Shield Plus Performance Center 3.1"

[ealxele]

Hello,

I recently purchased the Shield Plus Performance Center (3.1") and noticed a chip mark (behind the trigger) and some abnormally large cut out holes on the pistol.

I purchased this gun brand new so just a little disappointed in the quality control as this is my first purchase from Smith & Wesson.

Just wondering if anyone also experienced this as well and if I should contact Smith & Wesson or the place I purchased it from? Here are some pictures for your reference.

Thank you!

 

[Beju]

The 'chip mark' behind the trigger is just leftover flashing from the injection molding process. My Shield Plus has it too.

Your picture of my back of the frame is a roll pin that helps hold it together. It looks like it's sticking out slightly on my left side. I would just tap it back in with a roll pin punch. If it keeps walking out while shooting, you might want to contact S&W. If you don't like the look of the roll pin, NDZ sells straight pins in various colors.

 

[ealxele]

The 'chip mark' behind the trigger is just leftover flashing from the injection molding process. My Shield Plus has it too.

Your picture of my back of the frame is a roll pin that helps hold it together. It looks like it's sticking out slightly on my left side. I would just tap it back in with a roll pin punch. If it keeps walking out while shooting, you might want to contact S&W. If you don't like the look of the roll pin, NDZ sells straight pins in various colors.

Appreciate the reply! Makes me feel better that yours has the 'chip mark' as well. I am curious does your chip mark look the same as mine? I wonder if this is a common thing and a lot of people have experienced the leftover chip mark as well for the Shield Plus.

And for your roll pin comment are you saying to push the pin more to the center? It doesn't seem to move around but was just thinking the hole was too big for the roll pin.

 

[Beju]

I could take a picture tomorrow, but it looks pretty similar.

It is theoretically possible that the hole is bigger than it should be, but it could also just have been tapped in too far at the factory. Sometimes they don't center sights, sometimes they don't center roll pins. My first gen Shield's rear roll pin would start to walk slightly after several hundred rounds. My Shield Plus has not exhibited this.

If the pin were moving after 100 rounds or so, I'd contact S&W CS.

 

[Beju]

Here's mine, I'm not sure when it was produced, but I got it in late 2023, and it's from before the optics footprint switch from RMSC to Holosun K.

 

[ealxele]

I could take a picture tomorrow, but it looks pretty similar.

It is theoretically possible that the hole is bigger than it should be, but it could also just have been tapped in too far at the factory. Sometimes they don't center sights, sometimes they don't center roll pins. My first gen Shield's rear roll pin would start to walk slightly after several hundred rounds. My Shield Plus has not exhibited this.

If the pin were moving after 100 rounds or so, I'd contact S&W CS.

Maybe since I used to work in QA (Quality Assurance) I notice these small things but you are right! Nothing is perfect. Guess I have high standards lol. The most important thing is that it works and is reliable. How reliable has your Shield Plus been since owning it?

 

[ealxele]

Here's mine, I'm not sure when it was produced, but I got it in late 2023, and it's from before the optics footprint switch from RMSC to Holosun K.

It does look pretty similar. I reached out to the shop I purchased it at and they said they could contact S&W about it and said S&W has really good customer service. I feel a whole lot better now knowing its just not only me. I wonder how many others were affected wit the same chip mark. Thank you again for replying!

 

[Beju]

My Shield Plus ownership experience has been relatively unexciting, with one major caveat.

My optics footprint had a negative slope to it that made zeroing a Holosun EPS Carry impossible, as it ran out of elevation adjustment. I sent it to Nameless Armament to level the cut and get it modified to Holosun K spec.

Not all of them have they issue, but it dates back to before the Shield Plus. My understanding is that the Crimson Trace Optics that S&W used to bundle had enough elevation adjustment to deal with the slope. However, I wanted to use the EPS Carry, which I believed to be the best RMSc/Holosun K footprint optic, particularly at the time.

 

[Hawg Rider]

Yes, it's a shame that these days you must expect to have some type of flaw (scuff, gouge, chip, etc.) on a brand new S&W handgun. It shouldn't be that way, but if we continue to accept it and don't squawk and demand better quality in our products then it's our own fault things don't change. I bought a new PC M&P Shield Plus 9mm back in 2021...it was well made and fortunately without any defects that I could find. I later installed a larger 1911-style thumb safety and Talon Slide Grip, and the Shield Plus has performed flawlessly- it's my primary EDC. Enjoy!

 

[ealxele]

My Shield Plus ownership experience has been relatively unexciting, with one major caveat.

My optics footprint had a negative slope to it that made zeroing a Holosun EPS Carry impossible, as it ran out of elevation adjustment. I sent it to Nameless Armament to level the cut and get it modified to Holosun K spec.

Not all of them have they issue, but it dates back to before the Shield Plus. My understanding is that the Crimson Trace Optics that S&W used to bundle had enough elevation adjustment to deal with the slope. However, I wanted to use the EPS Carry, which I believed to be the best RMSc/Holosun K footprint optic, particularly at the time.

Interesting! And good to know. When you got your Shield Plus, did it came with Optic Ready? Mine did not come with Optic Ready.

And are you saying after you got it Optic Ready it had a negative slope?

 

[ealxele]

Yes, it's a shame that these days you must expect to have some type of flaw (scuff, gouge, chip, etc.) on a brand new S&W handgun. It shouldn't be that way, but if we continue to accept it and don't squawk and demand better quality in our products then it's our own fault things don't change. I bought a new PC M&P Shield Plus 9mm back in 2021...it was well made and fortunately without any defects that I could find. I later installed a larger 1911-style thumb safety and Talon Slide Grip, and the Shield Plus has performed flawlessly- it's my primary EDC. Enjoy!
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I'm glad you mentioned voicing your opinion because I agree...I felt like the chip mark was a sloppy finish. Personally I would not be happy shipping that item out as a "brand new" item as a big name brand. Either way I am excited to have the Shield Plus PC because I've heard good things about it! Also coming from the SIG P365 and the Shield Plus PC shoots way better. Just curious you do not have that chip mark behind the trigger?

 

[Beju]

Interesting! And good to know. When you got your Shield Plus, did it came with Optic Ready? Mine did not come with Optic Ready.

And are you saying after you got it Optic Ready it had a negative slope?

Mine was a factory optics ready model that came with the RMSc footprint.

I initially thought that the first EPS Carry I bought was a bum unit and returned it. I got another one, had the same issue, swapped on a 507K from my P365XL, tried a different optics plate, but nothing worked for zeroing the EPS Carry. The 507K would've been closer to zeroable, but I didn't take it to the range.

With the RMSc to Holosun K adapter plates, you could see a noticeable light gap between the slide and the plate. That's gone now that I got it corrected.

 

[Hawg Rider]

I'm glad you mentioned voicing your opinion because I agree...I felt like the chip mark was a sloppy finish. Personally I would not be happy shipping that item out as a "brand new" item as a big name brand. Either way I am excited to have the Shield Plus PC because I've heard good things about it! Also coming from the SIG P365 and the Shield Plus PC shoots way better. Just curious you do not have that chip mark behind the trigger?

Correct, my pistol does not have the chip behind the trigger and all of the pins are flush and fit tightly into their respective pin holes. Perhaps the workmanship and QC was a little better when my PC Shield Plus was manufactured 4 years ago.

 

[Beju]

FWIW, S&W (and others) having manufacturing marks left over where they think you won't notice it isn't exactly new.

I've seen obvious marks on the inside of a Model 60 no-dash where S&W fit the yoke and frame, which wasn't super concealed since you'd see it while loading it. That being said, that particular example also had a terrible DA trigger, so maybe it was a Friday afternoon gun from 53+ years ago.

Take apart a German made SIG with a stamped slide, and there's a good chance you'll see fitting marks on the inside top of the slide. Oh, and flip a coin on whether you'll file the front or rear sight to fit if you get new ones.