Shield .45 back at the Mother Ship

[z28lt1scott]

I have been having the same feed issues with my 45 Shield. I have had it for over a year and have shot over 1K rounds of factory ball thru it. It's been back to S&W twice for feed issues. The first time they replaced the RSA. The second time it looks like they slightly throated and polished the barrel. I have also replaced the followers with the newest version. I still get an occasional FTF/nosedive which usually happens on the second or third round in the magazine. I noticed last night that Wolff Gunsprings is now offering extra power magazine springs for the 45 Shield. I ordered some for my 6 round magazines to see it that will correct the issue. By the way my 40 has had over a 1,000 rounds through it flawlessly.


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I to have the exact same problem with both of my shield 45s. My first one is over a year old,and has over 1,000 rounds through it. It has also been back to s&w twice. They polished the ramp the first time and said no problem found the second. The problem is still happening. I also have the updated followers, my newer gun already had them from factory. I also bought the wolf mag springs. I tested it last Monday. No more nose down jams, instead i had an empty chamber twice in 80+ rounds fired. Now I'm thinking that either the rsa is too stiff or the unusual surrations on the underside of the slide is causing too much friction? The picture is of my shield 40 and shield 45s slides. I called s&w and they told me that it's supposed to be that way but couldn't tell me why.

 

[swsig]

...Now I'm thinking that either the rsa is too stiff or the unusual surrations on the underside of the slide is causing too much friction? The picture is of my shield 40 and shield 45s slides. I called s&w and they told me that it's supposed to be that way but couldn't tell me why.

The machine cuts on the bottom of the slide are designed to gently grab the top round in the magazine and push it to the back of the magazine. Because there is precious little space for a .45acp cartridge in the Shield's magazine well, each round must be all the way back, or the bullet tip will catch against the ramp assembly and fail to feed. That's why it's important to make sure each cartridge is fully inserted when loading your magazines.

 

[Hunter8282]

Mine should be back today. Curious as to what the slip says they did or didn't do.

Wife signed for it, so it should be inside warming up!

 

[Rastoff]

The machine cuts on the bottom of the slide are designed to gently grab the top round in the magazine and push it to the back of the magazine. Because there is precious little space for a .45acp cartridge in the Shield's magazine well, each round must be all the way back, or the bullet tip will catch against the ramp assembly and fail to feed. That's why it's important to make sure each cartridge is fully inserted when loading your magazines.

Speculation on your part or did some S&W engineer tell you that?

 

[swsig]

Speculation on your part or did some S&W engineer tell you that?

Educated guess. The cuts are rear-facing mini-ledges that appear to be designed to lightly engage the magazine's top cartridge to pull it to the back of the magazine. Longitudinal space is really tight above the Shield .45's magazine well, and it's been my experience (3,800 rounds worth), that if the cartridges are not fully seated to the back of the magazine, there is an increased chance of the bullet tip hanging up below the lower feed ramp, causing a failure to feed. If the cuts have some purpose other than reducing failures to feed, I'm not sure what it would be. Since the customer service people at S&W don't seem to know, I wish some S&W engineer would provide a definitive answer.
Enquiring minds want to know!

 

[Rastoff]

OK, yeah, I thought it was a guess. I'm not convinced that those exist for that function. It's more likely they are just part of the tooling process.

If the tip of the bullet gets caught on the bottom of the feed ramp, then the feed ramp is too long.

 

[swsig]

OK, yeah, I thought it was a guess. I'm not convinced that those exist for that function. It's more likely they are just part of the tooling process.

If the tip of the bullet gets caught on the bottom of the feed ramp, then the feed ramp is too long.

This issue has been kicking around the Forum for months. One poster (I forget who) was so offended by the cuts that he ground them off. I wish he'd report back to tell how his Shield is functioning. Anyway, I'm tired of reading about/fussing with the Great Shield .45 Machining Mark Mystery, so I've just written S&W customer service asking for them to do some research and provide a definitive explanation. When they respond, I'll post their answer, and we can all move on.

 

[z28lt1scott]

I called s&w last week and asked why it had those grooves and he didn't know, but took my number, said he would call an engineer in the morning. He said he would call me back at 12 noon the next day. He didn't call me back. I wish I would have gotten his name.

 

[Rastoff]

One poster (I forget who) was so offended by the cuts that he ground them off. I wish he'd report back to tell how his Shield is functioning.

Yeah, I'd like to hear about that as well. I'm pretty sure he buggered his gun. It takes all kinds.

I was just curious. I wish I could get a Shield 45 so I could do my own testing.

 

[swsig]

...I wish I could get a Shield 45 so I could do my own testing.

Is that because it's not "California approved"? If so, what a bummer. I like mine a lot. Some time when you're out of state, I hope you'll get a chance to shoot one.

 

[swsig]

I called s&w last week and asked why it had those grooves and he didn't know, but took my number, said he would call an engineer in the morning. He said he would call me back at 12 noon the next day. He didn't call me back. I wish I would have gotten his name.

I sent my request by email. That way whoever reads it can take the time to find an answer. Because emails generate an S&W "ticket number". I'm hoping that will generate an actual follow-through and a satisfactory answer in order to close the ticket. If they don't answer, I'll keep throwing their open ticket number at them until they do.

 

[GKC]

When they respond, I'll post their answer, and we can all move on.

Yeah, like that ever happens in an internet forum...

 

[swsig]

Yeah, like that ever happens in an internet forum...

What? You mean you don't want this issue resolved so that we can go back to spending more time on rebates?

 

[swsig]

My email to S&W customer service has been answered. I started a new thread with it. You can read it here: http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-...solved-official-answer-s-w.html#post139892481

 

[andyo5]

IDK the purpose of the steps on the bottom of the slide, but my experience with nose diving rounds says either rounds are too short or magazine springs are too weak.

 

[rwsmith]

I wasn't happy with a rear sights.....

I wasn't happy with the rear sights on my Shield at all. The white dots popped off after a few session. I put some model paint on there, which I should not have had to do, but I didn't want to send off the pistol for the. To me that's like getting a gun with an overclocked barrel. A gun company KNOWS that people expect a gun to sight and shoot straight, just like they know sights are subject to repeated shock. So how does a top drawer gun manufacturer not know how to paint dots on a three dot sight? Just a plain don't care attitude. Just get 'em out the door.

 

[Hunter8282]

Mine should be back today. Curious as to what the slip says they did or didn't do.

Wife signed for it, so it should be inside warming up!

So... the paperwork says -
Performed service:

• Evaluate / Repair
• Replace Barrel Locking Block
• Replace Sights
• Passed Range Testing

It also came back with a 7rnd mag in the box which I did not send in with the gun. So now just to get it to the range and see what happens.

 

[fdw]

Hope things go well for you. My shield 45 has been flawless. Pleasant to shoot and one of my most accurate guns.

 

[RGVshooter]

So... the paperwork says -
Performed service:

• Evaluate / Repair
• Replace Barrel Locking Block
• Replace Sights
• Passed Range Testing

It also came back with a 7rnd mag in the box which I did not send in with the gun. So now just to get it to the range and see what happens.

When S&W had your gun did they mail you a repair quote? I had my Victory in for repair since November and just last week I got a itemized letter in the mail totaling $184! It should be under warranty since I only had it for 3-4 weeks. #smh

 

[Hunter8282]

When S&W had your gun did they mail you a repair quote? I had my Victory in for repair since November and just last week I got a itemized letter in the mail totaling $184! It should be under warranty since I only had it for 3-4 weeks. #smh

Nope, the only communication I received was that they had received my pistol, and the FedEx notice that it was coming back.