New Shield .40 will not feed rounds consistently.

[A.Christopher]

Hello all,
I've recently picked up a new Shield .40 and while I've never had any issues with any of my S&W's right out of the box, I wanted to see if you think this is a real problem or will resolve itself once it's broken in with a few hundred rounds through it. Before I shot it for the first time I did a thorough cleaning and treated it with FrogLube. A few days later I made it to the range to test it out and noticed immediately that the Shield does not seem to feed the rounds consistently. Yet the same brand ammo out of the same box will feed without issues in my M&P 40c. During the first range visit I shot about 100 rounds of WWB ammo through it and it seemed like it would fail to feed at least one (sometimes two) rounds out of each mag, but honestly I didn't count the total. When it happens, the spent casing ejects and the next round starts to feed into the chamber but seems to get hung up at an angle. If I rack the slide it will finish feeding the round and fire fine. It does this with both the flush and extended mags that came with the gun. So after the range visit I cleaned the gun and made sure the feed ramp was clean and there were no defects on it, even cleaned it up with a little Flitz polish.

This morning I went to the range to test it out again and shot 200 rounds of Federal Champion ammo through it. Ended up with 8 total fail to feed from both the flush and the extended mags. It definitely seemed better than the first range visit but it still is happening. It seemed to happen after I fired the first round and it was feeding the 2nd round in the chamber when it jams (see photos). It has never failed to fire or failed to eject a round at all, just the feed issue. I've read that sometimes new guns have feed issues cause the springs are new, etc. and usually it will work itself out after a few hundred rounds. Should I wait and see what it does after 500-600 more rounds through it, or should it not have this issue regardless if it's new? What do you guys think?

I have new sights, Talon Grips, Apex DCAEK kit and AEK Trigger that I'd like to install, but don't want to incase I have to send the gun in to S&W for repairs, I would be afraid they wouldn't repair it under warranty with aftermarket parts in it.

Thanks for any help or suggestions on this issue.

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[Wolf1775]

Looking at the photos, it appears that the round is catching the bottom of the feed ramp rather than hitting it, causing the front of the round to catch and get stuck. Am I correct on that?

Is this problem with only that mag, or do you have similar issues with others? If it's only that mag, perhaps the feed lips on the mag are too narrow?

 

[Nomadic Vagabond]

First post here also.

I have this exact same issue with my M&P40 Shield and I have 800 rounds through mine. I also have a M&P40 FS 4.25" Pro with 1600 rounds of the same ammo through it with 0 issues whatsoever, so I think it's the Shield's issue.

I have used WWB FMJ 180gr and Hornady Critical Defense 165gr ammo and have had the same issue you've had with the round not chambering correctly. This has happened 6x with WWB and 1x with HCD over in the 1.5 months I've owned the Shield. FYI - S&W Test Fire date is 10/31/2013, so his is a post-recall Shield. Slinging the slide chambers the round correctly after the mishap as well. This has happened with my three 6-round mags and my one 7-round mag during 5 out of my 6 range visits with the Shield. I clean my gun after every single range visit too. I don't believe I'm limp-wristing and I'm almost sure my thumb is not hitting the slide lock. Also, I've kept the slide locked back for 3 straight days - no difference.

This equates to a 0.87% failure rate, which is unacceptable considering my M&P FS has a 0.00% failure rate with twice as much ammo through it. I'm extremely hesitant making the Shield my CCW with this issue. All I see is people rave about their Shield (which is why I got one) but I'm getting to the point where I'm considering selling it.

Has anyone else experienced this issue? Please speak up. I'm holding off calling S&W until I get to 1000 rounds which I should hit on my next range visit. I'm going to flip if it happens past 1000 rounds though. Would S&W even do anything for this issue?

On the bright side, my trigger is smoothed out with no grittiness, but whatever...

 

[Capttjk1]

I bought a .40 Shield about a month ago. About 300 rounds thru it with no problems at all. The rounds fired are PMC 165 gr, WWB 180 gr and Federal Personal Defense HP's 155gr.

My Shield has been 100 percent just like my M&P 9 Pro and M&P 9C. There should not be any feed problems, I would send it back to S&W for them to fix. Just my opinion.

 

[Decipher]

Contact Smith and Wesson. My 9 had ran flawlessly with over 1000 rounds and everyone I know with the 40 haven't seen this issue. S&W will take care of you.

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[Dino1]

That round in the picture is definitely nose down and hung on the feed ramp. I would give it a real good polish with some polishing compound and a Dremel. Make it look like it is chrome plated. You may also want to take your mag apart and bend the top coil upwards to put a bit more pressure on the front side of the follower. Sometimes this trick works very well.

 

[Robotech]

It may be just the photo, but that feed-ramp doesn't look right.

My Shield 40 has a very definite, smoothly curved surface, and came from the factory looking reasonably well polished. The one in the photo looks a lot more "flat". Also, when the slide is locked back, the edge of my barrel ramp is even-with or below the front edge of the magazine, so there is zero chance of the bullet catching on the edge of the ramp.

Looks to me like you may need a replacement barrel.

 

[George9]

I'm not sure if the round you're showing us if actual round in the mag that did not feed at the time it did not feed or if you're trying to simulate your feed issue in a picture.. I have found a round to nose dive in a few pistols when not slingshotting the slide when loading the first round. I rarely see a round nose dive on the middle of a string.. That said most of the time with a feed issue the round in the string will be nose up and lock the slide open and can be feed by hammering the back of the slide with your hand.. If this is infact the case I would be looking at a extractor issue mostly tight and the case has a hard time getting under the extractor.. If this is the case it's a 5 min fix at your local gunsmiths is the ticket if you can't fix it yourself and I'm assuming you can't or you would have instead of posting this or sending the gun back to S&W..Also S&W may send you a new extractor if you ask them to so you can change it out instead of adjusting yours. Please be clear on what we are seeing in the photo..

 

[78shovel]

First post here also.

I have this exact same issue with my M&P40 Shield and I have 800 rounds through mine. I also have a M&P40 FS 4.25" Pro with 1600 rounds of the same ammo through it with 0 issues whatsoever, so I think it's the Shield's issue.

I have used WWB FMJ 180gr and Hornady Critical Defense 165gr ammo and have had the same issue you've had with the round not chambering correctly. This has happened 6x with WWB and 1x with HCD over in the 1.5 months I've owned the Shield. FYI - S&W Test Fire date is 10/31/2013, so his is a post-recall Shield. Slinging the slide chambers the round correctly after the mishap as well. This has happened with my three 6-round mags and my one 7-round mag during 5 out of my 6 range visits with the Shield. I clean my gun after every single range visit too. I don't believe I'm limp-wristing and I'm almost sure my thumb is not hitting the slide lock. Also, I've kept the slide locked back for 3 straight days - no difference.

This equates to a 0.87% failure rate, which is unacceptable considering my M&P FS has a 0.00% failure rate with twice as much ammo through it. I'm extremely hesitant making the Shield my CCW with this issue. All I see is people rave about their Shield (which is why I got one) but I'm getting to the point where I'm considering selling it.

Has anyone else experienced this issue? Please speak up. I'm holding off calling S&W until I get to 1000 rounds which I should hit on my next range visit. I'm going to flip if it happens past 1000 rounds though. Would S&W even do anything for this issue?

On the bright side, my trigger is smoothed out with no grittiness, but whatever...

I would contact Smith and Wesson before 1000 rounds and see what they say, worst case they say not their problem and you are back to trying to flip it. My wife's 40 Shield has been flawless and one of our trips to fire was in 23 degrees and another was in the rain. Winchester 165 grain fmj ammo is all we have run through it so far...
P.S. welcome to the site

 

[dfhawkins]

Dino1 and Robotech are on the right track. The feed ramp should be polished and concaved from S&W. Yours looks flat, and there is a "skid mark" up the middle. Not right! DIY, or better, send it back to Smith. It looks like an unfinished barrel.

Practiced with my Shield 40 and a box of WWB yesterday without failure... as always.

 

[78shovel]

A.Christopher,
If it were me I think I would try to contact Smith and Wesson and ask their advice. My wife has a 40 Shield and the same ammo you are using we have had no problems. 23 degrees one time and raining another time we fired it and even in those conditions no problems. Keep us updated and welcome to the site.

 

[hogwylde]

Although I've only gone through 100 rounds of Blazer with my new .40 Shield, I did not have any problems of any kind.

 

[SpringGunTunes]

This is from limp wristing. Mine did the same thing so much I almost sold it. It never failed to feed shooting with one hand but when I used both hands and tried to shoot tight groups by holding the pistol lightly it did what yours did about every third round. A firm tight grip eliminated the failures.
Rob

 

[Neumann]

Something doesn't look right about the first photo. The cartridge looks larger than the opening in the magazine. Furthermore, I have never seen a .40 round nosed bullet. Most are a truncated cone with a flat or hollow point. I know it's impossible, but it looks like a .45 from this angle.

Limp wristing could cause FTF. While a loose grip can be the root cause, more often it is the wrong angle of the wrist. You have to extend properly and keep your head low, so that the wrist is straight with respect to your forearm. Another common factor with a small pistol is using a "cup and saucer" two hand hold, rather than a proper interlocking grip (more like a golf grip).

 

[BobbyBJr]

My 40 has been pretty much flawless. The last time at the range i did have one failure, but pretty sure that one was my fault because i was experimenting with my grip when it happened. Other than that, Ive put 700 rounds through it without a problem. I agree with the others in that my feed ramp looks much more polished than the one in the picture.

Bobby


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[George9]

Picture can be very deceiving. I'm sure that is powder residue on the feed ramp from shooting. Photo #2 looks a little more like a .40 round to me but again pictures lenses and angles can deceive. The only thing I'm sure of in the pictures is that the bullet is taking a nose dive.

 

[gboling]

I cannot be sure if this is the cause here, but some magazines for the third generation stainless autos were shipped with the mag springs in backwards. This caused reduced pressure at the front of the cartridge and failing to lift the nose of the bullet above the front of the magazine.

 

[A.Christopher]

Thanks for all the feedback and suggestions.

I can assure you it is the correct size ammo in the gun, new Federal Champion .40 S&W 180gr purchased at Walmart. The same ammo from the same box during the same range session fed and fired correctly in my 40c during the same range session. After the first range session I did polish the feed ramp to a chrome looking finish using a Dremel with a felt cone and Flitz metal polish, I was careful to only polish it to a shine with light pressure so I was sure not to take any metal away or change the angle (if metal needs removed or angle needs changed I would rather S&W do it or replace the barrel, I don't want to screw it up and void the warranty). The reason the feed ramp doesn't appear clean and shiny is because the photos were taken during the second range session, after a few feed jams and after about 120 rounds I decided to take the two pics to post here and see what you all thought about it and what I should do, so yes it was during a range session and the photos were of an actual feed jam not a simulation. I thought maybe it could be my grip or limp wristing it, so I did try gripping it differently, even excessively tight, tried rapid fire follow ups, also one handed thinking if my thumb was dragging the slide to slow it down or something, but it still didn't feed consistently. I was the only one in the range at that time so I could not have anyone else shoot it to further verify it was or wasn't me doing something wrong. I can take the mags apart and look at the spring but won't know which way is correct unless someone could post a photo showing it. I've ordered 3 new mags to compare the mag lip for any differences using digital calipers... And just as an excuse to order more mags while they were in stock.

I would love to resolve this on my own if I can, if it's an easy fix like the mag spring that would be great. I'm definitely not a gun smith but I am mechanically inclined however if it's something that I shouldn't have to do, or is irreversible like grinding the barrel and could void the warranty I would rather send it in and wait for a working gun. I can post pics of the polished feed ramp in the morning if you guys want to see it, or the mag springs and lip, hell if you need a video clip of me shooting it next time to see if it is my fault I can try and do that.

-Adam Christopher


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[Bkreutz]

It's possible for the spring to have been installed backwards. I've attached a picture that shows the correct orientation. These are the old style mags but the only difference is the bottom catch and plate, the springs and followers are the same. HTH

 

[A.Christopher]

Thanks Bkreutz for the photos showing the correct orientation of the springs. I will disassemble them both in the morning and compare them to your photos.


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