Potentially dangerous Shield Idiosyncrasy

[Saudade]

Put me in the "not with mine" column.

I suggest you take your mags apart and check.

 

[digitalexplr]

I've got two 7 round mags and three 8 round ones, all factory. I can't get an extra round in any of them with my UPLuLa no matter what I do. Go figure.

 

[hoc9sw]

I have 10 factory mags. 2x8 and 8x7. Equally used over 3000 rounds fired. I just used my uplula, and was not able to force an extra round in any of them.

Maybe needing an uplula instead of using an uplula is the difference?

Or perhaps the mags have been disassembled and springs are not mounted correctly? Or perhaps time for new springs?

Regardless, as practice, I count the rounds out of the box, and then load them, so I would not normally run into this.

 

[Wicchunter]

uplula issue

Personally I want to thank the Op for taking the time to post this. I'll start counting more closely.
Romo11

I thank him also. I just bought my first M&P CORE 40 and being I live in New York State by law I cannot have more than10 rounds in a mag unless you are at an incorporated range or at a competition. So I loaded 4 mags today using the UpLula and the 10th round was a snug fit in all four. No way would an 11th go in. I'm pretty sure S&W just modified their 15 round mags for states like NY and if there was a chance for the Uplula to squeeze in an extra round it would be one of these. In the future as these mags wear in I'll try it again just to be sure. In any case that Uplula sure is a thumb saver with these mags

 

[supplier]

Actually I have similar issue as OP with shield', 9L CORE and XDm 9c - in all I was trying to force an extra round with UpLula, but an extra round is so hard to get in and more important - even harder to get out. if you are not sure if it's an extra round or not - just try to unload (just half way, so the round is still remains in the mag) the last round with your thumb - extra round will be close to impossible to remove. "normal capacity" last round you can slide half way out and move back in with your thumb. YMMV

 

[RV4driver]

I haven't had a problem with my Uplula for pistols...but the one for 5.56 mags will easily let you put an extra round in a 30rnd mag. I always check that the top round is on the right. If it's on the left, there's an extra.
End of thread creep.

 

[randyr5]

I just tried it with mine and it was a no go. Any chance the mag followers had been shortened or perhaps the mag spring shortened at some point in their lives?

Same here. There is no way that 8 rounds will go in the 7-round mag with the UpLula. After round 7, I can only depress it about 1/8". Same with the 8-round. After 8, it's full.

 

[RustyGunn]

It might be interesting if the OP will tell us the number of "coils" and the wire diameter of his mag springs. The factory may have changed spring design or spring supplier.

 

[macski222]

My two mags can't, but my buddies shield that he got NIB had both magazines that were able to accept one extra round. Straight from manufacturer, mags never taken apart.

 

[Mcwsky09]

Can't do that with mine. I even tried loading the wrong caliber in a couple mags and that also didn't work very well at all.

 

[RobzGuns]

My two mags can't, but my buddies shield that he got NIB had both magazines that were able to accept one extra round. Straight from manufacturer, mags never taken apart.

How old is your friend's Shield?
The OP said his was Brand New and Unaltered.
Maybe S&W DID change the mag spring specs a bit for the newer Shields.

 

[macski222]

No older than 3 months I would say. Mines about a year old. It very well could be smith attempting to address the stiff mag spring, and over correcting.

 

[shawn mccarver]

Yeah, thanks for that capt'n obvious. I always count rounds when I'm firing. Never had a gun that you could overload the mag before tho, even with a loader.

Over loading magazines is such a problem that armorer's training for most brands warn against it for a variety of reasons. It is such a problem with Glock magazines that armorers preach that an overloaded Glock magazine can be damaged beyond repair, requiring that the magazine be discarded. In fact, there are many brands for which this is a problem. It is possible, in a variety of brands to, either accidentally or on purpose, load an extra round or two. Just why someone would intentionally do this, thereby reducing reliability of a self-defense firearm, is unclear, but one should guard against it with great care.

 

[Rastoff]

I recently traded in my LC9 for a Shield and now have about 500 rounds thru it.

Did you trade for a new Shield or a used one?

If it's a used gun, then it's possible the previous owner cut a few coils off the spring in order to fit that last round in more easily. This could make room for an extra round.

For the record, sometimes I count as I load mags and sometimes I don't. In all the mags I've used, for all the different guns, I've never had one that could load an extra round. I've always just loaded them until they didn't accept any more.


Now, about that "dangerous" part, I don't see it. How would an over loaded mag push the slide out of battery? The force vectors are virtually perpendicular. If anything, due to mag angle, it would force the slide forward. I guess I just don't see it. A picture would help.

 

[Muss Muggins]

I've had experience with an overloaded Glock 23 mag or two in my time, so I know it's possible. Also, the only loader being used was the one that came with the pistol. I'm with Rastoff about it forcing a pistol out of battery. I'd like to see a picture, because it doesn't seem possible to me. Of course, I've been known to say "Wow, never seen that before . . . " more than once in my life, and I'm sure I'll say it again.

 

[MSUDawgs]

glad you posted this.
i'm like you, i dont count, when i use the loader...i just go until it's full.
i'll start paying attention now.

 

[Magload]

Gee I don't carry and only put the number of rounds in my mag depending on the size of group I am shooting. I burn up to much ammo everyday to want to empty a full mag each time.

 

[handejector]

I'll be back in a minute after I handle some "stuff".

 

[handejector]

My compliments to the OP for two reasons:

First, for posting the topic in the first place and trying to share knowledge of a situation that could be hazardous.

Second, for his excellent handling of some rather shabby treatment and needlessly insulting commentary.

Well done.

I'll reopen this now.
Keep it civil or move along to Glocktalk.

 

[bubs]

I have a new shield 40 and can only get 5 rounds in the 7 mag and 3 in the 6, is this normal and will springs loosen a little?