New Shield 45 - Problem or Not ???

[dben002]

Just got off chat with S&W concerning the failure of the slide to lock on empty chamber. They claim they have no knowledge of this happening whereas a lot of the youtube reviews are showing this problem.....

Yes it is not a consistent problem but enough reviewers have had it happen during their review that it is more than a fluke.

Anyone more knowledgeable than myself have any insight as to what may cause this to happen ?????????

Thanks......(mine has not done it yet...but waiting....but also only 150 rounds downrange as it's new).

Thanks

 

[SwflG17Guy]

Mine has been flawless. You called about a problem that you don't have?
Just shoot it maaan.

 

[kthom]

FWIW, mine has about 400 rounds down range and I have not had this issue at any time. Till it does, I'm not worried about it, especially at this stage of the game!

 

[OKFC05]

Anyone more knowledgeable than myself have any insight as to what may cause this to happen ?????????

Haven't seen it on a Shield 45, but on other guns failing to lock on last shot in my classes it has been wimp grip shooter, riding slide catch, or wimp ammo.

If you can pull the slide back on an empty magazine and the slide locks, there is nothing wrong with the gun.

 

[Houser52]

Just got off chat with S&W concerning the failure of the slide to lock on empty chamber. They claim they have no knowledge of this happening whereas a lot of the youtube reviews are showing this problem.....

Yes it is not a consistent problem but enough reviewers have had it happen during their review that it is more than a fluke.

Anyone more knowledgeable than myself have any insight as to what may cause this to happen ?????????

Thanks......(mine has not done it yet...but waiting....but also only 150 rounds downrange as it's new).

Thanks

My new Shield 45 had failed to lock back a few times but it was my thumbs forward grip.
With a XD and a XDs that I had, I rounded and smoothed the top edge of the slide stops and that fixed the problem.

I'm in the process of trying to build muscle memory with a new grip now. I can't bring myself to modify a new gun at this time.

 

[Maxshield]

99.9% of the time....it's the thumb

 

[MacA]

Not one issue with mine. Around 500 rounds through it so far.

Needless worry on your part!

 

[Rastoff]

It's quite common for people to come here asking about a problem they "heard" about, but haven't experienced. You're spending too much time looking for a problem.

In the Air Force we have a saying, "Look long enough and you'll find a regulation stating what you're doing is wrong." The same applies here. Look hard enough and you'll find something wrong. Stop it.

Just go shoot. When you have an actual problem, which you won't, then ask and we'll be happy to help you solve it.

 

[RobzGuns]

99.9% of the time....it's the thumb

Yup... MOST of the time, when people mention this problem, it's due to the shooter unintentionally laying their thumb on top of the slide stop.

Even though they swear they aren't doing it, when they go back to the range and pay attention to what they're doing, they will find that it was indeed 'user induced'.

As Rastoff mentioned, don't look for things that MIGHT happen. Just go shoot the thing.
Have fun

 

[gwpercle]

My advice....stop watching U-tube , go shooting and don't worry about problems you don't have.

 

[shakyshoot]

99.9% of the time....it's the thumb

True on most guns, but not sure that's the case with the Shield. I had this happen 2 or 3 times on the first couple of range trips with my 9mm Shield, then it never happened again. I believe it's due to "short stroking" with a brand new recoil spring and/or a gun that hasn't been cleaned and lubed out of the box. On most of my semi-autos, the slide lock position is 1/4" or more forward of the maximum rearward slide travel. On the Shield it's very close to 1/8". In other words, if the slide doesn't go back to within 1/8" of it's maximum travel it will miss the slide lock. That's one reason people have a hard time locking the slide back manually. They don't realize how far back the lock position is. 100 or 200 rounds through the gun should end the problem unless you run into a very weak round. Happy to say my 9mm Shield had now gone over 2000 rounds without a malfunction of any kind.

 

[MarkL_01]

99.9% of the time....it's the thumb

The thumb was the cause of my 9mm shield not locking back. I blame my old habit of resting my thumb on the safety when shooting 1911s.
-Mark

 

[old-school]

Mine has been flawless.about 600 rounds down range so far and I have not had any issues-watch your thumb.

 

[Maxshield]

Shoot it left handed and you'll know

 

[ca survivor]

OP claims " the failure of the slide to lock on empty chamber " that is correct if no magazine in gun, the magazine follower is what keeps the slide open or operate the slide lock by hand.