop the mag. My guess would be the recoil of the .40 round is causing the frame to flex just enough to allow the mag to pop off the release catch.

if you need more contact between the mag catch and the mag, it's much easier to change the mag then to change the mag catch.

use a 1/8" punch, insert from the opposite side and push out the top edge of the cut in the magazine that contacts the mag catch.

 

[robinfly]

if you need more contact between the mag catch and the mag, it's much easier to change the mag then to change the mag catch.

use a 1/8" punch, insert from the opposite side and push out the top edge of the cut in the magazine that contacts the mag catch.

If I ever have the problem this is IMHO the solution until S&W redesigns the catch.

 

[Dave Nowlin]

I don't believe the problem is really in the pistol. I believe it is in the magazine. The magazine has way to much play in it, vertically and simply poor fit. The outside dimensions of the magazines are simply undersized by too much relative to the size of the magazine well. To truly fix this problem, I believe S&W will have to replace the magazines. With properly fitted magazines this problem will go away. One thought would be to add a polymer outer skin to the mag similar to what Glock has done. This would tighten things up a bit and allow tight fit without binding.

 

[2wvu2]

The problem is with the mag dropping out on its own when firing...

guys,

sorry, i'm new to the shield/m&p arena. i thought the problem was with failure to eject, not the mag dropping out on its own.

thanks for the warning...

 

[CJWig]

So far, this poll is indicating about 1 out of 3 Shield 0.40's have this magazine drop problem - much higher than I was expecting. I will update this again in a few days. Thanks for the response.

 

[Knightrider03m]

Did smith and wesson say anything about this?

 

[Edmo]

...One thought would be to add a polymer outer skin to the mag similar to what Glock has done. This would tighten things up a bit and allow tight fit without binding.

Copy GLOCK in how they make their pistols??!! How dare you say that on a S&W forum!!

Sorry, I had to beat some die-hard S&W fan to the punch. OBTW, I agree with you about a mag design change (clips for those who cringe at the word).

I just wish S&W had also copied the "no safety" part too.

Edmo

 

[Garnet]

Yes, both mags. Extended mag worse. It went to S&W and they replaced the mag catch. Only 60 rounds since return, all 60 okay but won't trust it until I get a few hundred more without issue.

 

[Dave Nowlin]

Actually I haven't experienced mag drop. I was simply pointing out that the mags fit poorly. I doubt seriously that 1 in 3 have problems. I spoke with Joe at S&W CS yesterday and suggested to him it might be partially if not fully caused by poor mag fit. He listened but I came away feeling like he simply wanted to get me off the phone.

 

[FHF]

I haven't had any problems to date....

 

[gobbler]

I purchased a 9mm M&P Shield and my buddy purchased a 40 cal M&P Shield. I have no problems with my magazine, but with my buddy's 40 cal the extended magazine dropped after every shot or every other shot. His 40 cal short magazine did not have this problem, never dropped.

One other oddity was that I shoot my 9mm about 8" low with windage OK. I shoot my buddy's 40 cal 1" low with windage OK. Not sure what's going on.

Today is Saturday and my buddy intends to call S&W Customer Service regarding the dropping magazine on Monday. Is the magazine or the magazine release?

 

[High_ground]

CJ, I've attached my response that's in another Shield 40 thread. There is a definite problem with these firearms. If you own one and all you're doing is punching paper with it then it's dependability is not a factor. If you're carrying one off duty or concealed and your life or someone else's may depend on it's operation, please rethink your decision anout carrying it. The fact that mine experienced an out of battery detonation was bad enough but to send the gun to Smith and have it returned with exactly the same problem has destroyed any confidence I had in the gun as an off duty. ..................

Original post.
I ordered my Shield 40 in May and received it mid June. I shot a box of Speer Lawman ammo through it and experienced 2 mag drops. Thought it to be an ammo or grip problem so I taped an foam ear plug just above the release as a land mark and switched to regular duty ammo. Shot another 15 rounds with no issues.
I took the Shield to my semi-annual LEO quals so that I could carry it off duty. I had 2 feed malfuntions due to the mag dropping approx a quater inch out of lock and 45 rounds into the course of fire I had an out of battery detonation. It blew the mag completely out of gun and form fitted the case to the feed ramp and the rear half of the chamber. The case head hit my ballistic glasses just above my right eye , creasing the lens and gouging the frame. My trigger finger is still sore. I sent the gun back to S&W.
Two weeks later I recieved a call stating they were replacing the lower but sending me back my original slide. Wouldn't give me an explanation as to why. Lawyer BS I imagine. Received the gun a week later. Second shot out of the box, mag dropped 1/4", round stove piped and I went to cussing. If they can't repair a gun that I'm trusting the public's and my life to then that gun shouldn't have been returned to service. Needless to say this is my last S&W and I'll be returning my Shield and my new 1911 for a refund.

 

[djdig]

As someone stated before it was probably a bad run of some of the .40's. I own both guns and have fired both of them 500+ rounds through their paces, whether it be target practice or fast paced ammo dumping. I mean if "everyone" had this problem I would jump on the bandwagon, but S&W seems to know about it and has a fix, frustrating I know, but this is what happens when everyone jumps to brand new cutting edge equipment. There is always the possibility of a "human" beta test.

 

[BobFr]

I'm also having the mag drop problem with the extended mag in my .40 Shield. It happens about every other round on average, although sometimes it will happen for several consecutive rounds. I went to the range for the first time with this weapon on Sunday, and shot about 300 rounds through it. I field stripped it and lubed it before the range trip. It got so exasperating using the 7 round mag that I probably shot over 250 rounds through the 6 round one. I also had the range officer, a person whom I consider very knowledgeable about firearms in general, to try it to make sure I wasn't crazy. He experienced the same mag dropping problem with the 7 rounder. I had this happen with the 6 round mag perhaps 3 or 4 times out of the 250 or rounds fired through the smaller mag.

 

[CJWig]

Going through the poll numbers so far, folks are reporting that approximately one of two Shield 0.40's are having the magazine drop problem.

 

[htobin]

I have the problem. Contacted S&W and they said they would send a replacement magazine catch. When it came, it was obviously not a proper fit and worked no better. When I contacted them again, they apologized and said they had sent the wrong part. They had me return the gun. They said they were still working on a proper replacement magazine catch and told me it would be a while before it was finally produced. They estimated it would be about four weeks before I received the gun back. They are now very aware of the problem and seem convinced it is the magazine catch. I agree since my magazines were never fully seated.

 

[870dukr]

Drops Consistently

Took mine to the range the day I bought it. Fired well until round 48. After that it dropped with nearly every round. As others have said, I tried to adjust my grip and evaluated whether it was me or the pistol. Even one-handed with my thumb partially off the grip the magazine dropped. Sent it back to Smith yesterday, as that is what they recommended. Looking forward to hear how other members' repairs went. Maybe we'll need to start a thread dedicated to members who have had their Shields returned after "repair".

 

[Mule88]

My 40 is currently at Smith for this problem. The 9 Sheild no problems however so far.

 

[konertjm]

Thought I would add my $.02.
I purchased my Shield .40 in June, serial # DXP2nnn.
Since then I have put almost 300 rounds through it.

Not a single drop.

Here is what I have noticed; the 6 round mag is very loose. I can wiggle it around when it is inserted with the slide open. I have pushed down on the mag with the slide open, even though it is still loose, it did not fall out.

The 7 round mag is much tighter, and has very little play. Again, I was not able to get it to drop by manually manipulating. And, it as well as the 6 round have never dropped in almost 300 rounds.

This is my first M&P, and one of things that surprised me was the visual low quality of the mags. They almost appeared to be galvanized steel rather than stainless.

My XD mags shine like new penny, and my M22a mags look like quality stainless. The Shield mags do not.

So what is the possibility that it is a mag problem and not a pistol problem.

Has anyone with the mag drop problem tried mags from a buddy that does not have the drop problem?

 

[TMAXXII]

Thought I would add my $.02.
I purchased my Shield .40 in June, serial # DXP2nnn.
Since then I have put almost 300 rounds through it.

Not a single drop.

Here is what I have noticed; the 6 round mag is very loose. I can wiggle it around when it is inserted with the slide open. I have pushed down on the mag with the slide open, even though it is still loose, it did not fall out.

The 7 round mag is much tighter, and has very little play. Again, I was not able to get it to drop by manually manipulating. And, it as well as the 6 round have never dropped in almost 300 rounds.

This is my first M&P, and one of things that surprised me was the visual low quality of the mags. They almost appeared to be galvanized steel rather than stainless.

My XD mags shine like new penny, and my M22a mags look like quality stainless. The Shield mags do not.

So what is the possibility that it is a mag problem and not a pistol problem.

Has anyone with the mag drop problem tried mags from a buddy that does not have the drop problem?

I know I am a new member to the S&W forum, but not new to handguns, however I recently purchased M&P Shield .40. I have not made it to range yet, I was just happy to find one, so I bought it. You mentioning your Serial Number was a excellent idea. Mine is DXV6xxx. Maybe if the rest of the members of this thread did the same thing, we could see if there some similarity. Maybe a certain series of Serial numbers have this problem and maybe why others aren't. I had heard such great things about this gun, it hard to believe S&W would not come forward with a recall. I guess I'll just keep carrying my PPS and Glock 27 until the count is in. I also need my a.. to the range.