New M&P 9mm Shield Jamming

[SFMarion]

I bought it on Wednesday and took it to the range tonight. I shot 50 rounds of Remington (green box) FMJ. About 10% of the time the weapon would push the slide all the way to the back, as if the slide was being pushed back in the cycle and getting stuck and not coming forward.

I tried to get the slide unstuck by pulling the slide back so I could release it, but it wouldn't go any farther though. I tried tapping the slide from the rear to see if I could hit it forward with my hand. The only way to get the slide to release was to tap it, barrel down, on the table.

Has anyone else run into this problem? Does this sound like a "send back to the factory" issue? I'm new to S&Ws.

It does look like, if I send it back to the factory for service, I have to pay shipping, so I'd like to not have to send it back if possible.

 

[greeenteeee]

Check for the spring piece around the take down lever... it's the shiny part on the frame on the right (not shiny on the left).

It should be flush so as not to impede slide movement.

Otherwise, lube the heck out of it, especially the RSA. I had this issue with a Performance Center Shield and worked itself out.

 

[SFMarion]

What is the RSA? And as far as the problem "worked itself out," do you mean you fired it enough that the problem disappeared?

 

[tomkatz]

S&W should send you a prepaid shipping label if it has to go back I'm thinking?
RSA = recoil spring assembly
I just bought a new shield too, I took it out today and it did fine except the slide hung up slightly out of battery a couple times.
I'm hoping a little more break in will fix that.

 

[swsig]

If you determine that the spring clip by the takedown lever (from greeenteeee's post #2) is not impeding your slide, I suggest getting more aggressive with your lubrication -- using more than the manual says -- especially during break-in. I also prefer to use gun grease rather than oil on all sliding parts, which are basically all of the seven lubrication points in the Shield manual. Then take it to the range and shoot the heck out of it -- 150 to 200 rounds. Sometimes that's enough to loosen it up. Also, try different ammo, and be sure it's 124 or even 147 grains. Shield 9s seem to like heavier weight rounds. My Shield 9 prefers Speer Lawman 124 grain or MEN 124 grain ammo. MEN is a high quality German cartridge available on line at SG Ammo for a reasonable price.

I'm sure you'll get other useful suggestions from the learned folks here on the Forum. I hope your new Shield's problems are temporary and that it will quickly become an enjoyable gun for you. But if you do have to ship it back, S&W will pay the freight.

 

[rwsmith]

These complaints are common......

....and it most likely should be sent back. But shoot it with different ammo and see if it does any better and gets 'broken in'. Compact pistols can be picky about ammo, though the Shield, generally, is not.

 

[yep380]

Google "shield slide stuck back"

There are many threads here about it.

You should call S&W and arrange a return so they can fix it.

 

[jim46ok]

1. Clean the heck out of it.
2. Lube (grease is good) the heck out of it.
3. Ensure you are not "limp wristing" it.
4. Shoot the heck out of it.
5.THEN call S&W.

 

[eahicks]

Also, try different ammo, and be sure it's 124 or even 147 grains. Shield 9s seem to like heavier weight rounds. My Shield 9 prefers Speer Lawman 124 grain or MEN 124 grain ammo. MEN is a high quality German cartridge available .

I have found this to be true with mine. Had issues with 115 gr, as far as this similar problem, and flat out accuracy. Everything shot low when I ran it.
Now I've got 3 boxes of 115 I might never use, and only try to use 147 in mine now.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Ranger17]

Hi OP, assuming the gun was new when purchased did you clean/lube it before it's first range trip?

As for ammo, i have 1100+ rounds thru my Shield 9 (PC model), all 115gn and mostly used the same UMC ammo you had trouble with. Zero issues on my end with said ammo in my Shield and my full size MP.

So I guess ammo could be an issue and it may be worth trying another brand/grain round to see if that is the case with your handgun, but i'm thinking ammo isnt the cause.

 

[Rastoff]

Otherwise, lube the heck out of it, especially the RSA.

Um, no.

Lubrication is good. Lubrication on the Recoil Spring Assembly is wasted lubrication. All it will do is attract dirt. Springs need no lubrication.

 

[greeenteeee]

Um, no.

Lubrication is good. Lubrication on the Recoil Spring Assembly is wasted lubrication. All it will do is attract dirt. Springs need no lubrication.

I should clarify. I don't lube springs on my other pistols, AT ALL. But both Shields, especially my last one were super dry, crunchy, gritty and heavily attributed to the slide being difficult to rack.

What I did to lube the RSA is lock the slide back, dripped oil into the inner spring assembly. Once it starts to operate smoother, I never do anything with the RSA.

Both Shields are at 500+ rounds and stopped having a crunchy recoil spring at about 1-200 rounds and generous lubing (prior to that, you can hear it creak and moan if you were to slowly rack the slide-- that definitely made it harder to rack).

I use grease on the slide contact points and oil on the barrel-- that's about it.

 

[Cloyce]

I also oiled the RSA, do to not being able to lock the slide back. Man my arm hurts from all the attemps.