Shield 7 round base plate removal and replacement .. don't do it

[dben002]

This is the Shield 45 7 round mags of which i speak

So after a year I decided it was time to take the magazines apart give them a light coating of Rem oil and clean the followers.

4 mags in total 2 6 round, 2 7 round.

Took all of 10 minutes to remove base plates remove Springs oil down lightly and clean the followers.

Took 2 minutes to put the two six round mags back together and I spent the last 2 hours getting the 7 round mag base plates back on.

Getting those little base plate prongs to retract is not something for the faint of heart.

But I have learned a valuable lesson if they ever need to be cleaned again I will just replace them.

 

[Whitwabit]

How many rounds did you have through them ?? did you drag them in the dirt and mud every time you were out shooting them ??

Other then wiping them down with a dry rag I only tear a mag down when it has caused a problem ... or if it has been dropped in water/dirt/mud which I seldom do ..

 

[dben002]

How many rounds did you have through them ?? did you drag them in the dirt and mud every time you were out shooting them ??

Other then wiping them down with a dry rag I only tear a mag down when it has caused a problem ... or if it has been dropped in water/dirt/mud which I seldom do ..

Nothing so dramatic as that... You might say I just have a small obsession with weapons that are clean and in top-notch condition at all time.

 

[GKC]

I didn't care for the way the grip felt with the 7 round mag in it, so I bought some extra 6 round mags. With the Pearce extension on them, they feel just right. I did take them apart (the six rounders) to clean them and replace the followers. I didn't even try the 7 round mag, after reading about it and watching a couple of YouTube videos. I don't know what the S&W engineers were smoking when they designed that mag, but it must have been some righteous ganja.

 

[swsig]

There are a few threads in the M&P Pistol section that address the issue of hard-to-reassemble Shield .45 7-round magazines. There is a good video by Dad_Roman that should help:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/139613689-post25.html

I have a my own technique that works for me just as well (no video). I lay the magazine on its side and use a punch or flat-blade screwdriver to push the protruding tab as far toward the back side of the magazine as it will go (the tab on the other side will follow) and then let it snap forward when I can't push it any further. It then flies down into its hole in the base plate area, and I'm done. You might have to repeat the process once or twice, but it's quick and easy to do, and you do get better with practice.

 

[dben002]

There are a few threads in the M&P Pistol section that address the issue of hard-to-reassemble Shield .45 7-round magazines. There is a good video by Dad_Roman that should help:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/139613689-post25.html

I have a my own technique that works for me just as well (no video). I lay the magazine on its side and use a punch or flat-blade screwdriver to push the protruding tab as far toward the back side of the magazine as it will go (the tab on the other side will follow) and then let it snap forward when I can't push it any further. It then flies down into its hole in the base plate area, and I'm done. You might have to repeat the process once or twice, but it's quick and easy to do, and you do get better with practice.

That's funny......I had that vid on continuous loop but he must know something I don't as mine did not go as well or as fast as his.....

 

[Dad_Roman]

Daaaaang....and two hours while watching the vid?

Sorry bout that!!!

 

[Rastoff]

Mags do not need oil. That will only attract dirt and not improve the function of the mag.

They do need to be cleaned now and then. It's a shame that S&W made these so hard. There has to be a better design out there.

 

[FLS&W]

....I have a my own technique that works for me just as well (no video). I lay the magazine on its side and use a punch or flat-blade screwdriver to push the protruding tab as far toward the back side of the magazine as it will go (the tab on the other side will follow) and then let it snap forward when I can't push it any further. It then flies down into its hole in the base plate area, and I'm done. You might have to repeat the process once or twice, but it's quick and easy to do, and you do get better with practice.

Pretty much what I do but I have also put it into a vise and push or pull them forward and they snap in.