New shield Problems

[Capt_Destro]

I had no issues with mine, but I purposely caused a malfunction by loading an empty brass in the magazine with live rounds... Just wanted to practice since the thing feeds and ejects so well. The empty brass locked the gun up.. I'll put more rounds through it.. I wonder what the odds would be of this happening on it's own.

 

[konertjm]

I have had the issues you mention here:
1. Battery failure, either using the slide lock to unlock or manually allowing the slide to go into battery by holding onto the slide.
Solution: Always slingshot the slide, pull all the way back and release.

2. Failure to fire.
Solution 1: Battery problem, see #1.
Solution 2: Ammo choice. The only FTF's I have had, not caused by batery, have been with WWB. I have read many other accounts both on this Forum and others of the same problem with the bulk 100 rnd WWB. I now shoot Federal 100 bulk, or other name brands in the 50 count boxes.

I will add that I have not had any issues since. YMMV.

$.02

 

[fox22]

Yes i have cleaned it twice now. And much ado i havent had it happen any other time than the first round i chamber after that it seems to function fine.

 

[rwsmith]

Could be

Could be light strikes from the firing pin but I'd try several different types of ammo (yes, I know, WHEN you find it) before declaring a gun problem. If the dud shells had a well defined striker mark it could well be the ammo. I am absolutely sure that a lot of ammo is being made cheap instead of good.

 

[zotzer]

I am with HCH. These malfunctions with a first time gun owner are 90%+ chance of user error (no offense intended to OP).

Round not chambering initially is probably from riding the slide. Slide needs to come all the way back and then just let go and let the firearm do the work to chamber the round.

Failures while firing are most likely from limp wristing.

Practice will fix both. I would ask someone experienced to shoot the gun before running out and buying all new ammo.

Not saying it absolutely can't be an ammo problem, but it's the least likely option.

Tracy

 

[Laddy Smith]

Could it be

the packing grease in the firing pin channel? That would seem to hinder proper movement.

Lad

 

[Retired Smokeybear]

Shield...First 1000 rounds

Reached 1000 rounds through my .40cal M&P Shield today since Dec. 2012. Only 5 misfires and that's from the reloaded ammo. All factory ammo was perfect and not one malfunction with the Shield. Gun is pretty broken in right now and handles great! Very little recoil, even my wife with her small hands, can handle it just fine!! It's my everyday carry gun in a Winthrop OWB holster. Put Trijicon night sights on it and @ 20 yards, it's right on bullseye every shot. The Shield is highly recommended both in 9mm and 40cal......
Brand new Shields should be field stripped and cleaned and oiled thoughly. Work that slide back and forth and ALWAYS try to use FACTORY ammo when you can. If you do use reloads, know where you're getting them from and that they're a trusted reloader! If all else fails, have a gun smith look at your Shield....

 

[jpbrnn07]

I have a 2 month old Shield. I have put 600 rounds thru it so far. I love shooting it and can hit what I aim at.

I have had several FTFs, always when I rack the first round. I use cheap bulk ammo. It happened pretty regularly the first few clips but I would just bump the rear of the slide after racking the first round of the mag and all was well. I stopped doing that after the first 5 or 6 mags and did not have the problem until today. I put 200 rounds thru it today and the last mag I loaded the first round, the one I racked, FTF. I thought at first it may have been due to the tightness of the gun but the more I think about it and read about it, it's probably due to the way I have been racking the first round. I will admit my hands are tired after jamming 200 rounds into the mags.

 

[S&WForty]

"Bump the rear of the slide."

Are you saying the gun is Out of Battery until you nudge the slide forward? FTF = Fail to Fire? F can equal Function, Feed, or Fire.

If the gun is Out of Battery, it is not supposed to fire. If that's what's wrong, focus on "OOB" and ignore "FTF." There have been a lot of OOB threads here about the Shield, but it's still relatively uncommon. If it only occurs when the mag is 100% full, that will help pinpoint the cause.

 

[jpbrnn07]

"Bump the rear of the slide."

Are you saying the gun is Out of Battery until you nudge the slide forward? FTF = Fail to Fire? F can equal Function, Feed, or Fire.

If the gun is Out of Battery, it is not supposed to fire. If that's what's wrong, focus on "OOB" and ignore "FTF." There have been a lot of OOB threads here about the Shield, but it's still relatively uncommon. If it only occurs when the mag is 100% full, that will help pinpoint the cause.

Yes, Fail to Fire with first round of a full magazine, prevented by bumping the slide forward after racking. When I pull the trigger there is very little resistance so the pin may not be released. I have not examined the round as they are ejected into a container.

 

[5906fan]

as said above a complete strip down, inspection and cleaning is called for here.
could be magazine related or feed ramp or recoil spring. or crud in FP channel

 

[Roger S&W]

I have a 2 month old Shield. I have put 600 rounds thru it so far. I love shooting it and can hit what I aim at.

I have had several FTFs, always when I rack the first round. I use cheap bulk ammo. It happened pretty regularly the first few clips but I would just bump the rear of the slide after racking the first round of the mag and all was well. I stopped doing that after the first 5 or 6 mags and did not have the problem until today. I put 200 rounds thru it today and the last mag I loaded the first round, the one I racked, FTF. I thought at first it may have been due to the tightness of the gun but the more I think about it and read about it, it's probably due to the way I have been racking the first round. I will admit my hands are tired after jamming 200 rounds into the mags.

I think the solution is to lock the slide back. Insert your full magazine. Then hit the slide release with your thumb. The slide flies forward with speed and force thereby eliminating your problem.

 

[71velle]

I too had a light strike with pmc ammo. No other brands had that issue, but some dont eject well for me.

 

[AGoyette]

I love PMC ammo and have never had an issue with it..

That being said, I agree with Laddie.. While the gun might be cleaned of packing grease, maybe there is some in the striker channel. I know from my gunsmith, that oil in the striker channel can cause almost a vacuum situation where the striker is not able to go forward with enough umph..

 

[Roger S&W]

I love PMC ammo and have never had an issue with it..

That being said, I agree with Laddie.. While the gun might be cleaned of packing grease, maybe there is some in the striker channel. I know from my gunsmith, that oil in the striker channel can cause almost a vacuum situation where the striker is not able to go forward with enough umph..

Can someone please post pics and/or instructions on how to disassemble the Shield to get to the striker channel and how to properly clean it?

 

[cubsfan16]

My wife and I went to the range last weekend and we rented a 9mm Shield. Every time she racked the slide she had this exact problem. Never once did it happen to me. I think it's the way you're racking the slide that's causing it to happen with the first round.

 

[mltndw3]

My wife, who has shot our Shield numerous times, had trouble today as well. She limp wristed it one time and got pinched by the slide another time which caused the two FTEs that are pictured here (sorry about the out of focus picture). She also continues to have difficulty racking it after insertion of a new mag (it has gotten less stiff but it is still a challenge for her). Great gun, but it isn't as forgiving to a novice shooter as a Glock. As everyone says, practice, practice practice.

 

[Badkarma 1]

I Just recently bought my new S&W shield 9mm. I have been on the waiting list for this gun for a long time. This is the first pistol i have ever bought brand new and i was having some problems.

When i got the gun i cleaned it thoroughly and looked over the manual. I am shooting PMC 9mm Luger 124 gr. FMJ. The first time i racked a bullet in the chamber the slide did not come all the way back up so i cleared that shell and the slide come all of the way up the next time. Then i tried shooting and nothing happened. So once again i cleared the shell and shot again and it fired the entire mag just fine. I looked at the shell and the firing pin hit but didnt fire.

I shot 75 rounds through the gun. 3 different times i noticed the slide did not go all the way back. Although the slide is very hard to pull back i tried to make sure i was pulling it back as far as it would let me and the problem still persisted. Also i had 4 bullets not fire although the firing pin was hitting. which leaves me worried about the gun especially as i plan it to be my CCW and i know the gun is not broken in yet which takes more than just 75 rounds but i have never heard of anyone else having this problem. Could it be bad ammo? or a problem with the gun?

I remember back when i started out it was common wisdom to fire at least 200-500 rounds thru a new piece just to break it in. It's still good advice today.
It could be the ammo, it could be the pistol, yes on both counts. But it might be a small burr that needs to be rounded off, a magazine issue, or who knows. Thing is get some different ammo (I'm thinking Winchester NATO spec), try a different mag, and shoot the weapon in a normal manner. Only then if it's still having issues you should give S&W a hollar.
Dale

 

[Republic First]

I had the same issue!

In my Shield 9 it was the spring that was hanging up! Mostly noticeable when manually pulling back the slide! Hangs up 1/2 way through its travel! Check it and see if it's the same. I have never had a failure yet but it is very noticeable.

 

[Ron40]

I Just recently bought my new S&W shield 9mm. I have been on the waiting list for this gun for a long time. This is the first pistol i have ever bought brand new and i was having some problems.

When i got the gun i cleaned it thoroughly and looked over the manual. I am shooting PMC 9mm Luger 124 gr. FMJ. The first time i racked a bullet in the chamber the slide did not come all the way back up so i cleared that shell and the slide come all of the way up the next time. Then i tried shooting and nothing happened. So once again i cleared the shell and shot again and it fired the entire mag just fine. I looked at the shell and the firing pin hit but didnt fire.

I shot 75 rounds through the gun. 3 different times i noticed the slide did not go all the way back. Although the slide is very hard to pull back i tried to make sure i was pulling it back as far as it would let me and the problem still persisted. Also i had 4 bullets not fire although the firing pin was hitting. which leaves me worried about the gun especially as i plan it to be my CCW and i know the gun is not broken in yet which takes more than just 75 rounds but i have never heard of anyone else having this problem. Could it be bad ammo? or a problem with the gun?

I own a shield .40 and had a problem when it was new. After a couple hundred rounds the problem went away. I would also change ammo mfg, maybe they are getting too Scottish on the loads? Clean it as per instructions and oil it and keep shooting and see if the challenge corrects itself.