Replaced M&P Shield .45 Followers

[John Reid]

I picked up my Shield .45 about three weeks ago and have put about 300 rounds through it. I did experience the mag drop that has been discussed on this forum. I sent Smith and Wesson an email and received a reply from Rachel stating that three new type followers were ordered and being sent to me.

They arrived today nicely packed and tonight I sat down to replace them thinking it would be difficult and time consuming. I was wrong, I went to YouTube and found a video on disassembly and reassembly of the 7 round magazines. I proceeded to do the 6 rounder first which was easy. Using the video I found I replaced followers in my two 7 round magazines. All told it took about 10 minutes for the job, can't wait to test them out. Here is the the video I used:

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkWc2TR8G0s&list=LLZPLytrQFPQsRr17mG3bfeQ&index=7[/ame]

I hope this helps others on the forum. S/F.

 

[Bigmaxdog]

Good Video, I had 4 new followers sent to me and they absolutely did resolve my mag dropping issue on my Shield 45. Hope it works for you as well.

 

[Dad_Roman]

My video...glad I could help

Makes it wortwhile to see someone NOT frustrated by the 7 rounders.

 

[ZBill]

Dad_Roman's video is teriffic - Sticky worthy

Suggest it be made a sticky. Bill

 

[Jessie]

I just called S&W and asked if I could get the new followers for my Shield .45.
"Dave" in CS just asked "how many and what's your address?".
It couldn't have been easier!

 

[Dad_Roman]

I just called S&W and asked if I could get the new followers for my Shield .45.
"Dave" in CS just asked "how many and what's your address?".
It couldn't have been easier!

Jumped on "chat" just now....guess who picked up?




......Rachel

Couldnt be easier...2251957 is your order number. Allow 7-10 business days before you see it.

 

[John Reid]

My video...glad I could help

Makes it wortwhile to see someone NOT frustrated by the 7 rounders.

It is an excellent video with great instructions. I don't think I would have undertaken the job of replacing the followers on the 7 round mags without it. Thank you again for posting it.

 

[John Reid]

Suggest it be made a sticky. Bill

I second that, the video is great and I would like to see it become a "sticky."

 

[InsideWaist]

So, could someone post a pic or vid showing both the old follower and the new follower?

 

[John Reid]

So, could someone post a pic or vid showing both the old follower and the new follower?

Bigmaxdog posted a photo in another forum thread, "45 Shield Mag dropping- Bad followers?" His post is what lead me to check my followers and then request the new followers from Smith and Wesson. Hopefully he can post it here as well.

 

[Bigmaxdog]

Here you go as requested, new one is bottom one....

 

[John Reid]

Here you go as requested, new one is bottom one....

Awesome, thank you for posting the picture again.

 

[InsideWaist]

Here you go as requested, new one is bottom one....

Thanks! It appears that the new one has an indentation at the corner (bottom right of the follower in the photo), correct?

 

[Dad_Roman]

Thanks! It appears that the new one has an indentation at the corner (bottom right of the follower in the photo), correct?

Yep. Thats the corner where the mag catch is. They recessed (beveled, sanded, molded, angled etc) that corner to keep it from touching the mag catch on the way by.

 

[Jessie]

I just called S&W and asked if I could get the new followers for my Shield .45.
"Dave" in CS just asked "how many and what's your address?".
It couldn't have been easier!

(That was on the 15th)
An update on my followers.
I got them today and they all have the metal slide lock insert.
4 days, not bad
BTW, I also got my Uplula mag leader today. I can say that any problems I had with this pistol are now history.
What a great little invention that loader is!

 

[John Reid]

(That was on the 15th)
An update on my followers.
I got them today and they all have the metal slide lock insert.
4 days, not bad
BTW, I also got my Uplula mag leader today. I can say that any problems I had with this pistol are now history.
What a great little invention that loader is!

Glad to hear that, please keep us posted.

 

[ZBill]

New 7-rounders received from PSA today

Received these new 7-rounders from Palmetto State Armory today.

Can anyone tell me if this is the new version of the follower?

Thank you, Bill

 

[Jessie]

I was asked to show the metal insert that contacts the slide lock. I don't know how to add the pic in a pm, so I'll post it here.
It's the small black piece that is metal and goes through the width of the follower.

 

[Jessie]

Received these new 7-rounders from Palmetto State Armory today.

Can anyone tell me if this is the new version of the follower?

Thank you, Bill

You really can't tell from that angle.
Without removing the follower, you woul have to compress it to the point where you can see the orange follower through the cutout for the mag release catch.
It's that small rectangular hole not quite halfway down the magazine.
Push the follower down to that point and see if the edge that appears in that cutout has been relieved a small amount so as not to trigger the mag release when it passes by on its way up.
Check some previous pics in this thread that show that relief cut compared to one without.
Hard to explain but easy to see.

 

[swsig]

Here you go as requested, new one is bottom one....

OK, I'll add to the confusion. Below is a picture of a 7-round follower from my Shield .45. It appears to be different from those pictured in your post. It's like the improved model, but without the indentation on the right front corner. It also looks like the the ones in ZBill's post #17, above. They work well. I've never had a magazine drop or a failure to lock back.

Here's an idea. Let's start a Shield .45 magazine followers collectors' association. Collect 'em all, trade 'em, sell 'em, whatever. Even if they don't turn out to be worth much, they make great Christmas tree ornaments.