New 9mm M&P Shield - slide getting jammed back.

[Steve_C]

Hi All, I am new to these forums, I just picked up my first S&W pistol yesterday. For a CCW, I chose the 9mm M&P Performance Center Shield. I ran about 250 rounds through it at the range and I had at least a dozen instances where the slide got stuck fully back after firing. The casing was fully ejected and the slide was fully back. There was no slack in the slide to pull it back and "sling shot" it forward, I was able to get the slide to move forward by slamming the rear of the slide with my left palm.
I used 2 different target 9mm ammo (I think both were in the 115gr range). I have used this ammo without a problem in other pistols, so I don't think that is the problem.

I emailed S&W and opened a ticket yesterday, I was just wondering if anyone else had a similar issue with their pistol and if so, what was the solution.

Thanks in advance,

Steve

 

[jtaylor996]

There's a lot of that going around, to be honest. Not on the one I bought a couple of months ago, but there seems to be a bad batch out there.

 

[yep380]

I've seen a few threads on this: Google

Did you clean it before firing? What kind of ammo? I'd say you did the right thing by calling S&W - hopefully they'll sort it out quickly.

 

[Ranger17]

hi OP, was the gun cleaned/lubed as needed before it's first trip (in case something in its original coating was causing the slide issue)?

I have 850+ trouble free rounds now thru my PC Shield; just noting it as i only use 115fmj new brand-name ammo which has been fine for me and my Shield.

 

[Steve_C]

I did not fully clean it prior to going to the range, I was too excited to try it out. When I got home I did clean it. I am going to try to make it back to the range later this week and see if I still have the problem.
Thanks for all the quick replies.

 

[gqllc007]

Looks like it's the barrel is an issue
http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-wesson-m-p-pistols/389143-shield-9-slide-jammed-back-2.html

 

[bigwheelzip]

Hate to hear this problem again.

There's been a rash of that problem with Shield's posted on the forum lately. Might browse through the section to see what others are doing to resolve it.

Good luck and please let us know what gets it resolved.

 

[yep380]

Does it seem like this is more common w/PC shields than standard ones?

I just ordered a standard in 9mm. I'm sure it'll be fine... I do hate reading about people having problems just after I ordered a gun though.

 

[JVSIII]

Here's another, there's at least one more I saw as well.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-...ce-center-sticking-open-out-battery-rear.html

Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

 

[rwsmith]

Be careful to.....

Be careful to set the spring and rod back in the notch exactly. I can't believe i was messing up here, but I had a rash of the slide locking back and VERY difficult to return forward. Someone mentioned to be careful about putting the spring and rod back in. I haven't had any trouble since. I can't imagine myself not putting a spring back in right, but maybe that was it.

At one point I did have the barrel in the Shield replaced due to a short leade, but I can't tie that in with the locking back problem


I had a Kel Tec that the spring would jump across the barrel notch and lock up the works. The factory said that was a known problem. They had to disassemble the thing but it works now.

.

 

[Targets Guy]

Hope you folks get the Shield going. It is too much fun to be having these problems.

 

[Steve_C]

It's alive!!

After thoroughly cleaning and lubing the shield, I was able to put around 200 rounds through it last night without having the slide get stuck. There was one instance where it felt like the slide didnt slide smoothly, but it didn't get jammed. I won't be making this my CCW anytime soon, I need to get a lot more confidence in it.

Maybe this is a combination of a break-in issue as well as grease residue from the factory. I am planning on heading back to the range this weekend to put it through the paces again. Wish my luck!

Thanks everyone for the tips and suggestions.

 

[Rvtraveler100]

Hi All, I am new to these forums, I just picked up my first S&W pistol yesterday. For a CCW, I chose the 9mm M&P Performance Center Shield. I ran about 250 rounds through it at the range and I had at least a dozen instances where the slide got stuck fully back after firing. The casing was fully ejected and the slide was fully back. There was no slack in the slide to pull it back and "sling shot" it forward, I was able to get the slide to move forward by slamming the rear of the slide with my left palm.

I used 2 different target 9mm ammo (I think both were in the 115gr range). I have used this ammo without a problem in other pistols, so I don't think that is the problem.



I emailed S&W and opened a ticket yesterday, I was just wondering if anyone else had a similar issue with their pistol and if so, what was the solution.



Thanks in advance,



Steve

Ditto. New January 9th, jammed on first use, the dealer replaced the spring, jammed again, they shipped it back to S&W on February 14th.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[pakettle]

I have had my 9mm shield for over a year and 700 rounds through it, only problem I have is racking that slide. That puppy is strong!

 

[Hawg Rider]

No issues with my new M&P9 PC

Put about 100 rds through my brand new M&P 9 PC Shield with no issues. I did clean and oil (7 oiling spots per the manual) prior to going to the range. The only issue I had was sore thumbs from loading the magazines- those are some heavy duty springs! Getting that 7th and 8th rd into the new magazines was a chore at first. I also noticed that the barrel around the ports tends to get really dirty/gritty, so be sure to clean those religiously.

 

[gqllc007]

Put about 100 rds through my brand new M&P 9 PC Shield with no issues. I did clean and oil (7 oiling spots per the manual) prior to going to the range. The only issue I had was sore thumbs from loading the magazines- those are some heavy duty springs! Getting that 7th and 8th rd into the new magazines was a chore at first. I also noticed that the barrel around the ports tends to get really dirty/gritty, so be sure to clean those religiously.

Your mag springs might be bent. Replace them with MagGuts +1 or Wolf Springs if you don't want one extra round

 

[True_Precision_Inc]

We think we have discovered the cause of this. During testing with some of our Shield barrels we had a couple stick back in the same position that all these threads have mentioned. Lots of different solutions and speculation and many had sent theirs in to be repaired. The problem we experienced that replicated this exact problem (slide stuck past slide lock and had to "smack" to go back into battery) was that the "neck" of the barrel before the squared chamber had too much meat on the left and right sides where it was pinching. This caused the barrel opening in the front of the slide to grab it when at "full recoil" past the slide lock. Some pistols did it and others didn't depending on if the barrel was too fat, or if the metal wore enough and "smoothed" itself out after it wore a bit. we adjusted our barrels to remove this extra width at that point and have never experienced another hang up. Will post pics in a bit of where the barrel is catching to show.

 

[thomast]

Pic is great. I have been wondering about this a lot. I though e binding would be at the locking block not where you seem to be describing...

We think we have discovered the cause of this. During testing with some of our Shield barrels we had a couple stick back in the same position that all these threads have mentioned. Lots of different solutions and speculation and many had sent theirs in to be repaired. The problem we experienced that replicated this exact problem (slide stuck past slide lock and had to "smack" to go back into battery) was that the "neck" of the barrel before the squared chamber had too much meat on the left and right sides where it was pinching. This caused the barrel opening in the front of the slide to grab it when at "full recoil" past the slide lock. Some pistols did it and others didn't depending on if the barrel was too fat, or if the metal wore enough and "smoothed" itself out after it wore a bit. we adjusted our barrels to remove this extra width at that point and have never experienced another hang up. Will post pics in a bit of where the barrel is catching to show.

 

[True_Precision_Inc]

Pic is great. I have been wondering about this a lot. I though e binding would be at the locking block not where you seem to be describing...

Will get some when back in the shop Monday. We first believed it had something to do with the design of the lug/locking block....nope. It corrected every barrel that was experiencing this when we adjusted the width at the point Im referring to. The barrel will be ridged when it is stuck back (as others have described) but it is not the locking block/lug but a clearance issue with the front of the slide opening for the barrel and the barrel "pinching" at full extension. It will explain/show a lot when we get some pics up.

 

[Flintlock1]

Put about 100 rds through my brand new M&P 9 PC Shield with no issues. I did clean and oil (7 oiling spots per the manual) prior to going to the range. The only issue I had was sore thumbs from loading the magazines- those are some heavy duty springs! Getting that 7th and 8th rd into the new magazines was a chore at first. I also noticed that the barrel around the ports tends to get really dirty/gritty, so be sure to clean those religiously.

Not on topic but I have to agree: The springs in both the slide and mags are very tough hombres. Not very fun after a few loads at the range. My wife can't use the Shield because of it and we're a bit disappointed by this. She wants a Glock 43 after a free rental.

I also find that the mags need a real slap to seat when they are loaded. It could be a game changer in a stressful encounter. My old Colt Hammerless .380 and every other semi auto I've ever owned are very supple by comparison.

I realize the Shield is a cheap gun, but jeez...