Shield 9mm FTE Problems

[greeman]

I have become very frustrated recently with my M&P Shield 9mm due to problems with failures to eject. I didn’t have any problems at all during the first 500 rounds or so. At that time I was shooting only Federal ammo (usually bought at Wal-Mart). Later they were out of Federal, so I purchased some Winchester White Box and some Perfecta (all brass). With the Winchester White Box and the Perfecta I was experiencing one to two fte’s per 100. I thought maybe it was the ammo, but my nephew was standing beside me shooting the same ammo in his SD9VE with no problems. Also I used the same ammo in my M&P full size 9mm with no problems.

Anyway, I called S&W and they said send it to them. I got it back yesterday. The paperwork said they replaced the extractor and the barrel. I cleaned the pistol and took it to the range today. I purposely used Winchester White Box again (I couldn’t find any perfecta). At first I thought my problems were solved. After 100 rounds no problems. Then at 130 rounds I got an fte. I finished off 150 rounds without another problem and came home. 1 in 150 still leaves me not feeling very confident about a gun for daily carry. Of course I would be using defensive carry ammo for daily carry, but still I am going to have that doubt in my mind.

Not sure what to do next. I guess I will wait and see how it does on the next couple of range trips. Then if I still have problems I will call Smith & Wesson again. Just curious what others might suggest. My full size M&P 9mm has never had a problem with any type of ammo. Even my M&P 22 compact will cycle anything I put in the mags. So I know Smith makes some good guns, but this Shield has me baffled.


Some background:
• Have put approx.. 800 rounds through pistol.
• Meticulous about cleaning (before using when new or returned from S&W, after each range outing, etc.)
• I don't claim to be an expert at shooting, but have been shooting since 12 years old (69 now). Military experience, Shot on small bore rifle team in college, recently watched videos on proper grip, stance and shooting technique.
• Own other pistols that I have no trouble with. I highly doubt there is any limp wristing (I never rule anything out entirely)

Oh also, it doesn't seem to be with any particular magazine. I have three and it doesn't seem to matter which one I am using.

Here are the type fte's I was having prior to sending to S&W:

Here is the one I had today:

 

[LAA]

Reminds me of the Beretta Nano, my wife owned. 500 or so rounds, with no problem. Then a lot of problems. In the meantime, my Shield 9mm and her Glock 43 have been near flawless, after many trips to the range. Has to be well over a 1000 apiece. I say near flawless, because there may have been a FTE, due to limp wrist, etc. But it's been too long to remember. We also use a lot of Winchester White box, in addition to many other brands.

edit: We do trust these two guns. That's what counts. Traded the Nano.

 

[hoc9sw]

I had the same problem. Call them and send it back. It took a few trips to resolve, but I went from 20% failed in 1000 rounds to perfect.

The ammo was primarily Blazer 115g FMJ, Speer Lawman 124g FMJ, and various Monarch, S&B, and American Eagle 115g.

They can fix it.

 

[Ranger17]

OP have you tried any other ammo since it came back besides the Winchester that seems to be giving you trouble? If using 115fmj, have you tried Blazer Brass, UMC, etc for comparisons? I've ran 2500+ rounds of those thru my full size and compact MP 9's with no issues; but dont yet own a Shield to say if that would be the same result.

Also, and again not from experience but from threads i've followed on here, i have read that some have better luck with 124 grain in their Shields over 115 if that may be something to try for ya.

 

[bigwheelzip]

I bought WWB once, had same issues.

 

[PhilBob]

I went to the range yesterday for the 1st time with my Shield and put 100 rds of Winchester White Box through it flawlessly. Of course, 100 rds is nothing.

My niece was with me and she also has a Shield and had 2 or 3 FTE in 50 rounds but she was using different ammo. She may also have been limp wristing it - hard to say.

 

[Hairy]

Just curious, does the breech face seem too large? This really looks to me like an extraction issue. If the breech face is too large the cartridge could be coming off the extractor before the empty clears the chamber.

 

[Steve C]

Check out the pistols extractor and ejector for breakage or chips. If you can operate the slide manually and it will extract and eject a loaded round from the chamber then the mechanics of the pistol should be good. Failure to extract or eject comes from 2 conditions if there are no mechanical problems.

The first is that the case is seizing in the chamber. This is often caused by a dirty chamber or a chamber with rough surface usually machining marks. Steel case ammo that's coated with lacquer can deposit it in the chamber causing cases to stick. In either case a good cleaning with chamber polishing will generally cure this. Under these conditions the slide doesn't travel rearward as its really the case pushing the slide back and if it is locked in the chamber you get no push.

The second is slide speed or slide travel is being reduced so the slide doesn't travel sufficiently to eject the spent case. Again there are a number of things that can cause this.

The gun can get dirty enough during shooting to retard the slide movement. Lightly charged ammo can have insufficient power to operate the action properly

The shooter can inadvertently slow the slide speed down or reduce its rearward travel by touching the slide during recoil. Aftermarket buffers can interfere with full slide travel too.

Then there is the "limp wrist" effect that is most common with light weight semi auto's. By flexing ones wrist during recoil enough of the recoil energy can be absorbed to prevent full side travel. Hold the gun firmly when firing, about like one holds a hammer when driving nails. This problem can appear after shooting a while and one gets a little fatigued, relaxes the grip and the gun get dirtier, providing an additive effect hampering slide movement.

 

[alwslate]

Your problem can likely be solved by switching to hotter ammo. A lot
of basic 115 gr FMJ ammo sold these days is very mild and just lacks
the power to cycle the action of some guns.

 

[Bozz10mm]

I would shoot another 150 rounds through it. 150 rounds of a different brand of ammo. Try some Fiocchi if you can find it. It is a bit hotter than most brands of target ammo.

 

[oldfart64]

I have 800 rounds now through my shield (october 2015 production) I have had no fte at all, I have shot 300 rounds of WWB through mine again with no issues. The rest has been a couple of boxes of federal, one box of blazer, two boxes of PMC. Assorted 3 round loads of speer gold dot +P , Federal HydraShok, and other JHP just to check for function.

Not one to try to make you feel bad but some of these type issues are related to grip, particularly in a new pistol and owner. this could be as one poster put it thumb or fingers riding the slide. or just not having a good grip on it in general.

Wishing you the best of luck with your shield . I bought mine on reputation alone as none of the local ranges had one to rent. It has been a perfect experience.

 

[greeman]

Thanks all for your suggestions. I have read them all and as usual I find very good advice on this forum. I don't post very often, but really appreciate those that do offer their thoughts.

I will be trying some different ammo (but I still think that this pistol should fire any USA made name brand without problems). I will also be giving the pistol and very good visual inspection for the specific faults listed in the remarks of others. And last I will also re-examine my shooting technique to insure that I am not restraining the slide or limp wristing. Hopefully I will find out for sure what the problem is and if so, will post back and let you guys know. Thanks again.