Smith & Wesson Shield Plus Magazine Top Off Issue

[25MOA]

Has anyone had an issue with the Shield Plus intermittently exhibiting a feeding problem when after topping off a 13-round magazine with one in the chamber? It seems like the 13th round in the magazine puts so much pressure on the feed ramp that the slide sometimes cannot reliably cycle, causing a class 3 malfunction. Problem goes away if only 12 rounds in the magazine. I have a feeling Smith & Wesson is trying too hard to fit 13 rounds into the magazine. This problem happens to all of my 13-round magazines. Smith & Wesson wants me to send in the pistol but I am not confident they will find the problem. In my almost 35 years in the field, I don't think I have ever shot either my duty or off-duty weapons with a topped off magazine but after experiencing this with the Shield Plus, I am going to test this next time with all my pistols.

[L-2]

If you haven't already, you might try here:

https://smith-wessonforum.com/#smith-wesson-semi-automatic-pistols.82

I don't know enough about the "Shield Plus" and the "smith-wessonforum.com" to know exactly which sub-forum to use. I also don't know anybody, personally, who owns/uses a Shield Plus (or non-Plus).

[mossy]

yup. I have found the magazine springs on the shield plus and bodyguard 2.0 to be extremely stiff. running a full mag with one in the chamber can cause feeding issues. especially if you are using 115gr target ammo. 124 and 147 can still hang up but its less frequent.

[25MOA]

yup. I have found the magazine springs on the shield plus and bodyguard 2.0 to be extremely stiff. running a full mag with one in the chamber can cause feeding issues. especially if you are using 115gr target ammo. 124 and 147 can still hang up but its less frequent.

This is exactly my what I experienced as well. I will now only load magazine with maximum of 12 rounds but just might end up selling the Shield Plus.

[SDDAVE56]

Well, for what it's worth. I don't have a Shield Plus, but do own a Shield, with 7 & 8 round magazines. Yes the springs are stiff, that would be an understatement. I've never had any issues relating to topping off the mags. Yes I've shot the three bullet weights mentioned, 115, 124, and 147, including Federal HST 147. All run fine in my Shield. Is there a difference between the Shield, and Shield Plus, other than capacity? That I do not know.

[25MOA]

Well, for what it's worth. I don't have a Shield Plus, but do own a Shield, with 7 & 8 round magazines. Yes the springs are stiff, that would be an understatement. I've never had any issues relating to topping off the mags. Yes I've shot the three bullet weights mentioned, 115, 124, and 147, including Federal HST 147. All run fine in my Shield. Is there a difference between the Shield, and Shield Plus, other than capacity? That I do not know.

I too have zero problems with my Shield. With the Shield Plus, the amount of pressure to insert a 13 round loaded magazine into the pistol requires probably 5 pounds of force to get the magazine to lock. This places an enormous amount of pressure against the slide which is why the pistol sometimes cannot fully cycle, causing a double feed. If you only load the magazine with 12 rounds, zero problems. Other than capacity, I don't think there is any significant differences between the Shield and Shield Plus so I really think it boils down to a problem with the 13-round magazines. I think Smith tried too hard to push a 13 round magazine!