Possible Problem with My 9mm Shield

[BDTeacher]

This may be a non-issue, but I want your opinions. I bought a Shield recently. When I rack the Slide all the way back and let go the bullet chambers just fine. If I ride the slide forward(which I really don't do) the slide will stop about and 1/8th of an inch from the front.
I am wondering if this is an issue, or if it is just required to slingshot to chamber a round. I have never had a gun that did not let me slowly chamber a round. If that is not the case due to the Shield small spring let me know. Thank you in advance.

 

[Roger S&W]

This may be a non-issue, but I want your opinions. I bought a Shield recently. When I rack the Slide all the way back and let go the bullet chambers just fine. If I ride the slide forward(which I really don't do) the slide will stop about and 1/8th of an inch from the front.
I am wondering if this is an issue, or if it is just required to slingshot to chamber a round. I have never had a gun that did not let me slowly chamber a round. If that is not the case due to the Shield small spring let me know. Thank you in advance.

All semi-auto pistols are designed for the slide to move forward with force. Either by dropping the slide stop or pulling back slightly on the slide and then letting it fly forward.
They are not designed for slowly releasing the slide to chamber a round.
Go shoot it and enjoy your new Shield. Nothing wrong with it.

 

[BDTeacher]

Pretty much what I figured, but I am a bit OCD about my firearms. I love the Shield. I may even get a regular M&P for home defense now. Thank you for you input.

 

[SMMAssociates]

BDTeacher:

You're really never supposed to ride the slide down while chambering a round on any semi. As you've noticed, all kinds of problems are possible....

For home defense, the 9FS or 40FS are excellent choices, and only slightly too big for regular concealed carry. (I do occasionally carry my 40FS around the house, but I'm kinda big, and nobody's likely to see it anyway .) If you think it might be convenient to carry the double-stacker "outside", the Compact models are probably a better choice. You lose a few rounds, but overall everything is about the same, and you can use extended magazines (IMHO, not good for concealment) for extra capacity at home.

I've gotten into the habit of using the FS mags for my 40C around the house. Since I carry a spare magazine all the time anyway, not having to worry about which one is back there when I pick a gun on a whim is helpful. (Overall, at short ranges, they shoot about the same for me.)

IMHO, just about everybody can handle the .40 v.s. the 9mm, but getting back on target for a second shot, especially with the 40C, does take a bit more time/effort. I don't have a Shield, so I can't comment, but I'd bet that it's just as bad, if not worse, than the 40C. Which, for me, isn't all that bad, but YMMV.

Regards,

 

[BDTeacher]

Thank you for the input. I have a 40 cal Sig P226, but am really becoming partial to the 9mm. Just may have to get the M&P 9mm FS.

 

[Roger S&W]

Thank you for the input. I have a 40 cal Sig P226, but am really becoming partial to the 9mm. Just may have to get the M&P 9mm FS.

M&Ps tend to multiply on you. Ask me how I know.

 

[Lost Lake]

My only complaint about the Shield is that it remains Out Of Battery (OOB) when the slide is released slowly or press checked.

I would not carry a Shield that exhibited this problem, and I had to work quite a while to get mine (2 of the 3) to fully go back into battery if the slide was bumped OOB.

S&W was no help when I sent it in to them. They said it was normal, which means it was designed to remain OOB if bumped. None of my other guns do that, and again, I won't carry one that does.

Why does it bother me when all these other obviously intelligent guys don't mind?

I'm afraid I may bump the slide OOB when presenting the gun, holstering the gun, or even if I were struggling with an attacker, and at that point the gun would not fire.

In my case I have dozens of handguns that I can carry that do not stay OOB and I can eliminate that one worry from my feeble mind by only carrying a gun that goes into battery if it is bumped out.

In the end only you can decide if what you carry makes you feel safe.

.

 

[Rastoff]

If I ride the slide forward(which I really don't do) the slide will stop about and 1/8th of an inch from the front.

This can be a problem when doing a chamber check. However, it is easily mitigated by pushing the slide closed rather than just letting it close on its own. That is the proper procedure for a chamber check anyway.

My .45 did this when new. It didn't bother me and I just kept using the gun. Now that I have over 2K rounds through it, it doesn't do that any more. When it quit I have no idea. I think it may just be attributable to being a new gun.

Take note, that during a chamber check is the only time it should be noticed. As you know, riding the slide home for the first round of a new mag is not a good idea. So, the only time the slide is handled even marginally gently is during the chamber check. If it sticks at any other time, you have a serious problem.

 

[shawn mccarver]

Not an issue. For the most part, it is repeatable with most any semi-auto. ALWAYS chamber a round at FULL SPEED. NEVER "ride the slide." That is a really dandy way to unintentionally induce a failure during a time of need when you will automatically fall back to what you are used to doing out of habit.

 

[SMMAssociates]

Lost Lake:

Rastoff is correct, IMHO....

But a question: "Home Grown" Reloads or "Factory" (reloads or virgin)?

I know I've posted this before, but my buddy Joe picked up a nearly new Springfield EMP at a bargain price. The original owner couldn't get it to behave, and neither could Joe. Then we noticed that some of my WWB loads (the EMP is a scaled down 1911 in 9mm) and even my "You bought what?!" reloads worked fine. HIS reloads wouldn't work - mostly OOB issues.

SOME 9mm's (generally Glock, I'm told) don't quite support the case head just past the rim, resulting in a small bulge in the case. If you have a tight chamber, those things just won't always chamber properly, unless you use a Lee "Factory Crimp" die or some other "right up to the rim" sizing die. Joe picked one up someplace, and all was well.

(I use one for my .45's - doesn't seem to matter, though. Joe's ancient Beretta 92 didn't mind the bulgy cases, btw, and most of my 1911's don't seem to care which crimping die I use.)

Overall, IMHO, the chamber's too tight, but some guns will just have to wear a tad before the OOB will go away.

I wouldn't worry about knocking the thing out of battery during presentation, etc. While you can always say "anything is possible", it's not likely. That's essentially up to you, though.

Regards,

 

[Gyrene6891]

The only time I can think of, that you would want to ride a round into the chamber, is if you were trying to do so silently, which makes no sense to me. If you always keep a round in the chamber that will not be a problem nor will checking to see if you have a round in the chamber, JMHO.

With respect to the FS M&P. I own a FS40 but have acquired the additional barrels both 9mm and 357 Sig. Best of all worlds, a gun you can shoot 3 different rounds through with just a few seconds of change over...

 

[SMMAssociates]

Gunny:

Just remember which barrel is in place when you shove a magazine into the FS ....

I don't think a press check should open the slide enough to cause OOB issues, but I've been wrong before....

Regards,

 

[Lost Lake]

I don't think a press check should open the slide enough to cause OOB issues, but I've been wrong before....

Regards,

Actually on the Shield, opening the chamber any more than 1/8" results in an OOB situation and it will not fire.

No problem if it's a range gun. But I wouldn't trust my life to a gun that hangs OOB, no matter what caused it to become OOB.

If a gun is that easily disabled I don't feel safe with it. I equate it with a safety that inadvertently bumps on, or a mag disconnect that's active if the mag isn't fully seated.

My 3913 is almost identical in size to my Shields. Try as I might, I cannot get my 3913 to hang OOB. So for me, I can easily change what I carry to make me feel comfortable.

You have to decide for yourself what is important and then trust it.

.

 

[skip4309]

Take the mag out...leaving a round in the chamber...do a press check...it should return to full battery without hesitation...the problem is the mag with loaded rounds pressing up on the slide...get familiar with your weapon and you will not have any problems...shoot the heck out of it and get your confidence level up...tap, rack, bang!

 

[BDTeacher]

Well S&W said I should send the gun in for help. Does anyone disagree?

 

[Lost Lake]

I sent one of mine in, the sent it back saying it was normal.

I worked on it myself so it wouldn't hang OOB.

I can now carry it when I want.

.

 

[Rastoff]

Well S&W said I should send the gun in for help. Does anyone disagree?

Yes, I completely disagree. This is a non-issue. As long as the gun goes into battery every time from regular shooting or slide force, this will not affect it. Also, like I said before, it will quit doing this over time and use.

 

[nocents]

the shield that I had did the same thing when new......its new and tight....shoot it clean it grease the rails lightly.....no problem

 

[BDTeacher]

I really don't want to send it in, but I guess it could never hurt to have someone from S&W look at the gun for free.

 

[Rastoff]

I really don't want to send it in, but I guess it could never hurt to have someone from S&W look at the gun for free.

It wouldn't hurt, but there's time to consider. Right now S&W is swamped. Your pistol could be gone for a month or more. Usually, they turn stuff around in a week or less. Recently we've seen longer times.

Again, in this particular case, I say just shoot it and be happy. It's not an issue.