Magguts +2 conversion 9mm shield

[J45404]

I'm really happy to hear that everyone has had flawless results with the Magguts +2 for the shield. I just recently got a shield and didn't expect to like it so much... other single stacks just didn't quite cut it for me as far as size to capacity ratio, but the shield seems to be sufficient from the factory, and with +2 for only an extra 1/4", you simply can't beat it. Really makes me wish that all the single stacks had a 1.5 stack magazine like the shield, such as the Walther PPS M2(which I just ordered because i couldn't resist the $100 rebate, ending up being $257 net price in the end), and I'll probably get the magguts +1 for the PPS M2, but that only brings it up to 7 rounds... but it is shorter in height than the shield. Either way I think I'll probably end up sticking with the shield as nothing else is going to be able to touch a shield with only 1/4" added to the height for a 9+1 capacity.

When you guys test your guns with the magguts, do you load a full magazine plus one in the chamber? In my experience with testing handguns, the one case where I seem to be most likely to encounter a malfunction is with a fully loaded magazine plus one in the chamber... in fact when I first got my shield, the very first shot was a failure to eject (stovepipe) because I loaded a full magazine plus one in the chamber... I guess the magazine was just so stiff that it slowed down the slide too much to successfully eject the spent case. It actually happened twice in a row (not the next round in the mag, but the same situation; full mag plus one. It hasn't happened since, as I left my mags loaded for a few days before going to the range a second time, and I am confident that I can keep it loaded like this and not have any more issues. My friend's PPS M2 did the same thing when I shot it, and the only time Sig P320 subcompact malfunctioned was one time when I had a full mag plus one. It would definitely be a shame for you to not be able to count on max capacity in a single stack.

 

[yep380]

Guys - please test these extensions adequately with carry ammo before relying on them.

In my limited experience with a previously owned XDs and my currently owned G43, I've found that extensions can work fine with ball/round nose bullets with less of a charge (slide running slower) but choke with more powerful hollow points, especially on the last rounds where the mag spring is fully (over) extended.

When I see reports of 100s of rounds without a hiccup, I'm pretty sure those aren't full-load carry rounds.

I've come to the conclusion that for a carry piece (like the shield), stock mags and a stock trigger are the most reliable configuration. Yes, stock mags can and do fail, but I'm willing to bet they are better tested with a wider array of ammo than any extensions ever are.

 

[dben002]

Two ways to look at a half a bottle of Crown Royal Black..it's either half empty or half full.

Think of the advantages to S&W if they produced a single stack 9mm with the capability of 2 extra rounds in the mag by doing what Magguts did...Sliver of a follower and a lower gage spring able to compress more...And yes S&W could do that but they don't. And there is a reason....

I personally don't know the reason but I suspect their engineers don't see it as a long term viable option for the operation of their handguns.

When I had my 9mm I did order the magguts springs system and after it arrived and I inspected the springs I put them in a drawer and never installed them. Sold the 9 and gave the springs to the buyer.

 

[85V65Sabre]

When I had my 9mm I did order the magguts springs system and after it arrived and I inspected the springs I put them in a drawer and never installed them.

Well that's not vague, care to elaborate?

 

[dben002]

Well that's not vague, care to elaborate?

No problem....after seeing the gage of steel used in the spring and the (what I called the reduction of tension expansion) I did not not feel I could trust the longevity of the recoil/expansion in those springs over extended usage so I opted to stay with the manufacturers spring system. Nothing more, nothing less....

Could I be wrong, certainly I could...but I go back to why does the manufacturer not do it if it's as good or better than their original configuration.......

 

[Shield9mm]

Nothing against magguts, never tried them and probably never will. I can't justify spending $33 o springs for +2 extra rounds, or $26 for +1. I prefer just to carry and extra mag.

 

[Justamessenger]

Everything is designed to a price

No problem....after seeing the gage of steel used in the spring and the (what I called the reduction of tension expansion) I did not not feel I could trust the longevity of the recoil/expansion in those springs over extended usage so I opted to stay with the manufacturers spring system. Nothing more, nothing less....

Could I be wrong, certainly I could...but I go back to why does the manufacturer not do it if it's as good or better than their original configuration.......

In the car world, a Limited model may have another $50 cost embedded in the seat over a base model, which is then much more comfortable. Why don't they give everyone the best seats? Cost.
Magguts sells their +2 kit for $33.95, maybe S&W could do it for $5, but they would choke on an extra $10 cost per unit, and it could eat into the sales of their compact double stack model.

 

[Tomac]

After carrying a 15+1 for many years, going to the Shield's 8+1 was a bit worrisome (YMMV).

I've picked up a couple of the MagGuts +2's for my primary 8rd carry/nightstand mags (so I have 10+1) and several of their +1 base plates for my 7rd reload mags (now 8+1).

Each converted mag has been tested several times w/both 124gr FMJ and my 124gr HST carry load from a full mag w/one in the chamber.

All converted mags have been 100% to date and that's reliable enough for me.

Tomac

 

[J45404]

In the car world, a Limited model may have another $50 cost embedded in the seat over a base model, which is then much more comfortable. Why don't they give everyone the best seats? Cost.
Magguts sells their +2 kit for $33.95, maybe S&W could do it for $5, but they would choke on an extra $10 cost per unit, and it could eat into the sales of their compact double stack model.

While I understand the economics of this, I would also think that having one more round in each of their magazines with no extra length added would put them way ahead of the competition to the point where it would be well worth them spending a little bit more on every magazine to do so... They're already one of the best as far as size to capacity ratio because of the "1.5 stack" magazine, and to add another round on top of that would have a lot of people simply not even willing to consider any of the other competition because of just how much better their capacity would be.... the shield's size to capacity ratio is already one of the top reasons I'm choosing to go with the shield instead of other options like the Glock 43, Walther PPS M2, Springfield XD-S, etc., and if the exact same gun came with the exact same size magazines at 8+1 and 9+1 rounds, there'd be no way I would consider going with the competition

 

[m&p2.0fdethumbsafety]

Guys - please test these extensions adequately with carry ammo before relying on them.

In my limited experience with a previously owned XDs and my currently owned G43, I've found that extensions can work fine with ball/round nose bullets with less of a charge (slide running slower) but choke with more powerful hollow points, especially on the last rounds where the mag spring is fully (over) extended.

When I see reports of 100s of rounds without a hiccup, I'm pretty sure those aren't full-load carry rounds.

I've come to the conclusion that for a carry piece (like the shield), stock mags and a stock trigger are the most reliable configuration. Yes, stock mags can and do fail, but I'm willing to bet they are better tested with a wider array of ammo than any extensions ever are.

these mag extensions really aren't relieving that much tension from the spring. tested with all variety of ammo types. also, shield is a bit different from glocks. shields use metal magazines. glock's magazines flex and expand based on heat and tension. plastic mags will never be as reliable as metal mags. but glock, in its effort to continually maximize its bottom line, fails to provide options and professional grade engineering in its weapons. yes, using plastic mags is a failure in engineering. not only do you require a thicker mag wall, which reduces capacity, it also makes the magazine prone to malfunction. glock's refusal to offer a thumb safety is another sign where they put cost saving above consumer options and pursuit of highest standards. shields are actually far more reliable than glocks. the reliability standard in the industry is really far far more competitive today. it seems people still have their erroneous belief that glock is more reliable than anything else. it's not, and its material and engineering is frankly overrated and inferior

 

[220-niner]

I have a +2 in my 8 round magazine and have run lots of ball or different brands plus 2 magazines of 124+p Gold Dots through it.
No problems.
I now have a P365XL and installed that version on the 12 round magazine and it's also functioned perfectly. Nice to have such a small gun and carry 14 +1. The base plate on the XL +2 adds very little to the length, maybe 1/8 or less.

 

[Jimk45]

shield

Just get a Shield Plus

 

[RobzGuns]

these mag extensions really aren't relieving that much tension from the spring. tested with all variety of ammo types. also, shield is a bit different from glocks. shields use metal magazines. glock's magazines flex and expand based on heat and tension. plastic mags will never be as reliable as metal mags. but glock, in its effort to continually maximize its bottom line... Blah, blah, blah...

Is there some reason you felt the need to raise this Zombie thread of the MagGuts set for SHIELDS to blast Glock and Glock Mags?
... and what does your rant about thumb safeties (or the lack thereof) have to do with the MagGuts kit???