Problem with 7 round Shield mag lockback .

[Edd Harbin]

Just had a problem pop it's head up . When useing the 7 round mag after the last round I had some failures to lock back . I don't have this problem with the 8 rounder . I did some mag exchange exersizes and noticed with the 7 rounder upon isertion the catch for the slide lock only barely engages the slide . If I drop the mag I had a few slide releases with the mag drop . If it didn't drop and I put 7 round mag back in the skide stop popped all of the way up into full stop . Again , no problem with the 8 round mags , full stop on the 8 rounder .

 

[Nakanokalronin]

Did this do it when new or after you shot many rounds using that 7 round magazine? It might be a good idea to clean the mags inside and out once in awhile as well.

I've also noticed that S&W magazines have a hard/slightly sticky residue on them that's hard to see until you use some Hoppes and a white rag. I wiped down some brand new Shield and BG380 mags this way and there was quite a bit of black on the rag even though the mags seem shiny.

 

[Edd Harbin]

I've put over 728 rounds through my Shield useing both magazines . Have cleaned gun and magazines everytime I shoot . The 8 rd magazine has not/will not do this .

I talked to a buddy at the LGS and he has seen a few of the 7rnd Sheild mags do this . He told me to stretch the mag spring . Now it works , but am worried this is only a temporary fix .

 

[Edd Harbin]

Left the 7 rnd mag loaded all night , emptied mag and tried to lock it back .... No joy . It still won't lock back all the time , about 30% of the time . Waiting to hear back from S&W .

 

[Edd Harbin]

Here is a pic of the slide fully back and the slide stop not engaging .

 

[EvilBetty]

Smith must be having problems with these mags. I've seen numerous complaints both ways. Either too much mag spring tension, causing the slide not to return to battery when pulled from a holster, and not enough causing the LRBHO not to work. It may not be the spring at all but the mag / lip design.

Hope they get it ironed out.

 

[Nakanokalronin]

That spring has to be very weak to not push on the slide stop when empty and manually pulling back on the slide. Does the follower seem to be even touching the slide stop?

I've had my mags loaded (three 7rd and one 8rd.) since I bought my Shield and have had the slide lock back every single time. I believe you, it's just strange that these issues are just now presenting themselves instead of the first few weeks of introduction like what normally happens now a days.

ETA: Just for the heck of it, write Wolff gunsprings about an XP magazine spring for the Shield. I always request springs from them when I buy a newly released model since they only add something to their line when there is enough people asking for it. I did it with the Shield springs and they replied that they'll pass on the request and will make them if there is enough demand.

 

[Edd Harbin]

Heard from Smith and Wesson , they are sending out a new mag . I have broken the mag down , and I think the problem is the follower . There seems to be some flash , mismolding of the plastic follower . I may try reshaping the follower to see if that helps .

 

[tul9033]

Just took my 9mm Shield out to break it in today and about 90% of the time the slide would not lock back on the last round. I was using WWB. Put about 150 rds through it. No other issues. Has this been determined to be a mag issue? Happened with both the 7 and 8 rd mags.
At the very least these guns need the APEX USB to make the trigger acceptable. The sear helped quite a bit too. Brought the pull down to 4.5+ lbs which I'm totally comfortable with.

 

[amthar]

This started happening to me with the seven round magazine, then with the eight round magazines too. The follower was not traveling all the way back up to the top of the magazine. I would push on it and it would act like it was gummed up. I took both magazines apart and used general-purpose cleaner on the inside of the magazines, the follower, and the spring.

Then I used 800 grit automotive sandpaper from Walmart to Sand a little from all sides of the follower.

After putting the magazine back together, the follower is traveling like it was new. I will admit, I did not clean this shield or the magazines after getting the shield. I have a run about 500 to 600 rounds through the shield, since receiving it however And have cleaned it multiple times. It was not until the follower started having problems that I cleaned the magazines however