New Shield. Lube it first

[Jimi Jah]

Picked up my Cali Shield from Turner's. It has about a 14 lb slide pull, rather stiff and gritty.

As is do with all new guns, it needed a complete cleaning and re-lube. There is dirt and grease in the barrel and the slide. You need to poke around a bit to find all of it and to get it all out. It's not well lubed from the factory so don't shoot one until it's cleaned and re-lubed. I try and avoid creating new scrape marks by coating any parts with lube.

I expected my usual Slip 2000 EWL 30 wt. would be used, but I used the Slip 2000 EWG, the grease on the slide, rails and trigger sears.

That stiff pull has been reduced quite a bit, it's much easier to pull back and lock the slide. Now it's all slippy and smooth, I saved a bunch of break-in 9mm ammo. I expect after about 500 rounds the spring will also loosen up a bit and then it should be an easy gun to operate.

This is my first polymer handgun, I have all steel frame handguns. It seems a bit light and cheap, but that will take some getting used to. I'm not wowed about the trigger, what do those Apex trigger kits cost and do they help?

[Whatisthis?]

None of it is necessary. To each his own though. Mine gets wet on a regular basis (soaked in the river). When I get home I usually dry it and put a little bit of lube on. That's the only cleaning I ever do. It's never malfunctioned through 1500-2000 rounds.

[xxx187xxx]

Yeah mine was the same way. Very gritty and tough to pull back the slide. I wonder why smith and wesson sends them out so dirty...

[franklyfresh]

None of it is necessary. To each his own though. Mine gets wet on a regular basis (soaked in the river). When I get home I usually dry it and put a little bit of lube on. That's the only cleaning I ever do. It's never malfunctioned through 1500-2000 rounds.

How do you ensure you get all the moisture out of the firing pin channel and trigger group?

[ruchik]

The Shield recoil spring is super stiff by design. It has to be because it's so short lengthwise.

[xxx187xxx]

The Shield recoil spring is super stiff by design. It has to be because it's so short lengthwise.

Hes got a point there.

[spyke-52]

My off-roster shield was fairly smooth from the get go. I checked it over and took it straight to the range(without cleaning) and put 100 rounds of WWB through it. Ran flawlessly. Got it home and gave it a good cleaning after that.

[ElDub1950]

tagged to see other's experience.

After a quick inspection, I typically take new guns straight to the range for a couple hundred rounds. Maybe I need to do a thorough prep when I pick up a Shield.

[TeirHawg]

Another new Shield question:

Another new Shield question:

Picked up my 9mm Shield today. The 7 round magazines don't like to lock in place when fully loaded. This something that'll break in? The 8 rounders have no issue.

[tonyxcom]

I have to really press hard on the 7rnd mags to seat them on a closed slide. It will go though.

Apex carry kit makes a substantial difference in trigger feel. I still use the stock trigger but if their new trigger is anything like on the full sized, it's a big improvement as well.

[Virus55]

You should always clean and lube your guns before u take them out.

[slipknot95758]

I pick mine up tomorrow and will be shooting it after a quick teardown and lube at the range I pick it up from.

[SLO1911Fan]

This is my first polymer handgun, I have all steel frame handguns. It seems a bit light and cheap, but that will take some getting used to. I'm not wowed about the trigger, what do those Apex trigger kits cost and do they help?

The Apex trigger costs $85 +/- and is worth every penny.

[Jimi Jah]

Page 30 in the manual:

Before using your firearm for the first time, it should be cleaned.

Your firearm was treated at the factory with either a preservative or or oil to protect it against corrosion during shipping and storage.

Preservative and oil should be wiped from the bore, chamber and exposed areas before shooting the firearm.

There you have it, right from the horse's mouth. Finding blackend grease was a bit of a suprise, I would expect that from after 100 or more rounds, not the test round supplied with the gun.

[Tym2getbizeee]

Took mine straight to the range without cleaning or lubing. I figured if I can go through a couple hundred rounds without any issues then it should be good to go after its cleaned and lubed. No issues other than having a hard time loading the last round of each mag. After a couple reloads it gets easier.