What to do with a full size M&P jamming

[standerson]

Bought a full size M&P .45 the first of July. Wouldn't feed the last round out of any mag.

I shot it for a month hoping it would break in and clear. Nope.

The 2nd of August, I ordered mag springs from Smith (warranty item). "You should have them the 1st of September". Nope. They still don't know when they will ship.

Finally, Smith said they wanted the handgun back and "Would send an RMA in 3-5 working days". It's now been 10 working days and nothing.

I've tried calling. I've tried emailing. Crickets chirping.

I can't take it back to the dealer because I bought it on base.

 

[Don 73]

magazine follower problem? I mean if every other round feeds ok...

 

[hobby-gunsmith]

what to do with a full size

Most of the feeding problems are from the extractor or magazine. If you have multiple mags, are they doing the same on each mag? If not, I would isolate the magazine and go from there. Sometimes, if you drop the mag on a hard surface, the lips will bend and you can have a feeding problem. In the meantime, isolate the problem by finding the bad magazine.

Nick

 

[dullh]

I had one magazine that did the same thing in my M&P .45...took it apart and the magazine spring looked like a slinky that had been fed through a wood chipper. I have seen other S&W .45 magazines too that had badly deformed springs - right out of the package.

 

[leeloader]

If the spare mag was a new mag or was packed w/ you gun, try a used mag from some one else or the gun range. Some guns need that breaking in time, not sure about yours. Also try different ammo. The OAL varies on different ammo and during the break in, it might be a problem. Record which ammo and the OAL so you can compare shorter, medium and longer ammo for responses. Check the place you bought the gun to see if they will work the shipping for you. Make sure you record on the form how many mags you sent. I had a gun come back missing a mag from S&W. It took a bit, but they finally sent one.

 

[robkarrob]

That issue can easily be the feed lip spacing, on the mags. Many of us that did the Shield 40 barrel swap to 9mm, tried using the 40 mags to feed the 9mm cartridges. Some had no issues and others had a problem with the last round not feeding properly. We think it is related to the width of the feed lips. Just a little width variation, and the mag would not feed properly. If you have a mag with no problems, then measure the feed lips width spacing, and adjust the lip width spacing to the same, on the bad feeding mag. That may solve your problem, but the follower or spring could also be the problem.

Bob

 

[Fastbolt]

How experienced are you with shooting .45's?

How about shooting plastic framed .45's?

What color are the mag springs (painted on top half)? Orange, purple, green, black or Lt blue? There have been some revisions of the mag springs by the vendor (MecGar?), and the current follower must be used with the Lt blue spring.

What ammunition are you using?

How did you lubricate the gun?

Use a high thumb grip? Any chance your thumb(s) are touching the slide during recoil?

Did you clean the magazines before using them?

S&W's huge increase in business has resulted in a lot of backlogs at their call center (which takes calls for all the company). Some days they may have 18 people working there, and some days up to 35 ... but the backlog of calls can still be huge.

They're dealing with a new computer system that's creating some frustration. It's even been hard for armorers to reach the designated LE contact for customer service at times, although I've been able to get email responses within 2-3 days. Sometimes virtually instantly, but usually there's a delay. (For anything critical we'd call the region rep.)

My own M&P 45 from '08, and those of the other instructors who have bought them and have been using them, have all fed & functioned with a variety of different ammo, regardless of spring or follower version. Only one of the compacts had an occasional problem for one of the guys, and that was because he was trying to burn up some mystery LSWC reloads he'd found in his cabinet from years ago.

 

[standerson]

I have 8 mags. Two came with the handgun and 6 I've purchased.

Yes, I have experience with 45's, plastic frame and otherwise. I don't believe it is a limp wrist problem.

I've shot Federal, WWB and Blazer Brass 230 grain FMJ. I've also shot Hornady 200 grain XTP and PMC 230 grain SFHP. I loaded 3 rounds into each mag. Then tracked what ammo and which mag jammed.

The weapon has been cleaned and lubed, lightly. I'll have to break the mags down to check the color of the springs.

Jamming has occurred on all the mags. I have not ejected any mags and let them fall to the ground.

While I understand Smith has a backlog but don't promise something you can't provide. If it will take 10 - 15 days to reply, then say so. Don't say "3-5 day" and then go radio silent.

I was supposed to get new mag springs under warranty but in the conversion from the old order system to the new, my order got lost in the translation and it had to be redone.

 

[standerson]

If the spare mag was a new mag or was packed w/ you gun, try a used mag from some one else or the gun range. Some guns need that breaking in time, not sure about yours. Also try different ammo. The OAL varies on different ammo and during the break in, it might be a problem. Record which ammo and the OAL so you can compare shorter, medium and longer ammo for responses. Check the place you bought the gun to see if they will work the shipping for you. Make sure you record on the form how many mags you sent. I had a gun come back missing a mag from S&W. It took a bit, but they finally sent one.

I bought the gun at the AF Base. I'm going back to talk to them but don't feel like committing a felony by taking the gun back on base.

 

[Fastbolt]

New mags not bought with the gun?

I'd want to start with a new recoil spring assembly along with the mag springs (why not?), myself. If that didn't resolve it, I suspect an extractor/spring issue and have them inspect the gun under warranty.

Let me know if you continue to be unable to reach someone.

 

[standerson]

New mags not bought with the gun?

I'd want to start with a new recoil spring assembly along with the mag springs (why not?), myself. If that didn't resolve it, I suspect an extractor/spring issue and have them inspect the gun under warranty.

Let me know if you continue to be unable to reach someone.

Thanks, I appreciate it. They were supposed to send a return authorization last week. I'll call them again on Monday.

 

[smokindog]

Sorry for "guessing" here but I remember reading a thread about the 9mm follower design changes resulting in similar "last round" issues.

I don't know if there was anything similar in the .45 and/or if you can learn anything from their experience. Just thought I'd share and suggest you search for this.

Hope you get things resolved!

 

[standerson]

Thanks for the replies, I appreciated them.

It's just starting to get frustrating that they haven't replied.

 

[standerson]

Finally called Smith tonight. They must be having all kinds of computer problems.

Can't get orders out due to switching systems. Can't get RMA's out due to email problems.

The gentleman I talked to this evening guaranteed me I'd have my RMA by tomorrow.

 

[Rastoff]

I can't take it back to the dealer because I bought it on base.

If you bought it on base, why wasn't it a felony when you took it home? You can take it back if you like and AAFES will take it back. At least they used to. I did it several years ago. If you get stopped, and they search your car, very unlikely, just show them the receipt and tell them what you're doing. It won't be an issue. Of course you can call the security desk before you go also. They will confirm what I just said.

Now, let's talk about that feeding issue. I'll bet it looked like this:

If that's the case, I may be able to help because I had a similar problem.

First, we need a little more trouble shooting. When you get a failure like this, press on the back of the extractor. Does it load when you do that? It did for me.

Rather than send mine in, I got them to send me a new extractor. Put that thing in and have had over 1,800 trouble free rounds since.

 

[3hounds]

Yea S&W had all kinds of excuses for me also, every time I
called it was something diff.

Follow advice from this board first and if you can't get it resolved with their suggestions, then send it in.

Good Luck, 3

 

[MSG Glenn]

S&W won't really know exactly what's causing the problem. Chances are it's not the mag spring since it's happening with all you mags. I fail to believe that each & every one of them is defective. That means it's probably something wrong inside the pistol. I'm afraid you'll have to send it back to S&W with the assurance that they'll fix it & make it right.

 

[standerson]

If you bought it on base, why wasn't it a felony when you took it home? You can take it back if you like and AAFES will take it back. At least they used to. I did it several years ago. If you get stopped, and they search your car, very unlikely, just show them the receipt and tell them what you're doing. It won't be an issue. Of course you can call the security desk before you go also. They will confirm what I just said.

Now, let's talk about that feeding issue. I'll bet it looked like this:

If that's the case, I may be able to help because I had a similar problem.

First, we need a little more trouble shooting. When you get a failure like this, press on the back of the extractor. Does it load when you do that? It did for me.

Rather than send mine in, I got them to send me a new extractor. Put that thing in and have had over 1,800 trouble free rounds since.

Just what mine looks like.

 

[standerson]

If you bought it on base, why wasn't it a felony when you took it home? You can take it back if you like and AAFES will take it back. At least they used to. I did it several years ago. If you get stopped, and they search your car, very unlikely, just show them the receipt and tell them what you're doing. It won't be an issue. Of course you can call the security desk before you go also. They will confirm what I just said.

Now, let's talk about that feeding issue. I'll bet it looked like this:

If that's the case, I may be able to help because I had a similar problem.

First, we need a little more trouble shooting. When you get a failure like this, press on the back of the extractor. Does it load when you do that? It did for me.

Rather than send mine in, I got them to send me a new extractor. Put that thing in and have had over 1,800 trouble free rounds since.

The salesman at the base was very clear. "This gun leaves the base today and does not come back, ever. If you have problems with it, contact S&W. If you bring it back on base, you are subject to arrest."

 

[standerson]

Finally called Smith tonight. They must be having all kinds of computer problems.

Can't get orders out due to switching systems. Can't get RMA's out due to email problems.

The gentleman I talked to this evening guaranteed me I'd have my RMA by tomorrow.

Didn't get the RMA. Sent a message and got an automated reply. I'd call but I'm just as soon not waste any more of my time on this issue.