9mm Shield Stovepipe

[lewdogg21]

My wife shot a shield with only 20-30 rounds through it this weekend (In-laws gun and prior calguns thread). She shot nearly as good as I do after the first two to adjust the sight picture but that's a different story.

She shot 2 magazines through it and had a stovepipe in each. I was having her keep her left thumb up against the slide to better control the side to side and am wondering if that was the cause? I shot two mags through it and it didn't happen to me.

1) No i didn't clean it before we shot it
2) My FIL had cleaned it and lubed it but he likes to overlube from what I've seen before
3) He had put 20-30 rounds through it only so it's basically brand new.
4) Ammo was freedom munitions but FWIW my Kahr eats that stuff like I eat Oreo cookies.

Should I be concerned? I think we will buy it from them and then I'll run 300 rounds or more through it to break it in. Yes if we buy it I will break it down and clean/lube it.

[P5Ret]

Her thumb on the slide could be the issue. Just enough pressure to slow down the slide a bit can cause malfunction's. It doesn't take much to stop it from cycling, so just a bit of excess pressure could be the issue.

[Skip_Dog]

I agree with above. I have put 1000 rounds of Freedom Munitions in one of my Shields with no issues.

['ol shooter]

Possibly limpwristing. My son's then GF was complaining that the magazines on both of our Shields were defective due to constant stove-piping when she shot it. I promptly loaded and emptied both mags without a hitch. She was pissed that I showed her up, could not accept it was her and not the gun.

[Kokanee]

+1
Limpwristing

[still919]

Although a relatively small sample; it's good news the malfunction was isolated to the same shooter.

I would have liked to field strip it after the range session to see the effects of any potential over-lubing. All my previous FILs would really go to town with the lube, and then would wonder why these things happened.

If it really concerns you, perhaps you can get another range session in before purchase.

[CWL]

Sounds like possible limpwristing. Thumb along the slide is basic grip taught by just about everyone & every agency so I doubt if her thumb would cause enough friction to stovepipe.

Did the stovepipe happen at about the same round count?

[plumbum]

I’d suggest adding a sleeve grip, allows for a more solid grip and absorbs some of the shock.

[71MUSTY]

Possibly limpwristing. My son's then GF was complaining that the magazines on both of our Shields were defective due to constant stove-piping when she shot it. I promptly loaded and emptied both mags without a hitch. She was pissed that I showed her up, could not accept it was her and not the gun.

+1
Limpwristing

Sounds like possible limpwristing. Thumb along the slide is basic grip taught by just about everyone & every agency so I doubt if her thumb would cause enough friction to stovepipe.

Did the stovepipe happen at about the same round count?

BINGO.

[saudadeii]

I'm with the others.

I have an NTS Shield from the good 'ol SSE 1.0 days. It's been fed mostly FM 124gr. Since the grip is so small compared to my other handguns, I'm more conscious of my grip. Not a lot of rounds through it (guessing 400-500), but no FTEs, FTFs, FLLs (what are the rest of the acronyms?) so far.

As a bonus, it's easier to rack now.

[Pupulepeter]

+1 for limp wristing.

You could always check the magazines. Two of mine had springs fail. (Freakin weird, I know.) I had one that failed right out the gate and another that gave up the ghost after a few uses. S&W said it was a known issue and sent out replacements promptly. Haven't had an problem since and it gets shot a lot.

[Dvrjon]

Should I be concerned? I think we will buy it from them and then I'll run 300 rounds or more through it to break it in. Yes if we buy it I will break it down and clean/lube it.

Clearly defective; wife or gun?....strongly urge "GUN"....negotiate price reduction.

[lewdogg21]

If she was limpwristing wouldn't her pattern be all over the place? She shot it really well, like nearly as good as I shoot. I think her grip is strong so I'm asking.

EDIT: I was standing just behind her left shoulder and she controlled the muzzle rise very well, granted it was 115gn FM loads but still.

[TheFlash]

1) Firm grip
2) Thumb off the slide
3) Try some 'factory' ammo (not Freedom)

That should likely lead to:
4) 100% reliable