My M&P Shield nightmare.

[mav]

As most of you are aware, PSA has been running a fantastic deal on M&P Shields.  The price was so good that I decided to purchase two.  One was for me, and the other was a Christmas present for my girlfriend.  I took mine to the range today to see how it performs.  Holy s***.  This thing is the biggest (or smallest, depending on how your look at it) p.o.s. I have ever shot.

 

I only had eighty rounds with me today.  Out of those 80, I had 20 failures.  TWENTY!  Fifteen were light primer strikes, and five were slide lock-back failures.  That is a 25% failure rate, and 50% on the slide not locking back at empty.  As a side note, It is interesting that I put those 15 rounds with the light primer strike in my G19, and had no problems.

 

I was so troubled by my experience that I traded away the other brand new Shield I got for my girlfriend.  I upgraded her to a G19, which I know will go bang when the trigger is pulled.  While I am fairly certain I got a lemon, which I will be contacting S&W about, I have become so disconcerted that I will never purchase another S&W product, at least in the near future.

[Motasyco]

I sure am glad my Shield has been flawless through hundreds of rounds.  And I mean zero failures.  Clearly, your experience was not typical.

[whitewolf001]

Yikes, sounds like their Sigmas...

[jimmydeuce]

The slide on my Shield would only lock back half the time until the gun started to break in (about 100-120 rounds). It's been fine since then. No problem with light strikes though. Sucks to hear that about yours.

[whitewolf001]

The slide on my Shield would only lock back half the time until the gun started to break in (about 100-120 rounds). It's been fine since then. No problem with light strikes though. Sucks to hear that about yours.

Break in perhaps on his?

[NRA]

WOW sorry to hear this, but no trouble here with mine

[jimmydeuce]

Break in perhaps on his?

Very possible. Recoil spring on mine was STOUT out of the box.

I have read people getting light strikes with their Shields using WWB ammo. Wouldn't happen with any other ammo. Also, some folks have had the recoil spring get a small kink or bow in them. Hangs up on the slide just enough to keep it from going fully into battery.

Still sucks. It's hard to put faith in a carry gun giving you light strikes. Edited November 23, 2013 by jimmydeuce

[CQB Elite]

There'd definitely be a call to S&W first thing Monday AM. I have one in .40 but for those with them in 9mm, did the recoil spring seem to be really tight the first time you pulled the slide back?

[Patton]

That sucks man, S&W for about a decade has had major quality control issues, M&P's are no exception. I love the Shields though, it is worth the gamble on hoping you get a good one. My 40 Shield was flawless, if I had known there were 9mm barrels for $75 that dropped in I would have kept it. I just thought I wanted a 9 instead.

[jacob]

I bought a shield about a month ago and just got to the range with it last week...put about 100 Rd though it, a mix of range reloads and Remington umc....Both 115gr. ..No issues here either...Good luck getting it addressed and resolved...

[sigrug17]

4-500 rounds thru mine, 0 issues.  Mine shot really really well for a sub-compact.

Edited November 23, 2013 by sigrug17

[peejman]

Bummer. Did you clean it first?

[NRA]

There'd definitely be a call to S&W first thing Monday AM. I have one in .40 but for those with them in 9mm, did the recoil spring seem to be really tight the first time you pulled the slide back?

This

[NRA]

Bummer. Did you clean it first?

This does not seem to matter, from mine other people I know

[mav]

Bummer. Did you clean it first?

 

While it might not be the best practice, I have never cleaned a firearm before using it, and I have never experienced any problem that is even remotely close to this.  In regards to a break-in period, if a gun is going to perform so abysmally during the first hundred or so rounds, then it is not a gun that I want.

 

Anyway, I emailed S&W, and let them know of my frustration with their product.  I am pretty sure they will take care of the problem.

[bubbadavis]

I just picked up a 9mm Shield today. The recoil spring is pretty tight - haven't shot it yet. Here's to hoping I got a good one...

[Erik88]

Sorry to hear about this Eric. This is the first negative report I've seen on the Shield. 

[superduty]

I'm picking up mine from my FFL Monday. I'll add my range report once I'm done.

[Troutburger]

My 2 experiences with s&w repairs have been extremely positive.

[mikegideon]

There's some good news in all of this. You can't beat a G19, even if it is a little bigger.

[whitewolf001]

There's some good news in all of this. You can't beat a G19, even if it is a little bigger.

Oh I don't know about that..........

 

:devil:  :stir:

[mikegideon]

Oh I don't know about that..........

 

:devil:  :stir:

 

Is that one of them Chinese pistols?

[Erik88]

My 2 experiences with s&w repairs have been extremely positive.

 

I'm not sure if that's something to brag about... :wave:

 

If I had to send 2 of my Glocks back I'd be making a switch.

[xRUSTYx]

I've had no issues with my shield :)  wish you experience was better because they are absolutely awesome little firearms!

[mcordell]

I agree you got a lemon ... Mine runs 100% even with steel cased and wwb