M&P Shield 9MM Won't fully seat

[pilotscott]

My Shield 9mm slide won't fully seat, meaning, once I install the clip and pull the slide back to chamber a round, let go and the slide stops about 1/8" from the end (fully seated). I can gently push it with my thumb and it seats. What ever the slide is hanging on is so minimal that I can shake the weapon and it will snap that final bit. Purchased 2015, 200+ rounds through it, cleaned, oiled and reassembled per manufacturer specs. Slide moves free (except the pinch at the end), recoil spring is centered and all other functions work as they should. It has done this since day one. Before the first round and cleaning.

 

[1hatchet]

Make sure that you are sling shoting the slide after fully pulling it back and not riding it nor using the slide stop lever to release the slide.

https://miaanstine.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/magazine-vs-clip.jpg?w=850

 

[RalphMP9FS]

My Shield 9mm slide won't fully seat, meaning, once I install the clip and pull the slide back to chamber a round, let go and the slide stops about 1/8" from the end (fully seated). I can gently push it with my thumb and it seats. What ever the slide is hanging on is so minimal that I can shake the weapon and it will snap that final bit. Purchased 2015, 200+ rounds through it, cleaned, oiled and reassembled per manufacturer specs. Slide moves free (except the pinch at the end), recoil spring is centered and all other functions work as they should. It has done this since day one. Before the first round and cleaning.

Excellent description of the problem. I would call S&W for a return label.

 

[pilotscott]

Ehhh! I'd hope'd that this wasn't the case. I'm use to my Kimber 1911 where you can pull the slide back until the round chambers and let go. If I do that with this one, it stops. Now, to your point, if I sling shot (pinball) the slide all the way back to it's ultimate stop and kind of pinch (sling shot/pinball) the slide I can get it to fully seat. I was looking from a little better action out of S&W.

 

[RobzGuns]

The Shield's mag fits so tightly (you probably need to really smack the mag for it to seat?) and that causes extra fiction on stripping the 1st round, so at least at 1st, the slide needs that full Slingshot (pinball) action to get as much power as possible to go fully into battery.

As the pistol (and mag springs) get worked in, it will get a bit better, but this is why it's recommended to not use the Slide Stop as a Slide 'Release' and to definitely not ride the slide when racking that 1st round. If you do ride the slide, you'll need to assist it into battery manually.

PS: Welcome to the Forum!

 

[NoogMan]

Having purchased two Shields at one time, my wifes wouldn't go fully into battery unless I did a full slingshot. After a few hundred rounds and a few cleanings it easily goes into battery. Maybe you just need a few more rounds through it, and keep cleaning/lubing.

 

[pilotscott]

Thanks for all the input. I'm headed to the range again this week and we'll put another 100 or so through it and see how she fairs.

 

[jhampshire]

No problem here

I took my new 9mm Shield to the range Saturday and I can say without a doubt this thing performs beautifully. To compare I took along my neighbor and his Ruger LC9. No contest. The Ruger trigger is vague. In its defense, his model is not a striker model.

I took a .45 Springfield Micro Compact to compare recoil. I would say the Shield is about 80% of the .45 for recoil. No issue.

The Shield cycled perfectly, no problems. Maybe the best running gun I have ever had. I love the trigger reset. It feels really positive and the break is excellent. I have a new favorite carry piece. Kudos to S&W.

 

[mike72ss]

Timely post as my new Shield 9mm does the same. It only has about 100 rounds also. I'm sure it just needs a few hundred more through it like others said.

Mike

 

[hoc9sw]

Mine did not go into battery at random, but too often. After a couple of trips back to the homeland, various polishings and reamings, they changed the barrel and extractor, which pretty much resolved it.

It is 100% now.It has about 2800 rounds through it.

 

[crystal lowery]

New shield 9mm. My slide will not engage forward when magazine is inserted. Slides easily with magazine out. Any ideas on how to fix this??

 

[okiegtrider]

New shield 9mm. My slide will not engage forward when magazine is inserted. Slides easily with magazine out. Any ideas on how to fix this??

Interesting first post. You may have to tell us a bit more about this. It may not be broken at all.

 

[Big Cholla]

pilotscott: You are describing the situation where the extractor has too little space between the back of the rim hook and the face of the bolt. Someone needs to remove the extractor and file a very small amount off that back face. It also pays to put just a slight bevel on the lower edge where the rim of the cartridge first meets when it is sliding up and under the extractor hook. ........

 

[crystal lowery]

Interesting first post. You may have to tell us a bit more about this. It may not be broken at all.

Not sure what else to say. When the slide is pulled back and the slide lock is engaged, I cannot get it to release at all when a magazine is inserted. If I remove the magazine, it releases easily. It's almost as if the magazine is sitting too high.....but I tried the magazines from my husbands shield and it does the same thing.

 

[okiegtrider]

Not sure what else to say. When the slide is pulled back and the slide lock is engaged, I cannot get it to release at all when a magazine is inserted. If I remove the magazine, it releases easily. It's almost as if the magazine is sitting too high.....but I tried the magazines from my husbands shield and it does the same thing.

Ok, I'll ask. Is there ammunition in that magazine when the slide fails to go into battery?

 

[shawn mccarver]

Find the hottest ammo you can (+P+ or NATO spec), and shoot 500 rounds through the weapon. Also insert a fully loaded magazine and let it stay in the weapon for a week or two. I think you will find everything will work fine. If not, then you have a problem S&W needs to address.

 

[rwsmith]

It's painless......

Ehhh! I'd hope'd that this wasn't the case. I'm use to my Kimber 1911 where you can pull the slide back until the round chambers and let go. If I do that with this one, it stops. Now, to your point, if I sling shot (pinball) the slide all the way back to it's ultimate stop and kind of pinch (sling shot/pinball) the slide I can get it to fully seat. I was looking from a little better action out of S&W.

Call and tell them the problem. They send you a label email, put it in whatever carrier's box they want and send it. (Read the instructions) Then wait for about a week and a few days and it should be delivered to you. Warranty work gets priority with them. If you ask for custom work to be done, it's months easily.