I did this for maybe even longer. I would leave the slide locked back while I was working or sleeping and would work the slide some back and forth while watching TV. Mine was tight, but seems fine now.
Ultra tight recoil spring on Shield
- Thread starter 2tango2
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I did this for maybe even longer. I would leave the slide locked back while I was working or sleeping and would work the slide some back and forth while watching TV. Mine was tight, but seems fine now.
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On a brand new Shield 9 just received a week ago Friday, the recoil spring end was actually hanging over the edge of the spring guide, preventing me from retracting the slide far enough to rotate the disassembly lever without using a crazy amount of force not necessary on any other Shield I have handled.
When I finally did get it apart, it would not go back together except in one specific location. With all due respect, that is UNACCEPTABLE. I have never had it happen on any other Shield received in on order.
I could not sell this weapon in this condition in good conscience without a replacement recoil spring. One week ago, on Monday, I simply telephoned S&W, got a customer service representative in less than 3 minutes and nicely explained the issue. I even offered to pay for the new recoil spring assembly. He would not hear of it. He was exceedingly nice and very willing to help. As I write this, the replacement spring is on the way, no charge.
I post this because I tire of hearing that folks used email and are ok with a 5 day wait for a response when a free call to their 800 number will get the same job done in under 10 minutes. Of course, I began dealing with S&W when we still used rotary dial telephones. Remember those?
Weren't those one of those Old Timey Cell Phones that had tails?Of course, I began dealing with S&W when we still used rotary dial telephones. Remember those?
You make a very good point. I would never sell a firearm to anyone without making full disclosure as to why I was selling it. I hope none of us would. But in this instance, I do not feel that it is a defective gun. I have shot it a good bit. But the recoil spring issue keeps it from being used for the purpose that I bought it for. My frustration is that not all Shields are like mine. I've handled many others that were about the same as my M&P9C. But mine isn't, and I've failed to find a cure. Someone with strong hands would probably never notice the issue.
BTW -- with these guns going for $350+/- NIB, the trade in value tends to run around $160 to $180. That's why I didn't trade it.
Sigsavvy
Member
Just a quick update that I finally got my new RSA from CS. Threw it in the Shield and it works like a charm. No doubt in my mind that some of the RSAs out there prevent the slide from full travel frequently. Now I couldn't get it to bind up. Very happy and looking forward to shooting it.
motorcyclejoe
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Shield Hand Exerciser
I just picked up my Shield last Saturday. I have experienced all the issues mentioned here, slide release not working with and empty mag, stiff spring, assembly difficulties, flawless operation at the range. The test fire cartridge that came with the pistol is dated Jan 2015 and I purchased it in Jan 2015 - wow, fast movement into the supply chain.
At any rate after 50 rounds at the range and lots of exercise at home it is starting to loosen up. I frequently put on a pair of griper gloves, remove the mag and fully rack the slide 10 times right hand, 10 times left hand, repeat, repeat, repeat... That way you can build up hand strength and loosen things up at the same time. I view the Shield as my personal hand exerciser. It also helps keep your clutch and brake hand in shape over the winter while your MCs wait patiently for a winter exercise session when the road is dry.
I just picked up my Shield last Saturday. I have experienced all the issues mentioned here, slide release not working with and empty mag, stiff spring, assembly difficulties, flawless operation at the range. The test fire cartridge that came with the pistol is dated Jan 2015 and I purchased it in Jan 2015 - wow, fast movement into the supply chain.
At any rate after 50 rounds at the range and lots of exercise at home it is starting to loosen up. I frequently put on a pair of griper gloves, remove the mag and fully rack the slide 10 times right hand, 10 times left hand, repeat, repeat, repeat... That way you can build up hand strength and loosen things up at the same time. I view the Shield as my personal hand exerciser. It also helps keep your clutch and brake hand in shape over the winter while your MCs wait patiently for a winter exercise session when the road is dry.
Ha! The best reason ever for giving the Shield another go. But I have to warn you, I wore out a good pair of leather gloves racking it. The front sight finally cut through the palm.
But I was at the lgs today looking at more toys (bought four boxes of ammo - HP stuff) and I played with a new Shield that was smooth as glass. I'd give anything to get mine to be like that one. (I have to admit, though, i can't get the little .380 M&P Bodyguard out of my mind. A smooth little gun with an unfortunately long reset - it was hard to hand back, as was the XDM. Decisions, decisions)
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There is more info on their Facebook page.
We have 2 Shields and both now have one of their guide rods.
https://www.facebook.com/StainlessSteelGuideRods
Most of us have had the same problem with a new Shield spring being stiff and have posted about it. My wife couldn't rack in and I had a heck of a time getting it to lock. The take down level was also very stiff and hard to rotate. The good news is that things loosen up with use.
14indy
Member
Great ideas on the slide problem. My neighbor and I just bought identical 40, non-safety shields and his is harder to engage than mine. We will try points you guys have made.
Great forum !!!
Great forum !!!
uDUBdrew
Member
My shield locks up too before racking a round completely by hand. Just got off the phone with S&W, a brand new RSA is on its way, no charge.
Mcwsky09
Member
When I bought my SR22 the guy at the store made it look easy to get the grip off the display model, which may have been on and off numerous times and which did not prepare me for how hard it was to get the grip off a brand new untouched SR22 when I got home.
Originally Posted by RobzGuns
When y'all were in the store, do you not give your potential new purchase a once over (work/lock the slide, do a quick take down to inspect it, etc) before putting your cash/card on the counter, or do you just take a quick look, say 'that's nice', pay and go? How does one NOT notice this before they get home?
If you had noticed this while still in the store, you could have tried another Shield, or simply said 'No thanks... I don't like it....That spring's too tight'.
Why accept (buy) something that's so........ Unacceptable?
Thanks for confirming my point. One needs to actually check/inspect the pistol going on the Form4473 (their 'potential new purchase') before they complete the paperwork.
I recently bought a new revolver that had problems. The sales person though had already put the Serial# on the Form4473 before I noticed it. While I found the problem before leaving the store, we did need to find another revolver, destroy that paperwork and redo a new 4473 with a different serial#.
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CaptRon956
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Hahhahaahaaaaha!
I posted somewhere on this forum that I would never ever again read a thread that had anything to do with the Shield or the Bodyguard.... Just out of morbid curiousity, I'm here and dammit. I knew I shouldn't have read these comments.... My eyes have rolled so much in these past few moments that I now have a migraine.
Seem like the first thing every new guy that goes out & buy's a new M&P Shield is to get on the forum & complain about the recoil spring and suddenly they're mechanical engineers and come up with their own solutions to S&W's "design flaw".
All I know guys is this.... Both, my M&P Shield 9, which I use weekly in local IDPA matches & my EDC Shield 40 have performed flawlessly since day one. I have no issues at all with S&W's design, in fact I think the Shield is a superior CC weapon the way it is from the factory and posts like this are magnets for advertiser's pushing their products, ie; their own recoil springs and newbies take the bait so eagerly... Rant over, have a good day
I posted somewhere on this forum that I would never ever again read a thread that had anything to do with the Shield or the Bodyguard.... Just out of morbid curiousity, I'm here and dammit. I knew I shouldn't have read these comments.... My eyes have rolled so much in these past few moments that I now have a migraine.
Seem like the first thing every new guy that goes out & buy's a new M&P Shield is to get on the forum & complain about the recoil spring and suddenly they're mechanical engineers and come up with their own solutions to S&W's "design flaw".
All I know guys is this.... Both, my M&P Shield 9, which I use weekly in local IDPA matches & my EDC Shield 40 have performed flawlessly since day one. I have no issues at all with S&W's design, in fact I think the Shield is a superior CC weapon the way it is from the factory and posts like this are magnets for advertiser's pushing their products, ie; their own recoil springs and newbies take the bait so eagerly... Rant over, have a good day
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martybee
Member
I Totally Agree!
"If it ain't broke......"
mb
"If it ain't broke......"
mb
Hardly a newb here.
The fact is that some people have gotten defective spring assemblies in brand new pistols....and others have had the factory assembly fail on them.
Mine was defective right out of the box. Since the factory replacement, I've had not a single problem. But since there is a beefier option out there, I will try it rather than risking my replacement assembly going bad like has happened to others.
The fact is that some people have gotten defective spring assemblies in brand new pistols....and others have had the factory assembly fail on them.
Mine was defective right out of the box. Since the factory replacement, I've had not a single problem. But since there is a beefier option out there, I will try it rather than risking my replacement assembly going bad like has happened to others.
martybee
Member
Right on! That is how I reassemble my shield after field strip & cleaning. It works every time!
mb
Could S&W finally looked into the RSA stiffness issues everyone is complaining about?
I bought the CA version in mid May, the spent casing in the box was stamped Mar 2015. The only thing I did when I cleaned it prior to shooting around 150 rounds, was to put a mark (correction fluid) on the top of the RSA rod that seat against the barrel, before taking it out. I also did, as of this time maybe about a hundred or so dry fires.
The RSA is not as stiff as I imagined it would be. I can lock the slide with no mag, pushing the slide lock as I rack the slide.
I bought the CA version in mid May, the spent casing in the box was stamped Mar 2015. The only thing I did when I cleaned it prior to shooting around 150 rounds, was to put a mark (correction fluid) on the top of the RSA rod that seat against the barrel, before taking it out. I also did, as of this time maybe about a hundred or so dry fires.
The RSA is not as stiff as I imagined it would be. I can lock the slide with no mag, pushing the slide lock as I rack the slide.
