Shield 45 issue

[MP1SG]

fired well over 700 rounds of Winchester 230+P SXT with Zero failures with my M&P shield 45. Prob well over 1,200 round total (500) American Eagle 230 Ball.
Great shooter, very accurate, and a pretty mild recoil

 

[JPucci]

Just another data point here, for what it's worth...

Left-handed shooter with >400 rounds of FMJ and JHP ammo across 7 different brands (Win, Rem, Federal, Fiocchi, Herter's, PMC, Aguila) and 8 factory magazines (3 6-round mags, 5 7-round mags) with absolutely no malfunctions. I've fired it hot, dirty, and continuously in rapid-fire sessions and it continues to eat the ammo and put it on target!

MP1SG's point is a valid one regarding the left-handed question, as there is no slide lock on the right side of the frame.

Personally, I love this little thing and concur that it's accurate, smooth-running, and has great grip stipling for management of the surprisingly mild, albeit stout recoil.

Best of luck to everyone having issues though...I hate to hear that people are having problems!

 

[Bonephish]

Another plug for the S&W tech department, mine now runs flawlessly on Federal, Winchester, Blazer, Browning, Hornady, Liberty... Back in rotation with my other CCW's. I'm carrying it with Liberty Civil Defense 75gr +P = 1900fps and a few oz lighter to carry.

I will say that normally I won't carry a gun that had issues. I sold a XDS .45 that sometimes didn't return to battery because of a dirty extractor channel. But I like my .45 Shield and am satisfied that it's running 100%.

 

[MP1SG]

i actually ran FOUR (4) 7 round magazines with different ammo brand loaded a mix of ammo in each 7 round mag with ZERO malfunctions
Speer 230 gold dot and 200 grain +P
Rem Golden Sabre 185 +P and 230 grain
winc 230 +P SXT
Fed HST 230 +P and standard velocity
Hornady 220 grain +P
Federal American 230 ball
Speer lawman 230 grain ball
10 Different weight grain and brands of ammo, The gun just works very pleased with its accuracy, reliability and concealability

 

[outflyin]

I've been having the same kind of problem with my new .45 Shield.

It was flawless for the first 6 or so magazines run through it. Then it started malfunctioning. Nothing had changed. Same original two magazines. Same ammo. Gun clean or dirty didn't matter. Happened with both mags. So I tried some different ammo. Made no difference.

I could not get through either mag without at least one failure, usually several. The 6 round mag seemed to be worse than the 7 round.

The problem was after firing a shot, the slide would stay back, but I looked at it carefully and noticed that it wasn't all the way back and the slide lock was not engaged. If I pulled the slide back and let it go, it would load the next round and fire ok after that until the next failure, which was sometimes the next round.

I looked at it even more carefully and noticed that the cartridge in the top of the magazine was not fully up into the lips at the top of the mag. I don't know how that would cause the slide to stop part way back, or come forward part way and stop.

So I took both mags apart and cleaned them thoroughly with Rem oil. Without cleaning the gun, I went out and ran both mags full through without a hitch. It will take some more testing of course, but I'm encouraged by the initial results.

 

[Operator 203]

I am having the same (almost exact) issues as outflyin. 1st range session 150 rounds Speer ball - 1 FTF dismissed as break in issue. 2nd range session (cleaned & lubed) 150 rounds Speer ball - numerous FTF always the second round in the magazine. 3rd range session (cleaned and lubed again plus all magazines disassembled and cleaned but not lubed) 150 rounds Speer ball with numerous FTF of the second round in magazine. FTF's occurred across 4 different 6 round magazines. It was sent back to S&W (told not to send the magazines by CS rep). Returned about 10 days later. Paperwork said the locking block and RSA was replaced the the gun test fired. Took it to the range and it continued to have FTF's. Tried both ball and WW Ranger 230 JHP. The rounds appear to be nosediving and catching at the bottom edge of the locking block. Pulling the slide fully rearward and releasing chambers the round.

Shot a friend's Shield 45 last week. Every round chambered and fired without any type of malfunction.

Discussed the problem with an armorer friend who suggested locking the slide back and fully loading the magazines and leaving them sit for two weeks. It has been two weeks and I will shoot it again this week. I will bring my friend along with his Shield. If it FTF I will have my friend shoot it. I will also try his magazines in my Shield. If it has FTF's it will go back to S&W.

 

[outflyin]

I am having the same (almost exact) issues as outflyin. 1st range session 150 rounds Speer ball - 1 FTF dismissed as break in issue. 2nd range session (cleaned & lubed) 150 rounds Speer ball - numerous FTF always the second round in the magazine. 3rd range session (cleaned and lubed again plus all magazines disassembled and cleaned but not lubed) 150 rounds Speer ball with numerous FTF of the second round in magazine. FTF's occurred across 4 different 6 round magazines. It was sent back to S&W (told not to send the magazines by CS rep). Returned about 10 days later. Paperwork said the locking block and RSA was replaced the the gun test fired. Took it to the range and it continued to have FTF's. Tried both ball and WW Ranger 230 JHP. The rounds appear to be nosediving and catching at the bottom edge of the locking block. Pulling the slide fully rearward and releasing chambers the round.

Shot a friend's Shield 45 last week. Every round chambered and fired without any type of malfunction.

Discussed the problem with an armorer friend who suggested locking the slide back and fully loading the magazines and leaving them sit for two weeks. It has been two weeks and I will shoot it again this week. I will bring my friend along with his Shield. If it FTF I will have my friend shoot it. I will also try his magazines in my Shield. If it has FTF's it will go back to S&W.

Too bad they told you not to send the magazines in. Will be interesting to see how your friend's magazines work in your gun.

 

[Operator 203]

I will also try my magazines in his gun.

 

[outflyin]

I got a chance to do some more shooting and the first 4 magazines (twice each on the 6 round and 7 round) had no occurrence of the slide getting stuck back, so I thought things were looking pretty good.

I did however have 2 occurrences of the magazine being released while firing which was also happening to me previously when I first started having the slide problem.

So I loaded up the two mags again and fired them all again with my thumbs held completely away from the gun. Had no magazine releases so it must be me.

However, I did have two more occurrences of the slide getting stuck during that last session with my thumbs held out. Both happened with the 6 round mag using rather pointy hollow points. Once again the cartridge was not completely up into the lips at the top of the magazine and the tip of the bullet was stuck against the lower feed ramp that is part of the frame of the gun. I didn't realize that's what was happening until I read Operator 203's description. That's why the slide stops.

I wonder if this problem has anything to do with why the magazine springs are so darn stiff from the factory, but soften up after being compressed after a while of use. It's as if the springs when new were able to push the cartridge more firmly up into position but now that they're a little weaker, it's not quite making it all the time.

Could be cleaning the magazines may have just masked the real cause of the problem temporarily.

Guess I'm going to have to call S&W. Sure was hoping I wouldn't have to send this in for repair.

 

[Operator 203]

I have photos of both HP and ball ammo getting hung up on the bottom of the locking block. I am very surprised it happens with ball. None of my FTF's involve the slide stop lever. They are all due to the round being stopped during the feed cycle. It's a shame. The pistol feels great in the hand and is a tack driver.

I will be shooting it again on Thursday and will report the results.

 

[outflyin]

I know. Happened with ball ammo and hollow points with me too. I've been waiting for a gun like this for a long time. It is a shame. It worked so well at first. Everything about it was just exactly what I was looking for: very compact .45, accurate, low recoil, 6-7 rounds and the quickest back on target I've ever had. Sure hope this is fixable.

 

[KEN L]

Add me to the list of those with no problems. I feel bad for those who have had an issue, it is a fine weapon and I gladly bet my life on it every time I carry it.

 

[outflyin]

Here's a picture of the ramp. Has quite a lip on it and what looks like some indentation visible too.

The forum reduced the resolution of my first pic. I've added a zoomed in version that should show the lip better.

 

[Brian in Oregon]

Questions:

Is everyone who has this problem pulling the slide back and releasing it to clear?

Or if it is supposedly the slide lock prematurely engaging, have you pushed the slide lock down to clear?

 

[outflyin]

Just posted another report in the other thread: .45 Shield problem

Meant to put it here.

 

[Operator 203]

The slide lock is not the cause of the FTF's in my pistol. Fully retracting and releasing the slide feeds the round.

 

[outflyin]

I've seen reports of both happening. Mine was without the slide lock engaged until now when it happened once.

 

[thumper151]

Same slide lock back issue on 45 shield

My shield 45 has the same issue of the slide locking back when the clip still has rounds in it. I have returned it once to S&W with a full description of what was happening. They returned with no repairs being performed stating they put 5 clips thru it and could not reproduce issue. I got it back and went straight to the range where it did it 6 times in 5 clips. It is now back at S&W. I agree that if they can't fix it, it is a nice one shot gun because it is not dependable if I am forced to have to draw and use it. Hope they can fix it because for the most part it is a great gun.

 

[outflyin]

Smith and Wesson told me to send the gun in without the magazines. I told them the magazines could be the problem. They said if I still have the problem after the gun is returned to me, they will exchange the magazines.

 

[Operator 203]

I am using the 6 round mag that came with the pistol and three additional 6 rounders that I purchased when I picked up the pistol at the dealer. I dislike extended magazines and don't use the 7 rounder. Since my FTF's occur across all 4 of my magazines (I number them) I doubt this is a magazine issue unless they all have weak magazine springs. Looks like we will be rained out for today's range session so my update will be delayed.