S&W Shield...Slide not locking back on empty mag

[Vinnie Boombatz]

Bought a Shield a while ago, ran a two ro three mags of hollow points through it to make sure they would cycle and put it back in the safe. Dont' recall the issue happening with the JHP's.

Gun has been cleaned and oiled, and dry-fired a little bit. Went to the range today and the slide would not lock back on an empty mag except for one mag. Tried three different types of ammo just to see if it was the ammo (all factory ammo; American Eagle 115gr, S&B 124gr, and Blazer Brass 124gr). I have 8 mags for the firearm, four 7-rounders and four 8-rounders. All are OEM/factory S&W Shield magazines and the Shield itself is 100% stock aside from the sights. No mods, no changes, nothing done to it aside from cleaning it, shooting, cleaning it, putting it away, oiling it and shooting it today.

If I put an empty mag into an empty gun and each the slide it locks back. I also have no problem manually locking the slide back.

The recoil spring does feel pretty heavy in the Shield. Aside from this issue with the slide not locking back after emptying a mag while shooting, I ahve had zero issues with the it. It shoots surprisingly well for such a small firearm and I really like it.

Wondering if the magazines need to be broken in, but couldn't one argue that when brand-new the springs are at their strongest they'll ever be, so the slide locking back should always happen? Going to try taking the magazines apart and cleaning them as well to see what happens.

Any advice or suggestions are appreciated.

[Elucidus]

Any chance you're rubbing the slide release and preventing slide lock? I've had this happen to me with some guns.

[Vinnie Boombatz]

Any chance you're rubbing the slide release and preventing slide lock? I've had this happen to me with some guns.

This is a very good point, and I've done this before on larger handguns by accident. For such a small handgun I bet it's the cause. I'll be more aware of this next time I go to the range.

[xXRifleManXx]

[ABR]

Any chance you're rubbing the slide release and preventing slide lock? I've had this happen to me with some guns.

This.

I do this with my p365 from time to time. When I pay attention it locks back every time.

[gun toting monkeyboy]

I know you said you oiled it. But WHEN did you oil it? Before you put it away long term? Or before you fired it this time? You have eliminated the magazines and the ammunition by using multiple examples of each. That leave the issue as being the gun itself. If you haven't cleaned and oiled it since you put it away some time ago, I would do that first and foremost. Even a little friction from the gun being a bit dry could be enough to cause this kind of malfunction. Best case scenario, it fixes the issue. Worst case, you eliminate that is being the cause of the issue, AND now you have a clean gun.

-Mb

[Vinnie Boombatz]

I know you said you oiled it. But WHEN did you oil it? Before you put it away long term? Or before you fired it this time? You have eliminated the magazines and the ammunition by using multiple examples of each. That leave the issue as being the gun itself. If you haven't cleaned and oiled it since you put it away some time ago, I would do that first and foremost. Even a little friction from the gun being a bit dry could be enough to cause this kind of malfunction. Best case scenario, it fixes the issue. Worst case, you eliminate that is being the cause of the issue, AND now you have a clean gun.

-Mb

Gun was oiled before I went to the range. I'm going with putting thumb on the slide lock inadvertently. I'm pretty sure this is what's going on. None of my firearms are ever dry. They get cleaned and oiled once I get home, and if they need it, oiled before I go to the range that morning.

All my handguns are always clean and oiled. I'm somewhat anal about that.

[gun toting monkeyboy]

All my handguns are always clean and oiled. I'm somewhat anal about that.

Perhaps leaving the anal part out of your cleaning routine might improve the function? Just a thought.

Also, yeah, I can see having problems with your grip and nudging the slide catch with your thumb. The catch is tiny and doesn't take a great deal of pressure to move it up just enough to screw things up. I carried a Gen 1 Shield for years, and learned to make sure of my thumb placement. Glad you got it fixed. They are good guns.

-Mb

[Vinnie Boombatz]

Update:

Definitely was my grip causing the slide to not lock back. Seems like the slightest touch/pressure from my thumb will keep it from locking back. Been flagging my thumb on on firing hand during the last two range trips and slide has locked back every time.

[TrailerparkTrash]

[Vinnie Boombatz]

[eaglemike]

Glad you figured it out.
Shield has always been plenty accurate for what it is IMHO. They are pretty surprising. A little consistent practice and center hits will be easy peasy.