My Shield is a paper weight - help needed

[obiter_dictum]

I have the same issue with my Shield RSA, new out of the box, went to range and shot 100 rounds. When I was field stripping it at home, the main spring shot across the room. Apparently, the screw on the end had came off while I was firing the gun. I thought I saw a black screw when I was cleaning up my brass, but I did not think much of it until I got home and the spring sprung. I email S&W through their webpage and did not get a response. I called last week, and the guy said he would get a replacement RSA out to me in a couple weeks. After reading other posts, I wonder when that couple weeks starts. The G&R Tactical is sold out, again after seeing other post's, I now have an idea who bought them out. I will wait a couple weeks and see if S&W comes through with a replacement. This sounds like a defect they should be trying to fix, I guess if enough of us call for replacements, they might get the message.

On the lighter side, I enjoyed shooting my Shield. I need to work on trigger squeeze, I am wanting to pull down to the left some. I was starting to get better as the day went on. Nice gun to shoot.

 

[handlebar]

G&R out of stock on RSA'S.

 

[jxmot]

Greetings all,

I'm new to this site... from Chicago and waiting for my Shield .40S&W to arrive.

I'm a bit concerned regarding what I've read in this thread. Is the RSA failure a common problem with the Shield? I'm wondering if I should just go ahead and obtain a replacement before putting any rounds through it.

Thanks!

 

[Saudade]

I can only speak for myself. I have about 500-600 rounds through my 9mm, no thumb safety model (yes, I don't keep detailed records). I've field stripped mine dozens of times. No issues.

Having spare parts is always a good thing. If you plan to carry it, then certainly have spares or a backup pistol.

 

[bigwheelzip]

Just got my Shield 9MM RSA after being on order since 5/14. After calling bi-weekly after the first month, the last time I called I was told it was on back-order. I responded with polite encouragement, mentioning how long I've been waiting, and I got the "I'll see what I can do".

 

[jxmot]

Just got my Shield 9MM RSA after being on order since 5/14. After calling bi-weekly after the first month, the last time I called I was told it was on back-order. I responded with polite encouragement, mentioning how long I've been waiting, and I got the "I'll see what I can do".

Is the replacement RSA different from the factory installed RSA?

 

[RobzGuns]

Is the replacement RSA different from the factory installed RSA?

The replacement from CS is the same RSA.
and... Although there have been SOME RSA problems, it's by no means of epidemic proportion.

If you're looking to buy, hold off a couple weeks to see how the replacement RSAs are doing. If you're money's burning a hole in your pocket, either take a chance, or buy something else... But every pistol in the same category has had problems worse than this annoyance.

 

[jxmot]

The replacement from CS is the same RSA.
and... Although there have been SOME RSA problems, it's by no means of epidemic proportion.

If you're looking to buy, hold off a couple weeks to see how the replacement RSAs are doing. If you're money's burning a hole in your pocket, either take a chance, or buy something else... But every pistol in the same category has had problems worse than this annoyance.

Thanks! That's good to know.

That money has already burned a hole in my pocket, fortunately it wasn't too big of hole because I had a piece to trade. So I'll take the chance and hope for the best. But depending on how well it shoots for me will determine if I begin searching for a "backup" RSA. And if it works out for me I'm planning on putting about 100 practice rounds through it every week or so.

 

[bigwheelzip]

Is the replacement RSA different from the factory installed RSA?

Same as original.

 

[iez]

Update on my paper weight

Ok, so I replaced the factory RSA with a stainless steel guide rod from ssguiderods. If you know the product you will know that it doesn't use the assembly really, getting rid of the sleeve and the small spring, using only the large spring on the new guide rod. The guide rod is very good quality and their customer service is ****. However, in my case anyway, there isn't enough tension on using the large spring alone to seat the slide. With momentum the breach closes, but just closing it by hand (not letting it slam shut) it catches. Maybe I'm just expecting too much. I haven't shot it yet, I'm sure the momentum from shooting will cause flawless operation. I worry about how the first round will chamber, as that will need more energy from the spring to pull it out of the mag into the breach.

I'm really disappointed with this pistol. I love the M&P design as testament of my M&P 45, but the shield seems to be a lemon. I will keep it, as I tend to regret selling guns, an really who will buy a seemingly defective pistol. But I really don't think I will ever carry it, much less take it to the range because I don't have confidence in the pistols function. Hopefully someone somewhere will come out with a superior RSA. Really all they would have to do is use an actual screw and loc-tite the hell out of it, instead of that wonky threaded plug holding it all together. This is the first firearms purchase that I absolutely regret.

Maybe it's a sign of the time, but S&W seem too be slipping...

As an aside, SSguiderods is a great company. It took less than a week from me shipping my assembly to them to get the goods back. Customer service was very responsive, answering every question I had within hours, sometimes within the hour. Their manufacturing seemed to all be done in house.

 

[Radco]

Greetings all,

I'm new to this site... from Chicago and waiting for my Shield .40S&W to arrive.

I'm a bit concerned regarding what I've read in this thread. Is the RSA failure a common problem with the Shield? I'm wondering if I should just go ahead and obtain a replacement before putting any rounds through it.

Thanks!

JX I don't think it is to common.. I have 400+ rounds in my 9mm Shield and no issue's but ordered 2 RSAs just to have on hand,, My son has a 9mm Shield 600+ rounds no issues but for 12$ a cheap spare IMO Enjoy your Shield

 

[j38]

As I mentioned in another thread, my RSA flew apart while cleaning the gun after about 400 rounds through it. I waited 5 weeks for the replacement to come in and have another 100 rounds through it since with no problems. Otherwise, the gun is accurate, has very manageable recoil, and is light enough to carry easily. I plan to put several more hundred rounds through it before I would want to carry it though.

Jerry

 

[gunny4053]

I'm going to ask a stupid question, and I ask because I don't have a Shield any more (sold it to a friend) to try this on. Has anyone tried just running the RSA as a non-captured version? Nobody seems to have a function issue, just notices the RSA coming apart when they disassemble for cleaning. Shouldn't be any different than the Wolff guide rods, unless they're not long enough to connect with the slide. Just a thought.

 

[Boudreauaj]

Gotta vent, I'm starting to feel like a real dumb@zz. This M&P Series is target for military and police and it breaks during the first 300 Rounds using standard American Eagle target ammo. This is unacceptable. I really should have bought a Glock. I don't think I will be recommending any S&W products. How can I, aren't we betting our lives on their performance. If I can't trust I won't EDC it.

Update: I called S&W 8/12/15 and the RSA is still on backorder. I asked the customer service representative if they have redesigned the RSA and the CSR assured me it hasn't because a revision # hasn't been assigned.. So I said, once I get the new RSA this may happened again and he said yes. WTH!

I just don't understand how they know they have a design failure and they don't repair it. Don't they understand they are gambling with our lives.
I guess it's cheaper to replace the RSAs that fail versus improving the design and using better materiels. Maybe the tolerance are so tight they cant fix it beause it would drive the cost up exponentiall?.

I guess what I am alluding to is let the buyer beware.

 

[Jim1392]

Before I sat around waiting for S & W to send a replacement I would just buy the one mentioned in post #2 and use the one S & W sent as a spare.

 

[DocB]

Shields do make very attractive paper weights. Just the thing to use on your desk at the office.

 

[hoc9sw]

I was considering the price - about $10 based on what earlier posts mentioned. The RSA for a Kimber Ultra is $50. The Kimber has to have the outer spring replaced about every 800-1000 rounds, and that kit is $10 for just the spring.

Just an observation on costs ....

 

[RobzGuns]

I was considering the price - about $10 based on what earlier posts mentioned. The RSA for a Kimber Ultra is $50. The Kimber has to have the outer spring replaced about every 800-1000 rounds, and that kit is $10 for just the spring.

Just an observation on costs ....

Sorry for the sidetrack, but WOW!!! Kimber springs Needing to be replaced every 800-1K rounds??? Just doesn't seem right that a pistol of that (umm...) caliber (sorry) runs through springs that quickly [shaking head].

 

[Bob O]

Wilson Combat recommends replacement of their music wire coil type recoil springs every 2,000 rounds.

I guess if you want a "finely tuned" pistol, you should replace the spring before it gets weak and changes characteristics as a result?

For me, that isn't bad considering I only shoot about 2K per year. Wilson coil springs are fairly inexpensive. Flat wire springs have a lot longer maintenance interval, 20K rounds I believe.

 

[RobzGuns]

Wilson Combat recommends replacement of their coil type recoil springs every 1,000 rounds as well.

I guess if you want a "finely tuned" pistol, you should replace the spring before it gets weak and changes characteristics as a result?

I guess this confirms my NOT having a need for owning a "finely tuned" pistol.
Maybe some day when I have a sponsor and make a living out of shooting. LOL