Shield is UNSAFE

[JW4286]

Admin Edit-
The OP here is understandably upset after a catastrophic failure. Cut him a little slack.
It is completely out of line to label him a troll without obtaining the facts of this event. That is not how we roll here.

If you have something useful to say that is on-topic, and IF you understand and can use common courtesy, have at it. If not, stay out of it.

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the original post-

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.

 

[oldfart64]

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.

Just curious, what was the production age of the pistol? Had you cleaned and inspected the pistol before shooting it the first time? And what ammo were you firing when this happened to your brother?

 

[JW4286]

It is a post recall gun, I don't have the date in front of me. The gun was cleaned and inspected before the first firing and cleaned after the first firing. I take very good care of my guns.

The rounds were factory reloads in brass casing.

 

[Capttjk1]

I can't tell. Is it a .40?

 

[Wee Hooker]

The word "reloads" changes everything.

 

[cb4017]

I suspect this is going to be a problem with the reloaded ammo, not the gun.

 

[BigDog48]

No offense, and sorry you had a problem, but as a guy who has fired dozens of pistols, 10's of thousands of rounds, that picture isn't representative of a S&W "problem", in my opinion, it is clearly an ammo problem. I'd send this pictures to S&W and to whoever you bought your "factory reloads" from. I'd also be interested in knowing the brand of the ammo, the caliber, the bullet weight and material.

Again, sorry you had a problem and your brother was hurt, but your post is targeted at S&W, when I'd be willing to bet that it was not a pistol defect that caused that damage.

 

[Capttjk1]

The word "reloads" changes everything.

You're right. I missed that in the second post. Most likely the ammo, not the Shield.

 

[Heyman]

Looks like a squib load did that gun in to me.

 

[james45]

couldn't a squid load/lodged bullet do this too?

 

[RobzGuns]

Also sorr to hear about the occurrence. Those pics though, seem to be very indicative of overpressure ammo (unless there was a squib, followed by another round).

What caliber Shield?
What Brand, caliber and weight of reloaded ammo?
Were you slow firing, or rapid firing? (rapid fire indicating if it could have been a squib immediately followed by a 2nd round that blew the gun, or slow fire indicating a single round kaboom)

 

[Radco]

I have to agree with the others . Looks like a ammo issue. Please update us on what you were using ,from who and cal etc!

 

[bigggbbruce]

Looks like your brother cleared a failed to eject(sqibb) and fired the next without checking the bore.

 

[John R]

I too would like to hear about the ammo being used.

 

[muddocktor]

I hope he returns to this thread and gives us more info on the pistol and ammo and this isn't just a drive by "mad at S&W" post and thread. I also wonder if there were a squib followed by another round shot in it to do this.

On a separate but related note, is that a MIM barrel? It looks to me like normal barrel steel in the barrel closeup pic.

 

[Fastbolt]

Hope your bother is okay.

The first thing that came to mind when I saw the pics was that it may have involved an "over-pressure event", meaning an obstructed bore or something involving bullet setback, improperly loaded cartridge, etc. It certainly wouldn't be the first time a shooter didn't realize a short-loaded/squib round had left a bullet lodged in a bore, either.

The moment I read the words "factory reload", I thought of "remanufactured ammunition", and the potential for the wide range of what that might involve, QC of components & methods, etc.

This is a conversation you ought to be having with S&W and whoever made the "factory reloaded" ammunition. S&W will give you instructions for the shipment of their product, and probably the ammunition (shipped separately, for their testing & evaluation) and may work with the manufacturer of the ammunition.

Call them. If I recall right from previous years, they may be returned from holiday break next week.

 

[Stu Honea]

Waiting to hear from the OP.Agree on the reload issue.

 

[Hunter8282]

I can't tell. Is it a .40?

I too want to know. 9mm or .40?

 

[JW4286]

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.

 

[RobzGuns]

Originally Posted by JW4286 They know this is a problem and keep selling these things.

Hmm... I completely overlooked asking this in my earlier reply...
What do you mean when you write that they know about this, but continue selling them?
While there are Hundreds of reposts/retellings of the dreaded Shield40 kabooms, they all traced back to a handful (less than a Dozen) actual occurrences and out of that handful, 2 or 3 never reported back on what caused them and the rest ended up being .40 cal Ammo related (1 by MagTech, which they wrote a check for replacement... and a couple by Buffalo Bore).

So again... What validates your statement that S&W Knows they have a defective pistol, but continues to sell them?