Smith and Wesson Shield pictured above in a Theis leather/Kydex IWB holster.
A week ago I reported a rather strange failure that I had with my Smith & Wesson Shield and I wanted to post a quick update. The week long delay was due to me not being able to find my micrometer, probably in a moving box somewhere. Anyways, I bought a new one and have checked the round that jammed in the Shield. There isn’t anything wrong with it. Additionally, I have tried the failed round and more of the same ammunition (from the same box) and it feeds just fine.
So what was the problem? Well it could be a fluke of course, it could be that the gun doesn’t like that particular round, or it could be something else. Just to be sure, I’m going to send the gun to Smith & Wesson and have them take look. I’ll let you know what they have to say.
Update 8/3/2012 – It’s back.
Should prove interesting. I have had numerous “failure to fire” issues. Send my Shield back and they “modified the barrell” (polished I think). Still have issue. Local Gun dealer who I trust suggested a firmer grip. Called S&W and they agree.
Wow, you’re the first person I’ve heard that has had problems with their Shield (other than mine) I think. So they suspect that you are limp wristing? Have you tried a firmer grip?
Good luck. It is a new gun on the market, and there always seems to be some flaws in a new design. Hope they can figure it out so it will be trustworthy for you.
Thanks man, hope so too, I really like it. I hear you on the new gun thing. I’ve said this before I think, but I was really surprised how reliable it was considering I bought it the first weekend it was released.
I still haven’t heard anything on mine yet. Theyve had gone for a little over a week, but no emails or phone calls stating the issues.
(I’m the one who posted the clip issues, wear issues, and a few other things on your FB)
Now not gone. Dumb iPad *
Dave, thanks for the reminder, I had forgotten about this. Your problems weren’t reliability though right? More cosmetic and magazine fit?
I am curious, what brand of ammo you were using at time of lockup. I, for the first time had my Kahr CM9 lockup at the range and found a cartridge stuck under the feed ramp. Should that happen with a Kahr, you MUST lock back the slide in order to drop magazine and resume. I was using Winchester WB ammo and when I got home I measured 10 cartridges at random and found three different lengths. I don’t have a micrometer but the difference in length was the thickness of a credit card and that is enough to matter. So, for shits and giggles, I opened my box of Remington hydra shok and did the same test with 20 and “all” were identical.. Nevertheless all pistols are finicky with different ammo and that may be the reason this occurred.. I have been shooting for 45 years and was never as carefull choosing and scrutinizing ammo until now. Ofcourse there are many other great manufacturers, so shoot a few boxes of carry ammo thru what you do carry to avoid a jam, in the unlikely event that you would need to shoot someone in defense of your life…
Cheers…
Fiocchi XTP.
I also own a CM9 and agree with everything Michael stated above and I too an a shooter for over 45 years. Might I recommend Speer ammo for Carry and anything but Win WB for practice. There is a reason the NYPD uses Spear, it works, period..
Michael S.
Did not have that prob, but my larger mag kept falling out. While shooting. At first I thought I was activating he mag release but no. I hit it in as hard as I could but after one or two rounds would come out. Called an they sent a call tag sent it in now just waiting.