S&W Shield Problem

G

Groundhog34

New member
I bought a new Shield custom shop 9mm yesterday. Today I took it out to fire a few rounds. The first round fired hit the target a coke bottle at 10 yards. However I had a major problem. The spent shell ejected but the slide locked back and I mean locked it is immovable. The slide release does nothing. I am an experienced shooter do not limp wrist I am left handed so do not ride the slide stop. I plan on calling S&W in the morning but any ideas?
 
I seem to recall a similar post on another forum. I think it ended up being a recoil spring issue. Somehow it got out of alignment. Hope you get it fixed.


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If I remember correctly, the guy in the other thread took his to a gunsmith that whacked the slide with a (rubber) hammer and put the recoil spring back on correctly. Problem solved.
 
I had a similar problem with my Shield, though mine was on reassembly.

I took it to a gunsmith at my LGS, and as stated above all he claimed to have done was wack it with a hammer. He said it was the recoil spring not properly aligned.

I haven't had a chance to take it out since then though....

Exco
 
Mine has never had an issue. I also recall that the problem was with the recoil spring/rod. I'd be curious . . . I'm assuming that you field stripped it and cleaned/lubed before you shot it. Are you sure that when you reassembled it that the recoil spring/rod was pushed all the way down on the barrel when you reinstalled it? Not questioning your ability . . but I seem to remember reading some posts quite a while back where not making sure it was all the way "in place" was the "guilty cause" of slide lock back problems. I believe the issue is when the back end of the recoil spring/rod - the end closed to the chamber - is not pushed down all the way and when it's fired, it locks the slide back tight as can be?
 
Interesting. Glad I didn't save up a few more pennies for the shield.
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You can find individual stories of issues with just about every gun on the market. If one story stops you from carrying something, you wouldn't ever carry anything.
 
I'm sure the shield is a fine weapon. I also understand that any pistol can have issues. The shield gets pushed quite a bit in response to some other "budget" or "cheap" alternatives when it clearly is not any more reliable than lesser priced pistols.

I digress, as my comments are not helping the op solve his problem.
 
The shield gets pushed quite a bit in response to some other "budget" or "cheap" alternatives when it clearly is not any more reliable than lesser priced pistols.
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How does this show the Shield "clearly is not any more reliable than lesser priced pistols?" All this shows is that you can buy a Shield and potentially have issues. It says nothing about the percentage of Shields that do have issues, and it certainly says nothing about the percentage of other pistols from other brands that do or do not have issues. Moreso it doesn't perform any sort of comparison at all.

If you like other pistols over the Shield and feel they're a better buy, that's your call. But to use this thread as an example for that belief is kind of silly.
 
I locked up my full size M&P years ago in the same fashion, it was a recoil spring issue that if I remember correctly (please use caution if you try this, as I am cloudy on the details of how I freed it up and I don't want you to damage your Shield on a poor suggestion) but I believe I put the muzzle on a desk and pushed down with my weight in order to free the action on the slide from the bound up spring. To take it a bit further (again, if I remember correctly), I didn't center the guide rod properly when I put it together which caused it to bind up.
 
TunnelRat said:
How does this show the Shield "clearly is not any more reliable than lesser priced pistols?" All this shows is that you can buy a Shield and potentially have issues. It says nothing about the percentage of Shields that do have issues, and it certainly says nothing about the percentage of other pistols from other brands that do or do not have issues. Moreso it doesn't perform any sort of comparison at all.

If you like other pistols over the Shield and feel they're a better buy, that's your call. But to use this thread as an example for that belief is kind of silly.
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His post here is a carry over from another thread after someone suggested that he should save up enough money to buy a Shield.

He hated that suggestion so much that he had to taint this thread with his comment.
 
Just a thought on S&W's pro shop guns. Just my opinion from personally seeing guns on the range and taking what I read on the half truth web. The pro shop is over stated and IN MY OPINION a sales gimmick like +P+P, zombie killer, red tip super duper absolutely killer ammo. I personally shot a 627 just under $1200 Performance center revolver that felt like they filled the side plate with sand. I've shot Taurus revolvers that had better feeling triggers for a fifth of the price. Just my 2 pennies worth.
 
I'm curious about this issue. I don't own a Shield but I'm puzzled as to how this could happen. Is it an issue with the recoil spring? Guide rod? Both? Does the recoil spring come dislodged while shooting?

When reassembling, wouldn't you notice the guide rod/recoil spring aren't lined up?
 
S&W Shield Problem

I at one time owned 3 shields 2 40 and a 45.
Currently own 2 1 40 and 1 45.
Fired probably at least 2500 or so thru them in total and have taken um down countless times.

Never an issue with any of them and never had issue with "improperly installing" the return spring.

Which Ive seen be an issue for some on this and other forums.

I have 100% confidence in the weapon.

odugrad I ask myself the same thing
Its pretty simple.
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In regard to the comments Ive seen and read about "orientating it properly" I have never pay attention I just install it.

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The Shield is a proven design, I've been carrying mine for over a year.

I shoot it well, & like it so much ,when another came along at a great price I bought it.

A proud owner of two 9mm Shields. :)
 
I ran a box of Freedom reman thru my Shield .45ACP on Friday. No problems. Cleaned it on Saturday. It memory serves me, the guide rod has a scallop on one side where it fits against the barrel. I can see where one could turn the scalloped portion away from the barrel and result in jamming.

Of course, my memory might be wrong. I was cleaning several other pistols; I know several of them had the scalloped guide rod.
 
Never had a problem shooting mine, but cleaning it one time it locked back and I mean that thing was jammed. In a bit of a frustrated fir of anger, I hit the hell out it with my palm and it snapped shut. Can't say I recommend it, hurts! Without better explanation I will blame myself, but let us know what you find out
 
I've had my spring out of alignment twice after reassembly; the slide would not rack. I jiggled it a little bit and it popped back into place. It's never happened while actually firing the weapon...
 
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