shield magazines

bummer

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Why are Shield magazines so hard to load to capacity? Do I have to buy a loader or is there a trick.
 
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Personally I never have any problems loading them to capacity. I do have to tap them to seat it in the gun though, unless you load with an open slide, still have to if you carry one in the chamber with a full magazine.
I was going to suggest maybe try a different technique to loadlike pushing down on the round on top of the mag with your nondominant thumb, and using your dominant thumb to push the next round on top, down, and back. It takes a little pressure off when using this technique. Maybe thats what youre doing? Maybe its a hand strength issue (which is fine). Some people prefer using a loader tool.

Try a loader if you have trouble that will assist you loading them. Upula is one popular brand. Try it?
 
There's no "trick". I can load all of my Shield mags (8s and 7s) by hand if I need to do so. I prefer using my Uplula since loading multiple 17/15/10/8/7 round mags get tiring.

Yes, Shield mags are pretty stiff when new. They will get easier with use.
 
There's no "trick". I can load all of my Shield mags (8s and 7s) by hand if I need to do so. I prefer using my Uplula since loading multiple 17/15/10/8/7 round mags get tiring.

Yes, Shield mags are pretty stiff when new. They will get easier with use.


Agree that when new they are very stiff. More use will lessen the stiffness. I use an Uplula as well.
 
I have a lot of arthritis in my hands, so loading the stiff shield mags is a problem. Uplula solved the issue.
 
I have a Shield in 45, so 6 and 7 round mags. Brand new, they were a bear to load. What I did was leave them loaded for a few days, unload and rinse and repeat over a few weeks. This seemed to loosen them up.
 
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I can load my Shield mags by hand but I prefer not to. I usually put a hundred rounds through it on a range trip. The one time I forgot my Uplula, I had to quit after 50 rounds. Thumbs just couldn't take it.
 
Temporary Condition

My 45 Shield mags were a lead up to injury until I got a 10$ orange plastic loader off ebay. I keep them full constantly and in just a few weeks they mellowed out to where I don't use the device any longer. I don't even know were it is now.
 
Shield9 7-round mags have been a bear to get that 7th round into, dating all the way back to Spring 2012. Along the same line, a fully loaded/topped off mag has always been tough to lock into the magwell (with the slide closed/+1).

If using a loader/UpLula is not preferred, the only 'trick' would be to get a couple sets of MagGuts springs. They work, they won't 'void warranties' or trigger a 'modified gun' legal issue... They work.
There were a few that had problems with the Gen1 2-piece set, but it usually ended up being User Induced assembly problems.

If a spring kit, or UpLula are both unacceptable answers, then the only thing I can say is...
Suck it up, buttercup! :D
 
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so I took my wife and son to the range today and purchased a uplula for her to use. It helped tremendously with the her shield mags. Never did use it for the 59 or 39 series or Beretta 92 series mags, must still have strength in the old thumbs
 
I'm an old guy and Uplula is the answer. Shield mags are a piece of cake with it. The only mag I have that's still a bit of a struggle to get the last round in with it is my .45 Compact, but it's a new gun and will break in with time.

I usually go through a few hundred rounds on a range day and even though I could probably load all my mags without the Uplula I certainly wouldn't want to. It's nice that you only need one Uplula to load both 9mm and .45 ACP. It's $30 well spent.
 
Never had a problem with 9mm mags. 45's, different story. Now that I've had them a while, it's a little easier, but still use the Uplula.
 
I just find it strange that after 100 years of self loading handguns the manufacturers can't make a magazine that can be loaded by hand!! Most people must BUY a special tool!
 
I just find it strange that after 100 years of self loading handguns the manufacturers can't make a magazine that can be loaded by hand!! Most people must BUY a special tool!

You could always buy a revolver.

It's not that the mags can't be loaded by hand, it's just so much easier with the tool, which should last a lifetime for $30, barely the price of a couple boxes of ammo.

I want to think that as I've gotten older I've gotten smarter. That may not be true, but I tell myself it is. :)
 

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