Shield 40 feed problems

[Whitehog]

Hello guys, new member to the forum although I have been reading and searching for a few weeks. I have a 9mm and .40 shield. While the 9 is working great so far the 40 is having trouble with the "range" ammo. Straight out of the box within the first mag I had 1 fte and 2 ftls.
The range uses atlanta arms reloads and I was wondering if anyone has had this problem and what the immediate solution might be. I read the thread where the cartridge was stuck in the barrel but mine is not that extreme at this point. Out of 50 rounds this happened about 10 times. I ran some Hornady critical defense and federal 165 grain with no major hiccups.
Any and all help appreciated

 

[johnnymg]

Hello guys, new member to the forum although I have been reading and searching for a few weeks. I have a 9mm and .40 shield. While the 9 is working great so far the 40 is having trouble with the "range" ammo. Straight out of the box within the first mag I had 1 fte and 2 ftls.
The range uses atlanta arms reloads and I was wondering if anyone has had this problem and what the immediate solution might be. I read the thread where the cartridge was stuck in the barrel but mine is not that extreme at this point. Out of 50 rounds this happened about 10 times. I ran some Hornady critical defense and federal 165 grain with no major hiccups.
Any and all help appreciated

I think you may have answered your own question. i.e. Use some other ammo.

JohnG

 

[Whitehog]

I thought that too, but shooting all my defensive rounds at the range would get a little pricey.

 

[N4KVE]

Ammunition Info - Smith & Wesson

 

[robkarrob]

Unless they force you to use their ammo, I would suggest buying some inexpensive new factory FMJ ammo. In 40, you should be able to find a box of 50 for under $30. I can get 100 count Federal Champion 40S&W for the low $30's at Walmart, and I have never had any issues with this ammo in my Shield 40.

Bob

 

[XD40inTX]

My range/practice ammo for both my Shield 40s is PMC 155 gr. More than 1000 rounds over the past ten months with no problem.

I suspect your problem is you're shooting reloads. Several years ago I tried to shoot commercial reloads (as compared to hand-loaded) in my Springfield XD40s. It did not work well. I had an occasional FTF and a lot of FTE. Gave it up pretty quickly.

 

[Whitehog]

I is my understanding that they require their ammo. I will verify next trip. I used the same brand in my px4, 92fs and 9mm shield with no problems which is why I was questioning in the first place. Gave all a thorough cleaning when I got home as I'm seeing that is another common solution for the issue.
Thanks for assistance.
I know most if not all manufacturers do not recommend reloads. That in itself is another debate.


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[2001gmc]

If you have a problem with your shield 40 I wouldn't hesitate to send it in and contact smith about it. Don't just keep shooting it like i was told it needed to be broke in and let it blow up in your face. I would buy some FMJ factory ammo and try it out though since the range ammo was reloaded and you didn't have issues with the Hornady.

 

[yogiboobooranger]

Reloads can be troublesome because the OAL of the round may be within loading manual tolerances, but may be too long for your gun to feed them 100%. Please do as someone said above, get some factory fresh FMJ ammo and run your gun with that. I believe you will find that it will run fine. If not then it needs to go back to S&W.

 

[KKECK5]

YEP, it's the ammo.. the only feed problems i ever have is with 'steel' ammo, like TULAMMO. It's ok for the range, it's cheap at about $14.00 for a box of 50, and puts holes in the targets, so i put up with them, BUT, i'd never put in a shield while i was EDC. To date, i have had no failures with brass casings.

 

[STRAUK]

reloads

Reloads can be troublesome because the OAL of the round may be within loading manual tolerances, but may be too long for your gun to feed them 100%. Please do as someone said above, get some factory fresh FMJ ammo and run your gun with that. I believe you will find that it will run fine. If not then it needs to go back to S&W.

Let me say this about reloads. Using reloads is the best way to insure the rounds are exactly to SAMII specs. AND that the gun is not subjected to bullets with pressures outside the engineered design of the manufacturer.

Now, that is to say the only reloads I use are MINE. I spend extra time insuring that the OAL and bullet crimp is exactly right. For a .40 S&W OAL optimum is 1.120. With the OAL and overall diameter of the loaded cartridge (.422) exactly right the cartridge is guaranteed to meet the manufacturers specifications, and will cycle properly in the firearm as designed.

Check some of the range rounds, especially ones that don't work with a digital caliper and you will likely find the issue with the round quite easily.

I would say the issue is most likely the range round. Now if you find the round meets the above specs then you have very good grounds to pursue the issue with the manufacturer (S&W) in this case.

Hope this is not too much info for you or anyone else out there. If you are going to throw blame in any direction though, make sure you have genuine evidence to support your claims.