Shield Release Spring Bad--S&

[Ed911]

I just wanted to pass along some information I just received from S&W Customer Service about my weak mag release spring...causing dropped mags...during firing.

Some suggested that they could just send the replacement parts, if only they would.

That turns out not to be the case. After noting that S&W repair had, had my MP9 Shield for 21 days, I called customer service.

It turns out that my gun had been sent down to customer service...as I was told and that usually meant that the firearm was being replaced...so, I was told by the CS agent.

While I held the line, he fetched my gun, and sure enough, they are going to replace it. Yep, you heard me right. It seems that the mag release spring is molded into the weapon, and that it cannot just simply be replaced...

So, now I'm on a waiting list. I was assured that I would be given production priority, and since they have them rolling off of the assembly line daily, I assume that i'll be notified shortly that they are shipping my NEW gun to my local FFL.

In case my FFL charges a transfer fee, S&W will reimburse that cost as soon as I either mail or fax the information

I posted this as an insight into the workings of S&W customer service / repair.

Hmmm, wondering if the mag spring goes bad in a year of two, if I get another new gun...

BTW, the CS guy was quick, knowledgeable, and cordial. No complaints about that...just surprised that they have to replace the gun.... Oh well.

I'll update as news becomes available.

 

[robkarrob]

Lucky you, a new gun and S&W is picking up all the costs. Since it will be a new gun they have to ship it to a FFL, for transfer to you. They are even picking up the transfer fees. That mag release spring must have been defective, as we don't see many threads about issues with that spring. The spring gets very little pressure during the mag release, and should last forever. If not S&W would be replacing a lot of guns. How old was your gun and approximately how many round fired?

Thanks and good shooting with the new gun.

Bob

 

[Ed911]

Bad Mag Spring...not tempered...bends like wire...

It was a new. I purchased it on July 28th at my local range gun store. I took it right out to range and after the first mag, (5 rounds)it started dropping mags during firing.

It tuns out that the diagnosis is that the spring, wasn't tempered, so it bent like a piece of wire...

We, me and my wife, probably shot 20 rounds through it. I actually had to hold the mags in so that they wouldn't fall out. I was loading 5 rounds at a time so that we didn't burn through what we had.

News update...Larry from S&W customer service just called. NOT GOOD NEWS.

It seems that the earliest that I can expect them to ship my new gun is 2-3 weeks, and he emphasized...AT THE EARLIEST...they have a production backlog. Well, we all knew that.

When I asked him, why I couldn't get a priority, he said, well your not the only one...so, I'll see what I can do...and try to follow up...

Turns out the gun will be sent from the vault, his words, directly to my FFL...so he may or may not be privy to it being shipped, and I may or may not get an email, or call from him when it ships. Woot, woot...this is not beginning to be fun...

I will have owned my gun...if you want to call it that, for three months before I can actually get my hands on it again...and that, it appears, is the earliest date.

Not too cool Smith and Wesson.

Smith and Wesson apparently isn't a high tech company where department communicate with each other...electronically...anyways.

Well, now you know the rest of the story...or as far as it goes...

As promised before, I'll update as soon as news becomes available.

Good talking to you guys. Thanks for making the forum interesting and informative. That's actually what I'm trying to do...without complaining too much.

 

[robkarrob]

I didn't know it was a new gun. Sorry that you will lose the use of it for a while. I was one of the first with the Shield mag drop problem, May 2012. I sent my gun in to S&W and after three weeks I called and was told they had sent my gun to the engineers, to try to find a solution to the mag dropping. I asked how long they would keep it, and was told a week or two more. They offered to send me a new gun, my Shield was only two weeks old. They would, as with you, have to ship the gun to a FFL for the transfer. I said I would wait for them to return my gun. They kept my gun seven weeks total.

When I got it back they included two extra free "dimpled" mags. At least they fixed the problem, but had my gun seven weeks. You may get lucky and get some free mags also.

Bob

 

[Rastoff]

Sorry to hear about this problem. I wonder how that defective spring got into the production line. You'd think they'd notice when assembling the gun.

You have every right to be upset. At least they are getting you a new gun. I hope they get it to you soon. The only alternative is to ask for a refund.

 

[duro]

Interesting, I took the mag release spring out of my shield 9mm when I first received it, to see if the mag button was ambidextrous. Popped right in, and out.

 

[Ed911]

From what I gathered while talking to S&W customer service, either the mag spring is part of the manufacturing process, or it's not advisable to remove and replace them...especially if they just push in...since that could make them loose and prone to falling out durning the vibration of operation.

I'll wait and see what happens. I don't want a refund. I'd rather have my gun. And, sooner or later, I will...hopefully sooner. I sure don't want to go through looking for another one.

As for how the spring got past QA, if it's like all the other processes that I'm familiar with, QA pulls a couple from the batch for testing...if they pass, it's assumed that all springs in the batch are within specs.

I figure someone picked up a dropped piece that they thought had been processed and put it in with the tempered batch.

I got this one at a pretty good price.

It's a nice gun and has great reviews. And, I'm looking forward to shooting it and making it my EDC. So, I'll wait.

 

[Ed911]

I hope they get it to you soon. The only alternative is to ask for a refund.

Thanks, me too. If the Shield wasn't such a highly regarded gun, I would have asked for a refund. But, I'd rather wait for quality.

Good talking with you guys. Thanks for your input.

Like I said, this was more about where S&W is repair wise, rather than a rant full of complaints. I just wanted to pass along some information that I happen to be privy to.