Shield is UNSAFE

[JW4286]

What is the acceptable amount of exploding pistols for a company like S&W? Could you provide citation on your numbers? And you can name another pistol with this issue?

This is unusual and most all of the post say S&W deflects all blame. I'm NOT trying to bash S&W, please understand that.

I am life long shooter who has never seen anything like this. Just looking for answers or I would be in a lawyers office, not in a forum. I'm not that guy.

Thank you for your help.

 

[Radco]

The gun was not being rapid fired, in fact very slow target shooting. With all due respect, and after being called a troll, have you ever seen a chamber and slide completely exploded? That is what I am trying to find out here.

I have been reloading my entire life and I have never seen anything like this. You cannot fit enough powder in a .40 shell to blow every piece of the firearm apart.

Thanks for posting again! FYI I agree you being called a Troll was uncalled for! I saw this thread as someone looking for a possible answer and yes pissed at S&W. I would be at first myself and want to find out what happened! Again please keep us updated! Also WELCOME to the forum.
Rich

 

[JW4286]

Thank you, Rich. Greatly appreciated. Just an avid shooter trying to diagnose a problem and avoid future issues.

 

[RobzGuns]

What is the acceptable amount of exploding pistols for a company like S&W? Could you provide citation on your numbers?

Search this Sub-Forum for Shield 40 Kaboom (or similar search words) and you'll find the thread where one of our members took the time to research every Shield catastrophic failure thread he could find.

And you can name another pistol with this issue?

Beretta and Glock are just 2 that seem to come to mind and even they seemed to have been mostly ammo related. There are most likely a FEW more Brands that have experienced Catastrophic failures.

 

[Hunter8282]

The gun was not being rapid fired, in fact very slow target shooting. With all due respect, and after being called a troll, have you ever seen a chamber and slide completely exploded? That is what I am trying to find out here.

I have been reloading my entire life and I have never seen anything like this. You cannot fit enough powder in a .40 shell to blow every piece of the firearm apart.

So we have established this was a .40 yes?

 

[Radco]

Thank you, Rich. Greatly appreciated. Just an avid shooter trying to diagnose a problem and avoid future issues.

Your welcome. I too love to shoot and when I hear of a issue I like to know all I can, so I learn something new,can pass on good info and hopefully not blow myself up lol. Glad your brother wasn't hurt too bad, Good luck in finding your answer!

Rich

 

[Co Th G]

What is the acceptable amount of exploding pistols for a company like S&W? Could you provide citation on your numbers? And you can name another pistol with this issue?

This is unusual and most all of the post say S&W deflects all blame. I'm NOT trying to bash S&W, please understand that.

I am life long shooter who has never seen anything like this. Just looking for answers or I would be in a lawyers office, not in a forum. I'm not that guy.

Thank you for your help.

Easy. 40 cal. Glocks kaboom with regularity due to an unsupported chamber.

 

[JW4286]

To confirm, the pistol is a .40

Thank you.

 

[Old TexMex]

Welcome to the forum.
Manufacturers of handguns have no control over what gets crammed in the "factory reloads" that owners buy and use. Glocks, Kimbers, and all the rest have blown up, some to bits, with bad ammo or uncleared bores from squibs. A simple search will enlighten. Just google "blown up .40" "blown up 1911" etc.

 

[CALREB]

Oh I've seen many over the years, all from the "perfect" plastic gun. Most in 45 cal and a lesser amount in 40, no 9mm.
Beside the "reloads" problem , How the chamber supports the casing has alot to do with the amount of damage. I think all the gun companys have taken measures to try and make the chambers on their plastic guns support the casings better, without affecting the loading cycle.
I dont see a bulge in the barrel so probably the case blew out.
Ive seen this happen, even with an obstructed barrel ,in many " ALL" steel guns and the most Ive ever seen, is the barrel had to be replaced,and complaint about unburnt powder in the face( GLASSES).
I dont reload yet, so MAYBE I would shoot my own reloads, BUT personally I wont shoot any reloads in any of my plastic guns, my hands are already messed up enough. Glad your brother is ok, some havent been that lucky.
I would still send in all the parts/ammo to S/W so they could evaluate it, May do you some good. Good Luck Bob

Was going to comment on the below response , but whats the point...

 

[JW4286]

You ever consider of the 99.99999% of perfect of guns they make I may have the one defect? Good work being an apologist thought, hope they are paying you.

 

[Virginia John]

Sorry for your trouble and your pain but the gun is not at fault. If you do not reload your ammo yourself, do not use reloads produced by anyone. What you seem to have is a definite case of too much powder in your reloads.

 

[jimbo728]

To confirm, the pistol is a .40

Thank you.

It WAS a .40.
Sure appears to be an obstructed bore event. There is no way a singlular part defect could caused that much damage.
I know it`s a troublesome thing to have happened and I hope you figure it out.What ever that reload was, dont go near it again.
Jim

 

[xcutter]

Second time at the range. Under 100 rounds through a brand new gun. Had to pull metal out of my brothers hand. They know this is a problem and keep selling these things.

First of all, I am sorry to hear about this unfortunate incident. I traded in my Shield 40 for a Shield 9mm. I was uncomfortable shooting 40 cal in a Shield after reading a few Kaboom reports. The 9mm Shield has been flawless. With that said, I would NEVER shoot reloads in a Shield 40.

 

[Saudade]

Says right in the manual.

"WARNING: DEATH, SERIOUS INJURY AND DAMAGE CAN RESULT FROM THE USE OF INCORRECT AMMUNITION OR BORE OBSTRUCTIONS. NEVER USE RELOADS OF ANY KIND."

 

[joe44va]

So, did your brother have a failure to eject before firing the disastrous round?

 

[Alk8944]

"......have you ever seen a chamber and slide completely exploded? That is what I am trying to find out here." Yes, numerous times in the past nearly 60 years! Almost invariably a result of an overload!

"You cannot fit enough powder in a .40 shell to blow every piece of the firearm apart." I have no idea where you get this idea, but, yes, a .40 S&W can be loaded with enough powder to destroy a pistol! It all depends on what propellant type is being loaded.

Added: JW4286,

I assume you have a degree in Metallurgical Engineering, and have performed all appropriate lab tests on the "remains" to support your allegation? Thought not!

Your photo of the barrel, inspite of the conjecture by several(!), shows absolutely no evidence of an obstruction contributing in any way to this failure! This was strictly an over-pressure event. See your own photo attached. There is no evidence whatsoever of bulging as there would be with an obstruction of any sort!

 

[JW4286]

I understand the reload issue. I have seen many pictures of blisters and other problems. I have not see one where the entire firearm was destroyed, as in this case.

Again, just looking for answers. Pictures or links to similar events are greatly appreciated.

 

[Goblin]

In case you haven't done this already, set aside the ammo and make sure you send some to both S&W and to the ammo producer. They will likely test for pressure levels and may learn something from this incident.

Your assumption that a .40 S&W can't be loaded to unsafe pressure levels is incorrect, they can definitely be overloaded to the point of a catastrophic failure. In your case, I also think that's what happened to your brother. However, you should talk to him and rule out the possibility that a squib load left a bullet in the barrel, followed by a round that was loaded within the normal pressure levels.

S&W will take this seriously, but you need to keep an open mind, as they may conclude that it was an ammo issue. If they really believed they had a safety issue, they would try to resolve it. As others here have stated, if we believed there was a widespread issue, Shield owners would stop shooting them.

Please keep us updated on this thread as to the outcome.

Edit: When I had a squib in my Kahr, it made it just about as far down the barrel as yours would have needed to cause a barrel failure in that location, but without any bulging I think it was an overloaded round, not the squib scenario. I heard and recognized my squib, and it was new ammo from one of the big American factories, so it can happen to anyone. In about 50k centerfire rounds under my belt, that's one factory ammo failure, zero for my handloads. So far.

 

[John R]

Oh I've seen many over the years, all from the "perfect" plastic gun. Most in 45 cal and a lesser amount in 40, no 9mm.
Beside the "reloads" problem , How the chamber supports the casing has alot to do with the amount of damage. I think all the gun companys have taken measures to try and make the chambers on their plastic guns support the casings better, without affecting the loading cycle.
I dont see a bulge in the barrel so probably the case blew out.
Ive seen this happen, even with an obstructed barrel ,in many " ALL" steel guns and the most Ive ever seen, is the barrel had to be replaced,and complaint about unburnt powder in the face( GLASSES).
I dont reload yet, so MAYBE I would shoot my own reloads, BUT personally I wont shoot any reloads in any of my plastic guns, my hands are already messed up enough. Glad your brother is ok, some havent been that lucky.
I would still send in all the parts/ammo to S/W so they could evaluate it, May do you some good. Good Luck Bob

There was a guy that posted on here about his Shield 9mm blowing up, so the 9's are not explosion proof.

Don't know why the 40's get a bad rap, the 40 and the 9 run at the same pressure.