Shield RSA one more time
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So far nothing is loose in my 9mm Shield but have found a few loose women to play with :O
OP
I got my Shield back from S&W yesterday. They did not fix my loose ejector, just installed a new RSA. I guess my loose ejector is still within spec. 
I just got back from the range where I fired 20 rounds of Lawman 124, 20 rounds of Win NATO 124, 50 rounds of Speer Gold Dot 124, and 20 rounds of Barnes TAC-XPD +P 115. All went well except with the NATO rounds, where I had 2 FTEs. My Shield simply will not fire them reliably -- I have had 6 FTEs in the 120 NATO rounds I have shot. No more NATO for sure! Fortunately, my last 70 rounds were trouble free. Now I only have to fire another 430 consecutive trouble-free rounds before I can consider my Shield reliable enough to carry.
I'll keep you posted.
I just got back from the range where I fired 20 rounds of Lawman 124, 20 rounds of Win NATO 124, 50 rounds of Speer Gold Dot 124, and 20 rounds of Barnes TAC-XPD +P 115. All went well except with the NATO rounds, where I had 2 FTEs. My Shield simply will not fire them reliably -- I have had 6 FTEs in the 120 NATO rounds I have shot. No more NATO for sure! Fortunately, my last 70 rounds were trouble free. Now I only have to fire another 430 consecutive trouble-free rounds before I can consider my Shield reliable enough to carry.
I'll keep you posted.
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Well, what those photos show is not right.
OP
This is what I hope is the final update on my Shield 9. More than two months have passed since my last update, and I have spent most of this time testing various kinds of SD rounds as they became available for purchase. I now have 1000 rounds on my new S&W RSA, and while there has been an occasional glitch, (HST 124 +P rounds wouldn't reliably feed), overall, my Shield has become the reliable, accurate, fun-to-shoot weapon that so many have raved about.
As to the SD rounds, both the Remington Golden Saber 147 and the Hornady Critical Duty 135 +P rounds have performed very well. I've fired 193 consecutive Golden Saber rounds and 150 consecutive Critical Duty rounds without a problem. I'm leaning toward the Golden Sabers because they are more accurate. In fact, they are more accurate than any round, SD or target, that I have ever fired through the Shield. As a result of all of this testing, I now feel that my Shield is trustworthy enough to serve as a carry gun.
Was all the hassle I've been through worth it? You bet.
Am I now a happy Shield owner? You bet.
I may still occasionally update this thread if I feel it's necessary, but right now, I don't see that happening soon. To all of those who wrote in with advice and encouragement, a big, hearty THANKS!
As to the SD rounds, both the Remington Golden Saber 147 and the Hornady Critical Duty 135 +P rounds have performed very well. I've fired 193 consecutive Golden Saber rounds and 150 consecutive Critical Duty rounds without a problem. I'm leaning toward the Golden Sabers because they are more accurate. In fact, they are more accurate than any round, SD or target, that I have ever fired through the Shield. As a result of all of this testing, I now feel that my Shield is trustworthy enough to serve as a carry gun.
Was all the hassle I've been through worth it? You bet.
Am I now a happy Shield owner? You bet.
I may still occasionally update this thread if I feel it's necessary, but right now, I don't see that happening soon. To all of those who wrote in with advice and encouragement, a big, hearty THANKS!
deadeyedoopree
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Mine runs perfecta 9mm 115 gr, UMC Remington 115 gr JHP and blazer brass 124 gr all fine. I haven't tested the 147 grain because it's so hard to find and usually high price self defense loads. For a gun this small, I think the 115/124 grain is just fine.
I run the UMC 115 gr remington JHP as my carry ammo because I've ran about 150 rounds through it with no issues. It is readily available at my Walmart for $36ish per 100 and shoots accurately. I like to shoot my carry ammo regularly too!
I run the UMC 115 gr remington JHP as my carry ammo because I've ran about 150 rounds through it with no issues. It is readily available at my Walmart for $36ish per 100 and shoots accurately. I like to shoot my carry ammo regularly too!
Pointblank2U
US Veteran
I just called S&W, February of 2016 and they have NONE in stock and won't accept backorders. I am supposed to call back in a couple of weeks. What kind of company is this? They must have sold a million Shields, is there some kind of hidden recall?
OP
As the OP, I feel your pain. If your RSA is currently OK, and you're just wanting to buy a backup, don't worry, your good RSA is stout enough that it should last for thousands of rounds. If you have a defective RSA, S&W should have given you priority for a free new one. If your RSA shows visible damage, email a photo to S&W customer service, and follow up with another phone call.
Good luck!
Pointblank2U
US Veteran
Thanks for the heads up. We have two and over time they have become rather unreliable. I told them this on the phone. They said call back in a couple of weeks.
Just checked both Shields. .40 cal retainer was broke after only 20 rounds through the gun. I guess it could have came that way. Customer service here I come, wish me luck. 
Warranty Dept. sending me a new recoil assembly. 10 to 15 days for delivery. So far so good.
Warranty Dept. sending me a new recoil assembly. 10 to 15 days for delivery. So far so good.
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