My Shield Arms Gen 1, 2, and 3 Experience

Published on May 28, 2023
Duration: 5:34

Tessah Booth, an experienced shooter, shares her long-term experience with Shield Arms S15 magazines for the Glock 48. She details catastrophic failures with Gen 1 20-round magazines due to a bad heat-treated batch, while 15-round Gen 1s performed well. Gen 2 magazines showed good reliability over 4,000 rounds but had a sticky finish and one unreplicable failure. Gen 3 magazines, with updated design and US manufacturing, show initial promise after 800 rounds, though the finish still wears. Booth emphasizes personal risk assessment for concealed carry and recommends thorough testing of any gear.

Quick Summary

Tessah Booth's experience with Shield Arms S15 magazines for the Glock 48 highlights significant differences between generations. Gen 1 20-round mags failed catastrophically due to heat treatment issues, while Gen 2 offered good reliability but poor finish. Gen 3 introduces design improvements and a new manufacturer, showing promise but requiring continued testing. She stresses personal risk assessment for concealed carry.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Shield Arms Magazine Update Intro
  2. 00:16Video Overview & Mag Generations
  3. 00:31Gen 1 Magazine Failures
  4. 01:21Second Gen 1 Failure & Replacement
  5. 01:50Gen 1 15-Round Mags & Usage
  6. 02:14Gen 2 Magazine Performance
  7. 02:47Risk Assessment & Training Use
  8. 03:13Gen 2 Finish Quality
  9. 03:21Gen 3 Magazine First Impressions
  10. 03:46Gen 3 Manufacturer & Design Changes
  11. 04:26Gen 3 Finish Comparison
  12. 04:59Conclusion & Personal Disclaimer

Frequently Asked Questions

What issues did Tessah Booth experience with Shield Arms S15 Gen 1 magazines?

Tessah Booth reported catastrophic failures with her Shield Arms S15 Gen 1 20-round magazines, where the basepads sheared off. She attributed this to a 'bad heat-treated batch' identified by Shield Arms, though her 15-round Gen 1 magazines did not experience this issue.

How did Shield Arms S15 Gen 2 magazines perform in testing?

Over approximately 4,000 rounds, Shield Arms S15 Gen 2 magazines performed reliably with only one single, unreplicable failure-to-feed. However, the speaker noted the magazine's finish was 'sticky' and wore out quickly.

What are the key changes in Shield Arms S15 Gen 3 magazines?

Shield Arms S15 Gen 3 magazines feature a new US-based manufacturer, thicker steel, a Black Nitride coating, and added dimples to the rear for improved Glock-like seating, aiming to enhance durability and reliability over previous generations.

What is Tessah Booth's recommendation for using Shield Arms S15 magazines?

Tessah Booth emphasizes that this is a personal experience update and advises individual risk assessment. She recommends thorough testing of any gear, including Shield Arms magazines, before relying on them for concealed carry, finding them suitable for training.

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