Clearly, but a little expensive for practice. They are what I want to use for SD anyway, use them in all my guns. I bought a couple more boxes yesterday as soon as I found out how well they work in this gun. I have a box of reloads to try too that I made when I got my hands on some Golden Saber bullets, but they were hard to find last time I looked. Also thinking about trying making some ball ammo with a shorter COL for practice.
Shield 45 issue
- Thread starter Donn
- Start date
Clearly, but a little expensive for practice. They are what I want to use for SD anyway, use them in all my guns. I bought a couple more boxes yesterday as soon as I found out how well they work in this gun. I have a box of reloads to try too that I made when I got my hands on some Golden Saber bullets, but they were hard to find last time I looked. Also thinking about trying making some ball ammo with a shorter COL for practice.
45 Shield sent in a second time
I called S&W and told them I'm still having FTFs, and they said send it in again, so I did. They said send in only the gun, no magazines.
Strangely when I got it back it had a 7 round magazine in the gun. The report said they had replaced the barrel locking block and the recoil rod.
I did nothing to it except load ammo in the "new" mag. It did not appear to be a brand new mag.
I loaded it with 8 WWB FMJ and fired them 2-handed with no malfunctions.
I loaded it again the same and fired all 8 1-handed with no malfunctions.
I loaded it a third time the same and fired all 8 1-handed with no malfunctions.
Then I loaded it with 8 Remington Golden Sabers and fired them all 1-handed with no malfunctions.
I thought yay, they finally fixed it.
Then I tried my 3 old magazines with WWB FMJ 1-handed. Every single one of my magazines had FTFs in the first 3 rounds, same as before. All of the FTFs resulted in the next round in the mag being nosed down into the front of the mag.
So I physically looked all of the magazines over for possible differences. The only thing I found was that the "new" mag that they returned in the gun felt like it had a stiffer spring. In fact, I closed my eyes and mixed up all four magazines so that I didn't have any idea which was which and pressed the follower down with my finger on each one in turn. One of them felt clearly harder to push down and sure enough it was the "new" one.
So, I loaded it a fifth time with WWB FMJ and fired all 8 1-handed with no malfunctions.
I called S&W and explained the above to them. I was told I had two options:
1. They would send me new springs for my old mags.
2. I could return the old mags to them for replacement with new mags, but I would have to do that through a dealer because of the state I live in.
I chose option 1 because I want to know if it is the springs or the magazines. I am waiting for the new springs.
I called S&W and told them I'm still having FTFs, and they said send it in again, so I did. They said send in only the gun, no magazines.
Strangely when I got it back it had a 7 round magazine in the gun. The report said they had replaced the barrel locking block and the recoil rod.
I did nothing to it except load ammo in the "new" mag. It did not appear to be a brand new mag.
I loaded it with 8 WWB FMJ and fired them 2-handed with no malfunctions.
I loaded it again the same and fired all 8 1-handed with no malfunctions.
I loaded it a third time the same and fired all 8 1-handed with no malfunctions.
Then I loaded it with 8 Remington Golden Sabers and fired them all 1-handed with no malfunctions.
I thought yay, they finally fixed it.
Then I tried my 3 old magazines with WWB FMJ 1-handed. Every single one of my magazines had FTFs in the first 3 rounds, same as before. All of the FTFs resulted in the next round in the mag being nosed down into the front of the mag.
So I physically looked all of the magazines over for possible differences. The only thing I found was that the "new" mag that they returned in the gun felt like it had a stiffer spring. In fact, I closed my eyes and mixed up all four magazines so that I didn't have any idea which was which and pressed the follower down with my finger on each one in turn. One of them felt clearly harder to push down and sure enough it was the "new" one.
So, I loaded it a fifth time with WWB FMJ and fired all 8 1-handed with no malfunctions.
I called S&W and explained the above to them. I was told I had two options:
1. They would send me new springs for my old mags.
2. I could return the old mags to them for replacement with new mags, but I would have to do that through a dealer because of the state I live in.
I chose option 1 because I want to know if it is the springs or the magazines. I am waiting for the new springs.
ScaryWoody
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I would recommend sanding down those followers when you re-install the springs. Even the new ones have sharp edges that catch or drag a bit when they pass the mag retain slot. I even filed that slot down as there was a bur inside the magazine. Make it as smooth as possible. I used a pick to pop the top of the retaining slot on the magazine out. It gives the magazine release a bit more area to hold that mag in place. I've had no issues since.
Thanks. I'll check that. I have all updated followers.
I found the grip to be too thin for my liking, though I never have had problems with my Shield 45. I added a Houge grip, very tight fit btw, the added width made the grip much more comfortable.
I never liked the thin grip either. I put the Hogue Handall grip on mine too a long time ago and it helped for a while, but the problems continued. It had the added benefit of the stock grip not sandpapering my back when carried IWB.
Oh, and yeah the Hogue grip is very tight but fits the gun perfectly. I used a hairdryer to help with getting it installed, but it was still a bit of work.
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I have 3 Shields First a 9. Then a 45 and finally a 40. I haven't experienced any problems with any of them. And I shoot lead bullets through all.
benf1
Member
Not sure if I have a vise~like grip, but I have close to 600 rounds through my Shield 45 without any malfunctions. I know that's not considered a lot of rounds, but that's with different brands of ball and some hp. 2 mags have the new followers and 2 mags don't. Very little recoil and pretty darn accurate at 10 yrs. I'm starting to really like this one, my first poly striker too.
So, do you guys who have no problems with the Shield 45 have vice-like grips?
If I had to hold it like I was choking it to make it work. I'd get "sumpthin" else.
That's true. I'm debating whether to try a different small 45 like the Springfield XDS Mod.2 which has some promising features that might make it work better for me (but it could be just as bad or even worse since I'm seeing similar complaints about it), or just use the Shield with the ammo that has yet to have a malfunction with it, Remington Golden Saber.
Sgt Neutron
Member
I got a Springfield XD-E (the one with the external hammer) in .45 ACP. I have put 1,000 rounds through it(mix of factory ball, HP's & handloads), and haven't had a single failure of any kind. My wife has an XD-E in 9mm, and it has been 100% for her as well.
The XD-E is a classic SA/DA design, and the slide is markedly easier to rack (SA says 30% lighter).
Try renting several guns at a range for "test drives" to get first hand experience with firing.
Unfortunately, no place like that around here.
bonniet120
Member
My 45 shield was a jamomatic out of the box and the slide stayed back after the last round about 20% of the time. I sent it back to the factory and they replaced the slide stop. The slide now stays back but FTF was far too common. The nose of the round would seemed to get stuck in the mag or feed ramp as others have described here. I hand polished the upper and lower feed ramps and things improved a lot. Still I often had to slap the bottom of the grip before the round would feed. Sent it back to the factory and it was returned with the chamber and feed ramp nicely polished. First box was Remington umc 230 gr. FMJ. The problem persisted. As I began to load some identical looking rounds from Fiocchi, I was planning to sell the gun and hope Taurus would come out with a G2c in 45. To my surprise the Fiocchi along with everything else I tried including lead SWC rounds worked perfectly. I measured the Remington's at 1.2585", a tad longer than everything else I had. It would be interesting to know if anyone has chrono'ed the Remington's to see if they are of a lower velocity. For now the shield seems one weak hand dirty reliable. Nothing else in its class interests me. I hope it will be as reliable as the Firestar 45 I once owned.
I polish all my ramps with Flitz. Works great, but didn't help this gun. Also, S&W polished ramps and chamber first time. Didn't help.
The shorter 1.200 cartridges definitely work better for me than the longer 1.250 ones, especially the Remington Golden Sabers.
I looked at a Springfield XDS 45 Mod 2 in the store and it felt really good. About the same size as the Shield, much better trigger, better front sight. The thing I like the best about it is you can get a much higher grip on it very close to the bottom of the slide which I think could be a big help. Wish I could find one to test fire.
In the meantime, I started having failures with the "new" slide that S&W returned with my gun the last time. Same FTF, next round still in mag, nosed down into the front wall of the mag.
So, I put the Hogue Handall back on, studied my grip and stance some more and made some changes. Went out and shot 3 mags 2-handed with no malfunctions, including one of my old mags with WWB FMJ which always had FTFs. I didn't try any one-handed because I wasn't in the mood for any disappointment.
I believe at least part of the problems could be me. Every new gun I've had has made me a better shooter in some way. Not quite ready to give up on this one yet, but it has been frustrating at times. It is a small, large caliber gun and may require better technique that what I've been used to, but I do have to make sure there's no mechanical issues.
I do think the magazines have something to do with it though, since when they are new and the springs are stiffer, the gun works great.
If I had never shot anything but Golden Sabers in this gun I would be very happy with it.
bonniet120
Member
I know what you mean about not wanting to be disappointed. I do not trust my shield yet, and it will take a lot of shooting to gain my trust. If I'm ever attacked by a paper target at the range, my gun can count on me for a good grip etc. But in a **** hits the fan situation, though not likely to ever happen, I don't want the gun to need count on me for it to be reliable. Revolvers sound better all the time.
Exactly what I was thinking about the gun counting on me, even as I was typing.
I am a big fan of revolvers but it's true that even they can malfunction and when they do, might not be able to be cleared quickly. I've had it happen, my fault, but still.
I am a big fan of revolvers but it's true that even they can malfunction and when they do, might not be able to be cleared quickly. I've had it happen, my fault, but still.
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Got new mag springs
Got the new mag springs today.
The longest one in the middle of the picture is a new one.
The shortest one is from one of my old mags.
The medium length one is from the "new" mag they returned with the gun last time.
I haven't tried the new springs yet, but I have a feeling the shorter they get, the more FTFs.
Got the new mag springs today.
The longest one in the middle of the picture is a new one.
The shortest one is from one of my old mags.
The medium length one is from the "new" mag they returned with the gun last time.
I haven't tried the new springs yet, but I have a feeling the shorter they get, the more FTFs.
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FloridaS&W
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Have you tried getting a friend or range staff member to shoot a couple of mags with your gun? Could be a quick way to determine if the problem is you vs. the firearm.
Not yet, but I will if I get the chance.
