M&P Shield Plus - Known Issues

[Old cop]

I bought the M&P 2.0 Compact a few years ago from a friend and only use it for LEOSA qualification. No issues thus far but after reading through this thread I'm going to run a lot more rounds through it.

 

[CouchPotato]

I bought the M&P 2.0 Compact a few years ago from a friend and only use it for LEOSA qualification. No issues thus far but after reading through this thread I'm going to run a lot more rounds through it.

The M&P Compact, like the full size, is probably rock solid.

With the Shield Plus specifically, people should check two things. One is to make sure the trigger bar gets underneath the sear instead of just a corner to corner contact point. The other is to make sure the safety plunger can reset itself. To do that, just clear the gun, dry fire, go straight into slide lock, then pull the striker with your finger to see if it moves or if the plunger locked it back like it should.

Probably the plunger/striker block on all striker fired guns should be examined from time to time.

 

[CouchPotato]

After seeing multiple photos from multiple people, I added another to the list of known problems

Magazine Spacer Split In Half - On extended OEM magazines (more than 10rds) the plastic spacer above the base plate can split in half, even without being dropped.

 

[Well Armed]

After seeing multiple photos from multiple people, I added another to the list of known problems

Magazine Spacer Split In Half - On extended OEM magazines (more than 10rds) the plastic spacer above the base plate can split in half, even without being dropped.

I believe that's old news that has been fixed a long time ago.

 

[CouchPotato]

I believe that's old news that has been fixed a long time ago.

Yesterday in the private Facebook group called S&W Shield Plus a member created a thread with photos of his broken magazine... so it's either still happening or it's happening all over again. Numerous replies claim that the same happend to them.

On July 3rd on the forum called MP Pistol a user created a thread with photos showing the same problem.

 

[Spats McGee]

Huh. Interesting. I started carrying Shields around 2017 and have had 3 (a) a 1.0; (b) a 4" 2.0 PC .45; and (c) a Plus. The first was flawless, the second never would feed well enough for me to trust it for CC and the Plus took about 150 rounds to break in. After that, it's had no problems whatsoever. I ordinarily avoid "first edition" guns because I don't want to be a beta tester. On the Plus, though, I pretty much ran out and got one as soon as I could.

Of all the problems listed in the OP, though, the only one that I've seen consistently reported on any of the gun sites I haunt (primarily The Firing Line, The High Road, and GlockTalk) is that the last round is hard to load into the magazine. (I have that problem with my own mags.) I have seen occasional mentions of the slide stop being hard to operate, and also of retention pins walking out, but as I said, those have been "occasional mentions," not "consistent complaints."

 

[Well Armed]

Yesterday in the private Facebook group called S&W Shield Plus a member created a thread with photos of his broken magazine... so it's either still happening or it's happening all over again. Numerous replies claim that the same happend to them.

On July 3rd on the forum called MP Pistol a user created a thread with photos showing the same problem.

When did they purchase their examples though? Just because the post is recent doesn't mean that their examples were purchased recently or are recent stock. The July 3rd post you referenced was in 2022. The Shield Plus was released mid 2021. While I heard a handful of people say it happened to them, I recall seeing a thread or video of someone showing difference between the previous problematic mags that split and what S&W replaced it with......

I purchased my Shield Plus when they were doing a rebate back in 2022. I got the Bugout Bundle that came with the extra 13 round mags for a total of four, a bag, night sights, and optic cut. I have pics of the mags I received. I believe S&W was doing either $50 or $75 off or something like that as I only paid like $400.

Some of the mags I received have a flat matte finish and others a glossy finish to them. You can't really tell from the pics, but the two on the right are flat matte and the other two are more glossy. The difference is very noticeable in person.

As you can see, some of the followers crooked and the springs arw showing at varying amounts. This is from the factory.

The polymer follower on the mag on the bottom right only is being sratched and nicked up. The black squiggly line on the top left mag was there from the factory, but I'm not sure what it denotes.

I don't believe S&W manufacturers their own magazines. Most firearm manufacturers outsource magazine production. My guess is that what ever company or companies that was trying to keep up with demand dropped the ball. There's no way S&W can test each and every mag. The fact that the mags I recipe have different finishes (glossy and matte) leads me to believe the mags are being manufactured at different facilities.

 

[Well Armed]

Either way, I'm typically carrying my 686+ 2.5", Shield 45 PC, or Kahr K40. I don't trust or carry my the Shield Plus. My Shield 45 has been 100% except for the RSA which I plan of replacing with an aftermarket offering.

Either way, I'm typically carrying my 686+ 2.5", Shield 45 PC, or Kahr K40. I don't trust or carry my the Shield Plus. My Shield 45 has been 100% except for the RSA which I plan of replacing with an aftermarket offering.

The early 2014ish to 2019 Shield 1.0 and 2.0s 9mm and 40s&w had a strong reputation for trustworthiness and reliability. The Shield Plus, not so much. I believe part of the problem was COVID restrictions, being shorthanded, and having unprecedented demand. S&W manufactured over 2 million firearms out of mostly one facility in 2021.

 

[Ethang]

I bought the M&P 2.0 Compact a few years ago from a friend and only use it for LEOSA qualification. No issues thus far but after reading through this thread I'm going to run a lot more rounds through it.

I have had the 2.0 Compact since it was first announced so it's a VERY early one. Several thousand rounds no malfunctions at all and more accurate than my full size. I expect yours will be the same.

 

[Well Armed]

I have had the 2.0 Compact since it was first announced so it's a VERY early one. Several thousand rounds no malfunctions at all and more accurate than my full size. I expect yours will be the same.

I purchased a 2.0 4" Compact when they first came out too. I've only put about a box or so through it in several years, but I have faith in it. I've completely broken it down as well frame and all, and nothing stood out.

I honestly believe their Q/A on their semiautos started to suffer more than usual when they moved manufacturering facilities and with the increase in demand with COVID from early 2020 until today.

 

[peter59]

Folks: The striker block is a safety backup to the seer. If, for some reason the seer doesn't catch the striker, the striker block ensures that the striker cannot, in any way, move forward and strike the bullet primer. The striker block MUST operate reliably on its own! It cannot rely on an operating control (the seer) to function to set it! If this was the case, then a malfunction seer would mean that the striker block is also not functional. I've owned several S&W striker fired pistols and the Shield Plus is the first one where the striker block relies on the seer to pull the striker back in order to set the striker block. This is not proper in any way and if this is how the striker block is designed to operate (as suggested by others herein) then this is a serious design flaw! I have sent my brand new, never fired, shield plus back to Smith & Wesson asking them to correct this situation on my gun. One other thing to note is that while I was at the gun store discussing this, they pulled their display model to examine it and the striker block wouldn't set even when the striker was manually pulled back!!

 

[LVSteve]

Folks: The striker block is a safety backup to the seer. If, for some reason the seer doesn't catch the striker, the striker block ensures that the striker cannot, in any way, move forward and strike the bullet primer. The striker block MUST operate reliably on its own! It cannot rely on an operating control (the seer) to function to set it! If this was the case, then a malfunction seer would mean that the striker block is also not functional. I've owned several S&W striker fired pistols and the Shield Plus is the first one where the striker block relies on the seer to pull the striker back in order to set the striker block. This is not proper in any way and if this is how the striker block is designed to operate (as suggested by others herein) then this is a serious design flaw! I have sent my brand new, never fired, shield plus back to Smith & Wesson asking them to correct this situation on my gun. One other thing to note is that while I was at the gun store discussing this, they pulled their display model to examine it and the striker block wouldn't set even when the striker was manually pulled back!!

The only way I see a gun could function in your ideal way is if the striker return spring has enough grunt to push back the striker far enough to engage the striker block safety. Is that how most striker fired guns work? Somehow I doubt that is so or you would never get primer wipe.

 

[song dog]

CouchPotato appreciate your post of Shield Plus problems; similar view points on YouTube.

I'm not a newbie to shooting, over 50 years, as far as handguns mostly K & N frame Smith's and 1911's. My first M&P 1.0 9 mm 4 1/4" barrel, then 5" Pro 9 mm then the Shield 9 mm 1.0. When Covid hit sold them off for the 2.0 upgrades, demand was high so worth it. Those 2019/2020 models were manufactured 2017 thru 2019, quality right out of the box.
Since Covid quality control and S&W customer service continues to struggle even after they relocated to Georgia. How simple can a striker fired pistol be to manufacture an still too many posts guys/gals having to return pistols to the mother ship 2 or 3 times. My brother has spent 2 months on a slide release with customer service and they continue to send him the wrong part, that's poor training/management. I do like the M&P grip, so close to 1911 but until S&W gets their act together won't touch them, too much travel time.

 

[Wdbutcher97]

I have a 2.0 M&P 9mm. I had a Gen 1 Shield that I traded for my Shield Plus. I wish I would have kept the Gen 1 just because I liked it that much. All of them have been 100% reliable and I would trust my life with them. I guess I'm extremely lucky.

 

[Kingotch]

Mine is as reliable as my wife nagging me

Weird. No problems here. Probably still under 1000 rounds though.

I have over 2000 rounds on mine, CCW it daily and only have the last round complaint or which is fixed with an emery board. My only unique first world problem is the added complaint that the factory grip textures irritates my skin with using a Vnsh deep IWB holster. Now I just need to determine if an MPO-DS will fit on a non milled model, because of course they released the optics ready model the week after I picked mine up.

 

[song dog]

Couchpotato,

While your post began 11/2013, what was the final outcome of warranty repairs on your Shield Plus?

 

[MSD2343]

I have over 2000 rounds on mine, CCW it daily and only have the last round complaint or which is fixed with an emery board. My only unique first world problem is the added complaint that the factory grip textures irritates my skin with using a Vnsh deep IWB holster.

Highly recommend Talon Grips. They eliminate the skin irritation but ensure a solid grasp on the pistol. They're relatively inexpensive and last for years.

 

[66-8guy]

I've noticed a trend over the past decade or so on internet gun forums. On forums dedicated to a particular name brand of firearm, at least half the postings are doing nothing but trashing that particular brand. People seem to adore complaining.

i agree!I have a model 500 mag,shield plus,model 66-8 2.75 barrel,model 69 2.75 and 4.25 barrel and no problems with either!

 

[mel062369]

Just picked one up today

I just upgraded from Shield 1.0 to Plus and I'm looking forward to trying it out soon.

I rented a Plus prior to purchasing this one and I found nothing wrong with that one and hopefully nothing wrong with the one I just picked up.

As best I could, I checked out everything with this one, an optics ready version with night sights. Until I shoot it, hopefully tomorrow, I won't really know if everything works as it should, but I like the Shield in general and switch between my Sig P320 compact for carry. I plan to carry the Shield Plus with the 13 round magazine, as well as the P320. Will install a red dot soon - before spring.

Will post my initial results as soon as I get back from the range but if this one is anything like other S&W's I've owned, I expect nothing but good results.

 

[gila_dog]

I've had my Shield Plus 9mm for 3 years ?? maybe more. Being old, time is really flying by. I've shot about 800 rounds thru it with not single malfunction. I've tipped my canoe over in a lake while wearing it and spent a half hour in the muddy water before I could get out. I field stripped the gun, washed it with soapy water, rinsed it off well, put the pieces near a heater to dry over night. Oiled it pretty well, then put it back together. No harm done. I've dropped it on concrete twice. No harm done. It carries and hides well, is super reliable, I like the trigger, and I can shoot it pretty well. It has taken a while to get the magazine broke in so I can stuff all 13 rounds in it but that problem is gone. I'm a happy customer.

 

[PJD642]

New owner of a Shield Plus Carry Comp here. Installed my optic, bore sighted it, and hit the limits of adjustment about 4" low at 15 yards. Did some searching online and then inspected the optics cut, found it was indeed angled down slightly at the front. Just shipped the slide to Nameless Arms to have the optics cut milled level and the posts redone as well as they appear to be flared at the bottom. Hopefully this corrects the problem. Purchased the pistol to replace my G48, ergos are much better, especially with the Magguts +3 spring & finger nub installed on the 10-round mag.

 

[RUT]

I've noticed a trend over the past decade or so on internet gun forums. On forums dedicated to a particular name brand of firearm, at least half the postings are doing nothing but trashing that particular brand. People seem to adore complaining.

And I swear, there are people who'd have problems with a ball peen hammer.

 

[GnarlsR2]

I've noticed a trend over the past decade or so on internet gun forums. On forums dedicated to a particular name brand of firearm, at least half the postings are doing nothing but trashing that particular brand. People seem to adore complaining.

Then, of course, we have the complainers complaining about the "adorable complainers".

 

[tommyhof]

Never had a problem with my Shield plus. Bought a Shield carry comp, only 3 range visits but no problems.

 

[cromag27]

there is a youtube video explaining why you're having a hard time using the slide stop. it is not a defect it has to do with how you're locking it back.