M&P Shield 40 Safe?

[Well Armed]

As the title says, are the M&P Shield 40 safe? I have one on order, but just recently seen a few reports on this and other forums about some of them blowing up. Matter of fact, just a few threads down, there's another post about this very problem. Trying to decide between the kahr cw40 or the M&P 40...

 

[robkarrob]

Those incidents about "Blow Ups" and "Ka-Booms" were just a few guns, out of the thousands and thousands of Shield 40s made. Most all with a "Blow Up" can be traced back to a problem with the ammunition, using hand loaded not made to specs, too much setback, too much powder, and old ammunition. Does that mean you wouldn't think about buying a General Motors vehicle, because you heard about the problem with a heavy set of keys, that could cause the ignition to switch off?

I've had my Shield 40 since May 2012, one of the first made. I carry CorBon SD ammunition, which is one of the highest powered SD ammunition available, from a US manufacturer. The CorBon I use specs out at 1325 FPS and 526 Foot Pounds of Energy, with a 135 gr JHP bullet. Check other ammo, and you won't see specs nearly that high, especially the energy. I have fired well over 200 rounds of this ammo, with not one issue. If you use commercial ammunition that meets SAAMI specs, you will not have any problems.

Bob

 

[Bkreutz]

Not many people write posts on internet forums when they don't have a problem. (notice I said "not many". There are more than a couple of threads about people who have not had a problem). I do know for a fact that S&W tests examples of their pistols to 50,000 rounds as a part of quality control.

 

[AGoyette]

Those incidents about "Blow Ups" and "Ka-Booms" were just a few guns, out of the thousands and thousands of Shield 40s made. Most all with a "Blow Up" can be traced back to a problem with the ammunition, using hand loaded not made to specs, too much setback, too much powder, and old ammunition. Does that mean you wouldn't think about buying a General Motors vehicle, because you heard about the problem with a heavy set of keys, that could cause the ignition to switch off?
Bob

A lot of the Kaboom threads are guns that went kaboom with factory ammo. Only one thread that I recall, the guy could not remember if it went boom with factory or reloads. The factory ammo that S&W has determined to be at fault (because there can be nothing wrong with the gun) is from different manufactures. That being said, I have zero desire to own an 40 Shield because, 1. I don't like the 40 S&W caliber and 2. because of the issues some people have had and S&W's response to them. That is just me though, you have to decide what is best for you.

 

[shawn mccarver]

If you use commercial ammunition that meets SAAMI specs, you will not have any problems.Bob

I will add to what Bob says by saying that he is correct. As you are perhaps a new shooter, or one unfamiliar with autos, when Bob mentioned "set-back" he is talking about a bullet seated too deeply in the chamber. This can happen to high quality ammo and is often the result of chambering a round over and over. It can happen in some cases as quickly as three or four chamberings and in others a few more. While it looks neat in the movies to see the good guy loading up every morning before work, it is actually a dangerous practice to repeatedly chamber, eject and re-chamber the same round. Fortunately, you can check for "set-back" by lining up all of the cartridges on a flat surface. Lay a straight edge across the top and safely discard any that are shorter than the rest. Or, you can get a micrometer and measure each round, but that is a drag.

As to the proper condition of your pistol, I suggest that your carry pistol be left loaded and that it be stored in a locking gun box such as Gunvault or similar so that you do not have to re-chamber every time you want to carry. This is, of course, likely to give all sorts of heartburn to people who are concerned about such matters as it is contrary to the way in which ALL firearms that are NOT maintained for instant readiness should be stored. All firearms not maintained for instant readiness should be stored in a locked area or safe, unloaded, with ammo in its original packaging locked in a separate safe or cabinet.

 

[bronconagurski]

A lot of the Kaboom threads are guns that went kaboom with factory ammo. Only one thread that I recall, the guy could not remember if it went boom with factory or reloads. The factory ammo that S&W has determined to be at fault (because there can be nothing wrong with the gun) is from different manufactures. That being said, I have zero desire to own an 40 Shield because, 1. I don't like the 40 S&W caliber and 2. because of the issues some people have had and S&W's response to them. That is just me though, you have to decide what is best for you.

Good advice. I, too, am considering the 40 Shield but am giving pause. Let's say that the ammo was out of specs. That means a lot of more ammo is out there out of specs, running thru the Shield 9mm in some cases, I am sure according to the law of averages. That means, in my book, that there is a design flaw in the Shield 40. Didn't Glock 40s have the same problem at one time? Also, this last one was with 165 grain ammo, which is even more worrisome. I read an article by one of the experts that said no one should ever run 180 grain in a 40 and he gave technical reasons I can't remember, but it was physics according to him. Now if he is right, then I would feel much better with an all steel 40 shield, which they don't make for obvious reasons.

 

[Well Armed]

Good advice. I, too, am considering the 40 Shield but am giving pause. Let's say that the ammo was out of specs. That means a lot of more ammo is out there out of specs, running thru the Shield 9mm in some cases, I am sure according to the law of averages. That means, in my book, that there is a design flaw in the Shield 40. Didn't Glock 40s have the same problem at one time? Also, this last one was with 165 grain ammo, which is even more worrisome. I read an article by one of the experts that said no one should ever run 180 grain in a 40 and he gave technical reasons I can't remember, but it was physics according to him. Now if he is right, then I would feel much better with an all steel 40 shield, which they don't make for obvious reasons.

Yes, Glock did. While researching online, I originally googled "kaboom 40 s&w" and seven old cases where this happened with Glocks at one time too. What bothers me, using logic, if it is the fault of ammo, then why isn't this an issue with the newer Glocks, Kahrs, Taurus, Springfields, and even other S&W that are also chambered in 40s&w? Why isn't this problem being brought up at the same rate on these other forums?

 

[bronconagurski]

Yes, Glock did. While researching online, I originally googled "kaboom 40 s&w" and seven old cases where this happened with Glocks at one time too. What bothers me, using logic, if it is the fault of ammo, then why isn't this an issue with the newer Glocks, Kahrs, Taurus, Springfields, and even other S&W that are also chambered in 40s&w? Why isn't this problem being brought up at the same rate on these other forums?

Yep, that's the elephant in the room that Smith appears unwilling to deal with. Granted, there's not enough kabooms to require a recall. But there's too many, imo, just to sit on your hands. Not sure what the answer is.

 

[Irn-Bru]

Some will say these "kabooms" are due to reloads or the ammo. The problem I have is that I've yet to read about these problems with the 9mm. You know shooters are using reloads with the 9mm and not experiencing these blow ups, so there has to be a problem with some of these .40 Shields.

 

[Well Armed]

I was hoping to hear something that would make me feel better about my purchase, but I'm becoming more nervous. Even if it is reloads and bad factory ammo in corroboration with the Shield 40 (which is debatable), it's still not worth the risk owning this particular firearm. I hate to lose my eye sight, dominant hand, or worse, my life based on a hunch that's it is in fact just a fluke having to do with out of sec ammo. Just not worth the risk, and at the very least, it would be nice for s&w to formally address the problem either way.

 

[bronconagurski]

I was hoping to hear something that would make me feel better about my purchase, but I'm becoming more nervous. Even if it is reloads and bad factory ammo in corroboration with the Shield 40 (which is debatable), it's still not worth the risk owning this particular firearm. I hate to lose my eye sight, dominant hand, or worse, my life based on a hunch that's it is in fact just a fluke having to do with out of sec ammo. Just not worth the risk, and at the very least, it would be nice for s&w to formally address the problem either way.

Well said. God or nature, depending on your beliefs, gave us common sense and the sense of danger for a reason. With a handgun, in my short time shooting them, trust is the major issue. Imo, the kabooms will not stop for the shield 40. I hope I am very, very, wrong.

 

[Smitty357]

I have over 10k rounds down range in my .40 shield. Both as a .40 and as a 9mm. Mostly using reloads but I have also ran factory loads through it from time to time. Not a single problem out of mine after all this use.

There's ur answer.

 

[SpringGunTunes]

I was hoping to hear something that would make me feel better about my purchase, but I'm becoming more nervous.

I'm here to make you feel better...
My Shield .40 has not blown up. I've shot the piss out of it.
You should feel better dropping an attacker with one shot from a .40 than multiple shots from a 9mm.
Send me your Shield .40 and $50 if that will make you feel better.
Hope that helped.

 

[Muss Muggins]

I have over 10k rounds down range in my .40 shield. Both as a .40 and as a 9mm. Mostly using reloads but I have also ran factory loads through it from time to time. Not a single problem out of mine after all this use.

There's ur answer.

Indeed. Buy Smitty's . . .

 

[Mcwsky09]

Not many people write posts on internet forums when they don't have a problem. (notice I said "not many". There are more than a couple of threads about people who have not had a problem). I do know for a fact that S&W tests examples of their pistols to 50,000 rounds as a part of quality control.

No way they are testing EVERY gun produced with 50,000 rounds. While they may test the a prototype or three to 50,000 rounds before going into full production that does not preclude some manufacturing defect along the way with a batch of metal used to make barrels for example.

I have read a few of the posts about Shield 40 and agree with the rest of the comments in this thread - just one point to add - there is a theory that because some .40 S&W barrels do not support the entire case, the feed ramp cuts into the rear portion of the chamber, this causes excessive stress on the case when it is fired and that the process of reloading the same case a few times weakens the case to the point where even if the load is correct a blow out or case head separation is more likely to occur with the .40 S&W than others.

I haven't looked closely at the Shield 40 - but I have read that some (Glock for example) have revised their design to have less intrusion of the feed ramp into the chamber.

I do wonder if there is a way to test whether or not a weakened case and or not fully supported chamber could lead to the types of failures that have been reported - or if perhaps other issues such as out of battery detonation are to blame in cases where the powder load was within spec.

 

[JohnSW]

I haven't noticed owners of larger S&W .40 pistols reporting kabooms.

 

[Well Armed]

I'll never understand why people get defensive when others report having problems with a firearm model similar to their own. I'll also will never understand the, "it hasn't happened to me yet, so it will never happen, you're lying about it happening to you, and if it did happen, it must have been your fault" frame of mind either. Regardless of the fact that, for example, 99% of other people were lucky enough to not have had any issues & their firearms have ran just fine, that in itself does not diminish the fact or danger to the other 1%.

For example, Toyota motor company recalled 64 million vehicles world wide for steering and other problems, but I'm will to bet that less than 1% of that 64 million experienced any problems or had any clue of the possible danger. Their cars probably ran perfectly fine.

I have friends of mine that have the exact same model firearm own and have put 100s of rounds through, but they have had issues with mags dropping out on fairly new guns or other issues that I've never experienced.

Just because you personally have not experienced it (yet), does not mean that a problem, whether it be a design flaw or a Q.C. issue, does not need to be addressed.. No reason to become offensive and offended..

 

[SpringGunTunes]

If you're afraid of a firearm blowing up, don't shoot one. The fact of the matter is any of them can blow up.

 

[RobzGuns]

So... Is it too late to cancel your order? Or change it to a 9mm Shield?
You shouldn't get the .40. The seed of doubt has been implanted in your brain and you'll never truly trust it.

 

[macski222]

Yah I'm pretty damn tired of hearing shield 40 owners saying that everything is peachy, and that people are crazy for worrying about a kaboom happening to them. Come on... there's obviously an issue out there with the 40sw variant of this gun, I couldn't care less that you've shot x,xxx rounds through your gun without an issue... there is some un-addressed issue going on with the shield 40's that s&w isn't stepping up to the plate on.

And Spring, that comment was just ignorant. Another defensive attempt at a rebuttal by someone that owns a shield 40 but hasn't had an issue with it yet. Is it really that hard to acknowledge that there are shield 40's out there that are popping up with the same types of issues?

I'm about sick of the comments that attempt to discredit anyone that has had an issue with a shield 40. Yes, the percentage of people that report to have had issues may be low, but it is early yet, and not everyone is on forums or posting online about their issues.

Ignorance isn't always bliss people