UPDATE : Shield .45 slide lock problem even after sent back

hyena

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Looking for comments, as in what would you do. I have a .45 Shield. The last time I took it to the range, in somewhere less than 100 rounds the slide locked back in the middle of a magazine three different times, using both magazines. I was shooting 230 gr FMJ, new, not reman or handloads. Neither my shooting hand or support hand were anywhere near the slide lock lever. The slide was not attempting to come forward to strip a new round off the magazine, and jammed. It just locked back, same as if the magazine was empty. Each time, for what it's worth, I couldn't release it using the lever, but it easily released and went forward normally when I sling shotted it. Each time the gun functioned normally through the remainder of the magazine.

I called S&W, and they immediately said send it in. When I got it back, the only notation on the repair was they replaced the barrel. I thought that was odd, but I'm not a gun smith.

I took it to the range today, with three boxes of three brands of 230gr FMJ. The slide lock happened once, same as before, with Winchester white box ammo.

Not sure what to do. When it happened before, I didn't note the brand of ammo, but all three slide locks may have been with Winchester.

My EDC is a .380 Bodyguard, which has gone many hundreds of rounds without a malfunction. I have a Hi Power I bought new in the mid 70's with countless thousands of rounds without a single failure, ever, on factory ammo. Also a full size M&P in .357 SIG that has never malfunctioned. I add all that to say I guess I don't have confidence in a gun that doesn't work perfect. The Shield wasn't bought to be a range gun. It's for home defense and sometimes concealed carry. I don't want to give up on it, because I like the gun and I shoot it very well.

Curious what others would do. Keep shooting different brands - see if it only happens on the Winchester white box? Send it back to S&W again?
 
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You'll probably get a variety of suggestions but I would see what happens
with ammo other than Winchester white box. If it malfunctions with
other brands of ammo too I would send it on down the road.
 
While I have not had this issue with my Shield 45, I’ve read where it helps to be absolutely sure the rounds are all seated firmly against the back of the mag. This is supposed to help eliminate the nose of the rounds bumping the slide stop. So maybe give that a try.
 
Thank you, MS. Yes, I made sure to do that with every magazine. Also, if it's even relevant....no limp wristing.
 
If that Shield 45acp was mine, I would keep calling the factory and sending it back until they fixed it. I would not send it down the road as you are just passing frustration to some other shooter.
 
The answer is simple...

stick with the Hi Power.

Sorry, couldn't resist. :D.

I would send it back again and let S&W worry about it. Hope you get it sorted out.
 
See if it also happens with hollow points. If not, check the lengths of the FMJ rounds you are shooting. I know...even though they are factory loads.
Something that has always been a glitch with mass produced 1911s is the nose of a bullet touching the slide lock and moving it into the lock position.
I agree that replacing the barrel is not likely to solve this problem. The ammo or the slide lock itself are likely the cause. Full disclosure: have not shot FMJ rounds in my 45 Shield.
 
You'll probably get a variety of suggestions but I would see what happens
with ammo other than Winchester white box. If it malfunctions with
other brands of ammo too I would send it on down the road.

IMHO, THIS IS A REASONABLE APPROACH. I WOULD ALSO EXAMINE YOUR MAGAZINES FOR ANY ISSUES......

IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT THE INSTANCES OF S&W PRODUCTS HAVING TO BE RETURNED TO THE FACTORY, FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, MORE THAN ONCE, IS BECOMING COMMONPLACE. THIS APPLIES TO THE HIGHLY TOUTED AND EXPENSIVE GUNS FROM THE PERFORMANCE CENTER, AS WELL AS GUNS OFF THE REGULAR PRODUCTION LINE .....

IMHO, THIS IS SYMPTOMATIC OF A LOSS IN PRIDE OF WORKMANSHIP, AND THE SHIFTING OF THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR QUALITY CONTROL, TO THE END USER OF THE FIREARM......
 
in several (non-S&W) guns I've owned, when I've had premature lock-back, it was due to rounds that were a little out of spec (not a surprise with WWB), or a slide stop that was a little out of spec.

Clean the part of the slide stop that interacts with the follower thoroughly, and the next time you shoot it, check if you can see any mark from the bullets nudging the slide stop.

With one of my first CZs I was getting premature lock-back, and I took the gun and ammo to my gunsmith. He noticed marks from bullets on the tab, and sanded a bit of metal off the area when there were marks. I learned from that and check that first when I now encounter the problem -- which has only happened once, since then with a different (not a CZ) gun. Sanding the tab solved the problem with the CZ.

But be sure to try something other than Winchester White Box before you make changes to the gun. If it only happens (and then intermittently) with WWB, you have a clue.

Some folks swear by WWB, but I've always sworn at it.
 
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If that Shield 45acp was mine, I would keep calling the factory and sending it back until they fixed it. I would not send it down the road as you are just passing frustration to some other shooter.

Yup.........
 
Thanks for the advice, everybody. I used my calipers to measure the overall length of the three brands of cartridges I was shooting. No difference.

The gun is going back to S&W today.
 
I've run at least 4-500 rounds of white box 230 FMj without a hitch I doubt it's the ammo. Limp wrist maybe?
 
My .40C went back twice for the same issue. They replaced the slide on the second go which fixed the issue. Oddly enough, mounting my TLR-3 caused the issue to reappear. As soon as it was removed- went back to normal function. Another person in my agency also had a .40C go back for the slide lock issue.
 
My Shield 45 did the very same thing three or four times in the first 100 rounds...I sent it back to S&W and they said that they replaced the slide lock. The first 100 rounds fired were factory ammo 230 gr round nose. After S&W worked on it I fired 100 factory 230 gr round nose and 50 of my 230 gr reloads. So far so good.
 
Out of the box my slide lock was a bit sticky. Just take it off and either lightly sand it or use polish compound. I did that and re-installed and it's good to go. Takes 10 minutes.
 

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