Shield 40 mag question

[mickt]

Hello,
Newbie guy here with first question.
I just bought/ordered a new 40 shield (which I have not received yet)and want to get a few more magazines for it.
After reading some about the mag drop issue and finding new mags for sale on eBay, gun broker ect. My question is, is there a way to id them and if they will be part of the problem or will work ok.
I guess what I'm asking is, is there a build date on the mag or does it not matter when they were made. I have read where S&W was putting some sort of bump on the mags to make them work. Is this still what needs to be done to them.

Hope this makes sense
thanks
Mickt

 

[shawn mccarver]

You have identified the reason I will not get a .40 Shield. Since S&W does not publish "engineering changes" on M&Ps by dash numbers, etc., it is nearly impossible to know what you are getting. The 9mm Shield seems not to have these magazine drop issues. Glocks do not have them either, which tells me it is more of a design issue than an unavoidable issue that can only be solved by bending the tab on the magazine out further. That solution does not really inspire confidence, to be honest.

 

[Dino1]

Mag drop problem was fixed months ago, people do a search before you post. And the problem was a hit and miss issue. Not like every pistol dropped a mag. My .40 Shield has given me zero issues, you would have to pry it out of my hands before I would give it up, my favorite carry weapon. I have done nothing but shoot and clean this thing, and have no desire to do anything else to it. It is the perfect CCW pistol built to my standards. Now my .40 Compact has some mods done to it, my son has one as well, he wants me to sell him mine, it is another flawless pistol, and it's hard to let a good one go. It has a sweet trigger pull and nice night sights on it.

 

[Smitty357]

You have identified the reason I will not get a .40 Shield. Since S&W does not publish "engineering changes" on M&Ps by dash numbers, etc., it is nearly impossible to know what you are getting. The 9mm Shield seems not to have these magazine drop issues. Glocks do not have them either, which tells me it is more of a design issue than an unavoidable issue that can only be solved by bending the tab on the magazine out further. That solution does not really inspire confidence, to be honest.

The older Shield .40 had a magazine drop issue. not all were affected, but some were. The problem has since been fixed during production and isnt common at all anymore. You can buy any mag u want and u can actually make it better. But i doubt u will have a problem anyways. No sense in worry about what mags are what mags.

I havent found a mag yet that my Shield .40 would drop. Mine is also an older Shield that has never experienced a mag drop issue. And im pretty sure I have way more break in rounds than needed through it, lol.

 

[DocSunShine]

You have identified the reason I will not get a .40 Shield. Since S&W does not publish "engineering changes" on M&Ps by dash numbers, etc., it is nearly impossible to know what you are getting. The 9mm Shield seems not to have these magazine drop issues. Glocks do not have them either, which tells me it is more of a design issue than an unavoidable issue that can only be solved by bending the tab on the magazine out further. That solution does not really inspire confidence, to be honest.

Me nor anyone I know that has a .40 shield, which is at least 5 people I know have not had an issue. I've heard rumblings about some of the very early shields having an issue, but I'm pretty sure it only affected a very small number overall of shields in existence.

To not buy a shield because of a problem with a small number of shields that's since been fixed seems kinda crazy to me, but to each their own.

 

[robkarrob]

The Shield mag drop issue has been fixed since late 2012. You can buy any mag for the Shield 40, without worry. Try Midway, as they had both sizes of 40 mags in stock a week ago, for $32.00 each. They did not have any 9mm mags, however.

Bob

 

[mickt]

Thanks guys for all the information. I just wanted to make sure that the mags I get will work fine, thought they would but just wanted to make sure.
Not sure which to get, I like the extened and extra round one, but for some reason the flat 6 round one seemed to feel better in my hand while looking them over before I ordered my 40.

Thanks again, this is a great place to be, lots of great info and nice folks.

mickt

 

[mickt]

The Shield mag drop issue has been fixed since late 2012. You can buy any mag for the Shield 40, without worry. Try Midway, as they had both sizes of 40 mags in stock a week ago, for $32.00 each. They did not have any 9mm mags, however.

Bob

rokarrob
Thanks on the heads up from Midway, price is better then the ones on eBay and gun broker.
Also like your videos on utube, good info and easy to understand.

Mickt

 

[SmurfHunter]

My shield 40 is trucking right along. No issues

 

[Gotts2go]

Okay... so is this a MAG issue? or an issue with the weapon itself? I have a .40 shield bought in the fall of 2012 and it DOES have the magazine drop issue with my extended mag. I've been searching on and off for a solution ever since.

It seems like when I shoot with pressure on the pinkie extension is when it happens. I've seen a YouTube video Smith & Wesson M&P Shield Mag Release Mod - YouTube with a fix for it using a nylon sheath on the spring inside the magazine chamber, but I'm not one for "jerry rigging".

I've seen posts on here from people claiming that there is a fix, but NONE actually say what the fix is, or where to find the fix or what to do to fix it.

I love the gun, but worry about its reliability in that critical moment. I've held on to it because it was hard to get a hold of and have been confident that a fix WILL come. Can someone please enlighten me.

Thanks.

 

[crandlewi]

I have a shield 40 with test fire date of 2/18/13. Have put several hundred rounds thru the two mags that came with it without issue. In the last month I have purchased two 7 rd mags off eBay new in factory sealed container at different times from different sellers. Both of the mass drop almost every round. Still no issue with the mags that came with it and I cannot visually tell any difference. Any ideas?