Shield Owners - Check Your Mag Releases

[Edmo]

I recently was "fondling" my Shield and discovered that plastic rusts!! At least the metal behind the plastic on the magazine release (for some, read: clip release).

I held the mag release in the fully depressed position and found a coating of red dust around the exposed portion of the release. When looking inside the mag well I can't see any rust on either the release or it's spring, so it seems to be isolated around the metal portions of the release.

Apparently, the steel used behind the mag release is either not stainless, or a version of stainless which is more name than capability. Yes, I know you can make stainless rust. However, this gun has not been subjected to anything approaching the level I would think is required to make stainless steel rust.

This thread isn't to poke S&W, but rather to alert Shield owners to an area they need to include in their cleaning and maintenance routine. This is my first M&P auto so I'm not sure if this is common knowledge. However, it isn't common on my other polymer, striker fired, semi-auto pistols from another maker.

Edmo

On edit, here is a zoomed in pic...

 

[snakeye]

No rust on mine...but then again the mag release on my Shield looks nothing like yours

 

[Edmo]

No rust on mine...but then again my mag release on my
Shield looks nothing like yours

Did you modify your release from stock?

The pic shows the right side of the mag release as viewed from the bottom of the gun looking up. On the top right of the pic you can see my finger depressing the release from the left side of the gun...

Edmo

 

[snakeye]

Ok I see the angle now...but mine is all polymer look inside the mag well with a flashlight and see it you see where it is coming from...mag spring?

 

[Rastoff]

Ok I see the angle now...but mine is all polymer look inside the mag well with a flashlight and see it you see where it is coming from...mag spring?

Your mag release is not all polymer. Polymer against the steel of your mags wouldn't last a day.

The mag release is a polymer coating around a steel core. This rust issue has been noted before. In every case the owner lived in a high humidity area. I've been to Arkansas, it is a high humidity area.

Take it out, clean it off and coat it with some Frog Lube. Not a perfect solution, but it should help.

 

[TheMystro]

I have seen this with other guns used in humid areas and in cold climates. I usually G96 my guns that ride in my ATV or Boat and it cures this surface rust. ALOT of times the parts become rusted in cold climates taking a cold gun into the warm. Condensation will form every time. The rust is more of a cosmetic issue that funtion.

 

[Russo2]

Interesting.
I haven't had my shield even a week yet, but I will keep an eye on this.
Does the release come out if you completely disassemble the trigger area?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Edmo]

I would think after going through all the rust preventative measures on the barrel/slide (stainless with a "corrosion resistant finish"), they would continue with that same corrosion resistance to all parts. Just because it is out of sight doesn't mean it will not rust. If you carry IWB with uncoated carbon steel parts, regardless of climate it is now a "humid environment".

Not being an expert on disassembly of M&P pistols beyond field stripping, is there any thing special to removing & reinstalling the mag release?

Edmo

 

[turbo38gn]

I wouldn't remove it at all.. drop a few drops of your favorite lube on it, wipe off the excess and move on... I noticed it on my carry 40 shield this fall... maybe I should have mentioned it here, just thought it was not worth the bandwidth... anyone cleaning their guns would notice it and maintain it accordingly.

Ok... my curiosity got the best of me. I removed it, not bad, used a little hook driver to hold the spring lever back and it slides right out. Now the release is not plastic at all, looks to be metal of some kind, not the kind that doesn't rust. I'm cleaning it up, putting some lube on it and moving on..

 

[Lonestar57]

Not to start a gun war or anything but none of my other guns are having this problem.

 

[Rastoff]

Not being an expert on disassembly of M&P pistols beyond field stripping, is there any thing special to removing & reinstalling the mag release?

Edmo

I don't have a Shield. I know it's a little different than the fulls sized guns. Still, there is a good description on how to remove the mag release in the regular M&P manual. You can download it here: Owner's Manuals - Smith & Wesson Take a look and see if you can remove the mag release. It may not need to be removed, but it would be easier to clean off the rust if you do.

 

[Edmo]

... I removed it, not bad, used a little hook driver to hold the spring lever back and it slides right out. Now the release is not plastic at all, looks to be metal of some kind, not the kind that doesn't rust. I'm cleaning it up, putting some lube on it and moving on..

Did the same... Minor surface pitting, but fully serviceable.

I would have thought this part would be stainless and treated like the slide. Are there any other hidden parts that I should be checking?

Edmo

 

[turbo38gn]

Did the same... Minor surface pitting, but fully serviceable.

I would have thought this part would be stainless and treated like the slide. Are there any other hidden parts that I should be checking?

Edmo

I think you're ok, but... drop a drip on the exposed roll pin ends... I noticed a little rust there. Maybe the small part subs are not quite as good as the past ones.. I own somewhere around 7 M&P's... other than just a spec on the front of one of my slides, I never had any rust... when I get ambitious, I lube em up, but that's not too often. I really abuse and neglect my M&P's... but they work like clockwork..

 

[Rastoff]

Are there any other hidden parts that I should be checking?

Edmo

Not meaning to be too picky, but we all should be checking our guns all over every now and then.

The slide stop is probably not treated with Melonite. So, look at the inside of that. The springs may show a little corrosion, but they usually get covered with carbon and I'll bet that protects them somewhat.

 

[Edmo]

Not meaning to be too picky, but we all should be checking our guns all over every now and then.

The slide stop is probably not treated with Melonite. So, look at the inside of that. The springs may show a little corrosion, but they usually get covered with carbon and I'll bet that protects them somewhat.

When I asked what else should be checked, it was with a somewhat veiled sarcastic tone.

I understand it is a $392 gun and everything can't be treated with Melonite, but major parts which could affect function should be higher on the list. Especially if is a part hidden from view and not something normal field stripping would reveal.

I guess I'm just disappointed that a gun I've thought so highly of has slipped a few notches in my view.

Edmo

 

[AR-Getsome]

Interesting.
I haven't had my shield even a week yet, but I will keep an eye on this.
Does the release come out if you completely disassemble the trigger area?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2

Obviously you haven't read your owners manual. If you have , read it again. It shows you how to remove the magazine release.

 

[Rastoff]

Obviously you haven't read your owners manual. If you have , read it again. It shows you how to remove the magazine release.

Easy there ARG, the Shield manual does not show how to remove the mag release. Since we're talking about a Shield here, which doesn't have a reversible release, it's understandable that he didn't know.

 

[AR-Getsome]

Easy there ARG, the Shield manual does not show how to remove the mag release. Since we're talking about a Shield here, which doesn't have a reversible release, it's understandable that he didn't know.

Well, that's a DOH! Moment. I read the post on my phone. I need to zoom in next time.

 

[Lonestar57]

Edmo, I don't think you're being too picky. One poster said that this issue has been mentioned already on this forum before and just that statement alone concerns me. Quick true story: Officer shows up on the range for semi-annual qualifications. Decides to qualify with his Shield 9mm for his off-duty choice carry (departmental policy). Can't get the mag release button to work. It's frozen; rust. It caught him by surprise and he's an avid shooter and gun guy (a lot of cops are not). With a little penetration oil and light tapping it finally gives.

With a lot of gun and non-gun people buying it for conceal carry to me it's becoming an issue. This incident on the range has made me re-consider it for off-duty carry and yes I do have one and I really like it except for this. Like I said earlier none of my other guns have ever had this kind of problem and I carry all the time in all kinds of weather and conditions using IWB holsters; i.e. Glock 23, Colt New Agent and my old trusty S&W 3913.

 

[RussC]

I recently was "fondling" my Shield and discovered that plastic rusts!! At least the metal behind the plastic on the magazine release (for some, read: clip release).

I held the mag release in the fully depressed position and found a coating of red dust around the exposed portion of the release. When looking inside the mag well I can't see any rust on either the release or it's spring, so it seems to be isolated around the metal portions of the release.

Apparently, the steel used behind the mag release is either not stainless, or a version of stainless which is more name than capability. Yes, I know you can make stainless rust. However, this gun has not been subjected to anything approaching the level I would think is required to make stainless steel rust.

This thread isn't to poke S&W, but rather to alert Shield owners to an area they need to include in their cleaning and maintenance routine. This is my first M&P auto so I'm not sure if this is common knowledge. However, it isn't common on my other polymer, striker fired, semi-auto pistols from another maker.

Edmo

On edit, here is a zoomed in pic...

Edmo

Thank you for the alert. I never thought to lube the magazine release.

I spray down my Shield including the inside of the butt before I wipe it down so hopefully oil finds it way to the mag release but now I am going to hit a shot of Rem oil in that opening opposite the mag release when depressed.

Russ