Shield 40 FTF

[ric_in_or]

First time shooting I experienced several Fail to Feed failures.

Had the Shield40 for 2 weeks
Both mags have been loaded most of that time
First time at range
With Factory - ammo - UMC Yellow box - 165gr

Got several FTF Failure to Feed
- the slide is locked back
- spent cartridge has ejected
- there are more cartridges in magazine
- dropping slide picks up next round with out issue

This also happened when my shooting buddy, who is very experienced, was running the gun.

To be honest I don't remember this morning which mag gave the most issues, or if both did equally. For sure, the non-extended (6 rnd) mag did this.

I didn't have any issues with the mag being loose / dropping. I believe mine was born long after that issue was resolved.

Suggestions on what to look for?

 

[Sarg88]

I've had the same issue with both my extended and flush fit mags...
Not consistantly but it has happened with both..

 

[CJ_mp40c]

Did you clean the factory grease out before hitting the range?

 

[ric_in_or]

@CJ - Yes, I cleaned and lube'd with Frog Lube

 

[Rgoodwin]

Mags clean and dry?

 

[S&WForty]

I've only had my slide lock back prematurely with Speer Gold Dot 180 gr ammo. It occurred about 3 times over 115 or so rounds. That was about two months ago, so the details are fuzzy. It has not occurred with WWB FMJ 165 gr or Federal Champion FMJ 180 gr.

I am pretty sure it is due to the shape of the rounds. The SGDots are more rounded and if they sit really forward in the mags, they just barely hit the slide lock.

I will shoot it again in about a two weeks. My concern is the possibility the mag springs have broken in and perhaps any ammo will start shifting forward in the mags under recoil. Next time I spot any 180 gr FMJ, I will get it to compare to the 180 gr SGDots. (I last shot 180 gr. Federal FMJ about 300 rds ago...)

 

[Smithsrevenge]

May be the UMC ammo.

I've had my beretta 92 puke that stuff up, and that eats up everything in sight. Also have had some fail to fire's on their primers as well. my 92 is the M9 model with the stronger firing pin as well. I stay far away from UMC now.

 

[Rpg]

These things seem to be a work in progress

Expensive, light, blunt instrument. What's not to like?

Rocks are plentiful, inexpensive and reliable. They just need a cool name and a P. R. guy

 

[Smithsrevenge]

These things seem to be a work in progress

Expensive, light, blunt instrument. What's not to like?

Rocks are plentiful, inexpensive and reliable. They just need a cool name and a P. R. guy

This is why I love my Rock Island 1911's.....if they dont fire I can always throw it at them and do possibly more damage than shooting them haha

 

[ric_in_or]

My Shield takes just a little bit extra umph to get the slide back far enough to lock open. I was attributing that to being new and leverage. Compared to my compact & full size it feels as the spring is heavier/stiffer.
I have to wonder if that is contributing to the not cycling.

 

[N4KVE]

This is why I love my Rock Island 1911's.....if they dont fire I can always throw it at them and do possibly more damage than shooting them haha

That won't happen, because Rock Island's are great guns, which always fire the round. We sell plenty of them at work to people who want to customize their own 1911's, rather than spend lots of cash on crummy expensive Kimbers which come from the factory with rusty barrels. GARY

 

[ric_in_or]

I had my Shield out yesterday.
No issues, although I only shot half a box.
Same ammo.

Based upon other searching, I was mindful of my thumb to ensure I was not on the Slide Lock.

 

[SmurfHunter]

Not great to hear.

 

[MP1SG]

These things seem to be a work in progress

Expensive, light, blunt instrument. What's not to like?

Rocks are plentiful, inexpensive and reliable. They just need a cool name and a P. R. guy

I disagree with this statement. I have both the Shield 40 and 9mm and they have been totally flawless. Over 1400 rounds in the 9 and 1,000 rounds in the 40.
I do like the 9 better, easier to shoot and gives me that extra round.
Out here

1SG

 

[Smitty357]

I disagree with this statement. I have both the Shield 40 and 9mm and they have been totally flawless. Over 1400 rounds in the 9 and 1,000 rounds in the 40.
I do like the 9 better, easier to shoot and gives me that extra round.
Out here

1SG

I agree.

I've had 3 Shields (sold my 9mm), and i still own 2 Shield .40's both have 9mm conversion barrels. I've put them through all the heck i can put them through and they all function just fine.

 

[shawn mccarver]

The problem described is technically NOT a failure to feed. A failure to feed is where the round stops in the process of being pushed up the ramp and into the chamber by the pick up rail on the slide.

What you really have here is premature slide lock, which can be caused by several things, including, but not necessarily limited to (1) operator error by negligently activating the slide lock (strong possibility of using the thumbs forward grip where both thumbs are "riding the slide"), (2) ammo with bullets with an ogive which is a tad too wide so that the ogive of the next round up is activating the slide lock from inside the pistol, (3) improperly installed slide lock spring (the spring should hold the slide lock DOWN, not up (unlikely as it would happen every time), and (4) perhaps other causes.

 

[Whiskeyrunner21]

Got mine in May have run thru about 150 rounds with same experience:

Light hit on two

FTF at feed ramp slide partially closed cartridge visible 3 separate times same magazine. ( extended) Funny this thing has been running flawlessly until I removed the slide at the range. (might I possibly have disengaged the recoil spring from a seated position?)

Using Federal ammo unsure of grain.

However in attempt to recreate the issue yesterday had no issues and this with a second opinion. I did tilt the recoil spring before replacing slide and it would not cycle.

I have called S & W to explain and they offered to send out shipping label for return.

 

[Fastbolt]

FWIW, I've had more folks than I can remember over the years who positively SWORE their thumbs were not hitting the slide stop lever ... but when I observed them actually shooting, I clearly saw their thumbs bumping against the slide stop lever tab during recoil.

Their thumbs weren't up against the lever tab before they fired, but the snapping whip of recoil force caused the gun to slightly torque in their hands. That resulted in their thumb being lifted to follow the gun ... which resulted in their thumb bumping against the lever tab as the gun came back down during the recoil cycle.

I even watched one guy have his thumb tip move over onto the mag catch of a Walther PPKs, and PRESS inward against the mag catch button, dropping a mag. His thumb tip was nowhere near the mag catch before he fired, but as the gun shifted & lifted, so did his thumb ... and as he tightened his grip to control the blowback Walther, his thumb tightened, too. Viola.

Never would've thought it could happen, but I watched him do it pretty consistently. Once I changed his thumb placement, his "gun problem" of many years with his favorite little .380 was suddenly gone.

I've seen folks experience this with all manner of metal & plastic framed pistols.

Dunno if this is your problem, of course, since I can't be there to watch you shoot, or inspect the gun. Just relating some experiences of mine from over the years.

I recently handled and fired a T&E Shield 40. I expected it to have more felt recoil than it did, especially since a couple of the guys described it as having noticeably more recoil than the Shield 9 (which is selling like hot cakes to other guys at the moment).

I was somewhat surprised to find that the felt recoil is much easier than it's been described. There's that subjective thing again when it comes to felt recoil.

As a matter of fact, I found it easier for me to shoot than my well-used M&P 40c. Interesting.

No problems reported by other guys shooting that T&E Shield 40 (and you can probably guess how T&E guns are treated), nor did I experience any during my brief range session.

If you suspect a problem with your Shield, by all means return it to the company under their free shipping warranty support program and let them examine it.

However, be prepared to perhaps learn that it might be you (grip; thumb placement) and/or the ammunition (budget ammo which might have an issue).

Just my thoughts.

 

[Dino1]

I would polish the feed ramp to a mirror finish, and watch how I grip the pistol when firing. I polish all feed ramps before putting the first round through an auto pistol, just makes good since. Kinda like putting the finishing touch on it before the maiden voyage. Could make the difference between working or not working the way it should, and it only takes a couple of minutes. The ramp on my Shield had some ridges on it right out of the box, I used 600 grit wet sand on it and polished it with a Dremmel before the first round was put through it. The pistol has never had one single problem doing it's job.

 

[S&WForty]

Dino, how did you polish with a Dremel? Did you use any compound or just a bare Dremel attachment? I assume one of those tan buff wheels?

 

[Dino1]

I use one of the buffing wheels and some rouge, then follow up with some Mothers mag wheel polish.