9mm Shield question

[petepeterson]

A female shooting buddy of mine recently purchased a new 9mm Shield. She is having trouble with it going fully into battery after firing, which I assume is due to her grip (I've put almost 300 rds thru it personally, and have had no problems). The other problem she is having is light strikes on the primer, with multiple types of ammo. Again, this doesn't happen when I fire it. There are approx 600 rds thru this pistol currently.

My question is:

Could these be the same problem? Is it possible for it to go into battery just far enough for the striker to go fwd, but not enough to ignite the primer? Please help, as I'd hate to have to trade her my beloved 3913, which she is eyeing up...

Thanks.

 

[ku4hx]

If the gun functions as expected for you (and others) and has these problems only with her, I'd suspect she is the problem.

I dislike the term "limp-wristing" since the problem may be a bit more complex than it implies. But at any rate, she likely needs to hold the gun a bit more forcefully and make her arms a little more rigid. A correct stance, isosceles is often recommended, can play a part also.

This a rather simplistic generality to an often not so simplistic situation and you might not be able to help her to overcome any problem she might be having. In that case, I'd seek professional training that often is made available via shooting ranges, local law enforcement agencies, gun clubs and etc.

Sometimes people very close to a person with a problem, if she indeed has one, are not the best ones to do the training.

 

[plouffedaddy]

Is it possible for it to go into battery just far enough for the striker to go fwd, but not enough to ignite the primer?

It's possible, sure. Before I say that it's what's happening I'd have to see it myself though. If possible, take a video (even cheap cell video) of her shooting it and post it up. That'll make it easier to diagnose...

If that's not possible, seek out someone knowledgeable about semi-autos and have him/her watch your friend shoot. Likely they'll spot the issue right away.

 

[jfrey]

With over 300 rounds through my Shield, I've never had any failure. That being said, I do find it to be more accurate if I hold it very firmly instead of the fairly relaxed grip I use on Glocks and 1911's. I highly suspect that is her problem. I would suspect her grip is loose and her arms aren't stiff in front of her. This allows the body to absorb the recoil and make the pistol malfunction. The gun doesn't have anything to push against to make it function properly. Also be sure that she has lube on the locking lug and underneath on the slide where the top of the barrel slides back into it. This could be a problem with a new gun until she gets a few hundred rounds through it.

If the gun works for you and not her, it is pretty sure she is the problem, not the gun. My DIL had the same problem with my son's new Glock at first. Her arms were bent and it was short cycling. I explained the problem to her and helped her correct it and the problems went away. These Shields are great pistols, but like any gun they can have their quirks.

 

[petepeterson]

Thanks for the replies.

I have no doubt it is in the way she is handling the pistol. My main point was that there are 2 seperate symptoms- not going fully into battery, and light strikes.

Is it mechanically feasible for it to be in battery far enough to operate, but not to strike the primer hard enough? I'm trying to figure out if the 2 are directly related.

 

[340PD]

Yes, that is a possibility if you have bad ammo or the firing pin/striker is not functioning properly. If it works for you and not her it is probably not the gun. Give it a good cleaning including the striker channel. Oil properly, and try it again.

What weight ammo are you using? You may try a few rounds each of 115, 124, & 147gr. That will change the felt recoil that may help cycle the gun better for her.

Have her push out with her gun hand and pull back with her weak hand may help the cycling issue
I bought one of these just for my female students. I have yet to have any failures of any kind.
Keep us up to date with your progress.